<p>"Welcome coldfyre556: Were you one of the CBT cadre this year?"</p>
<p>Thank you! I'm sorry that I missed this post before. I was a squad leader during the first half of CBT.</p>
<p>coldfyre, I guess you're thinking I'm a Plebe. I'm not. I don't know if the two you're talking about are the two I am, but they're both in my Company. They're both really good guys. I'm not trying to insinuate that the Cadre were doing anything wrong, if anything, I was just saying that it was unfair that they WEREN'T allowed to.</p>
<p>Ann--I know they do. They've told us that a lot, and I believe them. I'm not criticizing the Plebes OR the Cadre--just the way the system has changed.</p>
<p>coldfyre556: I hope you will keep posting. It is always good to get a different perspective from the upperclassmen.</p>
<p>marines4me: Yes, "the Corps has..." sentiment seems to have been strong this year. I'm not sure if it is warranted or not. What system changes do you disagree with? I hope you have recovered and are settling back into life at WP.</p>
<p>marines4me, i apologize for mistaking you as a plebe. that was the first impression i got when you talked about having people in your company relieved for it (thinking you were talking about your cadre as a new cadet), and it stuck from there, thinking you were one of those plebers who writes home talking about how terrible and insane it is here (like the one during beast who bragged about carrying "5 days' worth of food, tons of live ammunition, and ballistic armor" on the first 3 mile ruck march..), so I kind of jumped all over it.</p>
<p>again, i apologize for the misunderstanding and the inconvenience.</p>
<p>Hey, coldfyre, don't worry about it at all. I would have been ****ed too if some plebe was posting stuff like that. No harm done.</p>
<p>Ann--I would agree that the sentiment is strong. Coldfyre, what do you think? These Plebes are certainly more in shape, as told to us in a briefing by the Comm, I think it was. I don't know that things have changed THAT much, but it seems like overall there's kind of a lack of discipline--a lot of motivation, but very little discpline. A lot of that, too, comes from the upperclass maybe not correcting as much as we should. A lot of the plebers are already not reading articles, not knowing the meals, or even not greeting--and it's really early in the year for that. But I don't know, that could just be something that happens every year. One change I don't like is this "kinder, gentler Army". They aren't supposed to be dropped, and we actually had an Officer come up on our floor during duties and tell us that we were being too verbally abusive. So, essentially, we can't even yell all that much anymore. I'd understand if it was abusive, but honestly, there needs to be some kind of trial by fire, and even the Plebes I've talked to don't feel like they're getting it/have gotten it.</p>
<p>I understand that you are talking about the Military Academy, but if I get accepted into the Naval Academy, or any service academy, I want the best training there is. This includes being dropped for mistakes, and being yelled at. If upperclassmen can't yell at plebes, because people think that it is abusive, then what is going to happen if and when those plebes graduate from their perspective SA. What is going to happen in combat if they get scared when guns start firing and bombs start blowing up? I know that I wouldn't want anyone next to me, that is not mentally and physically prepared in combat. I also expect that the people that I am fighting with expect the same of me.
These are just my thoughts, I am sorry if anyone disagrees with them.
respectfully,
usnahopeful</p>
<p>marines4me: Interesting comments - what a difference a year makes.</p>
<p>Ann--you're not kidding. This place changes how you think...</p>
<p>A couple thoughts from a current Plebe:
-Beast wasn't hard. It wasn't fun, but you didn't end each day praying for the strength to go on. It's much more of a mental endurance test (how much suck will I stand?)
-The PT smoke sessions in the barracks were some of the best times during Beast. Jumping up and down with our cadre singing 'On Brave Old Army Team' after getting an amazing workout, adrenaline flowing, endorphins pumping... heaven hath no greater feeling!
-Two cadre members got relieved for doing some really sick stuff (PT in showers (some NCs got athletes foot all over their bodies) and behind locked doors at night in their rooms, etc) but the two CPL Marines4me is talking about were relieved for making a kid, who laughed the whole time, run 30 meters. 30 METERS! Not only did out Beast company lose two of its finest cadre members over that, but two days before change of detail they failed it. Believe me when I say that the New Cadets were just as outraged as the cadre were, but that can be West Point: don't hate the enforcer, hate the rule. If the standard wasn't so high, 60 Minutes could be knocking at Thayer Gate with the next big scandal.<br>
-The upperclassmen say we had an easy Beast, and we know we did. We're embarassed by it and wish it was harder. But all we can do is hope higher heeds our advice and works 2011 more.</p>
<p>"Ann--you're not kidding. This place changes how you think..."</p>
<p>marines4me: now that you're a veteran, and based on your experience, could you elaborate for the benefit of the parents and hopefuls out there?</p>
<p>And how do you guys like boxing class?</p>
<p>Geez... I don't think I would call myself a veteran at all... I'd have to defer to coldfyre for that one. </p>
<p>You just change a lot when you're here. The Plebes are seeing it, the Yuks, Cows, and Firsties are continually seeing it too. It's just like anywhere else; college changes you. This place just compounds the effects...</p>
<p>statewins, I have a very sneaky suspicion that you're in my Company. Am I right?</p>
<p>Mr Green Apple's Law: Everyone's had it harder than the person that comes after them.</p>