Equating CAP cadets with the Hitler Youth movement is the most offensive comparison imaginable. CAP is a
choice unlike the HJ in Germany in the 1930s. From wikipedia
"By December 1936, HJ membership stood at just over five million. That same month, HJ membership became mandatory for
Aryans, under the
Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend law. This legal obligation was re-affirmed in 1939 with the
Jugenddienstpflicht and HJ membership was required even when it was opposed by the member's parents. Massaquoi claims,
[14] though, that the war did not allow the law to go very far. From then on, most of Germany's teenagers belonged to the HJ. By 1940, it had eight million members. Later war figures are difficult to calculate, since massive conscription efforts and a general call-up of boys as young as 10 years old meant that virtually every young male in Germany was, in some way, connected to the HJ. Only about 10 to 20% were able to avoid joining.
[15]"
Dave, Ben, et al - you don't like CAP, fine. Your privilege & right. But the kids in CAP, JROTC, SeaScouts (Navy version) and similar
join by choice. Not peer pressure, and hopefully not parental pressure.
Do some/many of them take it too seriously (Oshkosh, air shows, etc)? Sure - but think about it. Unless you have a car or access to a car you're dependent on the parents, everyone tells you what to do, and so on. All of a sudden CAP (JROTC, etc) tells you that
you're in charge of handing out food & water at the floods/fires in Colorado last year. (There's always senior members nearby in the background) Responsibility - what a concept.
It's really not much different than a high school sports team. Less applause & adulation, of course.
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