Below is a message I sent to the Knowlegebase asking what Senior Specialty Track Badges Cadets were authorized to wear if they performed all the requirements. Here is the response I got:
Dear Cadet McClish,
You wrote to the Knowledgebase asking whether cadets could qualify to earn any specialty track badges. Thanks again for your patience in awaiting this reply.
The short answer to your question is that cadets may qualify only for the basic Emergency Services badge and the Communications badges (ref: CAPR 35-6, paragraph 2; and CAPR 100-1, paragraph 9 respectively). The other specialty track badges are reserved for senior members.
But to answer your question more fully, I need to discuss the intent of the specialty track badge awards program.
Only cadets busy themselves with drill, physical fitness, leadership, cadet activities, etc. CAP recognizes this. That's why only a cadet can earn cadet grade and cadet awards like the Mitchell. Likewise, I hope you agree that CAP is right to set aside certain awards for seniors to recognize their unique contributions.
The specialty track awards are a good example. As explained in CAPR 50-17, "CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program," CAP has developed specialty track training programs to prepare a corps of adults to serve in staff positions and contribute to CAP missions. When a senior member earns a technician, senior, or master rating in a specialty track, they become eligible for the corresponding specialty track badge.
But why then can cadets earn the Emergency Services and Communications badges? Those badges (along with the Safety Badge) are the oldest of the specialty badges. There was a time when cadets participating in ES missions had no other form of recognition -- no ground team badge, no EMT badge, etc., like we have today. During this period years ago, CAP policy makers decided that cadets could qualify for the ES and Communications badges, as a way to reward their ES participation. But two years ago, when CAP policy makers added new specialty track badges in the CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program, they did not choose to make another exception that would allow cadets to earn them .
I hope this reply has answered your question.
CURT LAFOND - HQ Civil Air Patrol - 334.953.4304
LEAD Team: Leadership, Education, and Development
