CAP History Reconstruction Program

1st Lt Frank Blazich, Jr.Chief Historian (interim)

History

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Overview

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Study and review of existing program Program revisions and changes Current/ongoing activities Three Year Plan

Study and ReviewProblems

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What role does/will history play in operations?

How can the historian better serve the commander and unit?

What does the historian need to meet mission objectives?

Questionnaire sent out to membership

Study and ReviewFindings and Conclusion

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Main issues Command emphasis Limited/inadequate training and education Inadequate history resources Organizational isolation

Conclusion: must modernize and realign program to provide relevance to modern era to maximize resources to assist, improve, and grow CAP

Program RedesignOverview

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Align CAP history program with USAF History and Museums Program

Increased staff to address program facets Overhaul of historian specialty track Objective: Incorporate best practices of

academic and professional historical communities to improve standards and capability of volunteers and historical products

Familiarity and professional interaction Improve relations

Four main areas of focus Research and Archives Museums/Displays Publishing Outreach

Program RedesignFour Pillars

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Program RedesignResearch and Archives

Implement records management program Select digitization; increase accessibility Set policies for collection and processing

Assist leadership with historical inquiries in time-sensitive manner

Objective: Save and use records for internal and external operations

Program RedesignResearch and Archives

Approach NMUSAF regarding CAP display Prepare national collection to relocate to

permanent location Accessibility to loan artifacts for CAP use or

external displays Exhibits to share heritage to inform, recruit,

educate Objective: Coordinated, professional effort to

educate, advise, and inform public

Program RedesignMuseums/Displays

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CAP at NMUSAF

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Why Preservation?

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CAP history journal and monographs for internet/external use Approach AU Press about publishing

Utilize analytical skills of historians to provide perspective and contextual underpinnings to commanders and units

Objective: transmit quality, informative publications for use by policymakers and military/aerospace professionals

Program RedesignPublishing

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Digital archive and updated CAP museum page CAP re-enacting and “living history” efforts

Recruiting, retention, and public relations Objective: Increased visibility to educate and inform about

organization’s development from Civilian Defense to Homeland Security

Program RedesignOutreach

Increased StaffManagement and Reach

Chief Historian

National Historian Emeritus

National Curator

Director, Museum Displays and Design

Director, Office of Preservation

Assistant Chief Historian

Director, Office of Outreach

National Historical Editor

Researchers

National Archivist

Director, Office of CAP Heraldry

Director, Oral History Program

Museums/DisplaysPublishing & Outreach

Research & Archives

Revise all publications; provide new as needed Foster and improve skills and capabilities

Develop PD classes and/or conference to train and assist with development of historians

Objective: train and develop volunteers to where they are an asset, not an afterthought

Specialty TrackOverhaul

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Search for permanent location Impact on all four areas of history program Logistical factors

Highest probability is to align with an existing archive and museum/institution

Must have all current items properly inventoried, labeled, accessed prior to any move Will require additional manpower

Ongoing ActivitiesArchives and Collection

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Organizational lineages Unit citation database Digitization of oral histories Offices of CAP Heraldry and Preservation

Ongoing ActivitiesResearch

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Exhibit at NMUSAF, National Air and Space Museum (National Mall or Dulles Annex (or both)

Application for CAP postage stamp Refurbish and update CAP Hall of Honor CAP Art Program Publish new book encompassing CAP history

Edited volume, covering all decades of academic quality Possible AU Press work

75th Anniversary

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Overhaul of online database Inclusion of cadets Contact information for living World War II

CAP veterans Preliminary medal design

CongressionalGold Medal

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Vision to bring history program up to full-strength by 2016 and the 75th anniversary

Tactical through strategic objectives Hinges on volunteers

Three Year Plan

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Appoint staff Commence revision of regulations and

pamphlets Initiate 75th anniversary planning and projects Initiate organization, labeling, database entry,

and preservation of archives and collection Launch CAP history eJournal/eMagazine

Three Year PlanYear One

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Launch revised National CAP Museum website and digital archive website

Coordinate transfer of national archives and collection to permanent location(s)

Launch historian specialty tracking training program for PD conferences

Commence writing special publication for 75th anniversary Release revised history program pamphlets and

regulations Commence negotiations with NMUSAF, Chief Historian

of USAF, and AFHRA and AU Press

Three Year PlanYear Two

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Finalize and edit new 75th anniversary book for publication

Finalize development of plans for display of CAP artifacts at various museums

Finalize research publications and presentations of research for 75th anniversary

Develop CAP cadet history program in conjunction with cadet and aerospace education programs

Hold first annual national CAP historians’ conference

Three Year PlanYear Three

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Redesigned history program Best practices and increased staff

Specialty track overhaul Training and education to develop skills

Command and resources Goal: Volunteer historians able to advise and

assist in present and future endeavors at all levels of the organization

Conclusion

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Questions?

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Please complete the 2013 conference survey online for a chance

to win a FREE registration to the2014 conference in Las Vegas

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/13CAPConf