2018 Class Profile

Class of 2018

I believe the class of 2018 is now somewhere in the 1100s. The exact number hasn't been given yet probably not until after A-day.
 
fencersmother said:
Only one in two in top 10%?
Click to expand...

That doesn't surprise me. Remember there are prior enlisted, prep school grads, certain recruited atheletes, diversity candidates, and some congressional districts actually have very low competition for nominations. Also too, WCS means sometimes the bookworm with no leadership is not as attractive an officer candidate as the top-20% student with tons of leadership and community involvement.

But considering everything the SAs want from a candidate, it's clearly a highly prestigious and accomplished group of young people! "Best and Brightest" still most certainly applies to these kids.
 
the bookworm with no leadership is not as attractive an officer candidate as the top-20% student with tons of leadership and community involvement.

Maybe this should be a seperate thread, but my DD and I were talking about this when she got back from AIM. She went to two of the four SA summer programs and was surprised at the number of kids who were there that in her mind "lacked the toughness" to handle the summer program let alone the academy. It got me thinking - how do they vet for toughness? That has to be a hard thing to nail down about a kid. And, how much of the attrition is that the kid just wasn't tough enough to handle the whole package?

You can get an idea of physical disposition and ability to run and do pushups, etc. but it takes a tough kid to do all of that and handle the stresses while being screamed at.
 
I don't think volunteer work differentiates if someone can handle the stress of basic. If a child grows up never having to prove themselves (they were always the best in their fish pond), then it will be harder for them to handle being constantly corrected.

I think athletes (not just recruited athletes, but any one who was an active athlete) are in some respects better equipped to handle basic. Not because they are smarter or faster or better people or what not. I think it is because they have more experience with being yelled at and corrected. Most athletes have at one time or other experienced losing even if they gave it their all and did their best. Some have been yelled at and been given more PT not because they played badly, but because someone else on the team blew it. Then after such a loss or "unfair" correction, they picked them selves up and still continued to compete. In basic, you can have given it your all and still be yelled at and corrected. There is a "skill set" an athlete builds over time to deal with such things.

Disclaimer: I am NOT saying a non-athlete can't be the best cadet on the planet. I am saying there is a skill set that an athlete builds/gains through athletics that may not be built, gained or developed in other types of activities.
 
ALO's don't "vet for toughness." I've been an ALO coming up on 20 years..."toughness" isn't a tangible that can be measured. I have literally seen some of the "wimpiest" kids get into BCT and grow fangs and claws and tear up anything/everything in reach and some of the biggest bruisers curl up in tears. You can't know how BCT and then academic year will affect a person and to attempt to "vet" for that would be pointless IMHO.

What the ALO can do and should do, again IMHO, is get to know the candidate. If they speak with them only once/twice, and then meet for the interview, in my opinion, the ALO knows nothing about that candidate.

I'm not the perfect ALO, just a passionate one; but what I do is:

a. Speak on the phone, exchange e-mails, texts, etc.
b. Speak to EVERY teacher the candidate has, coaches and after school job bosses as well. Then their minister/rabbi/priest/imam if they have one.
c. I speak with the parents
d. I speak with the candidate many times; never telling them that "this" is the interview; we're just talking and I'm gathering information for this resume I want them to build

When they finally say "Colonel Steve...when do we do the ALO interview?" I usually surprise them when I ask: "Well...do we need to do another, we've met XX number of times?"

THEN they realize that by getting to know them, I've done the interview and I know what to say on their evaluation. And that time I've spent learning about them, gives me a decent appreciation for who they are and how they "should" do. Not "Will" do, just "should."

So far it's worked for me.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Just as an FYI, enlisted service is rarely an option after commitment anymore(think budget constraints). Over the last two years, and the many separations that have happened once one has committed. I have only heard of a handful that were afforded that opportunity. Most are required to pay back the cost of their education. Food for thought if you are on the edge. There are very few academic second chances either.
 
As of a few days ago the Class of 2018 is at 1146.
 
Involved ALO

"I'm not the perfect ALO, just a passionate one"

Colonel Steve, I wish we could choose our ALOs. My DS's doesn't seem very interested in getting to know him. I know they're all different, I'm just hoping his interest will kick in soon. We've already been told that it's not the parents he wants to talk to, and I get that, but I would love for him to encourage my DS with a little more involvement.
 
:jump1: Congrats to the C4Cs of the class of 2018. They have been accepted into the cadet wing and can actually walk around unescorted. :thumb:
 
Dad said:
:jump1: Congrats to the C4Cs of the class of 2018. They have been accepted into the cadet wing and can actually walk around unescorted. :thumb:
Click to expand...

My DD is walking around (mostly lost because they've been escorted everywhere) with a HUGH smile!

Congrats to all C4Cs!

-Proud Mom to DD c/o 2018
 
USAFA83GradWife said:
My DD is walking around (mostly lost because they've been escorted everywhere) with a HUGH smile!

Congrats to all C4Cs!

-Proud Mom to DD c/o 2018
Click to expand...

{Like} :biggrin:

The C4Cs are normal shocked for the first few days after A-Day. They get their bearings pretty quickly out of necessity...getting textbooks, figuring out the network procedures, and the FLOOD of emails they must keep up with. Thankfully, they are VERY resilient.
 
YAY how exciting! I remember getting lost when I was going back and forth moving out of my BCT room to where my squadron was actually located. IT was a significant emotional event for me!
 
CLASS STATISTICS (as of 30 June 2014)
Year Total
2014 17
2015 870
2016 851
2017 1082
2018 1206
WING 4026
 
USMC_Ordie said:
CLASS STATISTICS (as of 30 June 2014)
Year Total
2014 17
2015 870
2016 851
2017 1082
2018 1206
WING 4026
Click to expand...

I recently received an email from our Parents club with the below stats which supposedly came directly from USAFA.... Looks like 2018 lost about 60 Cadets in July.


CLASS STATISTICS (as of 31 July 2014)

2014 13
2015 868
2016 852
2017 1084
2018 1144
Wing 3961
 
Rocko said:
I recently received an email from our Parents club with the below stats which supposedly came directly from USAFA.... Looks like 2018 lost about 60 Cadets in July.


CLASS STATISTICS (as of 31 July 2014)

2014 13
2015 868
2016 852
2017 1084
2018 1144
Wing 3961
Click to expand...


Hmm? :rolleyes: How could 2016 gain one and 2017 gain two?
 
There are quite a few LDS cadets back from missions or other administrative type leaves as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top