4-degrees Restriction

<p>As of 1400 (2pm), 4-degrees are no longer restricted.</p>

<p>restricted from what?</p>

<p>leaving base. They had horrible decorum for a while there and were restricted for it.</p>

<p>I spoke with an upperclassman from my D's Squadron who was at the Nellis Air Show with the flying demo team...He didn't even know they were restricted. Seemed a waste of a three day weekend, but they havn't had such a bad year so far.</p>

<p>too bad i actually witnessed it while iw as there on friday... well, not the whole wing, but i heard of a few incidents</p>

<p>C1C Helms (the Wing Commander) told all the 4-degrees that we were not restricted because we are awful at everything...something many upperclassmen have told me for the past few days (although they used, exclusively, just a single word to sum up what they think about us)...we were actually restricted for not following instructions (i.e. don't talk or walk on the T-zo strips, don't go off the strips) immediatley after we were given a reminder about them. Only some people actually got in trouble for it, but the number was great enough that Wing made the decision to restrict the entire class of 2011, although not everyone agreed with that decision. Regardless, we're unrestricted now.</p>

<p>that makes sense... my mom and i both noticed a lack of "RUNNING" the strips and saw alot of the "T-Zo shuffle" and walking.. symantics though ;) yea, its over now though.. enjoy the weekend!</p>

<p>So if I understand this, it was due to not doing the "plebe" stuff correctly (sorry for the USMA term)?
thanks</p>

<p>yeah that's pretty much it.. not doin normal freshman things</p>

<p>Basically the wing commander reminded them to do freshman stuff, then saw a bunch of them NOT doing that as soon as the briefing was over. Needless to say, that didn't go over very well.</p>

<p>Freshmen:
I've heard more than a few freshmen complaining about being restricted. While I completely understand how frustrating it is to be restricted (being a probie), it could be much worse. My freshman squad was restricted for half of the second semester. Also, Helms lifted the restriction halfway through the weekend. I have never seen a 4* restriction lifted in the middle of a weekend before.</p>

<p>Ditto on what raimus says. You guys have been restricted less often so far than we were at this point, I think. :P</p>

<p>To be honest, I don't blame Helms, y'all's class has horrible decorum. I thought we needed work last year, but I get angry when I see 2011 just carrying on like they own the place at times.</p>

<p>Haha, I didn't mean to start all of this,lol.</p>

<p>I do agree with hornetguy, but I think we need to realize that we need to be the "bad guy" and enforce the standards. It is the ironic thing. We all want to be the "nice guy." Many of the enforcers are trying to do what most of us feel is necessary but are too afraid (perhaps not the right word) to make corrections. </p>

<p>For example, I saw a 4* running the strips while wearing his backpack, in the middle of the school day. I didn't say anything because I remember how frustrating it was to be called out a dozen times when I had a good reason to do something. I don't know if he did have a legitimate reason. I realize now that others will notice when upperclassmen don't stop people when something doesn't seem right. The reason half the rules that get broken around here are broken is because people realize they can get away with it. </p>

<p>If we want to see things like decorum and rules being followed, upperclassmen need to confront people (not just 4*s, but every one)...but most of us don't want to do that.</p>

<p>Toleration will result in standards being challenged and sacrificed. At your age I hated going over to the base barber for that hair cut...short hair was not in style. You would try anything to get that extra little bit. As I look back at the Squadrons I belonged to the ones that held the standard were much more disciplined, and in the end effective. I remember being a young SSgt and after a major aircraft fire that didn't go well a crusty old SMSgt was brought in as Chief. The first thing he did was make everyone stand in shifts at attention for shidt change. Everyone hated that at first and thought it was a waste of time. In a short time things changed dramatically. Many of the things that were problems before were gone, and we functioned as a much better group.</p>

<p>I personally don't think that lifting the restriction was a good idea. My AOC gave my 4 degrees a blanket SSS so that they could all leave anyways, even though they showed no better decorum than the rest of the class...</p>

<p>What kind of message does it send when you "restrict" the class, only to lift if after 1 day, when nothing changed? I saw no difference between when the restriction was initiated and when it was lifted, in fact, they may have even gotten worse (again, from what I saw).</p>

<p>I was restricted 75% of the time last year, and my squad for the most part was very good about decorum. We were restricted if we got below an 85% on the k-tests (and if our squads average was below 85%, we were all restricted- and since the k-tests were much different and in my opinion, much harder, this happened a lot). Sure, we may have complained here and again, but this is the first time I've heard of 2011 being restricted, and I didn't hear the end of it from them.</p>

<p>Daughters AOC called a 4* meeting on Saturday and they only had 9 Cadets. Had to cancel the meeting. Harder part is she has no restrictions is doing really well Academically and Athletically, and Ended up restricted. She was gonig to help my sister move over the weekend and initially sent up a SSS which was denied because she had overnight passes available, and then the restriction came down. She didn't want to go to the trouble of putting in a second SSS request and just stayed in her room studying all weekend. I actualy think she got more out of it becuase she will be ahead of stuff for Thanksgiving break.</p>

<p>I just don't think that 4 degrees can/should expect to be able to go out every weekend. It's become something they seem to take for granted, when it is not at all a guaranteed right.</p>

<p>I actually agree, but I also think the restriction failed to accomplish the stated goals. Becuase many Cadets were able to utilize SSS's and other methods to evade the restriction. I am also not sure calling for a restriction on Veterans day weekend was the wisest move, but that is not my decision and I actually support what the Cadet Wing leadeship tried to accomplish. If the upperclass do not hold the 4* accountable, and enforce the standards evenly accross the wing the message never gets through. I guess I am saying the upperclass should look at themselves first because the 4* will only do what they are allowed to do without getting in trouble. Choosing a weekend that the AOC's might have supported better, Calling the 4* on their behavior when they talk on the T-zo or fail to run the strips, etc..., but again it isn't my show it is the Cadet's and it will work out.</p>

<p>4th class cadets could go off the Academy Grounds every weekend? I assumed it was maybe one pass a semester.</p>

<p>they are supposed to be allowed 5 passes each half a semester, where 1 day is one pass, overnight is 2, and a weekend is 3 pass units. however, they often leave via SSS or sign out on paper so its not counted, or squads (like mine) gave every cadet 15 free passes, so they can pretty much sign out every weekend.</p>

<p>honestly, this place is much easier than it should be. not to say i didn't do my fair bit of complaining last year, but i said all along last year too that i expected more out of here. its a problem with the culture of the wing, which is hard to change. there is not the strict discipline and hard, caring work ethic i expected to encouter. its very sad.</p>