Christcorp

vullnnoid

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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I know I'm am not alone in my appreciation for Christcorp's excellent contribution to this forum. He helped my son during the application process as he is helping the class of 2014 these days.

My son is less than a week away from Acceptance Day and he is really bummed out. He doesn't feel like he belongs there. I've tried to tell him: "don't question in the dark what God revealed in the light", but alas it bounces off him like the weak cliche that it is. He had pink-eye/flu/pneumonia and is still on light duty, complete with the blue sash (we saw pictures of him dated 7/30). I'm afraid he has experienced all of the BCT torture and missed out on the team building activities due to his illness. In fact, I have no idea what he's going through since I've never served in the military. I was hoping to get some encouraging words from someone who has been there done that (hint: Christcorp). I would like to copy such a statement and send it in a letter that he would get on or before A-Day. Thanks.
 
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I know I'm am not alone in my appreciation for Christcorp's excellent contribution to this forum. He helped my son during the application process as he is helping the class of 2014 these days.

My son is less than a week away from Acceptance Day and he is really bummed out. He doesn't feel like he belongs there. I've tried to tell him: "don't question in the dark what God revealed in the light", but alas it bounces off him like the weak cliche that it is. He had pink-eye/flu/pneumonia and is still on light duty, complete with the blue sash (we saw pictures of him dated 7/30). I'm afraid he has experienced all of the BCT torture and missed out on the team building activities due to his illness. In fact, I have no idea what he's going through since I've never served in the military. I was hoping to get some encouraging words from someone who has been there done that (hint: Christcorp). I would like to copy such a statement and send it in a letter that he would get on or before A-Day. Thanks.

Well, I wish I could keep track of all the great words of wisdom that has been posted on these forums. There have been so many great contributions by so many people. Recently, I had a parent with a similar concern with their son at West Point. I don't think they'll mind if I just "Cut and Paste" what I wrote them. If you think it will help, please send it along to your basic cadet. If not, maybe others can contribute. Best of luck.... Here you go. Mike...

Yes, the mental part can be the most difficult. Especially if by nature you are an independent type of person who is accustomed to doing things themselves. The best advice I can give it to let him know the "WHY" part of it all. He obviously understands the "WHAT" is happening. But many times, if the individual understands the WHY, it is so much easier to deal with.

WHY are the cadre (Upper class who are training me) always yelling, degrading, making me do stupid things, never satisfied with what I do, trying to cut me down, trying to belittle me, trying to lower my confidence level instead of building it up; and all the many other things they do???????

The answer is actually quite simple. They aren't doing it TO YOU PERSONALLY. Deep down inside, the cadre doesn't even know you from the other 1400 basics. So why then would they act this way. You HAVE to become part of the "Common Denominator". In order to be part of a team, you have to have something in common. You have to have a goal. You have to have shared experiences. You have to be many parts of the Whole. The problem is: You have INDIVIDUALS from 50 different states and some overseas locations. You have white, black, hispanic, women, men, tall, short, fat, skinny, athletes, band geeks, JrROTC, Boy/Girl Scouts, rich, poor, bla, bla, bla..... Basically; you have 1400 individuals with little or NOTHING in common. Yes, they are all at the same academy, but that's the same as all being at the same college. Other than that, they are very dissimilar.

So, they have to break you down to a common denominator that all 1400 individuals can achieve. Let him know that some of the 1400, they have to work on in the opposite direction. Some have little or no self esteem or confidence and they have to COME UP to the common denominator. Some were athletes or in LARGE GROUPS and are familiar with the entire team work concept. Of being part of the larger good. This can also be hard on them, because they may have been the "Star Quarterback" or similar, and now feels like they are being "HELD BACK" to wait for the others. But this is no longer a "Game" like in high school. They are learning to be part of a team, so that some day they can lead such teams in situations where people's LIVES are at risk. This won't end when basic ends. It will last his entire 1st year. Years 2-4 is a totally different academy. Individualism is once again allowed to flourish. The team then feeds off the individual talents of each other. But you can't get to that point of leading others, until you can be lead 100% BY others.

Explain the whys to him. Give him my best. THANK HIM for me and the others for being willing to serve. Welcome him to the "Brotherhood" (Includes women) for us. And thank you again for the kind words. Best of luck to all of you. let me know if you need anything. Later.... Mike,.....

Also; let him know that it's mathematically impossible for him the be the ONLY ONE TREATED OR FEELING the way he does. There are/were others with the blue sash. There are/were others who feel they missed out of certain things because of the illness. There are/were others who feel exactly the same as he does. And THAT ALONE is the #1 most important thing to realize about the academies and the military in general. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!!!!!
 
no problem. I did do an edit and added the last paragraph. Hope you read that part. Later... mike....;/
 
I would say every Basic or 4 dig feels this way at some point. And now, two years later with our C2C playing Monopoly with his Mom and sister before rejoining the Wing tomorrow, the difference compared to two years ago is dramatic. The close friendships, and cool experiences do come. Sure there is a lot of work along the way, and separation from family and friends can be tough, but by embracing the challenge you might be surprised by who you can become. In less than a year our Basic/C4C had his hands on a stick of a F-16D doing rolls over the Gulf of Mexico at Mach 1.3, earned his jump wings, and squeezed in trips to Cancun and Spain (the former right after Recognition). He spent Spring Break his 3 dig year jumping in Gila Bend, Az as a member of the Wings of Green, and "didn't have a good time but a great time" during a month long trip to Peru this summer. He taught jump second go, was offered a trip to Chile third go, but opted instead to come home on leave and take his 75 yo grandfather sky diving. We never saw this coming, nor did he, two years ago today.

The Seniors who lined up during the Blue Suit ceremony in May clearly looked like men, in contrast to the class that was replacing them (2011), so we know there is more to come. But throw in some rank, and a car, and all of a sudden life at USAFA doesn't seem so bad, and it all happened in a flash.
 
Yes, it certainly gets better.
Basic is an artificial training environment. Reality in the academy is NOT the same as during basic.
 
Just tell him to hold on... one more meal, one more day, one more week, one more month. It really does improve! My sons, while as 3 digs, still have tough moments, really love the close friendships they've made, the ppl they have met from all over the world, the great opportunities.
 
one kid in my flight wanted to drop out because he said it was "too much pressure, they give you too much to do and not enough time to do it in, i'm tired, and my muscles hurt" and we were all like.... UHM HELLO? that's the whole point right now?! luckily, everyone has convinced him to stay. i'm sure it sucked a little more for all of the kids that were on f-18 pilots or were put in quarantine or isolation or still suffer from the annoying jack's hack, and maybe some were not always treated so nicely, but in reality, we had A LOT of sick kids, and A LOT of kids who really needed to just suck it up, and eventually it all just got a bit ridiculous.

if he missed a few days of jack's, then yes he might have missed some of the fun stuff that brings the group closer together, but from what i've heard, compared to these months leading up to recognition, we've barely even begin to form a bond! it will get better in some ways, and it will get worse in others. if he's made it through the past six weeks, he can make it through the next six months to see what it's really like.
 
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