On-line presentation in the TRAINING LEADERS of CADETS curriculum

“Strategic Perspective” Block Lesson S2

Electronic AlmanacDemographics About Cadets & The

Cadet Program

Overview & objectives

Summarize key demographicsabout cadets and the Cadet Program.

Compare your squadron’s statistics with national averages to gain a more complete perspective aboutyour unit.

Statistics are current as of June 2005. Some data have been rounded.

Cadet demographics at a glance

CadetsMedian age 14.8Gender ratio 80% male; 20% female

The Cadet ProgramTotal cadet membership 21,193Retention rate 31% first year; 47% overallNumber of cadet units 844 nation-wide, including 5 overseas

unitsSchool Program units 47Average unit size 20 cadets

Retention

Retention

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Year

Perc

ent R

enew

ing

Retention SeniorsRetention Cadets

The retention rate – the percentage of cadets and seniors who renew their membership each year – is a key factor in CAP’s overall membership strength. As you will learn in other TLC seminars, the two most important keys to cadet retention are strong adult leadership and challenging activities.

Total CAP membership

CAP Membership

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Cadets Seniors

Although CAP’s total membership has seen some peaks and troughs over the years, when viewed from a 30-year perspective, membership has remained relatively constant, with approximately 25,000 cadets and 60,000 total members.

Cadet ages

Cadet Ages

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Num

ber of

Cad

ets

The median age for cadets is 14.5 years, and the bulk of CAP’s cadets are between the 7th and 11th grades at school.

Nevertheless, it is very common for squadrons to have a “one room schoolhouse” consisting of early-adolescents and college-age cadets.

Cadet milestone awards

Rate of Earning Milestone Awards

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Phase IWrightBrothers

Phase IIMitchell

Phase IIIEarhart

Phase IVEaker

SpaatzAward

Perc

enta

ge o

f Cad

ets

Earn

ing

Aw

ard

Since the Wright Brothers Award was created in 2003, 25% of cadets have qualified for it by completing Phase I.

That statistic underlines the importance of getting new cadets off to a good start in CAP, and the importance of squadrons having strong adult leaders and mentoring programs.

Ten largest cadet units

s Sheldon Cadet Texas 245 cadetss Stoddert Middle School Cadet National Capital 113s Rome City School District CadetNew York 96

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Maryland 80Southside Composite Virginia 77Rochester Cadet New York 67

Sugarland Composite Texas 67s Creighton Cadet Pennsylvania 66

Peachtree City Falcon Field Georgia 65Concord Cadet New Hampshire 62

The CAP School Program is growing. Some of the largest cadet units are School Program Squadrons. 98% of cadet units have fewer than 50 cadets.

s Denotes CAP School Program squadron

FY 08 corporate budget

Income Expenses

Senior Dues

$1,299,170

53 ¢

Cadet Dues$955,993

39 ¢

Other$196,101

8 ¢

Cadets$808,917

33¢

ES$73,538

3¢

Development

$196,1018¢

Support$612,816

25¢

$2,451,265 Total annual budget “Corporate” funds are derived from member dues & donations, not tax dollars.

PD$196,101

8¢

PA$318,664

13¢

Cash Reserve$73,538

4¢Special Events

$73,5385¢

Contingency

$73,5381¢

FY 08 appropriated budget

Income Expenses

Support$21,090,20

080¢

$26,553,000 Total annual budget “Appropriated” funds are derived from tax dollars, not member dues.Other

$694,0423%

Procurement

$4,086,80015%

O & M$21,722,00

082%

CP$3,451,890

13¢

Missions$14,338,62

054¢

AE$2,920,830

11¢

Admin/Other

$2,653,30010¢Wing

Administrators

$2,387,9709¢

PD$796,590

3¢

Other funds

Grants $0 last year

State Funding $3,952,349 last year

Partnerships $10,000 last year Part

ners

hip

s

State FundingG

ran

ts

Conclusions

Recruiting seniors is just as important as recruiting cadets. Cadets need leaders, and as more adults join, more cadets do as well.

Every squadron can grow by improving cadet retention.

The Cadet Program strongly appeals to the 13-16 year old age group. Squadrons should target students in the 8th and 9th grades during recruiting drives.

CAP needs to do a better job at getting new cadets off to a good start and through Phase I. Strong adult leadership and effective mentoring programs are key.

CAP is a non-profit that draws its financial resources from members, governments, and the aerospace community. Squadrons should look for partners in their community to help support local projects.

What other conclusions can you draw from the data? Discuss your ideas at TLC.