<p>to people who have no clue what a service academy is?</p>
<p>we are SO PROUD of our son who recently received an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Only a small percentage of people (mostly people in 'my' generation - i'm 52 - or older) understand what this means.</p>
<p>We have had people insist that he has to have an MOS "because everyone has an MOS in the service". We have had people give us blank stares. One person at least said "I know this is different from him just enlisting, but how?"</p>
<p>Is this a common reaction? What do you tell people? </p>
<p>I've finally started saying something like "Alex has been accepted to the Air Force College where he will learn to be an officer."</p>
<p>kate in seattle</p>
<p>Congratulations on raising a fine young man who wants to serve our country. I think that you should still say he is going to the Air Force Academy (which is by the way one of the most competitive universities in the country). If people give you that blank stare,you can explain to them that an academy provides a fabulous university education to young people who want to serve our country as Air Force officers. Officers do not have an MOS as enlisted soldiers/NCOs do, but will choose a branch (at least that is what the Army does). </p>
<p>For those who do know what an academy appointment means, you will receive congratulations and best wishes and that is what you and your son deserve. I have been married to a West Pointer for 25 years and I can tell you that an academy education is a cut above the rest. You will feel much better if you can attend some Air Force Academy activities for parents and their cadets (?).</p>
<p>Best wishes!</p>
<p>Kate - congrats to your son and your family!</p>
<p>When I tell people my son is at West Point and get that blank stare or the questions (“I thought he was in college?”), I used to get irritated but now I see it as a chance to educate people about the service academies. They probably walk away wishing they hadn’t asked. 
</p>
<p>For my short explanation I usually explain it similarly to what you said…“he is in college but it is also the Army, when he graduates he will have a college degree and be commissioned as an officer in the Army.”</p>
<p>If you haven’t joined the local Air Force Academy Parent’s Club yet, I would recommend it. I find great comfort in talking with fellow academy parents. They “get it” without having to explain.</p>
<p>It happens to everyone. One of my favorites is “where are you stationed now?” I seem to get that every time I go home, and it’s usually asked by someone I went to HS with.</p>
<p>I actually said, “It’s like West Point, for the Air Force” several times. (The “light bulb” went off about 50% of the time, when I said that, lol.)</p>
<p>If they are seriously interested, I will explain pretty well. If they don’t really care, I either won’t bother or will give a 1-3 sentence explanation.</p>
<p>Military life is rather different than what most people know. Your son WILL have difficuties explaining things to people who haven’t served in the military. It’s a fact of life we all get used to, eventually.
(Just make sure he knows you support him completely. That’s ususally plenty.)</p>
<p>If you think you have a hard time explaining your Academy try explaing USMMA you get thinkgs like Marine Boot Camp? Merchants will he shop? or just a blank stare. The recent pirate incident gives a glimmer of recognition but I am sure that will fade.</p>
<p>quite franky, don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Those that matter will get it,
those that don’t won’t.</p>