<p>[Academy</a> may test for leadership potential - Air Force News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Air Force Times](<a href=“http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_leadership_test_071112w/]Academy”>http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_leadership_test_071112w/)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Interesting...
I would like to see better screening for leadership potential, but I'm rather skeptical about a standardized test for it. Leadership and character are very difficult to gauge, but some of the most important qualities to the academy. I'm glad they are looking into ways to better measure it, but still worried that a test would become the primary way of measuring leadership. I don't believe it is that simple.</p>
<p>I would think that Beast and other similar long-term tests would be far better indicators of leadership abilities, and almost every other quality, than a standardized 2 hour test.</p>
<p>Sadly, once you get in here, you're almost sure to stay unless you yourself decide to quit. So there are a number of eople who get here who may not be the best leaders or even have any discernable leadership characteristics, yet they are able to stay through. That test would be good in ensuring that, on average, the people with the best leadership potential have some weight to their admissions</p>
<p>i agree with Patriot. once you come to basic, you're here unless you quit, fail academics, or break the honor code. i saw numerous '07 grads who will not make good leaders and they were still commissioned. i see the same in every class that is here. rather than making a new test, i believe they should make basic and the academy tougher, and just kick out more people who cannot meet the requirements.</p>
<p>Even still though, there are a few people here who meet all the requirements but just aren't meant to be leaders. What do you do with them?</p>
<p>Most people who come here are not equipped with amazing leadership skills. The idea is to bring in people who have the potential to become effective leaders, and then the 4-year Academy experience is designed to develop that leadership potential into actuality. It's true that many people make it in and then just stay by default even though they aren't particularly great. It's probably true that some who graduate from here don't deserve the commission they recieve. But I truly do believe that if you want to do well here and you apply yourself along each phase of the officer development system, you can come out on the other side a great leader, even if you weren't "meant to be a leader." The Academy is designed to create leaders, and it will so long as cadets take it seriously.</p>
<p>I wish there was a better way to determine who will become successful leaders as a result of the Academy experience, but I don't know that a standardized test is the answer.</p>
<p>I agree that people should get kicked out if they just stink at being a cadet. Everyone makes mistakes, but there is no reason for someone to stay in my opinion if he or she is on every single probation. I understand that some four degrees especially have a hard time adjusting, but there is a difference between having a hard time adjusting and just not caring. The military isn't for everyone.</p>
<p>There is a guy in my squadron who lied a few times to my AMT while I was standing there, then lied to me several times when I went to him for an informal clarification. He was "that guy" during basic and hasn't pulled up his socks at all during the academic year. And yet he hasn't gotten kicked out yet. Why? Because the Academy wants to make sure that everyone has a chance to succeed here.</p>
<p>And my roommate... on honor probation, lied while on honor probation, is in the square root club, was on recondo, fakes being sick to miss training, doesn't shower, etc... she's still here as well for the same reason. It's frustrating, but I'm sure there will come a point along this journey where those kind of people just give up or screw up to such a gross extent that they are booted out. I think for the most part that the Academy does a good job at selecting and developing officers. And it's important to keep in mind that most cadets who graduate from here are 22 years old, some younger, some older. There is still time to grow up along the way. Unfortunately, butter bars don't automatically mature you and make you a great leader.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are some checks to the system. Unfortunately, they are far from perfect. Cadets like redhead mentioned usually don't last for a year. A few will fail recognition--they usually won't last another month, even with 3 weeks of paperwork to outprocess. Others decide that USAFA is not for them and leave. A fair number will get the boot for honor, academics, or conduct. Some realize that the upperclassmen have the cards stacked against them and leave...others slip by. There are some cadets that I would follow the hell and back, and others who I wouldn't follow to McDonalds. Most cadets are trying to learn, but the odd few get a lot of attention.</p>
<p>the main problem there that redhead said is "wanting" it and therefore working hard for it. that too often does not happen. she also said "there will come a point along this journey where those kind of people just give up or screw up to such a gross extent that they are booted out." the problem with that is that when they mess up may be when they are in command of US soldiers who die because this person was not fit from the start</p>
<p>on another unrelated note, anyone else recieve a 0/0/N for walking across the t-zo on the way to mitch's after that mandatory 2 hour play?</p>
<p>Well, there's a simple one. Don't cut across te t-zo! :o</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree that this place has graduated and will graduate people who shouldn't be leaders. I'm not sure how you could fix such a system. There are some good actors and slick-talkers out there.</p>
<p>nope, glad i didn't go across, but what's a 0/0/N? That's nothing...</p>
<p>Literally. Haha, 0/0/N, what's the point?</p>
<p>On a side note, I thought the play was pretty cool.</p>
<p>Or is it just to have paperwork in your file saying you did something bad?</p>
<p>I got a 0/0/N earlier this year- it's just for a paper trail in case it happens again.</p>
<p>its just paperwork. the best part is they said it's in the CSP to not cross the grass, so i took the liberty to look it up, and its not there. so we brought it up to group staff (ex. officer and group com are in my squad), so they're looking into it. i just think its funny that they want tthe paperwork.</p>
<p>great play by the way.</p>
<p>I saw hornetguy walkin in and i was like hey i know that guy (well sort of lol)</p>
<p>Okay back to the thread, my bad.</p>
<p>lol, I was actually trying to see if you would wave me down so I was looking for you. Also did at the Army game. Say something next time! Don't hesitate!</p>