<p>Could anyone provide a general idea of the political atmosphere at the USNA?
I imagine most mids lean towards the right, but would someone (like myself) that leans to the left have a hard time?
It seems the country is becoming extremely polarized, but I'd hope that our military would stay politically diverse.</p>
<p>There really wasnt much atmosphere to it. When I went for CVW nobody really talked about it except during their government class. It doesn;t really come up, but of course there are those few who you can just tell.</p>
<p>Not to worry, my 3/C (youngster) leans to the left and has had no problems.</p>
<p>One of the things during my plebe summer that I will always remember is the following...</p>
<p>My squad leader asked who we would be voting for in the upcoming elections. The choice was President Bush or Senator Kerry. If anyone said Senator Kerry, the squad leader personally berated and embarrassed them. At the time, no one really wanted to speak up, so most people just sat their not able to do anything. I noted this as a bad sign of leadership, especially since this was in King Hall (one item of discussion that is usually barred from wardrooms is the discussion of politics). </p>
<p>Most people here aren't like that and understand that there is some diversity. There are debates/discussions on the stances of issues...and I believe this is a good thing! This is your chance to compare and contrast.</p>
<p>Bottom line: no one should be put down or berated based on their political views.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, though that's a depressing anecdote jadler03.
I have always wanted to serve but I fear the military is becoming increasingly conservative as this Iraq War continues. If only we could be Americans and not Democrats or Republicans bickering over politics ans what should have been while our men and women are killed every day overseas. </p>
<p>I'd be interested in anyone else's experience
thanks</p>
<p>That sounds all good when you read it, but in truth, when you are in the military it doesn't matter what you are you follow orders that are given. And at the Academy it doesn't matter what you are OR what anyone else around you is. The military doesn't really have a "party" associated with it.</p>
<p>Well personally, I think alot of the upperclass will give you a hard time if you lean either to the left or right.</p>
<p>Mainly because the position of attention is supposed to be straight and unmoving.</p>
<p>:P</p>
<p>some good ol' military humor</p>
<p><em>double knee slapper</em></p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>
[quote]
My squad leader asked who we would be voting for in the upcoming elections. The choice was President Bush or Senator Kerry. If anyone said Senator Kerry, the squad leader personally berated and embarrassed them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm disappointed but not surprised to read this. You're right that this is clearly an example of bad leadership. Evidently the squad leader wasn't paying attention when the Bill of Rights was covered in government class. The situation you described is pretty ugly.</p>
<p>I would like to think that people at the service academies tend to have similar views as kids at civilian colleges: you will find people of all types-some will shove their views in your face, others will keep their opinions to themselves. If you look at politicians from service academies-their parties seem fairly diverse. Sen. Jim Webb (Virginia) and President Carter were both democrats as well as Naval Academy grads. Senator John McCain, also an academy grad, is a Republican. So they go both ways.</p>
<p>very weel put, PlebeWannaBe.</p>
<p>For the most part, mids definitely lean fairly heavily to the right. However, its been my experience that most mids are not that politically active. If you ask the average mid, he'll tell you hes a republican, however, you don't seem to see the same level of political activism that atleast I percieve that there is at other schools. Of course that probably has something to do with the fact that mids, and active duty in general, aren't really allowed to take political stances, or atleast not in uniform...</p>
<p>I guess what I'm getting at is that most mids do not try and push their beliefs on you. I would even make that claim that many border on politically apathetic.</p>
<p>I should probably include with this a disclaimer that my views are only the perception that I encountered in the previous four years and by no means represent what all mids will experience or even percieve.</p>
<p>Keeping the above post in mind, my NASS squad leader related to the squad that this was a conservative school, and that if any of us had a problem with that there was another school for us just a stone's throw away.</p>
<p>haha good old St. Johns! If you ever see pictures of the annual St. Johns/ USNA croquet match they are very interesting. Needless to say, the Mids always look way more professional (and in my opinion, more "croquet-like" )than the "Johnnies". Haha, I would want to play just so I could get one of those great jackets! :)
go to usna.org then photo gallery then Spring 2006 Part 2</p>
<p>Never noticed the political atmosphere here. Our opinions are prettyt much kept quiet, but we all have liberal/conservative tendencies. No one here seem either hard right or hard left.</p>
<p>I don't know, I think people talk about politics here all the time. I get into a lot more political discussions here than I did with my buddies in high school.</p>
<p>A bunch of us plebes were discussing gay rights for about an hour yesterday.</p>
<p>But nah, you're not gonna get in trouble or be alienated for being a liberal. Just look at me, I'm a dirty San Franciscan, and I get on fine with all the dirty Texans. If anyone treats you the way the squad leaders in these anectodes have described, and you really take offense to it, you can prolly just work it out by talking to them about it.</p>
<p>Also, I think there's more dimension to "political" discussions here. It's not just American politics. You're expected to be able to discuss national & international news Every Day as a plebe, and your upperclass will know whats going on too. So you will know about Pakistani politics, Venezualan politics, Taiwanese politics, and these matter and can be just as exciting to talk about.</p>
<p>Yeah I witnessed my plebe hosts arguing about some political issues as well.</p>