<p>its so true! I talked to some recruiters (enlisted) people and when I said I was going to the Academy their jaws draopped "how did you do that!" in amazement! lol, it feels good when you talk to people who do realized the importance of this.</p>
<p>yeah, on the flipside they are a great many people who don't understand what the Academy is....For the past two months I have been unable to convince my hairdresser that the Air Force Academy is actually a college and not just an enlistment base that her cousin went to....</p>
<p>Haha I know exactly what you mean...so many people have literally no clue that the Academy is much different than just enlisting the Air Force...though they all seem to understand what West Point is. I've actually been reduced to just saying "It's like the AF version of West Point", and they usually go "Ohhhh, congrats then!", and it seems to get them to understand the significance</p>
<p>There have been a handful of times when people are surprised that my son chose Air Force Academy over West Point. My son's first choice has always been AFA. I have my own theory, but why do you think others may see an Appointment to West Point more prestigious than the AFA?</p>
<p>West point has more name recognition than USAFA.</p>
<p>West Point has always had a major prescence in our nations history...Revolutionary War, all the great generals/presidents that have gone there, etc...It has produced a lot of our greatest leaders. You know what else? The Air Force Academy needs a secondary name. The Military Academy is West Point. The Naval Academy is Annapolis. What are we? Colorado Springs? blaah. The blue zoo? We need something....</p>
<p>The other Academies have been around a <em>little</em> longer than us. ;)</p>
<p>It must be all that stealth technology...USAFA goes right under peoples' radar...</p>
<p>We had our awards ceremony, filled out our performing arts center (almost 1000 seats i believe). The Westpoint MLO did the speech for the three candidates (one for each academy) and did a fabulous job of it. Then each of us received our appointments, first WP (megbee1119), then me, then navy. We all had standing ovations and cheering from EVERYONE! It was amazing to see everyone cheering for us.</p>
<p>what the hell? he's not even in the military yet. I would have boo'ed. "Yo punk. you're not even a maggot yet!" when i enlisted, my foster mom tried to beat me cuz i forged her signature at 17 cuz she wouldn't get anymore money from california youth authority and DSS. **** that applause ****.</p>
<p>ADA, I take offense to your comments. I have read some of your other posts on the West Point Forum which certainly do not sound like an Academy cadet worthy of respect. </p>
<p>If you think this is "Open Mic"for your stand up comedy act, consider this post as me boo'ing you from the audience!</p>
<p>Any chance you are related to 'confused23'?</p>
<p>you serious? you think everyone in this world has a sugar coated life? I know you think the army is a country club, but it aint. what's wrong with you?</p>
<p>I'm going to chime in here because I've been thinking on this issue for a while.</p>
<p>Look guys, it's great that we all got into USNA/USMA/USAFA/USMMA/USCGA. Fantastic. You worked hard and got in. But to expect accolades for this "achievement" is ludicrous and self-aggrandizing. I'm not joining the military to be praised as some sort of hero. I'm not joining to get a standing ovation. I'm not joining to brag about how much my education is worth. If these are the reasons you're joining: to think how awesome you are, to hear others give you praise, because you want the education, then you are in the wrong place. I wouldn't want to serve you breakfast, much less serve with you.</p>
<p>I don't care what other reason you have. I'm doing this for my own, unselfish reasons. Whatever yours or mine are is a personal issue that does not need to be made public. But to act as if you're better than others, to act as if you deserve recognition, deserve to be put on a pedastal, that tells a lot about you. And none of it is flattering.</p>
<p>ADA~
I am quite positive no one thinks the army is a country club. Although those not in the army cannot completely understand what those who are go through every day, on one is implying that he can. What disturbs me is that an enlisted individual such as yourself finds it a worthwhile use of your time to log onto an internet chat forum used by hopeful, future, present, and past cadets to discuss issues related to the Academy to mock those who will soon become officers. I would hope that you would have much better, productive ways to spend your day. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but one would hope that you would be civilized enough to express it in a manner that does not resort to immaturely demeaning others. As it stands, you have not in any way presented an opinion worth considering, but instead embarassed and disgraced yourself. Experience does not always dictate superiority; it especially does not in your case. You are a poor representation of your fellow enlisted soldiers, and have given a very respectable and noble group of people and bad name.</p>
<p>"Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but one would hope that you would be civilized enough to express it in a manner that does not resort to immaturely demeaning others. As it stands, you have not in any way presented an opinion worth considering, but instead embarassed and disgraced yourself. Experience does not always dictate superiority; it especially does not in your case. You are a poor representation of your fellow enlisted soldiers, and have given a very respectable and noble group of people and bad name."</p>
<p>that's the wrong goddamned answer.</p>
<p>y'all need to understand that being a "cadet candidate" doesn't mean *<strong><em>. being a 2lt don't mean *</em></strong>. does anyone in the army salute butter bars? hell no. you have an attitude problem. understand that you are less than a private e1. you haven't served your country yet. you think you're better than me cuz you got an appointment without 4 years of service? people like make the enlisted people resent officers. you need to take your head out of your ass.</p>
<p>ADA- I hope this link is being monitored. Also no one here said that they were better than enlisted men. No one here is saying that you didn't work hard. all we are saying is that there are people here who are excited and they want to share their stories with others. Please give them a chance to do that without harrassing them.</p>
<p>I dont think anyone said that they "think they are better than you". I agree that maybe the celebrations and accolades should tone down a bit, but you really need to understand something- Getting an appointment to a military academy is a great achievement, like it or not. The thing is, people are not celebrating what is going to happen in the future, they are celebrating the past; getting praise for what they did to gain the appointment. It works the same for anything else, really. In my opnion, it has nothing to do with anyone being "better than anyone else". I guess I can see where you are coming from in thinking that it is, but the way I see it, people do deserve praise for hard work, or else there would be no incentive to do it in the first place.</p>
<p>I believe it was Ambrose Bierce who said, "When a wise man argues with a fool, it's hard to tell the difference."</p>
<p>TNuke</p>
<p>I don't see anyone who thinks they are owed the accolades of the awards ceremony. As a parent, however, I have watched since February the quarter page articles and pictures in the newspaper of every soccer/softball/baseball/football player who got a scholarship to play ball at the local tech school or college. The kids with the academic scholarships are only recognized at awards day. Yes, I think the academy appointment is at least as important as the scholarship to Georgia Tech or any other institution and deserves equal recognition. You guys had to prove yourselves both academically and athletically. </p>
<p>Nobody takes on this sort of responsibility and long-term commitment to hear a 5 min. ovation. That would be akin to having a child because you want someone to throw you a baby shower. You take on the appointment and all that it carries with it because its what you want to do with your life. And, no, I don't buy that your choice is for 'unselfish' reasons. You made this choice because it satisfies some need within you to do this with your life.</p>
<p>Here comes the bandwagon</p>
<p>wait for it</p>
<p>wait for it</p>
<p>jump!</p>
<p>Just because everyone else is getting awarded for their "achievements" doesn't mean we have to. My school never had "awards" for these types of things. It was announced where we'd be going to school and that sorta thing, but that's it.</p>
<p>In fact, I don't really have a problem with appluading these achievements. What I do have a problem with is folks here who seem to have to "rationalize" how great their child's achievement is. Take it for what it is. If people don't understand unless you tell them how much it's worth, what the acceptance percentage is, etc. then they're never going to really appreciate what your child is doing.</p>
<p>It takes away a bit for me when I have to tell EVERYONE where I'm going to school. Very few people even understand what it entails. To those that do, it's a joy talking to them one-on-one. When my liaison officer's brother, a Lt. Col, thanked me for what I'm about to do, that meant something. It meant something because it came from an O-5 who'd served his whole life in the AF. That's the sort of thanks that gives you the drive, knowing that someone, somewhere, understands what you're doing and why.</p>
<p>A bunch of people in an auditorium neither know what you're doing nor care why you're doing it. They're just giving you an applause. That, to me, means nothing. Not only that, but it takes away from those who truly thank you because they understand.</p>