<p>Homer09: Sorry to hear you're in such a bad mood. Glad to know that, despite your doldrums, you intend to stick it out. </p>
<p>If it's any consolation, I hear that at Heaven's pearly gates there is a special, express, no wait line reserved for West Point graduates. A sign above the special extrance reads: Come right in West Pointers, you've already been to hell.</p>
<p>I have added you to my daily prayer that you (and all our cadets) continue to persevere in your decision to become an officer in our military. Thank you for all you have endured, and continue to endure, to prepare yourself to lead our armed forces in the defense of our great country.</p>
<p>I'm with Homer on that one--the combination of stress and losing causes me to be a little harsh. But none of you candidates will understand until you get here, or in your case, the Naval Academy. Have fun with that. I honestly despise that place, and it has nothing to do with the Army Navy game. Though, if you look at the March-On, the reason becomes quite evident.</p>
<p>West Point is not fun. It's not a game, and it's not all Duty, Honor, Country. It's a place where kids come and are forced to become adults in a matter of weeks. It's a place where they beat you down again and again, and once you finally get up, another left hook to the face comes flying in. There are people here who want nothing more to burn someone, and go out of their way to do so. There are good people, too, don't get me wrong. But this place will test you until you don't even think you can take it anymore. You'll find out more about yourself than you ever thought possible. You will change, and you will become stronger. But you'll also become more cynical, more hard. It sucks. It happened so early... I'm supposed to be a kid still, but all I am now is an old person trying to find what I lost. I wish someone had told me this before I went. But you know, nothing I say will effect any of your decisions, be that for the better or for the worse. Nothing anyone said to me detered me in any way. And so the cycle will continue. </p>
<p>Anyways, Homer, at least we got PMI today. I was going to go jump out a window or something if we didn't.</p>
<p>While Navy may have brought home the trophy, ALL were winners on the field Saturday! I hope, that during the really hard days at either academy, you can remember some of the fans cheering for all of you- just a small number of a very, very grateful nation- everyone was standing when you marched on- both sides- hang in there best you can- you have something special at West Point, and at Annapolis, that while you don't realize it now, you will come time....if you could only see ahead it might help - life changes everyone- and things are not always greener on the other side- so try and find something in each day to cherish ... remember, you will have a lifetime of wishing you were young again and wishing you could do it all again! Go Army! Go Navy!</p>
<p>I really wish I could say something to cheer you guys up. </p>
<p>We are all very proud of what you are doing and the sacrifice you're making, but you know that.
You are getting a world class educational and leadership experience, and your suffering now will pay off big time in the long run but you know that, too.
Sigh. I'm a former Naval officer but since I didn't go to an academy I can't claim to know what it's really like for you. I know it's amazingly hard. Maybe the best thing I can say is that civilian college really stunk at times, too. I remember being pretty miserable a lot of the time. Not much help, I know. My thoughts and wishes are with you guys. Keep the faith.</p>
<p>Marines4me - I just had a question because your username is "Marine"...did you originally plan on going into the Marines before you went to West Point, or are you planning on trying to get commissioned into the Marines when you graduate? Is that extremely hard to do? Or do you want the Army anyway? I guess I'm wondering how hard cross-transfers are, and if this is what you want...or maybe I'm reading way too much into your username! lol. thanks! semper fi!</p>
<p>Homer & M4M - Why don't you guys just poke my eyes out with sharp sticks.You're killing me. No, no one can know what you're going through except those who have gone before you. Some of us can only imagine how tough it is. You have to miss your friends & family and all that was comfortable & safe. You prolly feel like we all blather on & on about your grand duty. But we truly do feel you are doing great, important things. I hate it that you have to go through some of the (blah) you do. I've heard some of the crapola that is useless & senseless. Leaves me shaking my head. But then there are the things I see & hear that make me believe in what you're doing. Things like civy college kids who come to raid my frig & tell me that they hate what they are doing & where they are at. I call it the "Big Disillusionment". You guys are slammed into adulthood while the civy kids get dragged into it alittle at a time. Its a rude awakening either way. Do this thing one day at a time and find some stress relief. If its just to lay in your rack and put your feet up for ten minutes, please do it. Take a hot shower and make yourself some hot chocolate. Find a way to do something that only counts for your comfort for those few brief minutes. I can't bare the stress you guys are having. Wish there was something to be done about it. Hang tough, the holiday break is coming!</p>
<p>Awwww, you guys are so sweet. OK, I'm doing better. Unfortunately, I decided to post at a rather bitter moment. I go through soooooo many ups and downs here. I'm doing alright now, anticipating going home. And when we get back, we get to greet with just plain "Good morning!" like normal people--we get to listen to music (legally), watch movies (legally), wear makeup, and wear jewelry. Life will get somewhat better... </p>
<p>Thanks for the motivation everyone. Marines4me- I can't believe they give us so many graded events the week before finals. I guess I'll just have to cram all the info for my finals into my head the night before. Oh well, thats what I usually do anyway.</p>
<p>hi marines4me and homer,
at this point in the semester, writing research papers and studying for finals is stressful for everyone. However, my plebe daughter seems to think that USMA plebes have more liberty/privileges than plebes at USNA--or maybe the grass just looks greener...</p>
<p>Hmmm... I definitely don't think so. We only have one pass to leave a semester. That's it. Nothing else. That's pretty much our only privilege. We still walk with our hands cupped, still greet, still do everything we did on R-Day. We still aren't allowed to have music, TV, movies, earrings, makeup, or anything else that might possibly make us human. What all are the Plebes at the Naval Academy doing? I find it very hard to believe that we have it any easier AT ALL than they do...</p>
<p>I don't have any insight into USMA other than the comments on this board, but it really does sound like USNA plebes have more privledges. Technically no music, TV, movies... but you can earn a media chit to use the wardroom DVD. Makeup is fine, only small gold stud earrings but that's better than nothing. Plebes get 2 overnight passes a semester but they have "earned" 3 more (for winning Kent State, from a Forrestal Lecture gift, and this past weekend after the Army game). Since we live in the area, my kid has actually been home 6 times this fall (including Thanksgiving). Those who live too far to visit home on an overnight pass often go to their sponsors house, or visit friends at colleges in the middle Atlantic area. The overnight leave isn't long enough to go far (noon -- or after the game -- on Saturday until 6 on Sunday) but I think its just the freedom to be away from the school that makes all the difference.</p>
<p>Yea, that's much better than what we have. We have the possibility of earning 1 performance pass, so that would give us MAYBE 2 passes a semester.</p>
<p>Homer09 my husband is USNA class of 78 3rd company and I can tell you I heard your thoughts loud and clear beginning years ago while he was a youngster. ( we didn't meet until after his plebe year). Neither of our sons wanted to go even after a visit to the school. </p>
<p>But know this: even after all these years the academy grads are thicker than theives when it comes to friendships and looking out for each other. (We live in the silicon valley and the West Point grads are tight here)They seek each other out in companies and for jobs for those companies. The dark days of January were the toughest for him but he never regrets going there. It opened a few doors for him.</p>
<p>ah, who needs makeup and earrings anyway! You gals are pretty enough! Honestly- hang in there- we stand in awe of all of you! (PS- for what it's worth- I think all the cadets and mids should get a weekend off after standing for the ENTIRE army-navy game, in freezing cold weather)!</p>
<p>About passes for usma, I know cadets have the opportunity to apply for "spirit passes". Usually this means they get to leave campus for most of the weekend. My brother has taken two this semester so far. One to attend some concert in Manhattan and another to see Army play Navy in rugby. It does make it easier since my family is only an hour and a half from west point.</p>