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APPLICATION WINDOWS

1.  NCSA applications may be submitted from 1 to 31 December 2007.
2.  The application window for the Civic Leadership Academy  is 1 September to 1 October 2007.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES COMMON TO ALL ACTIVITIES

To apply for most activities you must be able to log into “e-Services” to access and complete the on-line CAP Form 31.  This means you must have a CAPID and a password.  Do not wait until the last minute to establish a password and confirm that you can log into “e-Services”.  Application procedures for some activities (NESA, Hawk Mountain, CLA, and IACE) are different.  Please review the individual activity descriptions for special application details.

Check your personal contact information: The computer process takes member data and puts it in the forms where appropriate so it's important that your data is accurate.  Pay special attention to your emergency contact information.  The process will not work if that information is not provided.

Locate CAP Form 31 on-line:  Go to E-Services and click the “NCSA Main Menu” link under “CAP Utilities” to apply for special activities.  As you follow the instructions for entering your request, you will also get to check (and correct if necessary) your address, contact information, and personal characteristics that National Headquarters (NHQ) has on file.
Note:  You need Explorer 6.0 and Adobe 6.0 to complete the application.  Both are available as downloads from the e-Services web page.

When you have completed the application, you will be asked to perform several functions. 

First, electronically submit your application to NHQ on-line through E-Services.  (When you have completed, reviewed and printed your CAP form 31, it will automatically be transmitted to NHQ electronically) 

Second, print the application and sign the “Release Agreement” and have your parent or guardian (if applicable) sign the “Release by Parent or Guardian” block (page 4 of the application).

Third, forward a printed and signed copy of the Form 31 to your Squadron Commander.  The form will be reviewed at the squadron and forwarded to the Wing Commander for ranking.  IF YOUR CAP FORM 31 IS NOT RANKED BY THE WING YOU WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR A SLOT AT A NATIONAL ACTIVITY.  (TIP!  Make sure your Squadron Commander forwards the CAP Form 31 to Wing for ranking)

SPECIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Application procedures for the following are all unique to each activity

Hawk Mountain Search and Rescue School
International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE)
National Emergency Services Academy (NESA)
Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) 

For application instructions please visit the activity's website, via the links above, and follow the special procedures outlined there.  Please note CLA is an out-of-cycle activity so pay close attention to the application details.

SENIOR MEMBER APPLICATIONS

Most of our NCSAs allow senior members to apply as escorts and a few allow for full senior member participation.  Senior members applying for any of the NCSAs must follow the same procedures as the cadets and use the CAP Form 31.  Mark the word “SENIOR” in the top left hand corner of the CAP form 31.  Deadlines for senior member applications to assist as staff members are the same as cadets.  Senior members applying to attend NESA follow the procedures in the NESA application instructions.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

For personnel applying for “staff” positions please complete a separate CAP Form 31 and mark it “STAFF” in the top left corner.  Forward it to the Wing or Group, as appropriate, for review.  Note that acceptance for the activity is not necessarily acceptance to a staff position.  The activity director will review staff applications and contact those accepted directly.

For cadets applying for more than one NCSA please clearly indicate your desired preferences, in order, on the second page of the application.  Note:  Because of supplementary procedures used for International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) selection list IACE last on your preference list.

Late applications (those received after 31 December) will be accepted if they have been reviewed and approved by the Squadron and Wing.  However, they will not be forwarded to the activity director until all those who applied on time have had an opportunity to be slotted and to respond for payment and confirmation of attendance.

Your Wing may set an earlier deadline for receiving their copy of the CAP Form 31.

Encampment Requirement:  You must have encampment credit prior to attending any NCSA.  If an activity has an age requirement it must be met before the activity starts!  If NHQ does not have a record of encampment completion prior to the date of the activity, then you will have to show the Activity Director your encampment completion certificate prior to the start of the national activity. 
  
Computer Access:  If you do not have ready access to a computer, please notify someone in your squadron as soon as possible so arrangements can be made to gain access for you.

Timelines for all activities except Cadet Leadership Academy, Hawk Mountain, NESA, and IACE: The CAP Form 31 must be completed and submitted on-line to NHQ, with a printed and signed copy forwarded to the Squadron Commander, not later than 31 December 2007.  The Squadron Commander reviews, signs and forwards the CAP form 31 to Wing for their review and ranking.  The review and ranking process by the Squadrons and Wings occurs between 1 January and 14 February 2008.  Results are due from the Wing to NHQ not later than 15 February.  Please see CLA, Hawk Mountain, NESA, and IACE for their dates.

UNDERSTANDING THE SLOTTING PROCESS

NHQ will slot as many ranked applicants as possible.  However, being ranked does not guarantee that you will be slotted as a primary for your preferred activity, since the number of available slots will be less than the number of applicants ranked.  Being ranked does guarantee that you will compete for a slot.   You will be placed on the alternate list if not selected as a primary for your preferred activity.
 
Notification that slotting results have been posted will be emailed 1 March 2008.  Additionally, you can view your activity status by logging on to e-Services and clicking the “Check My Status” link found in the “NCSA Main Menu” area.

Personnel slotted as primary attendees will have until 30 April 2008 to submit their payment in full to NHQ for all NCSAs except NESA. (The Academy Director and Project Officer coordinate all fees and slots for NESA; fees will be collected when tentatively accepted online). Applicants whose payments have not been received by 30 April will become alternates and their primary slots will be offered to other applicants on the alternate list.  See CLA, Hawk Mountain, NESA for their payment details.

DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

In some cases activity dates must be set 10 to 12 months in advance.  It is not unusual for an activity date to change by one or two days.  Updates will be published continuously on the Cadet Programs web page, cap.gov/ncsa.  Activity Directors will also keep selectees apprised of date changes as they occur.