By Captain Jay A. Sliwinski, CAP
STAFF DUTY ANALYSIS:
CAP’S RUBIX CUBE
CADET TRAINING
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
CAPP52-14 PAGE 1
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 Achievement
Phase 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
CAPP52-14 PAGE 3
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 Review
CAPP52-14 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.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 4
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.
2.
3.
4.
Do you answer the questions asked?
Are the performance requirements completed?
Are they in the your own words?
Is the report neatly prepared?
 Doesn’t have to be a Doctoral Thesis, but should be
grammatically correct.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 4
Format of the SDA Report:
 Part A: Overview of Requirements:
CAP Publications
2. Suspenses Required
3. Performance Requirements:
1.
 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)
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?
1.
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.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 3
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.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 3
Staff Service:
How You Will Be Evaluated:
 Not formally evaluated.
 Feedback through mentoring.
 Use the following guidelines are used:
Performance requirements completed?
2. Were you attentive to staff officer’s OJT?
3. Did you actively assist in completing routine
tasks as opportunities arose.
1.
CAPP52-14 PAGE 3
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.