<p>They definetly were not blanks..after I shot me and a couple guys walked back and just watched the howitzers fire. You could watch the rounds fly through the air into the distance.</p>
<p>I thought the coolest part was disassembling and firing the M4's and M240's, but thats just me. Definetly an awesome day.</p>
<p>Ch.3 STAY CLASSY</p>
<p>I'm a soldier that's been on active duty for a little over 2 years. I accepted a USMAPS offer in December.</p>
<p>Congratulations, yomtvraps, and thanks for your service so far. With your existing Army background, I'm sure you'll do great.</p>
<p>Yomtvraps what'd you do in the Army?</p>
<p>I'd say : not much. I spent my first 6 months injured, I then went through language school for 1.5 years, and I'm about to do AIT at Ft. Huachuca. I'll finish that a month or so before I do USMAPS. By the time I get to West Point I'll have 3.5 years TIS, never having set foot in a 'real' unit, but having learned some pretty useful skills nonetheless. The Army has done nothing but throw and invest a ton of money at me, to say I was thankful would be a huge understatement.</p>
<p>Not a bad deal. I'm sure the experience will help at USMAPS and at the academy.</p>
<p>I just got my nomination from Rep. Michael Oxley (OH-4) in yesterday's mail (January 3rd). I'm trying to not make a big deal about it, since it's my parents and God that deserve the praise more than me. I got an LOA a while back, so now its time for preparation. When he heard about my nom, Dad said, "The journey's over!" I had to disagree with him, though, because I know that it's just the beginning. (Sounds kinda corny, but its true.)</p>
<p>Hey all! K10 here.</p>
<p>After getting home from christmas break I was going through our huge pile of mail, and much to my surprise there was an envelope with "Offer of Appointment" written on the front. I couldn't believe it! I feel truely blessed/privileged to have this opportunity. </p>
<p>Good luck to all you who are still anxiously waiting.</p>
<p>envee, You're right. The journey is just beginning. Enjoy this part as much as you can.</p>
<p>K10, Congratulations to you! Will you be accepting the appointment?</p>
<p>Yes Ma'am!</p>
<p>I'm excited/nervous about the upcoming year.</p>
<p>Hey guys, my appointment came Tuesday. I was so excited, I wanted to sleep with it under my pillow. My parents won't let me accept yet because they want me to consider all my options, but I will as soon as I have proved that I accepted all my options.</p>
<p>Yea I'm kinda in the same boat. Both my parents and I want to see what my options on the table are before making a decision. I have days where all I want to do is send in the card whereas other days I want to go to a civilian school. Oh well, only a couple more months until I can weigh everything. Good luck everyone</p>
<p>
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My parents won't let me accept
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<p>Maybe I'm just rebellious (I moved out when I was 16,) but keep in mind that going to West Point is entirely 100% your decision. Sure it's nice to have your parents behind you 100%, but if you're paying your own way through school, they don't have a choice :)</p>
<p>Now if mommy and daddy were paying your tuition it might be a different story. Point is:if you go to West Point (moreso than the other academies) there's a close to 100% chance you have a sunny place commonly abbreviated as IQ in your future, albeit 5 years from now... and there's no parents weekend or whatever they call it. </p>
<p>If going to West Point is what you 100% want to do, then do it.</p>
<p>I agree. In everything I've read for USAFA I always come across an emphasis on making your own decision about attending a service academy. It's wise to weigh all your options and reflect on what YOU really want to do with YOUR life, but in the end it's your decision (beside the $ issue).</p>
<p>I will be making my own decision in the end, but ticking my parents off by accepting right away when I don't need to until May sounds pointless. As momoftwins and others have pointed out, parents are all a little shaky on the idea at the beginning, but many come around. I have a feeling my parents may take a while, but they will come around.</p>
<p>soccer, </p>
<p>Nice start on the leadership development. Forcing your decision on others usually doesn't work very well.</p>
<p>I don't know if this will help at all, but I would consider it a bad thing if my parents weren't at least a little bit concerned about sending their child to a future in which they may be exchanging gunfire with someone. I guess what I'm saying is that your parents' concern is a natural reaction and you shouldn't let it stop you.</p>
<p>If parents always got their way, kids would never get to do anything fun :P</p>
<p>Envee06, I agree with you! And don't worry yomtvraps, I don't let my parents get there way all the time ;). Just for something as big as this, I want to give them a nice chance to figure out what they think about it. I have my mom talking to mothers of cadets, who are very helpful and thats great.</p>