Ranks & Promotions

A defining part of the Civil Air Patrol cadet experience is earning rank and promoting. 

The ranks of the cadet program are divided into four phases:

• Phase I - The Learning Phase     C/Amn through C/SSgt

• Phase II - The Leadership Phase     C/TSgt through C/2d Lt

• Phase III - The Command Phase     C/2d Lt (Achievement 9) through C/Capt

• Phase IV - The Executive Phase     C/Capt (Achievement 12) through C/Lt Col

• and while not a phase, C/Col is referred to as the "pinnacle"

Here at the squadron we do see things a little bit differently because we adopt a more military-esque view point, we see our cadets as either "airmen", "NCOs", or "officers" which varies slightly from the phasing above. Please click the links below to find out more.

Cadet Airman     Cadet NCO     Cadet Officer

The Process

Other squadrons may do things differently, but this is our process for handling promotions here at the squadron. 

1.  At-Home eServices Courses

     a. For Achievement 1, the “Cadet Welcome Course” must be completed first.
     b. For most achievements, one Leadership Course (Interactive and/or Test) must be completed. To receive the optional Honor Credit, both the Interactive and Test must be completed.
     c. For most achievements, one Aerospace (Interactive and/or Test) must be completed. To receive the optional Honor Credit, both the Interactive and Test must be completed.

2.  Tasks Completed on Meeting Nights

     a. For Achievement 1, participation in the “Cadet Wingman Course” is required. This in-person course will be given on a regular meeting night within 8 weeks of the formation of a new Cadet Training Flight (CTF). Participation will fulfill the Character Development Forum (Character) requirement for this achievement.
     b. For most achievements, participation in one Character Development forum is required. These in-person discussions are scheduled once a month on a regular meeting night.
     c. For Milestone Award (e.g. Wright Brothers Award, Billy Mitchell Award) testing and special requirements such as speeches, the cadet should email a request one week in advance to their:
          i. Flight Sergeant,
          ii. Flight Commander,
          iii. TO and ATOs, and
          iv. Administration (Admin).
The cadet’s Flight Commander will schedule the test or speech on a mutually agreed-upon meeting night.

3.  Cadet Physical Fitness Test (CFPT)

     a. A Fitness component is to be completed within the previous 180 days (6 months) of reaching each achievement.
          i. Achievement 1 requires the cadet to “attempt the CPFT as a baseline.”
          ii. Achievements 2 and 3 require the cadet to “participate in one activity and have attempted the CPFT.”
          iii. Achievements 4 – 16 and the Eaker Award require the cadet to “participate in one activity and have attained a Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ).”
          iv. Further guidance on the CFPT and other details can be found in CAPP 60-50, dated February 2018 and Chapter 5.4.5 of CAPR 60-1, dated 05 OCT 21.
     b. CFPTs are given once per month at a Saturday Foxhunt, as demand dictates. Foxhunts are mandatory; however, if a cadet cannot attend due to circumstances outside of their control, they may request a CFPT for a regular meeting night by emailing their Flight Commander.

4.  Drill & Ceremonies Performance Test (Drill Test)

After completing the at-home coursework (Leadership and Aerospace), the cadet may request a Drill Test.
     a. Cadets must use the on-line Drill Test Request form, found on their flight’s page of the squadron’s website, to schedule a Drill Test on their desired regular meeting night date.
          i. Alpha Flight https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/alpha-flight
          ii. Bravo Flight https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/bravo-flight
          iii. CTF https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/cadet-training-flight
     b. Requests are due by 2359 on the Thursday before the next meeting.
     c. Cadets must prove eligibility for the Drill Test by:
          i. Attaching a screenshot of the “Cadet Promotions Track Report” from eServices, and
          ii. Entering completion dates for the prerequisite tasks of Leadership and Aerospace.
     d. Upon submitting the form, a linked spreadsheet is automatically updated and is accessible to the following parties: :
          i. Flight Sergeant,
          ii. Flight Commander,
          iii. TO/ATOs, and
          iv. Admin.
     e. The cadet’s Flight Commander will do their best to schedule and administer the Drill Test for the requested or subsequent meeting night. All Drill tests will be supervised by a TO or ATO (CAPR 60-1, 5.4.2).
     f. Following a successful Drill Test, the supervising TO/ATO will submit the paper form to Admin for prompt entry into eServices.

5.  Promotion Review Board Meeting (PRB) – Leadership Feedback Meetings

After completing Drill Test, Character, and PT requirements, the cadet may request a PRB.
     a. Cadets working on Wright Brothers and above may only schedule PRBs for a regular meeting night at which the designated uniform is the Class B blue service uniform (Blues). Cadets must use the on-line PRB Request form, found on their flight’s page of the squadron’s website, to schedule a PRB.
     b. Cadets working on Achievements 1, 2, and 3 must use the on-line PRB Request form, found on their flight’s page of the squadron’s website, to schedule a PRB on their desired regular meeting night date. For Achievements 1, 2 and 3, cadets may wear the uniform of the day to their PRB. Please note that even on a Blues night, cadets who do not yet have Blues may wear the Airman’s Battle Uniform (ABUs).
          i. Alpha Flight https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/alpha-flight
          ii. Bravo Flight https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/bravo-flight
          iii. CTF https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/cadet-training-flight
     c. Requests are due by 2359 on the Thursday before the next meeting.
     d. Cadets must prove eligibility for the PRB by:
          i. Attaching a screenshot of the “Cadet Promotions Track Report” from eServices, and
          ii. Entering completion dates for the prerequisite tasks of Drill Test, Character, and PT.
     e. Upon submitting the form, a linked spreadsheet is automatically updated and is accessible to the following parties::
          i. Flight Sergeant,
          ii. Flight Commander,
          iii. TO/ATOs, and
          iv. Admin.
     e. Prior to scheduling a PRB, the Flight Commander will verify that the cadet has fulfilled the attendance requirements outlined in the Los Alamitos Squadron 153 [Cadet] Standard Operating Procedures (Squadron SOP), found on the squadron’s website. https://sq153.cap.gov/cadet-corner/memory-work/sop
     f. The cadet’s Flight Commander will do their best to schedule and administer the PRB for the requested or subsequent meeting night. All PRBs will be supervised by a TO or ATO as outlined in Chapter 2.7 of CAPP 60-31, dated December 2022.
     g. Following a successful PRB, the supervising TO/ATO will submit the paper form to Admin for prompt entry into eServices.

6.  Promotion and Pinning

     a. Admin will promote the cadet in eServices upon receipt of an approved PRB.
     b. The pinning of the cadet will be done on the first Blues night following the promotion. Cadets who do not yet have Blues may be pinned wearing ABUs.
     c. A TO or ATO will send an email to promoting cadets and their parents by the Monday preceding the meeting, informing them of the upcoming pinning ceremony.