Lunch with a cadet

<p>I just got back from lunch with a 2nd class cadet. Shes been a great help for me all along (friends with her sister) and we talk online alot. I figured there was some stuff that people here would love to hear about so ill share it.</p>

<p>She was saying that basic is now alot “easier” than it was when she was there. There are all these rules that the TIs have to follow and there are people who have never worked out before and they get by with no problem.</p>

<p>She and i are both liberal people and that can be a problem. The academy tends to be very conservative and very christian. People who do not fall under one or both of those categories sometimes get some flack. A christian group even started harassing non christains and that caused a huge deal.</p>

<p>You get quite alot of opportunities to get off base, more so than i ever realized. Even as a fourth class cadet, after basic there are quite alot of opportunities to go into CS or to your sponsors house. She kept stressing “Its not a prison, although it may seem like it at times”</p>

<p>She also stressed to keep your ideals about the academy. Indeed when you get to the academy there will be some things that change your views on it, but you have to keep at it. Its deffinately not easy at all. She asked the first thing “You do realize what you are getting yourself into?” However she was very encouragin and sympathedic.</p>

<p>All in all very informative and nice person. Hopefully some people can gain some information from this. I told her about these message boards and she wishes everyone here the best of luck!</p>

<p>Another thing she REALLY stressed alot was if you make a mistake (Which everyone WILL, many times), dont make it twice. Never make it twice. Also, dont laugh during basic. She said she got giggles alot and the results wernt happy.</p>

<p>"She was saying that basic is now alot "easier" than it was when she was there."</p>

<p>Every class says that about classes that come after them. Take it with a grain of salt as sometimes it's not true.</p>

<p>"The academy tends to be very conservative and very christian. People who do not fall under one or both of those categories sometimes get some flack. A christian group even started harassing non christains and that caused a huge deal."</p>

<p>While the vast majority of people at the Academy are conservative and over 90% are some denomination of Christian, I don't perceive the Academy as a hostile environment for people who don't fit in those categories. On political matters, people may want to discuss/debate things more with you if you have a more liberal stance on them, but I don't consider that a bad thing. As for being a non-Christian, if harassment does occur, it should be reported as that's not acceptable and should not be tolerated.</p>

<p>You know, I'm strongly Christian, but it saddens me when Christians harass non-Christians. I mean, I would to tell everyone about my God and how good He's been to me, but I certainly wouldn't force it on anyone, and I wouldn't want to harass them to force them to see things my way. What kind of a testimony is that?</p>

<p>A lot of the "harassment" of non-Christians has been both overemphasized and misunderstanding on both sides. Don't let that fool you about the Academy. When I was there for the summer seminar, it was not hostile to non-christians or super-advocatative of God or religion at all. </p>

<p>Again, I'm obviously not the best source, but don't let the media or disgruntled cadets tell you too much about the Academy and accept it is as truth. It's different for everyone.</p>

<p>By no stretch did she say it was "Hostle" aside from a SINGLE isolated incident. Indeed she said she even got in constructive debates with some of the more conservative people. The main problem she said were closed minded people who cannot see other sides. That tends to be a maturity thing and no matter WHERE you go, there will ALWAYS be people like that. In fact with teh academy being more mature people of the country, im sure its only a handful of people.</p>

<p>I did ask about spirit missions and she says its such a pain now that they have to get them approved. One i asked about was "Carrier landings" and she knew about them but never had occured while she was there. Shucks :-P</p>

<p>I asked her alot about basic. She was saying that there were/are alot of people who go to basic who never have practiced a day in their life. They had the hardest time. She said that if you practice, work out alot and run you really shouldnt have much of a problem. The first half, before jacks vally, is alot of just learning how to march.</p>

<p>As far as it being "easier", one thing she mentioned were drills. They can only drill you for one minute (60 seconds) and have to give you a 15 minute break afterwards.</p>

<p>Elaborate on "drill" if you could. And by break, what did she mean.</p>

<p>Keep the info flowing, you're our man snipper!</p>

<p>She never really mentioned an exact drill or what the break entailed.</p>

<p>She said alot of the stuff when you look back is really stupid, even though most people realize how stupid they were then. Otherthings "are just straight up retarted" as she put it.</p>

<p>Also i inquired about BCGs which are Basic Cadet Glasses (or goggles, depending how you look at them) which are those monstrosity of plastic you have to wear during basic. Fortunatly after basic you are allowed to wear your civvy glasses.</p>

<p>When ever you leave base as a forth class cadet you have to wear your uniform.</p>

<p>I asked her about her "normal day" Usually she goes to breakfast, and does if it is mandatory breakfast (2-3 days a week) and then goes to some of her classes. After that she said she spends alot of time in a coffee shop type place. After that it is more classes.</p>

<p>Another thing she stressed was taking responsibilities for yoru action, especially as you move up the ranks. If it was your fault, take the blame and do what ever you need to do. One cadet she knew would always blame things on other people.</p>

<p>Something i think we (at least on the message board)all know here but she mentioned as well (per a question i asked). The easiest way to get kicked out of the academy is something involving alcohol. Its really simple. Having anything related to alcohol tied to your name and you will be outta there.</p>

<p>I wont mention other spacifics, but she did get her appointment without having any high school sports.</p>

<p>Hope some of this information can continue to be helpful.</p>

<p>Your giving a lot of great info snipper. Your fortunate to have the chance to sit down and have a good conversation with someone about it. I know Megbee who posts here talked with a 4th class West Pointer here, I still need to talk with her on that. But anything that pops into your head from your conversation, please post as much as you can. The more insight, the more informed all our decisions will be.</p>

<p>"I did ask about spirit missions and she says its such a pain now that they have to get them approved."</p>

<p>The guidance saying you need approval is nothing new. It's been there for years.</p>

<p>"One i asked about was "Carrier landings" and she knew about them but never had occured while she was there."</p>

<p>Perhaps not in her squadron, but I'll attest to the fact they have occurred this year.</p>

<p>"As far as it being "easier", one thing she mentioned were drills. They can only drill you for one minute (60 seconds) and have to give you a 15 minute break afterwards."</p>

<p>The guidance concerning how long basics can be physically trained and how long their "breaks" have to be changes throughout 1st BCT and then in 2nd also. This guidance is not new either, though, and similar guidance has existed for the past 3 BCTs (07-09).
"Also i inquired about BCGs which are Basic Cadet Glasses (or goggles, depending how you look at them) which are those monstrosity of plastic you have to wear during basic."</p>

<p>BCGs are also referred to as Birth Control Glasses. ;)</p>

<p>"The easiest way to get kicked out of the academy is something involving alcohol. Its really simple. Having anything related to alcohol tied to your name and you will be outta there."</p>

<p>You also don't want to get in trouble with honor. In addition to the fact that it can get you kicked out, it really hurts the entire institution. Cadets in general are very trusting of one another, so betraying anyone's trust is that much worse. Integrity's the first Air Force core value for a reason.</p>

<p>"I wont mention other spacifics, but she did get her appointment without having any high school sports."</p>

<p>That isn't the first person I've heard of doing that, but it is extremely rare.</p>

<p>To follow up my last post, I'll mention that everyone going to the Academy (or who has gone to the Academy) has a slightly different perspective on things. They're all a little biased in their own way, as people have different experiences and perceive things differently, but getting several views/perspectives is even more beneficial, as I guarantee you that regardless of how many different people you talk to or how much information you try to obtain about the Academy before going there, your experience will be unique.</p>