Unit Commanders Course (UCC)

Welcome to the Unit Commanders Course! This course provides expert advice and guidance on leadership, management and ethics in a standardized format for the training of current and potential squadron & group commanders throughout the Civil Air Patrol. Squadron and group commanders are responsible for providing local leadership, administering programs, and managing the volunteer members in the field as they perform the critical missions of the Civil Air Patrol as well as provide support to the United States Air Force as the official Air Force Auxiliary.

The UCC discusses the traits and skills new unit and group commanders will need to develop to effectively lead and manage their units. Topics include command responsibility and accountability, recruiting and retention, safety, how to work with families, management, leadership, communication, and elements of successful units and leaders.

The UCC is designed around a core/elective format. All courses include a standardized core of 8 lessons (10 hours), as well as 6 additional lessons (6 hours) selected from a list of electives. In this way wings can tailor their courses to meet the unique needs of their commanders. The course lasts 16 classroom hours in total and is administered at the group or wing level.

For a list of upcoming Unit Commanders Courses click here.

Unit Commanders Course Documents

UCC Curriculum / Critique

Core Curriculum Outline

Electives Curriculum Outline

Course Critique

UCC Director / Instructor Guide

Course Requirements	Director Preface	Instructor Materials
Recommended Readings & Bibliography	Command Responsibility & Accountability	Behavior-Based Safety
Your Role in the Missions	Your Staff: What They Do For You	Delegating Authority
Recruiting & Retention	Adverse Membership Actions	Capstone Discussion
Motivation	Meeting Planning	Unit Training Programs
Working with Families	Generational Differences	Problem Solving
Working with Group & Wing	Budgeting	Integrating Missions
Teamwork Techniques	Listening Effectively	Successful Units
Successful Leaders	The Committed Volunteer	Mentoring
Setting Goals & Objectives	Hazing	Overseas Units

Note: Bold indicates mandatory lessons

UCC Student Guide

Student Guide Introduction	Recommended Readings & Bibliography	Command Responsibility & Accountability
Behavior-Based Safety	Your Role in the Missions	Your Staff: What they Do for You
Delegating Authority	Recruiting & Retention	Adverse Membership Actions
Capstone Discussion	Motivation	Meeting Planning
Unit Training Programs	Working with Families	Generational Differences
Problem Solving	Working with Group & Wing	Budgeting
Integrating Missions	Teamwork Techniques	Listening Effectively
Successful Units	Successful Leaders	The Committed Volunteer
Mentoring	Setting Goals & Objectives	Hazing
Overseas Units	Attachment 1: CAP Leadership	Attachment 2: Optional Readings
Attachment 3: Checklist for New Commanders	Attachment 4: Questions New Commanders Should Ask

Note: Bold indicates mandatory lessons

UCC Presentation Slides

Command Responsibility & Accountability	Behavior-Based Safety	Your Role in Missions
Your Staff: What they Do for You	Delegating Authority	Recruiting and Retention
Adverse Membership Actions	Capstone Discussion	Motivation
Meeting Planning	Unit Training Programs	Working with Families
Generational Differences	Problem Solving	Working with Group & Wing
Budgeting	Integrating Missions	Teamwork Techniques
Listening Effectively	Successful Units	Successful Leaders
The Committed Volunteer	Mentoring	Setting Goals and Objectives
Hazing	Overseas Units

Note: Bold indicates mandatory lessons