<p>I guess I should let this out, my dad died in the World Trade Center bombings so I know how losing a close friend/father is all about. That is the main reason why I want to join the army, for revenge, I was thinking about saying it earlier, but decided not too, well theres nothing to lose now so you might as well know. You do not know who I am and what I have been through in my short life, so don't
"PRESUME".</p>
<p>I presumed nothing. </p>
<p>I still stand by what I have to say. You don't know what death is, no one does. </p>
<p>Sorry about your father, but that whole revenge thing is not good. Might want to change your reason for joining the military.</p>
<p>"My advice: stop being so cocky, relax, act your age, and have fun... West Point is 4 years away for you, and TRUST me ... four years is a LONG time."</p>
<p>geez just give the guy a break for now. let him have his dreams. he has time to realize all we're trying to tell him during high school and i think he was just using this thread to get some positive reinforcement from peers who are going through the same decision. my snaps go out to you and your early start, army_freak. </p>
<p>meg</p>
<p>Thanks for that meg, we all have different personalities with different dreams. Who knows, my dream could be to die (although it isn't). Revenge isn't really the main reason I want to join the military, its like a sub-reason. I would probably want to join the military either way.</p>
<p>Army_Freak</p>
<p>There is some good advice in here, especially about grades and ECs. A couple of other things to keep in mind are all of the potential ways to become an officer in the Army. In 3 and a half years when you sit down for your interview for a nomination, it is going to be important that you have and are actively looking at the other potential ways to become an Army officer, because if its just about going to West Point, that isn't going to cut it.</p>
<p>My son was very much like you but on the Navy side -- always wanted to go to the Naval Academy So he prepared carefully took all the the right classes and did well. But along with applying to USNA, he applied to USMMA and for an NROTC scholarship and was fortunate enough to have his choice of the three and the best fit turned out to be USMMA.</p>
<p>So carefully evaluate the options that are before you. WP, USMMA (Kings Point graduates can take an active duty commission in the Army, or any service), ROTC, or even enlisting and then going to OCS.</p>
<p>Finally, keep your eye on the standards set by WP, both academically, physically and socially. If you can make the grade to get into WP, you can pretty much take your pick of other colleges in the country if you decide later you don't want to go to WP.</p>
<p>It's not bad to want West Point at 14-- I wanted it when I was in the 7th grade, and I'm here now. But honestly, you need to be a lot more smart about the things you say. I don't expect you to be all that mature yet because you're still 14, but I can tell you that a 15:56 two mile will FAIL you on the APFT. Being able to do 50 pushups anytime, anywhere is nothing. You'll need to do a lot more than that to get a good score on the APFT. </p>
<p>With all due respect, you just seem to be lacking in maturity. You'll gain that as time goes on. The only reason people are reacting negatively to you is because you've said some rather ridiculous things. You probably don't have any idea of what Beast is really like. No one does until they've experienced it. And guess what? I have.</p>
<p>Argh! I said I was 14 so you know this isn't an immature 30 year old saying it. I get the point I am VERY immature...A lot more then 50 push-ups...I am 14, by 18 I'll be able to do much more, right now I have started to grow a lot more in muscle. I don't really mean to be shouting at you, in real life I would never have this bad attitude but this is just communication through typing.</p>
<p>LFWB dad> Thanks for that advice, I was thinking of trying to get a scholorship for an ROTC program too. As the years go by I'll find out and research about new options and will consider them. I cannot presume I will be getting in West Point now, but we'll see what happens.</p>
<p>To me it seems like every time you bring up how you're "fit for West Point," you're talking physically. There's a lot more too it than that, and you'll realize that when and if you get there. It's a LOT more mentally stressful, something that not too many people expect before going in. You wouldn't believe how many people like you get to places like WP and after the first week or two, say "you know, maybe this isn't for me." Trust me, I've seen plenty of that. </p>
<p>And everyone knows your 14 by now so you don't have to keep using that as a shield, but at this point I wouldn't worry about whether you're immature or not. Hell I wasn't. But you've got plenty of time to shape up in high school. Just do what people are telling you here...work hard in high school, but don't forget to have fun. West Point is no joke, or the military in general for that matter. Take a long look at your reasons for wanting to give up your civilian life...so when you do take that oath, you know exactly why you want to be there.</p>
<p>bostonguy> Awesome, your in the USAFA! Do you like it there? Would you prefer Infantry if you had another chance?</p>
<p>No, I don't think so. I have a lot of respect for the guys on the ground, but it's just not for me. The more I learn about Special Forces, the more interested I get...but there are a lot of guys that want it more than I do, and I've got my heart set on flying.</p>
<p>Thats great bostonguy. Only thing I am afraid of is I've heard stories of friends planes misfunctioning and just going down and blowing up. I don't want to depend 100% on other people to keep the plane functioning to keep me alive :-P</p>
<p>in the army you will have to do a lot of depending on others.</p>
<p>Yeah I know that taffy obviously...I don't need to depend 100% on other people though.</p>
<p>I never said flying wasn't dangerous. And you might be surprised, but when there's a mission involved, dependence on each other may be all you have.</p>
<p>Thats true bostonguy, I just cannot always depend on other people to keep me safe. Flying would seem fun though, when do you get to fly Black Hawks?</p>
<p>the air force doesnt have black hawks. they have pave hawks, hueys, and their pave lows are being replaced with ospreys. if he gets picked up for pilot training, he will learn basics, then track tankers/cargo/airlift, T-44s for herc(i think?), fighter/bomber, or helo. in a class of 20, somewhere around 5 go f/b, like 10 go t/c/a, 4 go to 44s, and maybe 1 goes to ft rucker for helo training, where theres a 50% chance he ends up in the pave hawk.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/%5B/url%5D">http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/</a></p>
<p>Whoa. I see you've done a little research on the Air Force thing, taffy. You're at West Point, right? Or am I completely confused?</p>
<p>at one point i wanted to go to usafa... but then i grew up :-P</p>
<p>Haha, right.</p>
<p>My brother went to West Point...I thought about going, but then I realized I didn't want to hate my life.</p>
<p>Yea not everyone can handle living outside of the air conditioned huts</p>