anyone remember an old post about quitting

skismuggs

5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
303
hi one of my childs friends is considering quitting usafa bct because he "feels" its not the right decision. im trying to help the parents out. i remember a post maybe early this year about someone that quit and regretted it bad. im not sure if its from the AF or WP forums. thanks.
 
it was a post about quitting on a good day and not a bad day. i did a search and didnt come up with it.
 
He or she needs to stick it out for a year. If it's still not right then, then its ok to quit. Simple as that. Embrace the suck.
 
thats what ive told his parents but i just wanted them to read that post from that young man about how much he regrets making the decision on a whim and how that has affected him a year later. they may be able to relay that to him.
 
Everyone has some dark days at the academy. He needs to decide if he wants to quit because it's tough and annoying, or because the Air Force is not something he wants to be a part of.

I knew people who quit during or right after basic, who made the right choice. Neither wanted to be there. One joined because he father pressured him. The other was just there to play football. There are a lot of good reasons to join, but those aren't.

I'd tell him to really think about why he joined. If he's there for the right reasons, he'll probably make it through. If he's not there for the right reasons, somewhere deep down, he knows it.
 
This is a decision that the basic needs to make for him or herself. I know that they let them call home once if they are considering it. Know that there is a lot of support at the academy and counselling by the cadre and others to help them with these kinds of decisions. There are people who make this decision for the right choice. As a parent, I would encourage anyone to not make this choice 'on a whim'. They thought long and hard about going there, they should think long and hard about leaving.
 
Sort of on line with most others. I've been asked this question by many new cadets and parents. First thing I ask is, do you already have another really good school lined up if you walk out. Many people have their plan B school still lined up because they don't start until the end of august. If plan B is still an option and they are having many more bad days than good at the academy, then leaving isn't a bad option. If plan B isn't available, then stick it out until Christmas break and the end of the 1st semester. If he still doesn't like it, he can line up another school and transfer credits.

If he gets out now without his plan B school available, then he will either sit out a semester or two, or he will wind up at a school he really didn't want. Such as a community college or state school. Caveat is that maybe state school was plan B and he's OK with that. Then that's not a problem. But if he sits out or takes a school not because its a choice, but rather because its a lack of options, he will most definitely regret his decision. Mosdt people in this situation do regret it.

So again. If plan B is available, go for it. If not, stick it out til December and reevaluate your feelings towards the academy and the military. Can't tell you how many have gone to the academy and they realize it wasn't for them. Including those who have said they wanted it their entire life. Until you're there, you don't know what its like. Anyone who says they know exactly what they are getting into is just kidding themselves.
 
If he gets out after a semester or more, he will find out that most of the merit based scholarship offers he had will no longer be available to him. He also may find out he can't get into some of the schools as a transfer student that he got into as a graduating senior.
 
While dropping off my kid for I-day, I met an older couple at the chapel and the gentleman shared his story.
He said he was a cadet back in the 80's and had a brother that was an upperclassman at the time. He quit before the end of the first year and went on to become an aerospace engineer. It was his first visit back to the academy since he left over 25 years ago. He admitted with deep regret that he wished he stuck it out and stayed.
Another newly minted 2nd Lieutenant I met shared her story. She thought of quitting during BCT but stayed so no one at home can label her a quitter. She decided to hang on for a semester or two because she didn't want to leave her squadmates behind. She was relieved that C3C year was not as difficult as the previous one. By C2C year, she had to make a decision to either stay or leave but gathered momentum and pushed on until she graduated. She's currently working on sattelites and loves her job.
There will be days that a doolie will think of outprocessing because of many reasons. One's reason for going should always prevail over the urge to give up. USAFA is not for everyone. Moreover,there are over 46,000 who have endured and have done it. ( Don't have confirmation but from letters from my Doolie, they have been told that 50 Basics have already outprocessed before the end of the first week after I-day)
 
Last edited:
From FaceBook, one lady was told by a reliable source that 129 of the 2017
class didn't even make it to the Swearing in Ceremony.
Is this number normal? I think it's too many.
(Of course, I cannot verify this number, so don't ask me)

My DS sent us a letter that one of his squad mate is about to leave.
And the other has a medical issue.
That broke my heart.

I pray everyday. That's all I can do.
 
129 sounds like FAR too high a number to me.
Every year there are those who either don't show up or don't get off the bus. It's usually only a few.

The strangest one I saw was a basic who outprocessed part way through BCT (and the cadre and officers involved agreed that it was a Very good call), then made it back the next year, going into the exact same squadron! They never got off the bus the second year. I do believe the officer in charge wrote to either the admissions department or the member of Congress and asked that they do a better vetting job in the future, as this person had now wasted two appointments!
 
Last edited:
From FaceBook, one lady was told by a reliable source that 129 of the 2017
class didn't even make it to the Swearing in Ceremony.
Is this number normal? I think it's too many.
(Of course, I cannot verify this number, so don't ask me)

My DS sent us a letter that one of his squad mate is about to leave.
And the other has a medical issue.
That broke my heart.

I pray everyday. That's all I can do.

Before the ceremony started Friday morning, my mother and I spoke with a cadre that was "in-charge" or located in the office that was "in-charge" of the kids who decide to leave. She told us that 9 kids had left and they were all medical turn backs. According to her, everyone got off the bus this year and if the kids were considering to go home they actually make them stay a few more days to make sure they are making the correct decision. USAFA takes these decisions very seriously and don't let these kids leave without much considerations. As a parent, I was happy to know this because some days you just have a bad day and teenagers are known to make rash decisions.

Now maybe the other 120 never showed up in Colorado and decided to go to other schools which is sad since they took the appointments away from kids who truly would have shown up.
 
Agreed. Anyone who quits BCT or even doesn't get off the bus, didn't take a slot from anyone. This is part of it. The academy already figures in a percentage who won't make it through BCT or the full 4 years. We see kids each year who "really wanted it" who quit. It is quite likely that the individual who quit or didn't even show up also really wanted. Maybe they wanted it their whole life.

More importantly; the individual who quit, EARNED that right. Their composite scored application was higher than those who competed against them. They earned that slot and they earned the right to change their mind.

It would be great if I, Steve, all the other LOD and ALO, along with the selection board were mind readers and could also see the future. We could appoint only those we knew guaranteed would make it all 4 years and go on to a great military career. But we don't and we can't. So in the end, those who earn the appointment receive it and they have earned the right to stay or change their mind.

If I am disappointed or upset with a cadet leaving, its not the BCT or even first 2 year cadet prior to commitment. Its the C2C or C1C who screws up, fails out, honor violations, drugs, or any other reason for getting kicked out. They wasted a lot of money and peoples time that could have been made available to others who need the help. But for those who choose to leave, any time from day 1 of BCT to the end of their 2nd year, best of luck to them. They didn't take anyone else's spot. They gave up their spot. A spot and an appointment that they earned and has every right to do as the feel is best for them. They earned that right.
 
It's understandable how some who weren't given an appointment or are at a prep school would feel like an appointee who doesn't get off the bus, chooses to leave or simply doesn't show up on I-day have taken a most coveted spot but in reality, once I-day is over-there isn't a waiting list to take someone's spot if they change their mind. The application process alone and all the information available on the web gives anyone who does their due diligence a good idea of what to expect when accepted to a SA. The adage that simply states, "you'll never know until you try" may suggest that the actual experience may or may not be how you have envisioned it to be holds true. Some who show up on I-day are in for a shock once they board that bus and begin their first day in the military. It is a given that some will change their minds or decide that they aren't cut out for the challenge. It is better that they do so earlier than later.
 
Last edited:
Disenrolling

Just watched the BCT2 Video where the General said so far 32 appointees have dropped out so far which is less than last year at this time
Regards
John
 
Just watched the BCT2 Video where the General said so far 32 appointees have dropped out so far which is less than last year at this time
Regards
John

Looking at the SITREP from yesterday, only 26 had left, but he might be including people who are still in the paperwork process. Regardless, looking at the trend line over the last 3 years, 2017 is pretty much in the middle of the road.
 
This is what I would say...

People have a lot of different reasons for applying and attending...and many different reasons for leaving.

There are many folks who won't say the words "I quit" they want the system to kick them out...as if they 'did their best'.

The reality is, there IS a reason you applied to a Service Academy...if that reason was for shortsighted, or perhaps selfish reasons, then it will be hard to keep that positive mental attitude and stick it out.

...and no it won't be easy, you will barely break even, right up to the day you get your commissioning...it may really suck a lot of the time...

But that challenge, mental/physical, those walls put in front of you that you must somehow climb over...THAT is will make you an Academy Grad...not the diploma, but the successful completion of the challenge.

I look back over the last few decades...and wonder how I got here...I know that the opportunities and successes I have had are directly due to the USAFA experience...not the ring or the diploma...but what I gained from the experience.
 
Back
Top