STAFF DUTY ANALYSIS:CAP’S RUBIX CUBECADET TRAINING
By Captain Jay A. Sliwinski, CAP
Cut to the Chase:What do you think about SDAs? ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________
Some Answers?
They are dumb. They Kill cadet careers. Useless paperwork. Confusing. Exercise in futility.
Why do we have SDA?
Staff Duty Analysis Official answer from CAPP52-14
Improve critical think skills Improve communication skills Comprehend Leadership and Teamwork
CAPP52-14 PAGE 1
Why do we have SDA?
Staff Duty Analysis My Answer
To give the cadet officers a more global view of the squadron by learning how a variety of senior staff positions work and evaluating what they do.
Teach cadet officers WHERE and HOW to find answers to your own questions.
Did you ever wonder why a Cadet Lt. Col. Or Cadet Col. always seemed to know where to find the answer?
Different Phases of the Cadet Program It is important to understand the
changing leadership skills needed in each of the four phases of the cadet program.
Phase 1: Learning Phase
Achievement 1 – 3 Ends with Wright Brother’s Award Stresses “Followership”
Phase 2: Leadership Phase
Achievement 4 – 8 Ends with General Billy Mitchell
Award Stresses Supervisory Leadership
Phase 3: Command Phase
Achievements 9 – 11 Ends with Amelia Earhart Award Stresses Junior Management
Phase IV: Executive Phase
Achievements 12 – 16 Ends with General Ira Eaker Award Stresses Upper Management Skills
General Carl A. Spaatz Award Completion of the Cadet
Program Comprehensive Leadership Test Comprehensive Aerospace Test Written Essay Physical Fitness Test
Often transition to Senior Member Leadership
Whom Should You Seek Help From in Completing Your SDA? A former CAP Cadet Officer
Someone who understands how CAP Manuals and Regulations work.
The senior member who will be grading your SDA.
Two Facets To The SDA
Staff Duty Report Staff Service
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Staff Duty Report
For each achievement as a cadet officer, they must complete a Staff Duty Report. Non-achievements that don’t require
SDA: Amelia Earhart (Cadet Captain) Ira Eaker (Cadet Lt. Colonel)
CAPP52-14 PAGE 1
SDA Reports By AchievementPhase III (C/2Lt – C/Capt)
Achievement 9: C/2Lt Dead Rank Cadet Flight Commander
Achievement 10: C/1st Lt Administrative Officer
Achievement 11: C/1st Lt Dead Rank Public Affairs Officer
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Materials
You will receive some materials from National on the SDA Process. It is quite confusing to sort out. CAP P 52-14 Staff Duty Analysis Guide
Tools I will provide you SDA Phase III Checklist and Promotion
Review SDA Phase IV Checklist and Promotion
ReviewCAPP52-14 PAGE 1
CAPP 52-14: Instructions for Seniors: Intent of the SDA Program
Exposure to Squadron Staff Not a memorization drill in policies /
procedures. Not to train them to fulfill senior staff
position Opportunity to learn to think critically,
develop communication skills and improve their understanding of teamwork.
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CAPP 52-14: Instructions for Seniors: Mentoring Duties
Senior staff should explain how their duties relate to the overall mission of the squadron
What leadership skills are essential for their job
Create an environment where the cadet can ask questions.
The senior member should LET YOU DO IT. You will learn by doing, not by watching. If they don’t let you do the job, ask them. If that doesn’t work, contact me. I’ll call
them.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 4
CAPP 52-14: Instructions for Seniors: How will you be evaluated on yourSDA
Report National does not provide formal evaluation
materials. Evaluated by Leadership Staff or Staff Officer
1. Do you answer the questions asked?2. Are the performance requirements completed?3. Are they in the your own words?4. Is the report neatly prepared?
Doesn’t have to be a Doctoral Thesis, but should be grammatically correct.
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Format of the SDA Report:
Part A: Overview of Requirements:1. CAP Publications2. Suspenses Required3. Performance Requirements:
This will vary from SDA to SDA This is a little confusing in CAPP52-14 in
Attach 1 The SDA Report items 1,2,3 etc are all part
of section 3 of Part A.
Format of the SDA Report:
Part B: Narrative (300 – 500 words)1. What are the essential duties of the …
officer?2. How does the … officer help the
squadron fulfill its mission?3. How do … officers affect cadets or the
overall Cadet Program?4. What leadership skills to … officers
need most to succeed?
Review and Evaluate
Class will look at some examples of SDA Reports and evaluate them using SDA Checklist and Promotion Review Forms.
Staff Service
Required Once Per Phase During each phase, a cadet must service
in a staff position that was studied in that phase. 4 – 6 weeks required.
This allows the cadet the chance for an in-depth look at what that job does and assures they will learn more about the position than just the bookwork aspect.
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Staff Service: Which to Pick The decision is up to the squadron
commander. Often delegated to the Deputy Commander
for Cadets (CDC). What is in the best interest of your
career? Often cadets want to do “Flight Commander”
Will this really expand your horizons, or replay what you’ve always done.
Pick one that is out of your comfort zone. You will learn more.
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Staff Service: How You Will Be Evaluated: Not formally evaluated. Feedback through mentoring. Use the following guidelines are
used:1. Performance requirements completed?2. Were you attentive to staff officer’s
OJT?3. Did you actively assist in completing
routine tasks as opportunities arose.
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Checklist and Promotion Review Form To evaluate Staff Service, there are
to sections to check. Each promotion worksheet has a list of
what is required for the staff service at the bottom of the page. This only needs to be completed if that
staff service is selected. The last page under Amelia Earhart or
Ira Eaker lists common tasks for all Staff Services.
Review and Evaluate
Class will look at some examples of SDA Staff Services and evaluate them using SDA Checklist and Promotion Review Forms.