Wing Experiments With Virtual Encampment

by ANN Staff

“We wanted these kids to get the full encampment experience. Or, as much of it as possible. We did it all: Classes, PT, inspections, drill, o-flights,” said Maj Greg Laoisa, this year’s Commandant for Cadets. “All of it virtual. It was amazing. Mostly. We’re still working with the formula.”

Maj Laoisa was discussing the ‘virtual encampment’ that his wing produced after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Civil Air Patrol to cancel all summer activities. Encampment has long been a cornerstone of the CAP cadet experience, and the wing decided it was important to make this attempt. The virtual encampment had the full backing of NHQ, which provided video equipment and leased chat rooms to host.

While most attendees reported a satisfactory experience, many also said they were disappointed in some way.

“My room got tossed last year because I forgot to lock my door, and I was really looking forward to getting someone this year. So, I tossed my little brother’s room,” explained C/SSgt Brandon Traynor. “I explained the whole thing to Nicholas before the encampment, but he said he wasn’t even in CAP and he didnt care. I really threw his crap around, and he actually cried. My mom was super mad.”

“We did a virtual o-flight, and they made me sit in my driveway in the sun for an hour to simulate waiting on the flight line,” reported C/SrA Mikayla Gardener. “Then they walked the camera into a KC-135 and said they were giving it to the pilot. But it looked kind of weird, especially the part where we refueled the other aircraft. I think it was really a flight simulator or something.”

While the virtual aspect made a lot of things more difficult, some found hidden opportunities.

“Bravo Flight was killing it on inspections,” explains Maj Laoisa. “On the screen caps their uniforms were perfect, and their rooms were amazing. Then we found out that one of the element leaders was a whiz with Photoshop. He was doctoring their pics pretty much in real time. We had to disqualify the entire flight. But we put that cadet onto the PAO staff, so he’s a shoo-in for a ComCom when this is over.”

Cadet Captain Olivia Stern was chosen as a flight commander for this encampment. This was her last encampment, as she’ll be attending school out of state under an ROTC scholarship in the fall.

“This is my fourth encampment,” said Stern. “And encampment has always been a good place to get some action. I’d spend the whole week scoping out the field, maybe doing some pre-gaming during free time. And then picking a date to the mixer for some dancing, and the serious mixing after ‘lights out’. It was absolutely no-risk; I only see these people a couple times a year at acitivities, and sometimes not even that.”

Stern reported that she found the whole experience disappointing.

“COVID completely ruined my game. I’m not even sure why I bothered to attend,” Stern continued, her voice betraying frustration and a little anger. “I can get virtual action any time. I don’t want to be slow-dancing alone in my room to Adele and grabbing my own ass. That’s not what encampment is about.”

“As a TAC, it was incredible!” said 1Lt Alyssa Meyers, whose son, Taylor, was a flight sergeant. “This was Taylor’s third encampment, and my second time as a TAC. Since it was all virtual, I didn’t have to smell those little animals, or deal with ninety-percent of their whiny crap. And when the day was over, I could pour myself a stiff drink and spend an hour watching Netflix. You just can’t do that when you’re there in person.”

Maj Laoisa said that one of the most successful ideas was replacing the drill competition with a Fortnite Team Rumble. “We built a level that pretty much looked exactly like our normal encampment site and let them go to town. They had the best time killing each other and blowing the place up. Next year we might just do the entire encampment in Fortnite, COVID or not.”

The Wing Finance Officer, LtCol Melinda Cassidy, says the virtual encampment is going to allow wing to keep encampment costs under control. “We didn’t occupying barracks or feed anyone or use any vehicles, all of that was virtual for us. So the good news is that if we stay with a virtual encampment, the cost to the individual cadet is only going to go up by $50 next year!”

Wing is touting the effort as a model for the future, and expects a Distinguished Unit Award at any moment.