Stress!!!!!!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>This seems like a good time to bring this out from the "archives"
U. S. Air Force Academy Cadet: Why We Come Back To The Academy </p>

<p>By: Joseph R. Tomczak , Special To The Evening Bulletin </p>

<p>Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country? After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return? </p>

<p>Winter Break </p>

<p>So after our sunburns have faded and the memories of our winter break have been reduced to pictures we've pinned on our desk boards, and once again we've exchanged t-shirts and swim suits for flight suits and camouflage, there still remains the question that every cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs has asked themselves at some point: Why did we come back? Why, after spending two weeks with our family would we return to one of the most demanding lifestyles in the country? After listening to our 'friends' who are home from State or Ivy League schools chock full of wisdom about how our war in Iraq is unjust and unworldly, why would we return? And after watching the news and reading the papers which only seem to condemn the military's every mistake and shadow every victory, why would we continue to think it is worth the sacrifice of a normal college life?</p>

<p>Is it because the institution to which we belong is tuition-free?</p>

<p>Anyone who claims this has forgotten that we will, by the time we graduate, repay the U.S. taxpayer many times over in blood, sweat, and tears. Is it because the schooling we are receiving is one of the best undergraduate educations in the country? While the quality of the education is second to none, anyone who provides this as a main reason has lost sight of the awesome responsibility that awaits those who are tough enough to graduate and become commissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force.</p>

<p>I come back to the Academy because I want to have the training necessary so that one day I'll have the incredible responsibility of leading the sons and daughters of America in combat. These men and women will never ask about my Academy grade point average, their only concern will be that I have the ability to lead them expertly - I will be humbled to earn their respect.</p>

<p>I come back to the Academy because I want to be the commander who saves lives by negotiating with Arab leaders... in their own language. I come back to the Academy because, if called upon, I want to be the pilot who flies half way around the world with three mid-air refuelings to send a bomb from 30,000 feet into a basement housing the enemy... through a ventilation shaft two feet wide. For becoming an officer in today's modern Air Force is so much more than just command; it is being a diplomat, a strategist, a communicator, a moral compass, but always a warrior first.</p>

<p>I come back to the Air Force Academy because right now the United States is fighting a global war that is an 'away game' in Iraq - taking the fight to the terrorists. And whether or not we think the terrorists were in Iraq before our invasion, they are unquestionably there now. And if there is any doubt as to whether this is a global war, just ask the people in Amman, in London, in Madrid, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, and in Bali. This war must remain an away game because we have seen what happens when it becomes a home game... I come back to the Academy because I want to be a part of that fight. I come back to the Academy because I don't want my vacationing family to board a bus in Paris that gets blown away by someone who thinks that it would be a good idea to convert the Western world to Islam. I come back to the Academy because I don't want the woman I love to be the one who dials her last frantic cell phone call while huddled in the back of an airliner with a hundred other people seconds away from slamming into the Capitol building. I come back to the Academy because during my freshman year of high school I sat in a geometry class and watched nineteen terrorists change the course of history live on television. For the first time, every class currently at a U.S. Service Academy made the decision to join after the 2001 terror attacks. Some have said that the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan only created more terrorists... I say that the attacks of September 11th, 2001 created an untold more number of American soldiers; I go to school with 4,000 of them. - And that's worth missing more than a few frat parties.</p>

<p>Joseph R. Tomczak
Cadet Fourth Class,
United States Air Force Academy</p>

<p><a href="http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFri...sid%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFri...sid&lt;/a> =16265573</p>

182

<p>^ I love that. Its beyond compare. You know what I (& some others) dread most? The 'Dark Ages". Maybe I'll head to some island with no phones & internet..... Anyone wanna go with?</p>

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<p>Jamzmom, if the island has cabana boys, I am in......</p>

184

<p>I know what you mean. My S will be getting back from his first sea year period on Nov.3rd, just in time for the dark ages. Oddly, he says he is looking forward to being back at KP. We'll see if he still feels that way at the end of January.</p>

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<p>What would you say is the official time period of the Dark Ages?</p>

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<p>I believe it is after Winter break......when NY is at it's finest :D</p>

<p>Jamzmom......when do we leave?</p>

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<p>Supportmom, I truly don’t know. Seems to vary. A few of the kids have told me that it begins the first time it snows. That would be the southern variety of kids who apparently don‘t like the stuff. A couple other Moms & Dads have said they get hammered with all manner of nasty moods shortly after they return from the holiday break. I’ve seen that Recognition Day tends to end some of that grumpiness. </p>

<p>From my vantage point, it’s been close to three years of the ‘I Can‘t Wait’ syndrome. “I can’t wait to….” a) get on my ship and get away from KP b) get off this ship and back to KP c) get home and away from KP. I anticipate the last year & a half, hearing nothing but choice # c in pretty much every conversation. That is of course if somebody gets past the dreaded sea year project grades. </p>

<p>I do know this. Their AIM away messages are awesome little indicators of the days you should avoid all contact. For example: If it says. “I hate life”, don’t touch it with a ten foot pole even while wearing a hard hat & ear plugs. </p>

<p>KP10smom & Suzzanne, will play concierge & get us set up.</p>

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<p>Good to have you all on the front lines...I will change his phone to DNA on those days...;)</p>

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<p>i'd venture to say it fully kicks in after Christmas. this is because after fall break, there are only two weeks till thanksgiving break, then only 2 weeks till Christmas break. then there's nothing for the foreseeable future. not only that, but it's freezing, dark, and miserable. what's more is the fact that because there are so many breaks in the first half of the term, it doesn't usually dawn on most mids till it's almost too late that the term is almost over. such is life... that's why i'm A split.</p>

190

<p>Sounds right...I mean, Parents' Week-end doesn't seem that long ago, many of us had them home just last week-end, Fall Break in a couple of weeks, Thanksgiving a few weeks later, then Christmas. </p>

<p>January-March must be DARK AGES at KP. I know I dread those months!</p>

<p>As for "First Snow"...the Chapel looks so pretty in the snow on the notecards I purchased during Parents' Week-end. The first time it snows, it's probably pretty and somewhat exciting. After the first snow, I imagine it gets OLD and miserable very quickly!</p>

191

<p>Had a couple of minutes on AIM w S today - really hot under the collar over the physics final. said 40% of exam was over material covered in the last two weeks; prof stated material on the final would be limited to lectures and information in their workbooks. When they went to the workbooks this weekend the section had no information in it. He will pass but about a dozen from the class went straight to the registrar to file a complaint.</p>

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<p>oh, questions on the exam was on material they never covered in lectures or workbook.</p>

193

<p>stress = being a 3/c systems engineer in 3rd co.</p>

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<p>Alas, there is light at the end of this "stress" tunnel.....Friday afternoon!</p>

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<p>I heard that atleast one company may have banned the 10 o clock scream. </p>

<p>How is the scream going? Are people staying safe during the scream?</p>

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<p>Where there's a will....</p>

<p>Back in college, during exams... the dorm I was in unscrewed all the walkway bulbs on 4th floor each evening. The decree went out from the Resident Director that 'there would be severe repercussions if the lights on 4th floor went out again ! ' </p>

<h2>The next night, all the lights went out... on 5th floor.</h2>

<p>So, if the 10:00 scream has been squelched...</p>

<h2>Any word on the 9:59 scream? ;)</h2>

<p>Oh. Wait a minute! I meant I had a friend who was in a dorm that did all that stuff 1 :D :D :D</p>

197

<p>Stress: For parents... sending your kid back to KP. Every day this week they've awakened has been a joy... Except today. You can see them buckling on their determination as a shield for continuing plebe year.</p>

<h2>Stress: For plebes going back... More difficult than I can imagine.</h2>

<p>But MY, what a positive change in these kids !
I am proud of them all.</p>

198

<p>Hmmmm??? Plebe is, I think, okay with going back!! Will be home again in 2 weeks anyway....Has seen what he is NOT missing around home and actually MISSES his KP buds. Is looking forward(?) to seeing DIs who are back from Sea. Went to a party at Haverford College with friends, was designated driver and FINE with that - had a great time. He's SO much more mature than I ever imagined. Worst time at KP: "first 3 days of indoc"; best time at KP: "too many to tell". How about them apples?????? Rollercoaster UP... :D</p>

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<p>This was taken from another topic entitled "Investigation" written by KP2009</p>

<p>"From what I know a class had invited a senior military advisor of some sort to speak at their graduation, this was during the Hillary Clinton campain for congress and also while she was still first lady, so she heard about a graduation on long island and that it was a service academy. She decided to annonce that she was going to speak at graduation so the class had to dis-invite the man they wanted to speak at graduation so the first lady could come and try to get some more votes...long story short she got up to speak and practically got booed of the stage, from what i hear even the validvictorian cracked a joke or two at her expense."</p>

200

<p>Well my son received several calls from KP friends while he was home, he has made some great friends in a short amount of time. He did however receive some not so welcome news in his grades. But the good thing is that if he is set back he is determined to take Calc & Physics here and go back and succeed when he goes back. He is sad however, the possibility of not being able to graduate with the rest of 2011. He said that the first few months were tough and it will be hard to repeat it but that he is determined to graduate from Kings Point. I am so very proud of this young man. He has grown so much in his time there and has learned so many lessons. The first one being you cannot do some of the things that you did in high school and get good grades (wow he actually had to work for his grades). He dropped out of football and actually brought up his grade in calc but it appears that he bombed the final. So he got on a plane Saturday in his dress blues, held his head high and said goodbye to us again. He told us that he has to go back and face the consequences, talk to his football coach about a workout regiment so that he can go back on the team next year and well work even harder. He had four wonderful tutors who worked with him and he feels that he let them down. I have never been prouder of him than I am at this time.</p>