Texas Wing
Recruiting Page
Our Congressionally mandated missions are "what we do" and "why we do it." But people are how we get it done.
Successful organizations make recruiting one of their top priorities. Why don't we?
This site provides a resource for CAP members interested in improving the effectiveness of their unit recruiting efforts.If your unit doesn't have any structured recruiting efforts, the material here should help you get started. Even if you feel confident you have a handle on recruiting, you might pick up something valuable from what's here. Perhaps most importantly, members can make this forum more powerful by directly contributing good ideas and lessons learned.
If you are not convinced that
recruiting is essential to our organization's well being, please read about Program Sustainment. The
description of the Program Sustainment Model should offer you some insight
into the role recruiting plays in the life cycle
of you unit. Another important concept to understand in connection with
recruiting and program sustainment is member attrition. The dangerous effects of attrition are more serious in the Cadet Program, so
let's look at that first.
Statistics from National Headquarters
show that new members have approximately a 50% renewal rate after the first year. That means for every two Cadets that join, only one will be back after one year.
This rather depressing statistic applies to average,
mainstream squadrons. Exceptional units can have renewal rates up to 65 -
70%, weak squadrons can fall as low as 25%. If no one ever left after making it past the first renewal year, all would be well,
and unit would grow. But we all know that Cadets move on, some to other activities, family relocation, but by far most Cadets leave
the program for the most predictable reason -- High School graduation. Cadets have an expiration date. They will leave sooner
or later. That reality has a huge effect on maintaining unit strength. Unfortunately, many squadrons either don't realize this, or they
ignore it.
Cadets should face their membership "mortality" and accept responsibility to recruit their replacement. Considering the 50% renewal rate, in order to replace one Cadet, two are needed. Therefore, for your squadron to maintain strength, every Cadet needs to recruit two new members. It's no coincidence that two new members earns a Recruiting Ribbon. For your unit to grow, members need to recruit more than two.
There's no guaranteed, fill-in-the-blank formula for a precision recruiting plan. More is better if you're prepared for them. Stress that it's everyone's responsibility to recruit. Look at the distribution of ages and school grades in your Cadet ranks. Don't let graduation surprise you. It's usually your most senior Cadets in responsible positions that leave then.
The rest of this site focuses on recruiting tips, techniques, and resources.
Where Imagination Takes Flight