Education and Training FAQ

Training levels and requirements

I know that the Level I student guide is in the Learning Management System (LMS) for new members, but I'm the PDO and will be conducting the Summary conversation and Plan of Action with the member. Where can I get access to the Level I materials?

The Level I Orientation student guide and instructor materials are available as CAPP 50-4.

What is the General Benjamin O. Davis Award?

The Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award is awarded to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members who complete Level II of the Senior Member Professional Development Program. It recognizes those members who have dedicated themselves to leadership and personal development in the CAP. This award honors the late General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., a pioneering military officer who was the leader of the fabled Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and the first African American to become a General in the US Air Force. See CAPR 40-1, Chapter 4 for requirements.

Where can I find the requirements for each of the five levels of CAP's PD program?

A quick chart showing all the requirements can be found at CAPR 40-1, CAP Senior Member Education and Training Program, Attachment 2. A narrative summary can be found in the same regulation, para 1.2. Alternatively, please see our Volunteer University homepage at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/members/ed-training/volu-main.

For the Level III senior member professional development requirements, when it asks for two conferences attended, do conferences attended before the member was in Level III count?

The short answer is yes, but only those conferences attended as a senior member. Conferences attended as a cadet do not count towards this requirement. Also note that a CAP aerospace education conference may count toward one of the two conferences in this requirement.

Learning Management System

Where can I find information about CAP's LMS?

The CAP Learning Management System is accessible through eServices. The LMS provides CAP with an internal learning platform that provides world-class education and training to cadets and members. Most CAP online courses and quizzes are accessible through the LMS.

The LMS can be accessed by logging into eServices and clicking on "Online Learning" > "Learning Management System"

If a course is not listed, please call CAP Professional Development at 334-953-7747 x 405 and they will help you.

Where can I find CAP's online courses and exams?

CAP's online courses and exams have been moved from the eServices Learning Management System to the new AXIS system. The AXIS system can be found by going to the old LMS system and clicking at the AXIS link at the top.

How do I enter the Skills Evaluations for Level 1 Orientation and Cadet CPPT into the Learning Management System (LMS)?

Authorized Senior Members will use the LMS to enter the in-residence/conversation portion of the course. To enter the summary conversation, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Conduct conversation with Cadet.

Step 2: Log into eServices and click on the Learning Management System (LMS) tab under CAP Utilities.

Step 3: Once in the LMS, choose, “Mentor Input/Skills Eval” near the top of the left menu.

Step 4: From the “step 1” drop down, select the appropriate course, for example “Level I Orientation”.

Step 5: Click on “Senior Leadership summary conversation entry” under “step 2: Skill”. (This must be highlighted)

Step 6: Enter the date completed in “step 3: Completed”.

Step 7: Enter the cadet, or multiple cadet, CAP IDs in “step 4”.

Step 8: Click on the “Verify Member” to verify the CAP IDs at the bottom right of the CAP ID box.

Step 9: Once the CAP IDs are confirmed, click the “Submit” tab.

When the member has completed all the requirements; the quizzes and conversation, an e-mail will be automatically generated and sent to the commander in “Commander’s Corner” with instructions on how to validate completion of the course. If the commander clicks on the link in the email, they will be taken directly to the approval page. The unit commander must validate completion, signifying that the cadet has completed the course to their satisfaction. Once the commander has validated completion online, the member will receive credit for the course.

Officer and NCO PME equivalencies and courses

Which officer/NCO professional military education (PME) courses are available to CAP senior members?

In general, the Air Force allows CAP officers/NCOs to enroll in the correspondence (distance learning) program commensurate with their CAP grade:

PME Course	CAP Grade
NCO Academy	TSgt, MSgt, SMSgt, CMSgt only
Senior NCO Academy	MSgt, SMSgt, CMSgt only
Squadron Officer School	Captain or higher
Air Command and Staff College	Major or higher
Air War College	Lieutenant Colonel or higher

CAP members must note that an additional USAF requirement for enrollment is completion of a baccalaureate degree. Transcripts will be required as proof of graduation for officer PME.

Only the 100% online programs are available to CAP officers/NCOs. Seminar and Master-degree conferring programs are not open to CAP officers.

To begin the application process for any of these courses, log into eServices, select "Online Learning," and then select the PME course of choice.

I am a retired Air Force officer/NCO. I'd like to know what, if any, credit CAP affords me for the professional military education (PME) I've completed.

CAP offers equivalency credit to US military members active, Reserve, Guard, retired or discharged. The table below is a broad example and discusses USAF PME only. Other services' courses/sources of the same type may also qualify for credit. Please see CAPR 50-17, Professional Development Program, Attachment 2 for more detail or e-mail LMMEFORMS@capnhq.gov with specific questions.

To request credit, please e-mail a copy of your records brief or DD-214 (with SSANs removed) to LMMEFORMS@capnhq.gov.

Note: each equivalency may only be used once and may not be changed after credit is given.

Specialty tracks

Where can I find more information about the different specialty tracks and the training required for each?

The Professional Development Specialty Training Program is the focal point of all senior member specialty training within CAP and provides a uniform knowledge base for CAP members at all levels. This helps to ensure the quality of specialty training throughout all CAP units. This consistent foundation of training and experience for members allows them to perform the missions required by the Air Force and CAP.

For links to the current pamphlets see CAP Pamphlets on the Forms and Pubs page at www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Once there, select "Members" from the top of the page, then Publications Library, then Pamphlets.

Each specialty track pamphlet is unique, but in general they all contain general information, duties to be performed at each training level, as well as knowledge, training and service requirements. Most have convenient checklists so that trainees can track their progress with their mentor.

What form do I need to use to "officially" select one or more Senior Member Specialty Tracks? I have been told that I must have one selected and on record at NHQ before I can attend an SLS.

Enrollment and progression in a specialty is entered using the specialty Track Module in eServices (access limited to command and certain staff as outlined below).

Specialty Tracks Online: Professional development officers, personnel officers, administrative officers, vice commanders and commanders may request updates to specialty track assignments and ratings through eServices. Unit commanders must approve these requests and the member’s record will be automatically updated. If this request is not approved, an e-mail will go back to the requesting official explaining why the request was rejected. Access to this application is tied to these duty assignments. Aerospace education is the only specialty track you will not be able to update using this program. Contact your unit professional development officer. for more information on specialty tracks, see CAPR 50-17.

Professional development courses

Who leads the summary conversation for the Level One course? Is this conversation in addition to or a substitute for the online Level I Orientation Course in the Learning Management System?

The summary conversation may be given by the Unit Commander or the Professional Development officer for the unit. This conversation is given in addition to and after the new member completes the Level I coursework in the Learning Management System. CAPP 50-4, "Level I Orientation" contains both the student readings (minus the quizzes) as well as the summary conversation lesson plans.

The Commander, the Deputy Commander or the PDO can certify that the Summary Conversation has taken place by doing the following:

Log into eServices and select the Learning Management System (LMS). On the left hand side of the LMS homepage, select "Mentor Input/Skills Eval. The Mentor Input page should appear.

On the Mentor Input page, there are four steps. Step 1 asks for the course, select: Level I "Starting Your Journey." Step 2 will auto-populate, Step 3 asks for the date, fill in the date the conversation took place. Step 4 asks for the CAPID(s) of the members who took the conversation. Then, hit the blue button.

If this operation was completed correctly, AND the student has also completed all the online tasks (the quiz and the EO agreement), a notification will appear in the unit commander's "Commander's Corner" to approve successful completion of Level I. Please note that the commander's approval in Commander's Corner must take place even if it was the commander who validated the summary conversation.

Miscellaneous

Where can I find test control and inventory requirements?

Test control and inventory requirements can be found in CAPR 40-2, Test Administration and Security.

Where can I find information on Air University Press professional journals and other publications?

AU Press publishes a wide variety of unclassified professional papers and journals covering everything from military leadership, to history and biography, to strategic military planning. These documents are available for download at http://aupress.maxwell.af.mil.

I'm trying to find out if there is a regulation for the use of USAF/CAP grade abbreviations as opposed to using US Army abbreviations (Capt. John Doe, CAP as opposed to CPT John Doe, CAP).

DAFH 33-337, The Tongue and Quill, provides an excellent guide to using abbreviations for grade among the services. CAP uses the Air Force style.

I will be assuming command of a squadron. Is there a transition guide that details the paperwork and other required reporting?

Congratulations. Check with your wing for guidance on specific requirements for unit commanders in your wing and region. In addition there are many resources available to help you be successful as a new commander.

If you haven't yet completed the Unit Commanders Course, please do so. It is your primary source for getting your head around the job. If you took the course prior to April 2017, consider reading the new materials released in 2017. It is quite different and more practical. You can find it on the CAP University page at https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/members/cap-university/2017ucc/

Additionally, a "Just in Time" Workbook for New Unit Commanders has been released (CAPP 40-2). it'll offer a lot of help too.