Introducing QCUA Local Action Metric

As we enter the 2026 QCUA season, we are excited to announce the new Local Action metric! To earn Local Action credit, units must host four different community engagement activities with at least four cadets at each event. Local Action events are unit level events with a community service focus. CAP fundraising activities, missions (training or actual), open houses, recruiting tables, and training events at the unit do not qualify for Local Action.

How does my unit get credit?

Local Action credit is added by the unit in the QCUA Administration module in eServices, or automatically through Registration Zone if the following criteria are met in the Manage Events setup and if attendance is entered through the Registration Zone attendance module.

• Organization includes all units that should receive credit on the Event Details tab

• Type of Community Service is included on the Event Details tab

• Mark Attendance is toddles on in the Advanced tab.

For more information on the QCUA module in eServices, please reference the QCUA User Guide.

What counts as Local Action? What doesn't count?

Local Action events are unit level events with a community service focus. CAP fundraising activities, missions (actual or training), open houses, recruiting booths, and training events at the unit do not qualify for this category. For example, selling Wreaths Across America wreaths at the local mall would not count, but participating in the wreath-laying at WAA does count for local action. Events hosted by a Group or higher echelon do not count towards Local Action. If you are unsure if an event would count as a Local Action, check with your Wing DCP for guidance. cadets@capnhq.gov is a great resource, too.

7 October 2025 Update: Several questions come up during the recent QCUA webinar. Answers to them are below:

1. Can CAP help at county fairs, airshows, and the like with parking cars?  This type of activity is not prohibited. See this fundraising page for more information. The process is required regardless of the event being for fundraising or not.

2. How many hours are required for something to count as Local Action? There is no hour minimum, but units should use good judgement when adding something as local action or not.

3. Does Operation Pulse Lift count towards Local Action? This would not count since it is not a unit level event, and is a mission.

4. Do events spanning multiple days count as several Local Action events? This would only count as one Local Action since it is for the same event.

5. Can multiple units get credit for the same event? What if the Group or Wing hosts it? Only the primary hosting unit receives credit for an event. For example, Anytown Composite Squadron is invited to march in the holiday parade and organizes 15 cadets to march plus a color guard - they would receive credit, but an extra group of cadets who joined from Neighbortown Composite Squadron would not since Neighbortown did not organize the event.

6. Do events hosted by the group or wing get credit for all participating units? Events hosted by a group or wing are not unit-level so would not count towards Local Action for any of the participating units.

Still not sure if your event counts as Local Action? Check with your Wing DCP or email cadets@capnhq.gov!

How can I check what Local Action credits my unit (or a unit within my scope) has?

There are two ways to check Local Action credits.

1. QCUA Reports.

   • Within the QCUA module, select the Local Action report type, Organization, and an optional QCUA cycle. You can then view the data in eServices or export it to an excel sheet for further data manipulation.

2. QCUA Details.

Within the QCUA module, select your unit, then scroll to the Local Action Credits section.

When can I start entering Local Action credits?

The QCUA Local Action credit module is in eServices now and credits can be entered!

What happened to the Specialty Track metric?

With the introduction of the Local Action criteria, we have removed the Specialty Track criteria (Unit has at least 2 Senior Members with a Cadet Programs Specialty Track rating). Since its introduction in 2022, approximately 80% of units have met this criteria, indicating that the criteria is not challenging for the majority of units. Additionally, about 25% of all CP Specialty Track ratings were earned before 2010. Members with CP Specialty Track ratings who are on a unit’s roster but are inactive or are no longer involved in Cadet Programs do not contribute to a strong program.

QCUA Local Action & Best Practices Webinar

CAP/CP hosted a webinar, QCUA Local Action & Best Practices, on Sunday, 5 October, at 7pm Central Time to discuss the new Local Action metric and ways units can work to earn QCUA. You can view the recording and slides here.