Developing Leadership and Responsibility - Step 1 Start Early

Developing Leadership and Responsibility – Start Early

Today I got an email from the National Commander of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) sharing CAP’s Report to Congress.  It got me thinking about how we can help our young people to develop into effective leaders who take responsibility.

There are few things more important in developing good character than to be asked to do something really difficult and then to see real results from your efforts.   However it seems there are fewer opportunities for young people today to have these experiences.

The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a notable exception.

I first learned about this organization when my youngest son was 13.  He was interested in flying so he joined CAP and within a few weeks he attended “Encampment” at the Camp Ripley Training Center.  I assumed it would be like a YMCA camp. I was wrong! In place of canoeing and archery they had 5:30am calisthenics, uniform and bed making inspections, real obstacle courses and leadership classes followed by a ride in a military helicopter.

CAP expects a lot from their cadets but in return they bestow on them very real responsibility. One of CAP’s primary missions is to provide first response emergency services. If someone goes missing, anywhere in the country, CAP is usually the first organization called in to provide air and ground search and rescue. Cadets aged 12 to 21 are trained and then given the responsibility to be an integral part of these teams.

As part of CAP’s mission they also host numerous National Cadet Special Activities (NCSA). NCSAs train cadets and give them real responsibility. Here are just a few examples:

• HAWK MOUNTAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE SCHOOL
• AF PARARESCUE & SURVIVAL ORIENTATION COURSE
• NFA-NORTHCENTRAL REGION JOINT FLIGHT ACADEMY

When my son was 15 he went to the glider academy. Watching him solo a glider at age 15 was frightening, but it is the type of real responsibility that helped him prepare for much scarier times ahead. Yes I was scared, but I know the things he learned from this and his many other experiences with CAP helped him to take charge of his life and keep it heading in the direction he chose.

We can’t ask our kids to do the hard stuff without also handing them some of the control.

If we want leaders with character running our companies, governments and organizations, we need organizations like CAP to allow our children to step outside their comfort zones, be asked to do hard things and be given real responsibility in return.

Last year my son received a lifesaving commendation from his High School after being a first responder to a student who was injured and had arterial bleeding. He was able to do this without hesitation because of the training and responsibilities he had been given in CAP.

This year he is graduating from High School and heading to college with a 4-year full ride ROTC scholarship, after which he hopes to fly for the Air Force. I say this as a proud father but I’m not taking the credit - it’s all him - taking charge of his life after being asked to do hard things and take responsibility when he was younger.

If you would like to learn more about CAP here is a link. You can also email me at bob@cobaltsalesgroup, I am happy to answer any questions you have.