FAQs
Q: WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR NBB 2024?
Q: WHO SHOULD ATTEND NATIONAL BLUE BERET?
Q: WHY SHOULD A CADET ATTEND NBB?
Q: WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NBB?
Q: HOW DO I PAY FOR THE ACTIVITY?
Q: WHO SUPERVISES THE CADETS AT NBB?
Q: ARE THERE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIVITY?
Q: WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING AND DINING FACILITIES ARE USED?
Q: HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR NBB?
Q: WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO BRING TO NBB?
Q: WHAT IF I AM TRAVELING ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO NBB?
Q: WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE NBB CHECK-IN PROCESS?
Q: MAY FAMILY COME TO NBB AND VISIT DURING THE ACTIVITY?
Q: HOW DO I CONTACT A PARTICIPANT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
Q: IS THERE A GRADUATION CEREMONY?
Q: WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR NBB 2024?
A: 15 July - 29 July 2024
Q: WHO SHOULD ATTEND NATIONAL BLUE BERET?
A: Any cadet who is a current member of CAP and who has previously attended an encampment can apply to attend NBB. Cadets not in Physical Fitness Category 1 must contact admin@nbb.cap.gov. Accommodations can be made in some cases. Cadets must be able to stand for long periods in all weather conditions and walk/run distances up to a mile at a time. Being an aviation enthusiast helps, too.
Q: WHY SHOULD A CADET ATTEND NBB?
A:
-
For the experience of aviation up-close-and-personal
-
To be part of something larger than yourself
-
It provides an outstanding leadership and training forum for cadets and cadet staff members.
-
It provides an opportunity to meet cadets from other wings and begin lifelong friendships.
-
It provides an opportunity for cadets to learn about all three Civil Air Patrol Missions and the importance of teamwork.
-
It provides an opportunity to take a deep dive into the philosophy of servant leadership in a work environment.
Q: WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NBB?
A: The cadet must be at least 16 years of age and under 21 for the entirety of the activity and have attended an encampment. Please check the website under “Quals” for the remaining ES qualifications.
Q: HOW DO I PAY FOR THE ACTIVITY?
A: In eServices, in the Registration and Payment System.
Q: PARENT: “MY SON/DAUGHTER HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HOME BEFORE. BUT THIS IS TWO WEEKS LONG. IS THIS EVER A PROBLEM?”
A: Normally, this is not a problem. Even though cadets attending are older and have been away from home before, they do get homesick; this is quite normal. The schedule at NBB is extremely busy. Most “downtime” is used for fun, fitness, and team building. As with encampment, each flight has an assigned senior member, called a TAC (Teach, Advise, Counsel) Officer, who will be watching for signs of homesickness.
Very Important for family members back home! Please do not set up any regular communication plan with your cadet! Cadets will not have cell phones with them (cell phones are on the prohibited items list), nor will they have access to a telephone. Additionally, parental contact can disrupt the schedule for the cadet and staff. For the same reason, please do not telephone your cadet at NBB for routine matters or to “see how they are doing”. If there are problems at NBB, staff will contact parents. If you need to contact your cadet due to an emergency, NBB staff will cooperate fully. The cadets will have access to their phones twice during the activity. Normally (and we overtly encourage this) they will call home. However, any cadet who needs to contact parents may, under certain circumstances, do so by contacting their TAC Officer.
Cadets: it is normal for your family to experience a longing for your presence while you are away from home at NBB. Please encourage them to persevere through your absence and know that you are having a great time. Show them the website and add them to the Facebook Group so they can visit it often and look for photos and videos of the activity to see your shining face.
Extremely Important: While cadets are attending NBB, parents should not leave home for any extended period, such as a vacation, unless they designate a family member or friend who will coordinate with NBB staff to get a cadet home if they need to leave the activity early due illness or for any other reason. This alternate emergency contact information must be provided to activity staff.
Q: WHO SUPERVISES THE CADETS AT NBB?
A: Safety is of paramount importance throughout NBB. Approximately forty adult CAP staff members, both male and female, supervise cadets at all times. Same-gender senior members are housed near, or in an adjacent room, to each open-bay barracks room so that cadets are supervised twenty-four hours each day.
Q: ARE THERE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIVITY?
A: Yes. In addition to CAP Regulations governing cadet activities, previous year’s Facebook pages, as well as the Experimental Aircraft Association website for AirVenture are great resources to get a bigger picture of the activity. Cadets and seniors who have attended previous years are a great source of information as well. Your squadron commander may also be an excellent resource for information.
Q: WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING AND DINING FACILITIES ARE USED?
A: Cadets will be living in open-room military barracks during activity. Flights are pre-assigned. Male and female cadets are housed in separate barracks and have separate bath/toilet facilities. Dining facilities are located on the same compound next door to the barracks. Food is prepared by trained food service professionals in professional kitchens and is served cafeteria-style. A balanced diet with appropriate calories to support the activity level of the participants is provided. Legitimate food allergies, medical dietary restrictions, or religious observances should be addressed during the application process and every effort will be made to accommodate these requirements. If you question the ability of the food services staff to be able to accommodate your needs, the burden is on you to contact the activity prior to sending your cadet. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to accommodate diets that are “lifestyle or life-choice” decisions. Special weight loss diets and similar diets fall into this category and will likely not be accommodated.
Q: HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR NBB?
A: NBB is not an encampment; however, the schedule is very full. The focus is on the mission. And being prepared is paramount.
Uniforms: Compliance with uniform regulations is extremely important. Regulations require the exact placement of all insignia, patches, and accessories. If there are questions about this, contact your home squadron personnel. Please ensure that uniforms are correct prior to arrival or be certain that you know how to sew, as you will have to fix any problems. Make sure that your uniforms conform precisely to CAPR 39-1. Period. Not your wing or group or squadron customs, instructional letters, policies, etc. This is a National Activity and we must all conform to CAPR 39-1.
Physical conditioning is important. Each day begins early, with opening formation and we immediately go to work.
Participants should arrive having been provided basic instructions on doing laundry. There is virtually no ironing. Laundry soap is provided.
Boots: must be broken in before the activity! Have a good pair of boots. You will spend two weeks in them walking just about everywhere you go. Do not show up with brand-new boots that are not broken in. Successful execution of the mission (let alone completing the activity for credit) depends heavily on foot health. Each year, blisters are the most common injury at NBB and most are preventable by proper break-in of boots. Conversely, and just as important, do not arrive with broken-in boots from the Army/Navy Surplus store whose age is unknown. Often, those boots cannot handle sudden and prolonged use and will literally fall apart under the added stress during the activity.
Q: WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS NEED TO BRING TO NBB?
A: As stated above, follow the packing list precisely. It has been honed over many years of experience. There is limited space. So packing more than what’s on the list is as problematic as not bringing what’s on the list. There is no opportunity to just go get something forgotten. Pack early so you can make sure you have it all. Have someone else help you check the list.
The Packing List also contains items that are considered contraband/prohibited. Items on the list are required unless specifically indicated as optional. Check, double check and triple-check all items before departing for NBB. No spare uniform items are available. Cadets should copy or download the Packing List from the website. Home squadron commanders or squadron supply officers can make recommendations and may be able to assist in obtaining uniform items. Some uniform items may require ordering so allow adequate time. No uniform items or accessories are available at NBB.
Important! Complete an inventory of all required items immediately prior to departing for NBB.
Medication: it is very important that participants bring necessary prescription medication and be able to RELIABLY self-medicate. All prescription medication brought to NBB must be in its original container. Some cadet medications will be kept by the medical staff, at the discretion of the Medical Officer In Charge. Medication is kept by medical staff, administration times will be managed by the medical staff, but the cadet will self-medicate. Since you are not in your normal routine at home, we find this helps to make sure you are keeping up with your meds.
Q: WHAT IF I AM TRAVELING ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO NBB?
A: Refer to the Travel Page for details
Q: WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE NBB CHECK-IN PROCESS?
A: The staff is conducting in-processing for about 200 people in one day. It must move quickly and efficiently. We do not have time to correct the paperwork. Encampment senior staff members inspect each cadet’s luggage and clothing as part of in-processing. Encampment staff will confiscate prohibited items. Parents, please do not “surprise” your cadet by tucking away a package of chocolate chip cookies in their luggage. They will be discarded.
Haircuts and hairstyles will be inspected before check-in. Haircuts and hairstyles must meet CAP grooming standards throughout the activity. Staff will not allow cadets to in-process if hair does not meet CAP grooming standards. Do not arrive at NBB with haircuts/hairstyles that do not meet standards, or will not meet the standards by the end of the activity. If in doubt, cut it shorter. It’s just hair; it grows back.
All participants report to the barracks to begin in-processing.
Q: MAY FAMILY COME TO NBB AND VISIT DURING THE ACTIVITY?
A: Yes. However, the schedule is extremely time-sensitive. Any visits will disrupt the schedule. No one may visit the activity without the specific permission of the Activity Director.
Q: HOW DO I CONTACT A PARTICIPANT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
A: For legitimate emergencies, you can contact the Activity Director using the contact information on the website.
Q: IS THERE A GRADUATION CEREMONY?
A: No. There is not. We have a group dinner near the end of the activity that is catered by the EAA for the specific number of members attending the activity. No outside visitors can be accommodated. Earlier during the activity, the Blue Beret will be given to those who have completed training. The Saint Alban’s Crest will be given to those who have earned it. It is an unpredictable event.
