Safety Compliance Requirements at Cadet Activities                                                Date: 29 May, 2013

It is essential that Commanders, their Deputies and Activity Officers are fully aware of which activities are considered routine, which require specific approval and which are always forbidden.

CAPR 52-16 Cadet Programs Management, December 2012, section 2-6. specifies that:

All adults who work directly with cadets are expected to apply operational risk management (ORM now called ORS - Operational Risk & Safety) principles during cadet activities. The regulation states “Typically, special ORM requirements apply to activities that are 2 days in duration or longer.” As you read on however, you will see that they are also applicable to flight training, flight operations and flight line management and especially to High Adventure Activities (HAA*). The bottom line is that risk analysis needs to be a factor in planning any cadet activity. Tennessee Wing has adopted the Civil Air Patrol Guide to Operational Risk Management and its related analysis form.

High Adventure Activities include: rappelling, obstacle/confidence courses, canoeing/kayaking, ropes courses, indoor skydiving, paintball/simunitions, water survival and firearms training. These and other similar activities require that you not only to perform the risk analysis, but also submit a CAPF 54 for the Wing Commander’s approval, at least 60 days prior to the proposed event.

As quoted in the last section of this instruction, CAPR 62-1 also encourages Commanders to appoint a Cadet Safety Officer for all Units and Activities that involve cadets, a concept strongly endorsed by the Tennessee Wing as part of growing a ‘Safety Culture’ within the wing’s Cadet Programs.

In Addition, compliance with attachment 2 of CAPP 52-18, THE CADET PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM (April 2003) which covers Training in Hot Environments and the fluid replacement and work load limitations, is MANDATORY per CAPR 52-16, Cadet Program Management.

You are also reminded that staff attending activities of 4 nights duration or more, must complete Required Staff Training (RST) and that this is a good time to check that cadets who are eligible (17 and older) have completed Cadet Protection Program Training (CPPT).

For further guidance on these and other Safety related issues, refer to CAPR 62-1, CAP Safety Responsibilities and Procedures, and the Safety Education pages on the National web-site.

Group Commanders are expected to assist in ensuring that their subordinate units are aware of and comply with these Regulations.

CAP REGULATION 52-16 (21 DECEMBER 2012)

CADET PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

2-9. Flight Safety.

a. Flight Safety Training. For cadet activities that involve formal flight instruction, operational flying or intensive flight line work (but not CAP or military orientation flights), special safety requirements may apply. See CAPR 60-1 and CAPR 62-1 for details.

b. Parachuting and Ultralight Vehicles. Cadets may not fly ultralights, aerolights, para-sail or engage in similar activities at CAP activities. Parachuting is also prohibited as a cadet activity. However, indoor skydiving (i.e. using a vertical wind tunnel) is permitted.

2-10. High Adventure Activities.

With “challenge” being one of the key traits of cadet life (see paragraph 1-2), commanders are encouraged to offer cadets youth-scaled, high adventure activities (HAA). HAAs include rappelling, obstacle courses, low-ropes courses, water survival courses and similar endeavors. Short day hikes, compass courses and bivouacs are routine aspects of cadet life and therefore are not considered HAAs. Unit commanders and activity directors will submit a completed CAPF 54, Civil Patrol High Adventure Activity Request, to the wing commander for approval, at least 60 days in advance of the event. Also, the unit commander or activity director will use the CAPF 54 to inform the wing commander on the safety precautions that will be in place. HAAs will be conducted only with the wing commander’s approval using CAPF 54. Cadets must obtain written permission from their parent or legal guardian via a completed CAPF 31, Application for CAP Encampment or Special Activity, to participate in HAAs.

a. Safety Precautions. Activity directors must take the safety precautions shown below when conducting HAAs. They are also encouraged to review the Operational Risk Management pages at on the National web-site.

(1) Emergency Plan. The activity director (or designee) will develop a plan for responding to medical emergencies on the course. The plan must include the ability to communicate quickly with 911 or emergency responders.

(2) Staff Walk-Through. Before cadets participate in HAAs, a senior member and a representative from the organization that manages the facility or program must walk-through the course together and discuss the challenges and safety issues presented by each obstacle or activity.

They will decide together which obstacles or activities are appropriate for cadets, which should be modified (if feasible), and which will be considered off-limits.

(3) Cadets’ Walk-Through. An instructor must walk-through the course or activity with the cadets, explaining the proper methods for completing the various challenges presented. (For leadership reaction courses, instructors provide a general safety but do not reveal the puzzle’s solution.) 
CAPR 52-16 (21 DECEMBER 2012)

(4) Spotters. Spotters or safety monitors should be stationed at the most challenging stations, ready to assist cadets as needed.

(5) Safety and Accommodations. Activity directors will make reasonable accommodations so that cadets who have special needs or physical limitations can safely participate in HAAs (e.g.: provide an extra spotter, provide a boost over obstacles, etc.). However, if the nature of the HAA makes the activity inappropriate for a cadet’s particular abilities, the activity director may limit that cadet’s participation.

b. Scouting. CAP units that are dual-chartered with a Scouting program will conduct HAAs within this regulation or unmistakably conduct itself under the auspices of the Scouting program only (see paragraph 10-2).

c. Rappelling. Rappel training is a HAA encouraged as a confidence-building event. Cadets will rappel during CAP activities only under the following conditions:

(1) Personnel and Facility. Cadets will rappel only on DoD / National Guard / Fire Department installations and under the supervision of DoD / National Guard / Fire Department personnel qualified to teach rappelling safely; or on DoD / National Guard / Fire Department installations and under the supervision of CAP senior members trained and qualified on a DoD / National Guard-approved Rappel Instructor Syllabus; or under the supervision of current and qualified DoD rappel-masters.

(2) Safety Equipment. Cadets must wear protective equipment, to include, at minimum, helmets and gloves during rappel training. Cadets will use equipment that has been properly inspected and approved for use by qualified DoD / National Guard / Fire Department rappel-masters or by CAP senior members trained and qualified on a DoD/ National Guard-approved Rappel Instructor Syllabus.

(3) Waivers. Wing commanders may authorize use of commercial or CAP instructors, facilities and/or equipment by granting a waiver in advance and in writing. The wing commander must be satisfied that the rappelling activity will be carried out with the utmost regard for safety and that commercial installations, instructors and/or equipment meet or exceed established DoD standards.

d. Rock Climbing. Simulated rock climbing (ie: rock walls or indoor climbing) is permitted as a cadet activity when conducted at a commercial or government facility. It is not considered a HAA.

2-11. Weapons. There will be no firearms, air guns, paint guns or any devices that could be used as weapons at cadet activities. The only exceptions to this policy are:

a. Deactivated Firearms. Cadets may use facsimile or deactivated firearms only as part of an honor guard or color guard. A deactivated firearm is one that will prevent the insertion of ammunition or the firing of a weapon. A facsimile is a copy that is not capable of firing ammunition.

b. Firearm Training. Cadets may participate in firearm training if the wing commander approves the training facility and sponsoring personnel or agency in advance and in writing. For additional guidance, see CAPR 900-3, Firearms: Assistance to Law Enforcement Officials. Training must be sponsored and supervised by military personnel qualified as range officers or range safety officers; local law enforcement officers qualified as firearms instructors; or National Rifle Association, National Skeet Shooting Association or Amateur Trap Shooting Association firearms instructors.

c. Paint Ball and Simunitions. Due to liability, public image and safety considerations, paintball is not authorized as a stand-alone CAP activity. However, to maximize career orientation opportunities, cadets may participate in paint ball or simunition-type (force-on-force marking cartridge) training activities only with the written permission of the wing commander, and only under the supervision of a law enforcement agency or military unit. During these activities, cadets must wear protective equipment to include, at a minimum, head and face protection, plus any additional gear required by the host agency. Throughout the event, cadets must be under the direct supervision of a non-participating senior member. Cadets must also obtain written permission from their parent or legal guardian via a completed CAPF 31, Application for CAP Encampment or Special Activity, to participate in paint ball or simunition-type activities.

CAP REGULATION 62-1 (19 DECEMBER 2012)

Safety

3e. Cadet Safety Officer Responsibilities.

A cadet should be assigned as an assistant to the unit staff safety officer in all units (squadrons, wings, regions and national level) that have cadet members actively participating. The primary role of the cadet safety officer is to study and mentor under the supervision of the unit safety officer. The cadet safety 
officer will learn the primary functions of the unit safety officer and be given the opportunity to 
demonstrate skills in safety leadership, education and presentations. Cadet safety officers will provide liaisons between the unit safety officer and cadet command staff. This position is limited to cadets in Phases II through IV. NOTE: Cadet Safety Officers may be Phase II NCOs at the flight and squadron-level ONLY.

(1) Cadet safety officers will NOT act as the primary safety officer for a unit at any level and will not be held responsible for tasks that are the primary responsibility of the unit safety officer.

(2) Cadet safety officers will be responsible for completing appropriate cadet safety officer training.

Note: the preceding information is a compendium of material extracted from several publications and is intended as a summary for information purposes only. Commanders, Activity Directors and others are expected to read and comply with the original documents which are available on the NHQ web-site.

Bill Lane, Col, CAP
Commander