Summer programs

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
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<p>Alright, missmuff is really on a roll here. Hokie, there is still a chance that the "official" schedules will change things up. If not, there's really nothing you can do about this summer. However, he/she should definitely be able to schedule jump during firstie year, if all else fails.</p>

<p>pm7, the limiting factor is really time. We simply don't have time to interview over 200 people, so we have to weed it down to the top couple dozen candidates. Some will get sent home for stupid things. If you show up and you're not wearing your wings, for example, you're done. We've got to narrow it down somehow. First of all, a lack of wings shows a failure in attention to detail, which we just can't afford. If you're giving a gear check to a brand new student, for example, missing the tiniest little thing could kill him. Not wearing your wings though also gives the impression that you just don't really care about what you accomplished in 490. Others will show up with terrible looking, unshined boots. They get to ride the bus back to the hill too. Just the little things like that will take out maybe a dozen candidates.</p>

<p>Like muff said, the PT is actually pretty intense. It's only serves one purpose: to show us how badly you want this. Tons of people would love to jump out of planes all day, but there's a lot more to it than that, so we want to see that you're committed to what the team is all about. That being said though, it's definitely doable. It's really long and I've heard some people say it was harder than Recognition, but I don't think you can compare the two at all. During Rec., everyone is yelling at you and your life sucks. During tryouts, you're just working out as hard as you can for as long as you can. It's not like getting beat - you're three degrees, everything's different. Everyone else around you is in the same boat, and I can remember everyone smiling at the end of each exercise. I think that was because we knew that some of us would make it, that we had a shot at something awesome. The majority that drop, though, do so during the PT (which lasted about 7-8 hours for us). Just put forth the effort and you'll be fine. Some people who look like they're just not trying will be told to go home, and then some will drop involuntarily (vomiting, passing out, ambulance treatment, etc.) Wow, that sounds really bad. Don't get all psyched out about this. I'm definitely no superhuman when it comes to PT (I've never broken 350 on the PFT), but I made it, so there's no reason you can't.</p>

<p>I gave up three days of leave (at the beach, no less), to head back to USAFA to tryout. I figured if I didn't make it, I'd have at least gotten in a good workout. But I got the e-mail that night, and it's honestly one of the best things to ever happen to me. This might make a little more sense after the summer, though. Before I took AM-490, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to tryout. At the end of the program though, it was something I just had to do.</p>

<p>Blue skies...</p>

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<p>i talked to a guy today in my squad who's on WoG. we also have the great privilege of having 3 or 4 WoB guys here too.. he's a unique guy, one of the nicest i know. works extremely hard, is really smart... we talked for ~15 mins this afternoon about WoG. it was awesome, he broke down alot for me and told me about it. definitely gonna try, i mean heck, the worst they can say is "no" and nothing changes. lol</p>

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<p>Haha, the WoG in your squad is the definition of Wisconsin. Don't get him started on cheese... :)</p>

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<p>aaaaaahahhaahhahaahhaa perfect, petko. he's an awesome guy. really really wisconsin-y though.. lol geez</p>

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<p>Competition for 2013 will be down 1 Minnesotan now because those wisconsin yokels are just plain nuts!</p>

<p>I've thought of AM 490/WoG/WoB a bit, I think that's something i'll try going for. </p>

<p>With the PT aspect of WoG tryouts, is it once you break you're done, or is it mostly the idea of if you're giving it everything you can-that's what counts?</p>

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<p>Haha, don't worry, everyone breaks. I remember that the last thing we did was a four count jumping jack for every numbered PTWOB in history. There were 366 of them at that point (x2 for four count), so we did 732 jumping jacks in a row after the eight previous hours of PT. By the end of it, it had just turned into a weird dance/funky series of uncoordinated movements (reminiscent of Elaine's "little</a> kicks" from Seinfeld ;)). Everybody was laughing because no one could do it right. Just put forth the effort and we'll recognize that.</p>

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<p>dang petko your awesome! so much info! yes!
but i cant help but see the percentages as discouraging! ah! 25 out of 200....now thats competition! but its been my goal to make the WoB since my sophmore year in HS. So i'm definitely going to give it EVERYTHING i got! and any advice as to how to make the jump program after 4th year???</p>

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<p>How to get into it? Get good GPA/MPA/PFA and all that stuff and you'll have a much better chance to get the summer programs you want. As for how to succeed in it... I'll let petko take that.</p>

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<p>I know it's still the military. My Cadet will be fine. I know they are working hard. things will work out fine for them in the end. Thanks again for all the info Petko, Missmuff and everyone else.</p>

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<p>Just like starvinmarvin_09 said, do well in those three areas. In addition You CANNOT do soar or jump if you're on a probation of any kind, so in particular pay attention to your GPA and PEA, because that's where people seem to have the most trouble and get on the most probations.People in my squad in probabtion ended up with Space (not too bad, and I've heard it's interesting, though not as hands on like jump or soar), or Summer Prep.
Did someone talk about the unmanned surveillence program they're starting? 20 cadets from our class will participate in that to become cadre for 2013-the email said that they would attend lectures and learn how to fly unmanned surveillance platforms and stuff. Kind of cool if you like that stuff and a lead in to if you want to fly UAVs (although someone told me the majority of those will go to enlisted personnel). I thought about it, but decided it was too competitive and I really want to be a soaring IP.</p>

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<p>It is my understanding if you do not get your first choice, you go to the bottom of the list of your second choice behind those who made that their first choice.</p>

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<p>its rly hard to tell what they choose for u. basically just do what you can, and do the best with what you get</p>

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<p>Do you know how they are breaking up slots now that UAVs are in next year? I would assume they are pulling some from the other programs. Honestly, I think flying UAVs would be awesome, but I would still rather Jump or Soar, since it is more hands on and exciting.</p>

<p>I wonder what aircraft they'll use for the UAV program...</p>

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<p>I gotta say, I am not a fan of how they choose summer programs. I’m not saying this because I didn't get what I wanted, because I actually did. I’m saying this because I am witnessing so many good cadets getting shafted because their GPA's were a little lower, while the biggest Sh** bag freshmen are getting the good stuff. There should be some kind of squadron discretion that has the power to veto what people get. There needs to be other criteria like not falling out of training sessions or not being the kid who screws everyone else over. I’m not trying to sound like a jerk, but worthless cadets who lock themselves in their room and only worry about themselves should not be rewarded. Whoo, ok I feel better. sorry if that sounded like a rant! ;)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
There should be some kind of squadron discretion that has the power to veto what people get.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>There is. My AOC came to ask about a 4 dig and whether they deserve jump. He was a great 4 dig, just not in tip-top shape. I recommended that he deserved it, because while he wasn't fantastic athletically, he was a top notch cadet in everything else. He is now in jump for the coming summer. AOCs have the power to change it, sometimes they will come ask us as your supervisors and can get a better idea. </p>

<p>I do understand your rant because not many squadrons operate like mine do, so just tough it out, there will be plenty of opportunities later where your hard work will pay off, trust me, I know. </p>

<p>For this UAV program, I would not be jumping for it. Knowing how programs run, don't expect to be flying anything bigger than a model RC plane! IF THAT! But, I don't know anything about the program, just a gut feeling.</p>

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<p>The numbers never tell the whole story, and it's often hard to take the intangibles into account. However, the formula they use for summer programs is different than the one they use for OPA. The normal OPA formula is 60% GPA, 30% MPA, 10% PEA, while they switch to 40/40/20 for summer program selection. I guess they try to consider the things you mentioned a little more heavily, wildblue. The system won't ever be perfect regardless.</p>

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<p>It'll probably be a smaller program than jump or soar or space to start out with since we'll only have 20 cadre trained next year. So I can't see them pulling too many slots from other programs.</p>

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<p>they'll always be chaning program sizes and moving ppl around. there are fewer jump slots since ROTC now recieves some over the summer. b/c of CST, there are fewer cadre assigned to each flight in basic. it's constantly changing</p>

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<p>Not everyone can get their first choice. It's obviously not possible. So there must be some sort of criteria. The OPA seems like the right criteria. It considers the academic, military, and athletic accomplishments you've made all year. And with the AOC having some input, it seems the best method.</p>

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<p>Just got a text from Potterfan she was very excited because she has OPS/Leave/2nd BCT Cadre. No idea where OPS will be yet. She is happy about BCT though. You Basic's will know her because she will be the blue beret yelling at you from below :)</p>