Parent Concerns

usafafam

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So both my parents are incredibly supportive of my desire to attend a service academy... except for USMMA. While I admit that USMMA would not be my top choice if I were accepted to multiple academies, but my biggest desire is to serve my country in any way I can. That said, if I do get accepted for USMMA, my parents would be none too pleased. As my dad put it, he doesn't want me to be exposed to the rough "sailor life" and the brashness that comes with it. Being a girl, I can see where he's coming from, but I have a feeling that's not the sort of lifestyle I would experience at USMMA. So. Does anyone have anything to say that could put my parent's fears to rest?
 
Kings point was, in fact, the first of the service academies to admit females. And, to my knowledge, there has never been a situation involving the mistreatment of female midshipmen as there has been at other service academies. I suggest you learn more about Kings Point and contact the academy for names of grads you can talk with and who might be willing to meet with you and your parents.
 
My dad also said it would be "fine"... as long as I cross-comissioned
 
Question...did either of your parents attend a service academy or serve on active duty? Just wondering where this parent opinion comes from.
 
Don't get the cross commission stance at all

I am a proud AF officer and an even prouder KP dad.

PM sent.
 
Question...did either of your parents attend a service academy or serve on active duty? Just wondering where this parent opinion comes from.
My dad graduated from the Air Force Academy... and my brother is currently an Air Force Cadet... we're kind of an AF family
 
We are an AF family as well.

Don't go to KP because you didn't get into USAFA if your not open minded to other opportunities. Go af ROTC instead. KP is a way harder school to graduate from than USAFA.

But if you want the option to do something different with your life like my DS did you might be right for KP.
 
Don't go to KP because you didn't get into USAFA if your not open minded to other opportunities. Go af ROTC instead. KP is a way harder school to graduate from than USAFA.

But if you want the option to do something different with your life like my DS did you might be right for KP.

Just wondering... how is it harder to graduate from?
I have considered ROTC, and no doubt I would take it if accepted, but I would much rather prefer to attend a service academy.
 
Strong engineering focus, no biology major at Usmma. 4 years of academic requirements crammed into 3 yrs of trimesters. One year spent at sea. It's a tough program.

It's a tight schedule but the comrade is tighter and the options after graduation broader than the other academies. KP is a maritime institution, teaching life at sea. You can take your degree and go be an AF Air Battle Manager if you still desire that after graduating KP, but if already know without a doubt that t
ABM is your destiny you will not be motivated to stick through the grueling academics. Let someone who is motivated to complete the rigors attend instead.
 
If you don't want to go to sea in the Merchant Marine you shouldn't go to Kings Point. It's an injustice to you to go their with the intent of going into the Air Force.
Also, the notion "of a rough "sailor life" and the brashness that comes with it." is an out dated notion meant for Hollywood movies.
 
Just wondering... how is it harder to graduate from?
I have considered ROTC, and no doubt I would take it if accepted, but I would much rather prefer to attend a service academy.

It's understandable that your preference of the AF Academy over the other SAs because of your family but the difference between their mission focus are night and day. As many have mentioned in other posts, there are more than one route to being commissioned. Although an acceptance to a SA that you don't like is hard to pass up on, you may want to sit down and determine what is it that you prefer to do-way past the four years at an SA. If the AF is what you truly want, then maybe having a go at it a second time while at college, free-lancing at a prep or AFROTC are viable options to consider versus going to another SA that you really don't care for.
 
The whole “dirty sailor” thing is a bit overblown and stereotypical. It’s not even as prevalent shipboard as much as it used to be. There is most likely nothing worse about KP than there is at any other institution of higher learning be it a Service Academy or your typical civilian college.

The conversation I will have with my daughter before she goes to college will be pretty much the same conversation whether she goes to KP or to any other school.
 
My dad graduated from the Air Force Academy... and my brother is currently an Air Force Cadet... we're kind of an AF family
If your father graduated from USAFA then he should have no problem with you going to USMMA. USAFA has one of the highest rates for sexual assaults out of all the academies. Live out your dreams. The military is dangerous but its also rewarding. You just have to be aware of your surroundings. I am a Sponsored Prep for USMMA and will be apart of the class of 2018. I am happy with my decision but I do advise that you watch "The Invisible War" and as a female it has helped me to become more aware of what goes on in the military.
 
So both my parents are incredibly supportive of my desire to attend a service academy... except for USMMA. ... As my dad put it, he doesn't want me to be exposed to the rough "sailor life" and the brashness that comes with it. ...

I guess that's as opposed to the rough "sailor life" over at USNA? I would say that:
1. This is your decision and life, not your Dad's. Take his advice but make your own decisions. In any case I doubt they'll disown you if you end up at USMMA.
2. It sounds like you need to spend some time sorting out what you want to do yourself. I believe you when you say you want to serve your country, but you don't want to be miserable doing it. Make sure you're pursuing the course, pun intended, that's right for you.
 
This is a warning to you if you are even remotely considering going engineering and serving on a ship.
As an engineer you'll need to accept that ships are complex creatures that will demand almost 100% of your time. Even when they're playing nice they can be all consuming. They can take everything you have to offer and keep asking for more. My wife referred to any ship I was on as my "mistress" because I slept with her more than I did with my wife.
Every ship I served on with female crew didn't care about gender. All they care about is that you're someone who can do the job and carry their weight.
Bridge/pilot house life is slightly better in that the nice weather days at sea with no other traffic somewhat offsets the times where you're sweating trying not to run over a small fishing fleet or safely put your ship alongside a pier.
All that being said, it's a great career and a great life. If you see yourself going to sea Kings Point is the place to start. Kings Point teaches you to be a mariner. USNA teaches you to be a naval officer.
 
Now, let's not start the sexual assault topic about USAFA when defending the USMMA... It's not necessary, nor necessarily accurate. Besides, the USMMA does not need defending.
I have had experience with kids at both Academies. I will be sending DD off to the USAFA this summer with complete confidence that she is as safe as she can possibly be in a "college environment". Her older brother will be a senior at the USMMA and is happy as can be with his choice of the USMMA. Her oldest brother (a USAFA grad and pilot) says he wishes he had known about the USMMA and its MANY options when he was choosing an Academy.

Bottom line, your Academy experience will be what YOU make of it, not your parents. If you accept Appointment to the USMMA and consider it your second choice, you may never appreciate it it for all that it has to offer. Kings Point is an amazing experience- different from the USAFA- but equally challenging and sometimes a heck of a lot more fun. Where else do you get to spend nearly a year total exploring the globe as part of your schooling? (Sea Year)
 
If you don't want to go to sea in the Merchant Marine you shouldn't go to Kings Point. It's an injustice to you to go there with the intent of going into the Air Force.
Also, the notion "of a rough "sailor life" and the brashness that comes with it." is an out dated notion meant for Hollywood movies.

Concur 100% Do not go to KP if your intention, before you even start at KP, is to join the USAF after graduation. The primary mission of KP is to produce Merchant Marine officers not Air Battle Managers, whatever those are. Let someone who is actually interested in going to sea in the Merchant Marine have the chance to go to KP instead of you. You should try to go to USAFA or AF ROTC instead. Good luck.
 
I think your dad was talking about life after the Academy when he was talking about "rough sailors". Actually, I think he was dead on. You can get safe, cushy AF jobs right out of USAFA and never leave an office for an entire career and that is where he wants one of the most precious people in his life (and I am with him on this, as a father of a daughter too). That won't happen aboard ship or in front of a platoon. You'll stand in front of 20 VERY rough and brash sailors who will test you to the limits on your leadership, competency, decision-making and flavored with profanity and (horrors!) sexist acts all to test to see if their lives are safe in your hands. They want to know if they REALLY should trust your orders. If that is not what you relish getting a chance to do, go AF.
 
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