<p>Hello I’m 13 and basically preparing for the USAFA. My parents said I can only pick one of the two and was wondering which would give me a better extra cirricular composite score whether becoming an eagle scout or earn Billy Mitchell or higher. Thanks, I hope you guys will give me good advice.</p>
<p>The Academy will look positively on both. It isn't an "either or" proposition from them. </p>
<p>The boy scouts will offer you many great opportunities to demonstrate leadership, and learn challenging skills. You can participate in Jamboree's, and enter explorer programs that focus on careers in law enforcement & Firefighting (Kinda partial to firefighting myself) ;) </p>
<p>Civil Air Patrol also offers many great programs that are closely associated with the Air Force. You will learn drill and the rank structure of the Air Force. You will have the opportunity to fly in both powered and glider aircraft. Each summer they have special programs like the OSHKOSH air show. Potterfan was allowed to fly a refueling mission for "Red Flag" a war exercise at Nellis, and on a second orientation flight she road with the 66ARS searching for a missing F-15 Canopy on the Nellis range.</p>
<p>Some CAP programs are associates with the Boy Scouts. I now the Nellis Squadron was. If you find one like that you might be able to participate in both. In the event you cannot by the time your in High School you may have an AFJROTC program at your high school.</p>
<p>Do whichever one you want. As far as I can tell it's not the organization you pick that counts, it's what you do in that group. Pick one and do great things in it. Earn leadership positions, badges/awards, whatever you can. CAP always seemed like a pretty cool organization to me, but that's just my opinion.</p>
<p>I agree with both above, no matter what you do, the Academy will want to see whether or not you were committed to it. With the Academy, you will be serving a minimum five year commitment so they want to see that you can stick to something over time. I personally chose Boy Scouts, and wouldn't trade my Eagle for anything. Civil Air Patrol will probably help you more out in the Academy and military setting, while the Boy Scouts will help you out more in the civilian world. Either way you can't go wrong. One other tidbit, is that the Academy has a summer program at Philmont, a scout Ranch in New Mexico. Could be interesting to go back to Philmont as a Cadet. Either way you're doing well</p>
<p>jeez this thread makes me feel bad. Im 18, a senior, already been nominated, and I have never heard of those things in my life. Would have been nice though lol.</p>
<p>ChrisC190 you will be fine, just try not to be "that Cadet" when you get there. Finish your CFA, and get fit for BCT....if you do get accepted you will have the opportunity to attend Orientation in April. Quick visit, and an overnight with a cadet.</p>
<p>I am in CAP, but I joined quite late, the summer before my junior year, so I really didn't get to do to many of the really cool activities, however, I do know about some of them. For example, through CAP you can do courses such as an undergraduate pilot training orientation course. This is a link with all of the activities, I hope it works
<a href="http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/cadet_programs/index.cfm?nodeID=6521&audienceID=4%5B/url%5D">http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/cadet_programs/index.cfm?nodeID=6521&audienceID=4</a>
I don't know much about boy scouts but like everyone else is saying, do what interests you</p>
<p>I am in CAP, and I enjoy it very much. I have just recently joined, but it is a lot of fun. I was never involved in Boy/Girl Scouts but I think either way you will have a lot of fun and meet great people. Do whichever you think you will enjoy more. I remember being 13, and wanting to go to a SA (I want west point) more than anything and now I am finally appliying. Still, I would say do what you like, even though you just want to please admissions. Admissions wants to see dedication, but you might not be dedicated if you don't like what you're doing. Whatever decision you make, I'm sure you'll do fine.</p>
<p>From what I have seen, being in Scouts and having friends in CAP, the BSA is more varied. CAP is military/aviation oriented, whereas Scouts is geared toward outdoors, citizenship, and life skills. Both organizations do amazing things, it really depends on where your interests lie.</p>
<p>I can tell you, one of the most challenging leadership possitions I have held was Senior Patrol Leader in the scouts. You'd be amazed at how challenging it can be to lead a group of 20 12-16 year olds at meetings and in the field!</p>
<p>I havent been in Boy Scouts since elementary school, but being in CAP for 2 years I can say CAP is a great choice. BS doesn't teach you military customs.</p>
<p>I am a little biased, but I am in the Civil Air Patrol and i Love it! I would pick CAP, thats just me. I did boyscouts but I droped it, frankly because they didnt offer leadershp potential as I wanted and there was more to do in CAP. You can learn to fly. I joined when i was 12, so like i said I am very biased. IN my opinon CAP, offers alot more for my needs. But it is what you want to do sorry. I agree with everyon else.</p>
<p>I am also in Boy Scouts and can say that it definently has prepared me for "life skills" more or less than AFJROTC has (similiar to CAP but not so much). Agreeing with raimius, being Senior Patrol Leader of middle school to high school students has been one of my harder leadership tasks. But just make sure that whatever you choose, you aim for (and hopefully get!) that highest award - Eagle Scout or Billy Mitchell Award</p>
<p>I'd like to chime in for the Explorers here too. If any of the Fire Departments in your area sponsor an Explorer post, I'd definitely look into it. Some people are really into the firefighting thing, I can't say I am. I'm more partial to the medic side of things. After you get EMT they'll let us run calls, it's pretty sweet.</p>
<p>About senior patrol leader. I have new respect for the parents of the world who have to put up with these kids for more then three days over the weekend. :)</p>
<p>And for those reading this thread and wondering; NO, you don't have to be in either one. When it comes to extra curriculum, athletics, leadership, and all the other things the academy is looking for in a cadet, the choices are endless. With the exception of taking the most difficult classes that you can handle at your school, there isn't a "Must Have" list of activities and such that you have to do.</p>
<p>Yes, you pretty much MUST have done sports. (No that is not in stone but you'd have a difficult time getting in without it.). It can be varsity (Preferable), Or other non school related such as martial arts, gymnastics, or other nationally competitive sports. There are plenty of places to get leadership experience and such. Boy scouts and CAP are ok, but aren't the only place. If you're parents are only letting you have one or the other because you WANT BOTH and don't have time, that is cool. If you are wanting either as a means of filling a square to get into the air force academy, then don't take either. Instead, take and do other things that you like. You can be an officer in a club you like. That's leadership. You can be a captain on a sports teams. You can go to boy's state; especially if you are into government and in those types of clubs. You can also volunteer and do other things.</p>
<p>You have to remember that back in the day of us old farts, Boy Scouts and CAP were very prestigious, unique, very "Manly" for boys, and 2 of the rare times for boys to do manly things. The world has changed. There's a lot more ways and a lot less people ever get involved in CAP or boy scouts.</p>
<p>Well, I am going to be really biased towards Boy Scouts because I have been in Boy Scouts since I was 6, but it has been a really good experience. I've never been in CAP but there is plenty of leadership in Boy Scouts. I was a Senior Patrol Leader for a troop of 70 kids, was the Venture Crew President for 3 years, and led a bunch of trips. I've done a lot things in Boy Scouts that were really unique like Philmont, the 2005 National Jamboree, a 10-day hike to the Grand Tetons, canoeing/backpacking in the Adirondacks, about 40 nights backpacking, wilderness survival courses, lots of outdoor stuff, and learned a lot of life skills. I got my Eagle Scout and Ranger Award (highest Venture award) so there are plenty of advancement opportunities. It may not be as regimented as CAP but it certainly was fun and rewarding. (Ok I'm done selling it)</p>
<p>I am not familiar with CAP, but is sounds like an awesome opportunity. Both of my sons are Eagle Scouts and Senior Patrol Leaders and have been involved with scouting since 1st grade. As one poster said, Eagle Scout/Boy Scout is very well known in the civilian world. Something like 2% of scouts become Eagles, and it is something that all MOC will relate to. As a mom, I would have my son do both, if possible, for 6 mos - 1 year in order to make the decision...remember to save time for sports. You might really like one over the other and you won't know it until you've tried them on for size. It might be more convenient for you to try these activities over the summer when you don't have to worry about homework.</p>
<p>Scouting is difficult to stick with. There are times that the Eagle award seems very far off and meetings are broing. But, push through and the fun returns. It's a 4-5 year commitment for you and like everything it will have it's ups and downs. Good Luck deciding on what you want to do!</p>
<p>Honestly, CAP is a complete waste of time. The most useful thing I earned out of there was my PPL. Some of the kids in my squadron are like 18-20 and that's all they ever do is CAP. It's like "c'mon bro, get a job or somethin'". It looks good on a resume, you get a crazy amount of volunteer time (I ended up with like 500 hours), and you get to do a few fun things like flying, encampment, etc. Just don't tell anyone you were in CAP, they'll laugh..</p>
<p>Like most things in life you will get out what you put in. There will always be some better programs, and some that are worse. Doesn't matter if it Boy Scouts, CAP, AFJROTC, SEACadets, Honor Society, Key Club or any of the hundreds of others if you participate, and bring something to the table you will get something back.</p>
<p>When talking about these things in the application phase showing participation, and the discipline to stay with something as mentioned before is the important thing. When you arrive at USAFA you will be (1) of 1200-1300 new cadets, and on an equal level with most all of them. Some will excell at sports. others academics, but all will have faced the same obstacles getting in. You are going to want to be part of the "Team". If you show up thinking I was my CAP/AFJROTC Squadron Commander, or Captain of the Football Team, and I am better than the rest you will be corrected.</p>
<p>That said it is probably good advice not to volunteer that you were in CAP or AFJROTC. Be quiet and help your squadmates with the things you can, and survive the BEAST.</p>
<p>Excellent suggestions ds. The fact is; EVERYONE is gets accepted to the academy has covered the squares of academics, athletics, leadership, EC, volunteer time, etc... What actual activities you did is not important. What is important is that you recognize that every other cadet did it also. So it isn't more or less important if you did JRROTC, CAP, Boy Scouts, or if you did captain of the football team, boy's state, secretary of the NHS.</p>
<p>The point is, there are some that believe that certain activities are looked upon better than others by the admissions board. They aren't. Team sports is team sports; academics and good grades is the same; leadership is leadership. Basically, do what you like to do. Don't do CAP or boy scouts because you think it will get you in. Do it because you like it. If you prefer boy's state and being an officer in a club, do that.</p>
<p>I was a boy scout, and now have a 14 year old son in Civil Air Patrol. I am also a Senior Member in Civil Air Patrol now. I liked boy scouts, but think I would have MUCH rather done Civil Air Patrol as a kid (if I had known about it). Civil Air Patrol is the real deal - it is an Air Force Auxiliary unit that performs almost all inland missions for the Air Force. Cadets learn about emergency services, search & rescue, and aerospace education. Cadets can learn to fly in one of over 500 Civil Air Patrol planes (largest civil air fleet in the world). There is the real opportunity to not only learn, but participate in REAL emergency services when the Air Force calls on us. Civil Air Patrol was first in the sky providing aid on September 11 after the towers were hit! Cadets can also earn flight scholarships, and enter as an E3 in the USAF if they progress through the ranks of CAP and decide to enter military (no obligation). Cadets do projects, encampments, national student activities (like glider and powered flight schools).</p>