Are Academy grads/cadets/mids privileged for their "free" education?

SamAca10

SamAca10

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Was having this discussion with another grad recently. What are your thoughts?
 
Some would have us believe that working hard to get where you want in life - and then getting there - is negated because surely you must have been privileged in the first place. I expect that some academy grads are privileged in some way(s), just like graduates of other institutions of higher learning. What I believe is that most graduates of the various academies worked extremely hard to get those degrees and then paid back every nickel with their active duty beyond commissioning. Some also paid that tuition off with their lives.

I will tell you that having been in the military, it doesn't define me but it sure shaped me. I feel like it was a privilege getting to fly as much as I did (Reagan was in office and we had plenty of everything back then) and what I got to take away from it, was a great experience.

I never went to an academy, but I'll wager that those who did would agree with me. We would do it all over again.
 
SamAca10 said:
Was having this discussion with another grad recently. What are your thoughts?
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Is talking about who may or may not have a privilege really what our society has come to? My almost 50 year old mind can't come to terms with the fact that 35 years after the fall or the Soviet Union, we have adopted Marxism hook line and sinker in the country.
 
I agree with all of you, for the record. Yes, we were fortunate that we were accepted to the Academy. That also came with earning our spots through academics, athletics, and standardized test scores. Congressional nominations for 4/5 of the Service Academies.

Perhaps some grads, cadets, and mids were also afforded "privilege" that they were in a position to excel in school and athletics. I know I certainly wasn't with the working class family I grew up in.

Essentially, this other grad said we wouldn't have our jobs today if it wasn't for our service, and the tuition-free education that the Academy gave us. While that is true, and it was an honor to serve, I feel we earned it. It wasn't simply given.

Like many of you said, many people paid with their lives. It's not my fault that other people didn't know about the opportunities a service academy education confers.
 
SamAca10 said:
I agree with all of you, for the record. Yes, we were fortunate that we were accepted to the Academy. That also came with earning our spots through academics, athletics, and standardized test scores. Congressional nominations for 4/5 of the Service Academies.

Perhaps some grads, cadets, and mids were also afforded "privilege" that they were in a position to excel in school and athletics. I know I certainly wasn't with the working class family I grew up in.

Essentially, this other grad said we wouldn't have our jobs today if it wasn't for our service, and the tuition-free education that the Academy gave us. While that is true, and it was an honor to serve, I feel we earned it. It wasn't simply given.

Like many of you said, many people paid with their lives. It's not my fault that other people didn't know about the opportunities a service academy education confers.
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I agree a lot with that last sentence. I go to a pretty big high school (3000+ kids) and a lot of them don't understand how great of an option a service academy is. A good friend of mine was giving me some trouble for choosing the Naval Academy over ROTC at Notre Dame but yesterday he got an invite to apply from West Point and that made him realize how great a service academy education is and the unparalleled opportunities it provides, he even asked me "why don't more people from our school apply to these?" He even told me he's gonna apply to the academies now haha
 
I wouldnt call it a privilege because its earned. Absolutely it isn't a free education because many have paid with their lives. Having said that, if you take the loss of life or limb or emotional scarring out of the equation, the reality is that once you graduate you don't work for free and while the money will not life changing isn't bad. So I call it a gift that you worked for. You go to school for free and you have a guaranteed job waiting for you that after 4 years will pay you over 100K. Of course there are sacrifices besides your health. You don't get to live where you want, you don't necessarily get the job that you want and so on. On the other hand you get 4 weeks off vacation, free health insurance and other perks only given to those in the military. Lets be honest, its a gift most people will never have.
 
It's a loaded word, so step back from it and look at what you're asking. An academy education is not an option for a lot of people. You need to be smart enough, healthy enough, athletic enough, comfortable with people, and then you need to be in a situation where you can succeed in school enough to be accepted. So it's not available to every 18 year old, but many more people *could* take this path than apply (Harvard is crawling with them) and it's largely because of the strings attached, so it's clearly not "free" in the same sense as free beer. Most people recognize the cost, the payback, whatever you want to call it and step back.

So are SA grads coming from a better place than most people? Yes. Are they getting something free as a result? Not really, it's just another opportunity that certain people get to consider that others do not. Are D1 athletes privileged? They've been given gifts that they developed and thus received opportunities not open to all, but there's a cost to it. Life's like that.
 
My favorite definition

Privileged

having the rare opportunity to do something that brings particular pleasure.

As in:

"I felt I had been privileged to compete in such a race"

How hard you worked is your business. Spending a minute worried about what other people think, or thinking about how they define the word is a waste of time.

This is how we tried to raise our kids.
 
Humey said:
I wouldnt call it a privilege because its earned. Absolutely it isn't a free education because many have paid with their lives. Having said that, if you take the loss of life or limb or emotional scarring out of the equation, the reality is that once you graduate you don't work for free and while the money will not life changing isn't bad. So I call it a gift that you worked for. You go to school for free and you have a guaranteed job waiting for you that after 4 years will pay you over 100K. Of course there are sacrifices besides your health. You don't get to live where you want, you don't necessarily get the job that you want and so on. On the other hand you get 4 weeks off vacation, free health insurance and other perks only given to those in the military. Lets be honest, its a gift most people will never have.
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Where do you get that 100K number? Don't O-2s make around 70k a year?
 
I'm not a fan of how many people think about "privilege" these days. It read like jealousy and hate more than something useful.
Is it an amazing opportunity? Yes.
Was I fortunate to have a family that encouraged me to do the things that set me up to succeed? Definitely!
Is an service academy education a somehow unfair, unearned benefit---hell no.
 
StPaulDad said:
So are SA grads coming from a better place than most people? Yes.
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Maybe the ones that you know are but plenty do not. My high school was very bad and certainly not a good academic environment. I took a total of zero AP courses and was not a recruited athlete. I just wanted the opportunity that USNA offered. I fought like hell to handle the academics and made it into the upper half of the class while being a varsity athlete for all four years. My two roommates from Youngster year through graduation came from places that were similar to mine as well. I knew plenty of classmates from "Bugtussle" or "Middle of Nowhereville" as well as Inner cities.
I see it now with some of my BGO candidates. My most recent interviewee lives with an extended family member, Mom has substance abuse issues, Dad is out of the picture, high school is below average but candidate was pretty impressive and is a state level contender in his sport. While I do not have inside info, I expect him to be there for I Day.

So no, I do not consider myself or many that I know to be "privledged" other than the Honor and Privledge to serve.
 
The amount of determination to make up for shortcomings in intelligence or athleticism is not at all common and is in itself something of a gift. For those with dyslexia or ADHD, grit isn't always enough to push past the interference and get good grades. For those with asthma or other chronic diseases it's often more than just wanting something that gets you across the finish line. Many people have vision that's outside the specs, or a disease like eczema that DQs them. When I say "a better place" it's not a matter of neighborhood or money, it's the idea that you were at least average intelligence and health and athleticism and had the extra something to move toward your goals. It's not common, and this "if I could do it anyone can" notion is both a lovely sentiment and clearly not true. Many, many people cannot get into an academy.
 
raimius said:
Was I fortunate to have a family that encouraged me to do the things that set me up to succeed? Definitely!
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This is the greatest privilege and my wife and I remind our kids of this a lot (especially when one gets up on their high horse). The privilege of growing up with standards and expectations (and consequences), The privilege of having certain behaviors and norms modeled by adults, every day. The privilege of knowing we have their backs - but only so far.
 
StPaulDad said:
The amount of determination to make up for shortcomings in intelligence or athleticism is not at all common and is in itself something of a gift. For those with dyslexia or ADHD, grit isn't always enough to push past the interference and get good grades. For those with asthma or other chronic diseases it's often more than just wanting something that gets you across the finish line. Many people have vision that's outside the specs, or a disease like eczema that DQs them. When I say "a better place" it's not a matter of neighborhood or money, it's the idea that you were at least average intelligence and health and athleticism and had the extra something to move toward your goals. It's not common, and this "if I could do it anyone can" notion is both a lovely sentiment and clearly not true. Many, many people cannot get into an academy.
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Everyone has their cross to bear. I am fond of telling my son that about 2% +/- of the population are "aliens". In academics and athletics (and sometimes both) some people just "have it". It is important to note that this spans across all color lines, ethnicities and income groups. The rest of the 98% or so are in some way just trying to make it happen with what we were given. If you are not in the elite percentage of society, there is no amount of coaching, working out, or studying that will get you into that cohort.
 
SamAca10 said:
Was having this discussion with another grad recently. What are your thoughts?
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... just another angle on privilege:

* USNA Diploma. (no plan B tuition $62K)
* Entering Gate 8. Serenity - Good vibes
* Reviewing Stand. Midshipmen parade
* Bookstore. Shop till you drop
* Halsey Field House. Free workouts
* Bancroft Walk. By the Severn
* 😎😇
 
I'd say SA grads and most military officers are privileged by virtue of their military service when you consider things in the private sector and everyday life. The retirement package in my eyes (with TSP on top) is a very competitive package. The government knows it needs to be pretty good to keep people around. By graduating, you are put on the path to get it. For anyone transitioning out of the military, most employers love military members since they are disciplined, accountable, and adaptable. America is also unique in the sense that while most Americans aren't intimately familiar with the military, they are sure supportive of it. Citizens, businesses, and different levels of government all try and offer benefits to the military. From "thanks for your service" to seat upgrades to discounts, America likes to roll out the red carpet for its servicemembers. Regardless of years served, everyone who wears the title of servicemember or veteran gets a certain level of respect.
 
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