Military Training?

lotrjedi13

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Jun 18, 2008
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Hello all,

I'm working through the essays for the USAFA application, and the prompt for the first one (see below for reference) made me realize how little I know about the specifics of the military training that cadets undergo. What exactly does it include over the four years?

1. Which aspect of the Air Force Academy experience (academic, military training, athletic, social/spiritual) do you anticipate will be most challenging for you? Discuss why and how you expect to succeed in that area.


Thank you in advance!
 
OK; here's the english version of the question. (It's up to you to provide the answer)

1. Which aspect of the Air Force Academy experience (academic, military training, athletic, social/spiritual) do you anticipate will be most challenging for you? Discuss why and how you expect to succeed in that area.

Academic: The air force academy has numerous nicknames such as "The little engineering school in the Rockies". As well as some other names. ALL students receive a "Bachelor of Science degree. So even the person with a major in History, will be taking engineering, math, science, law, economics, etc.... type classes. Can you handle the academics???

Military training: Many people aren't familiar or use to having such a strict discipline environment. Where you can't come and go when you want. Where you have to earn respect and earn privileges. The entire attitude revolves around team work, service before self, and being part of something larger than yourself. Can you handle military life?????

Athletics: EVERYONE in the academy must be physically fit. You will be doing more running, exercising, marching, etc... than you ever had to in your life. Even if you were an athlete. The goal of the military is to WIN WARS. Can't do that if you aren't in physically fit shape. Can you handle this much physical fitness?????

Social/Spiritual: The concept of the academy, as well as the military in general, is TEAMWORK!!! That means EVERYONE working together towards a common goal. Individuality is only used to take individual talents and use them to better the TEAM. Individuality is not used to RECOGNIZE the individual. Same with spirituality. It is your belief. That belief can be in a supreme being or simply in the "Fellowship" of the Air Force. This fellowship is the belief that you are part of a family. (That something BIGGER than yourself, I was talking about). As with any family, there are challenges. Cand you handle such a social environment where you aren't an individual and you are part of a family. This family can be what you believe in and/or in a higher being. But can you handle this environment.

So, the question is quite simple. Which of these things do you think will be the most challenging for you??? WHY???? Explain how you will overcome this challenge. best of luck. Mike....
 
Some of the bigger items in military training:
Basic
--PT
--Standards (room, uniform, etc. etc.)
--Drill and Ceremony (marchin, etc)
--Various courses
--M16 qualification
--Briefings on X,Y, and Z

Recognition
--PT
--Teamwork
--PT
--PT

Combat Survival Training
--Land navigation
--Survival techniques
--Evasion
--Resisting interrogation

Global Engagement (building and running a small "base")
--Setting up facilities
--basic base defense
--Gas mask training
--tests on the above

Later on, you will be part of running some of the above (or aviation programs)
Each semester some of the skills you learned in each thing will be tested during a "major training event," which usually last a weekend.
 
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