<p>First and foremost, "serve" needs to come before "fly." I'm sure the ordering was unintentional, but don't those kind of things say the most?</p>
<p>All right, I can't let this go. The part about loving attention bothers me too.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, everyone likes a little recognition for their work every once in a while. Realize though, that you'll likely experience very little of this in the AF. Let's say you give a great briefing to your commander - are you going to get a big pat on the back? No, it's your job. You just did what was expected of you.</p>
<p>The military is one of the least "about me" professions out there, if that makes sense. An officer should always consider his people and the mission first, and himself last. Those above you, and especially those below you, are your number one priority. Service Before Self.</p>
<p>I'm with PETKO on this, that is concerning that you are a "glory hound."</p>
<p>You don't want to be an attention getter during Basic, whether good or bad. you'll pimp out your classmates, then you won't bond, and you'll get left out to dry.</p>
<p>Definitely agree with everyone, to me one of the biggest parts of basic is putting your classmates first, helping out without wanting or even thinking about getting anything back, your first thought is just that someone needs help, not "will they see me being such a good teammate?". </p>
<p>Also, there is something to pushing yourself too hard. Especially here, if you bite off more than you can chew, it can really hurt you. You have to know what you can handle, and when too much is just too much. The academics here are tough and it is good to push yourself some, but not to the point where you are failing classes. I too struggle with this sometimes, even in high school, my freshman year was probably the most stressful because I overloaded myself with hard classes and a lot of activities. I made it, but it was a rough year and I learned what I can handle. Now I am facing a similar dilemma, because I am considering double majoring and still playing tennis, and while I have pretty good time management, I am thoroughly researching all of my possible majors choices, because I do not want to let my grades slip because I just have too many classes.</p>
<p>Sorry for my rambling, I guess my point of that last paragraph is just this, know what your limit is.</p>
<p>A suggestion, taking a few hard classes along with some easy ones allows you to focus on the classes that matter most, this is what I did my senior year, taking AP calc BC and honors physics as my hard classes, and opting for some easier writing classes and electives.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I’m a glory hound (I admit I love attention)"
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Need anything else be said pertaining this quote???</p>
<p>.W.T.F.?</p>
<p>Okay so many things to address.</p>
<p>First listen to the people that are there, that is what will make you succeed, and when they say shut up and color, than pick up the crayons and color!</p>
<p>Second, as a WSO spouse for 20 yrs, I met alot of pilots that were glory hounds. Every WSO wife knows the skills of every pilot and there were mornings that my stomach was in knots knowing who Bullet was flying with. Glory hounds typically were the worse pilots, they cared more about showing off and gaining attention and unfortunately that is what causes mis-haps.</p>
<p>Glory hounds get bad reps right away. Mainly because their skills don't match their attitude. Experience fliers will eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every snack. These guys also usually get callsign names that reflect it in a horrible way. Here are a few of them:
Tuna...1st op assignment, he went up against the most respected flier and try to critique him. The flier had 2000 hrs, this guy had 0 operational. Tuna stands for 2 to na...TUNA
Tumor...because people thought he was so stupid for running his mouth at the worst times that he must have a brain tumor
Homer...came into the squadron believing his ***** didn't stink and told them flat out my callsign is Spit and nobody will change it...the only spit in Alaska is a town named Homer, and there is a PACAF rule, once you are named that you can't change it. He basically dared them by being so obnoxious.
Zero...because he got a Zero on a check ride in the Strike</p>
<p>I can go on and on, but I think you get the point.</p>
<p>The best fliers and officers are not glory hounds, they understand the dangers and get the fact that the bags already give all of the glory they need.</p>
<p>What scares me most is the assessment that you push the envelope without thinking about the consequences. That will get you killed. Whenever you fly you will complete a checklist/pubs. Why do you think that is? It exists because you must follow procedures. Miss one item and the jet can fall out of the sky. Something goes wrong and you think you know it all can result in death. </p>
<p>Having guts doesn't make you a great flier or officer, having SA(sit awareness) does. ALso knowing when to quit can be a positive sign. I.E. your flight commander will have to write OPRs on you, he will always give you negs about you along with pos. argueing the pt and telling them that you think they have it wrong and what you really were trying to do will just dig you in a deeper whole. In other words...shut up and color!</p>
<p>Good luck. You are young, but you need to do a 180 for BCT to be tolerable.</p>
<p>I forgot to add on one other item
[quote]
Deep this down inside I just want to fly and serve and be happy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>People around here know that this is my pet peeve. They know that Bullet and I had a very long serious conversation with our DS about this.</p>
<p>DO NOT JOIN THE AFA OR THE AF JUST TO FLY</p>
<p>You will always wear the blue before the bag. You do not know what might happen in the future. Have you thought about what if you don't get the chance to fly? Will you be happy? What is your back up plan?</p>
<p>Here are some scenarios that you might encounter
1. Get iinjured playing intramural sports and become dq
2. Pipeline shuts down
3. Go to UPT and wash out
4. Go to UPT and get heavies, not a fighter
5. Get to pilot a predator...not an actual plane</p>
<p>Anyway you roll those options you will have at least 5 yrs to give back. </p>
<p>I am not trying to be negative, I am trying to show you through experience that all of these things can occur and chances are they will occur for someone. That is why Bullet and I were really hard on DS, we had to make him realize and understand that you go this route to be in the AF even if it is in Accounting and Finance or PA, you don't join because of flying. You will step out of the jet during your career and it will be for yrs at a time if you want to be promoted. You will not spend 20 yrs flying, that is a fact!</p>
<p>Keep your dreams and fight for it, just have a back up plan. Just like I am sure you not only applying to SA's, but ROTC scholarships also for the just in case mode, you should be thinking about the Just in Case mode for your career...4 yrs will be here faster than you think :)</p>
<p>Aim High...Above ALL</p>
<p>I understand, or at least i think I understand about duty; All night I have been thinking, okay so I'm there to do my job, to complete the mission and that's it, nothing less nothing more. I will try to keep this mind set. I am not just going to the Academy just to fly. I can fly in the civilian world. I was first drawn to the Academy at the end of the 8th grade. I was attracted to the challenge. I love a good challenge. I knew that I could become an officer through OTS or ROTC. I wouldn't mind doing anything as long as I serve. Human beings are very adaptable people and I consider myself to adapt pretty easy. What I'm trying to say is that if I'm put into a situation that I don't like I always find the bright side and learn to like it in some way. Meaning I wouldn't mind being put in a CE squadron or Security Forces. And I wouldn't mind flying C-17's either. I think I understand now, doing more than my job requires can get me killed. And I don't want that.</p>
<p>Two quick points:</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm there to do my job, to complete the mission and that's it
[/quote]
</p>
<p>False. Like I mentioned earlier, it's imperative that you consider the mission and the people around you, especially as an officer. Honing in solely on the mission with no regard for your brothers and sisters in arms is never a good course of action.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think I understand now, doing more than my job requires can get me killed. And I don't want that.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just doing your job can get you killed too. SF sees quite a bit of action, CE guys (especially RED HORSE et al.) are being continually exposed to the front lines, and pilots are obviously always vulnerable too. We're not saying you shouldn't give it your all. Please do - it's great to see people doing everything they can to support mission X, Y, or Z. But know your limits. Know when to call it a day. That's the point we're trying to drive home here.</p>
<p>AFPJ,</p>
<p>I can't let this slide either. If you entered the Academy right now with your attitude, you would be "that guy" that nobody supports. You say you love a good challenge, but you never stop complaining about tough academics or how you never find time to work out! That line about being a glory hound really stood out to me. You look like a tool to me - plain and simple.</p>
<p>And to add to it all, not to put you down on your dreams at all, but you do really need to asses why it is you want to go to the AFA. If its only to fly...wrong answer.
Also, one of the biggest things is that you truely can't focus on yourself. The Academy is building leaders. A leader puts others first. They way they perform and interact with others as a leader is what makes people WANT to follow them. A good leader will have people follow them not because they HAVE to but because they WANT to and know that that leader will not lead them astray. To prepare your self for this, you will really need to change because just from that post, you are going the opposite way. Granted we may have simply missed your point or something but we are all here to help each other and others and are simply trying to help you the best way we can, not to put you down.</p>
<p>Okay AFPJ everybody is jumping on you. take it as constructive criticsm. Look back at one of my earlier posts about fliers eating their young for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is a prime example. They will chew you up so that you fly right, listen and learn and you will be fine...it is how you now react and address these issues that will truly make you a great leader.</p>
<p>A good example of being a good leader is from Basic. Our current squad comm (only for a few more days :( ) was a cadre during Basic. He's now in charge of the squad. We respect him like none other! For next semesters positions, the 4*s petitioned most of our other Basic cadre for certain jobs. We now have it where our training officers were our flight comms, and the recognition officers are the assistant flight comms. We respect them and want them to lead us, even though they all beat the crap out of us during Basic. we sacrificed an easier semester to have actual leaders who we respect and believe will lead us well. We could have wanted other upperclassmen have those jobs, but we wanted people we believe in, who will take care of us if we take care of them. </p>
<p>That's one of the biggest things I learned in Basic: If you take care of your people, they take care of you.</p>
<p>Ok, my turn. I have sat back and listened for a while as i read all of the newer threads. So now I feel i have to speak out. I can offer another angle to this, the enlisted side. </p>
<p>Having served in the military and completed two combat tours I can honestly say that what you(AFPJ) have said concerns me. You don't seem to truly grasp what being a military officer is all about. Several people have come on here and given you solid advice to include retired officers and current cadets but you seem to miss the point. Your replies to their comments show that you are unable-at this time-to truly realise that the people you are to lead will die for you even if it is just because they are ordered to. Will this allow you to complete your mission? Maybe but it's doubtful. and if your mission fails than the domino effect comes into play. In other words others will die or at least not succeed because of your leadership abilities. The only thing that is about YOU is your leadership abilities. Mission first, men second, and there is no third because you have to be willing to do anything you would ask your men to do. My son is at the academy and anytime we talk about life there I remind him of what his true responsibilities are. Not that he needs constant reminding but as a combat vet who has served under several leadership types I know the difference. You really need to start listening.</p>
<p>I think it’s something of a stretch to believe you can assess the potential of an individual from a few postings on a BB, regardless of the nature of their comments. We are after all talking about young adults who are growing in knowledge and maturity, each at a different pace. </p>
<p>Given the limited understanding of any individual posting here I would not go so far as to discourage them from applying, even if you feel it may be for the wrong reasons. If we dismissed every Air Force Officer that got in to fly, or who behaved at times as a hot shot or “glory hound” current and past ranks would be greatly diminished; maybe not a bad thing in the end, but let’s be realistic about the Air Force that is in contrast to the perceptions of what the Air Force should be. </p>
<p>I would also have some faith in the system and process that leads up to an individual graduating and receiving a commission. To get into a SA you have to meet established standards, get through at least one interview, receive a nomination(s) etc. It’s not a process that resembles a lottery where you simply have to enter to win. AFPJ will or will not succeed in getting past the established requirements and standards for admissions. </p>
<p>
[quote]
You don't seem to truly grasp what being a military officer is all about.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As an Air Force officer I’ve met and served with officers with years of service under their belts that did not truly grasp what being a military officer is all about; to expect a 17 or 18 year old who perhaps comes from a non-military family to have much of an idea may be a bit much to ask and if lacking not something I would consider as a fatal flaw in their character. If you expand the comment to include “to truly grasp what being a military officer during combat is all about” you have crossed a threshold into an area that most everyone cannot comprehend short of having their own individual experiences to draw from. </p>
<p>Whether we are talking about a SA or ROTC or OTS, the mission of each of those educational institutions is in part to help teach an individual what it means to be a military officer. If kids came in knowing that, all we would have to do is get them a degree and then hand them their bars. </p>
<p>Getting into a SA and getting out are two different events separated by 4 years and a lot of learning and maturing. Some may not make it through. If AFPJ gets in, it will be up to him to figure it out and get through the academy. Everyone deserves a chance to succeed and potentially grow and change for the better. If they do our armed services and our country will be better for it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
As an Air Force officer I’ve met and served with officers with years of service under their belts that did not truly grasp what being a military officer is all about
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That made me chuckle, b/c Bullet has met alot of them too. A couple of them Bullet said would have made great prison wardens.</p>
<p>Impressive information and perspectives...AFPJ, I hope you realize this is a gold mine, even though you have taken a few shots. Good luck with your situation and think hard about the future.</p>