<p>it takes talent. ;) (and focus, which many of seem not to have at times...lol)</p>
<p>I hope you arent implying my lack of focus and talent? :)</p>
<p>I'd stay out of groups, I did, better safe than sorry... ;)</p>
<p>Eh, myspace is probably safe. Myspace is blocked here. Although we all take our laptops back with us when we go home (at least, I do), so probably not so much.</p>
<p>listen, i was so neurotic i spelled my first and last names incorrectly on facebook. in hindsight, that was ridiculous. i'm just saying, if someone says something stupid, get out of the group. no big deal.</p>
<p>Many of ya'll are focusing on too many "nit-noy" and "useless" things.</p>
<p>Facebook...you know, if that's SUCH a huge part of your life, I suggest you take a serious second look at yourself: it's a damn website, it can't feed you, can't shelter you, will NOT make you a better cadet or officer. In truth, it's nothing more than a shiny "I'm nosy about everyone and everything" website. The only "redeeming" thing I see about it is that it is "slicker" thank MySpace.</p>
<p>Preppie versus Direct Entry versus how the cadre will view me... Folks...if you're not there yet, why are you concerned? You will be "Basic So-n-so..." to all the cadre unless:</p>
<p>a. You are stupid (note I didn't say ignorant; you'll ALL be ignorant until you learn) Stupid simply refuses to learn out of spite.</p>
<p>b. You have done SOMETHING to set yourself out as a brash, arrogant, CHALLENGER (I can do it better than that cadre wimp; I'm 6'2", 210lbs of solid stud, he/she is 5'6", 155lbs of nothing) In this case, re-read "a" as it applies</p>
<p>c. You don't FULLY embrace where you are and what you're there for! While the upperclass will quite often act, in your opinion, like petulant children (or jerks if you prefer that description) MOST will actually have a purpose behind what they're doing. And for those that don't, GET OVER IT. It's called life: live it and move on. </p>
<p>d. YOU EVER forget the "real reason" you're there. Put up with the BS, it's temporary. The goal should be that ring on your finger and those bars on your shoulder and serving as an officer. ANYTHING other than that; you're at the wrong place.</p>
<p>Last thing...several "former enlisted" cadets here have spoken of the "...we could ALWAYS tell the academy grad's from the other officers..." Sadly, that's typically true in a lot of instances. Academy grads come out of the zoo with limited social skills and a HUGE ego of "I'm a grad, I know more than a smarmy OTS/ROTC grad...they couldn't get here, I did, etc...etc...etc..."</p>
<p>Folks...while there are perhaps 5% of grad's like that, they give us ALL a bad image. It should be YOUR task to remove that image. FYI...there are junior/senior enlisted members that are just as bad. BUT...the VAST majority of your enlisted force is comprised of a highly intelligent and dedicated group of men and women that serve (often in much tougher conditions/situations than you as an officer EVER will) with honor. They chose a different path, that's ALL.</p>
<p>If ANY of you soon-to-graduate types come to work for me, if I can't tell if you're academy or not, then you've made the first correct move. All I care about is: WILL THIS LT do what is needed, will they learn what they must, and can I see them in MY job in about 20 years? IF the answer to ANY of those questions is NO...you won't like me.</p>
<p>Okay...rant ended.</p>
<p>Steve, Col, USAF
USAFA '83</p>
<p>Good post! Nough said lol.</p>