Older cadet cadidates/cadets. What is it like for them at USMA?

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gridironkid

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How common is it to have a 21 year old prepster and a 26 year old USMA graduate? I know its a silly question but do these guys fit in socially? also, what is the level of restriction on these "older" cadets? and what percent of the student body do they make up?
 
gridironkid said:
How common is it to have a 21 year old prepster and a 26 year old USMA graduate? I know its a silly question but do these guys fit in socially? also, what is the level of restriction on these "older" cadets? and what percent of the student body do they make up?
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One of my best friends here is 22 and was a special operations crew chief. Deployed twice and saw action. Another buddy is 25 y/o (got an age waiver because he was deployed) who was a Ranger in the 75th Ranger Regiment. These guys fit in just like anyone else. They've been through a lot more than most of us, to say the least, but we all go through the same stuff. The environment for them is the same. They aren't treated differently. I'd say they pretty much fit in like 99.9% of us!
 
One of my roommates is 23 with two years college and two years active duty under his belt. One of my companymates during Beast was a 25 year old Ranger. Honestly, there are more older people than one would think, and they typically get a little more respect than 18 year olds, especially if they are prior service. Same restrictions on all cadets regardless of age.
 
As far as student body, close to a third or more of my class are in their 20s, I'd say...
 
Son told of his company during Beast. Cadre: "New Cadet, while you were home playing X-Box, we were here learning to be LEADERS!!!" etc. Next day, New cadet: "Permission to make an adjustment, sir?" Slaps on Ranger tab.
 
Older

I spent two years in the 101st and then a year at Prep School before becoming a cadet. I think my age helped me quite a bit. Physically and militarily I was squared away and could concentrate more on the academics (I was not the goat, but felt like it sometimes). Every person brings something unique to the Corps. It is a great melting pot of diversity that welded me and my classmates into life long friends and leaders. I never felt like an odd man out there.
 
Nah, I don't think older cadets have trouble fitting in or being successful here. I agree that they are usually more mature and its interesting to talk to them about deployment. You only start having problems when cadets with enlisted history flaunt themselves and their prior service.
 
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