Disillusionment

I've been in the cadet program for about 5 years know and I have become completely disillusioned with the entire organization. As I've aged, been promoted, and taken on the responsibilities associated with the higher rank, it has become increasingly clear that no one cares about the programs main mission: developing cadets. Officers and SNCOs are more interested in debating what the regulations say than doing something beneficial.

No one can follow every single regulation perfectly, and there are what I like to call "regulation zealots," usually younger SNCOs and officers, who will borderline harass cadets who cannot read CAPR 60-1 from memory, constantly telling them that they are not following x obscure regulation. When asked to justify this, I always hear, "how are they going to know that what they are doing is wrong." This response completely misses the point I am trying to make, as it is not the correction itself I have a problem with, but the frequency and how minute many of these infractions are. Constantly seeking out small errors to correct is not education, it is hazing. These zealots use the regulations to justify making cadets feel small and to obtain some gratification from thinking they are smarter than their target. I have conducted many exit interviews of good cadets who say that this was extremely demotivating for them and cite it as their primary reason for their departure.

Despite all of this, I know that regulations play an extremely important role in cadet development, providing the blueprint of a successful, disciplined cadet. For example, if it were not for the uniform regulations, most CAP cadets would look like slobs in their uniform (I know you guys), but even then, younger cadets have a lower inspection requirement than more senior cadets. This is because, as I have said, it is especially overwhelming for younger cadets to follow all of the uniform requirements.

I really just wanted to put my frustrations into words, and any critique is welcome. I hope this can help someone be more self aware, as most of the time it is done without malice and the effect it has on cadets is not intended. Remember, cadets are like plants. Where plants need water, cadets need redirection. Don't drown your crops folks.