Budget Cuts and Opportunties at West Point
- Thread starter christiano241
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Let’s keep cordial here, we're all adults.
Christiano241, that was inappropriate to say and you know it, but we all should chill out just a little bit.
When I went for my last visit, the cadets do stay stuff happens. Some of the cadets even mentioned camp Buckner, and candidates will find out about that in 5 months, and if they last six more weeks, they deserve to stay.
Not slammin anyone, just let's all remain calm; no one can justly say anything about anyone. We all know this, I'm just reminding you guys, and this forum is for help.
(Not that you guys didn't know, it's just we're all on edge!)
Christiano241, that was inappropriate to say and you know it, but we all should chill out just a little bit.
When I went for my last visit, the cadets do stay stuff happens. Some of the cadets even mentioned camp Buckner, and candidates will find out about that in 5 months, and if they last six more weeks, they deserve to stay.
Not slammin anyone, just let's all remain calm; no one can justly say anything about anyone. We all know this, I'm just reminding you guys, and this forum is for help.
(Not that you guys didn't know, it's just we're all on edge!)
mom3boys
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I am reminded of an arrogant young man who posted frequently 4 years ago. We shook our heads and sighed. We couldn't tell him anything. Turns out, he got into WP, and WP rubbed off all the rough edges. He posts occassionally now. After graduation this May, I believe he will be one of America's finest officers. This young man may also turn out OK in the end, despite some excess hubris and some inappropriate comments. Next.
scoutpilot
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Alright, let's calm down, Outraged Mothers of the Forum.
First of all, how were offended? If your daughters don't attend Mt. St. Mary's (the venerable Mt. St. Mattress in question), then climb down off the cross. Sequestration is on and we need the wood. Saying that offends you as a woman is like saying calling a hooker a hooker is a personal affront to you because you share fixtures. It's silly.
Secondly, you may be horrified to learn that LITS is right. You would be shocked to know that little Johnny has probably already done things that would scare his mom. I know very few who left USMA as untarnished specimens.
First of all, how were offended? If your daughters don't attend Mt. St. Mary's (the venerable Mt. St. Mattress in question), then climb down off the cross. Sequestration is on and we need the wood. Saying that offends you as a woman is like saying calling a hooker a hooker is a personal affront to you because you share fixtures. It's silly.
Secondly, you may be horrified to learn that LITS is right. You would be shocked to know that little Johnny has probably already done things that would scare his mom. I know very few who left USMA as untarnished specimens.
I'm so lost as to where the friction in this thread started. I was reading the dating thread and scoutpilot was the one that mentioned the nickname "Mt. St. Mattress." My pops graduated in the class of the lady (1980) and told me when we were visiting about that nickname, so because of the sources its obviously not a one-person deal.. Christian didn't ask anything out of the ordinary, like how to sneak past the admissions board review for some potentially questionable test scores. Unless several pages of that thread got deleted, it seems like the fight is being picked because of a nickname that Mt. St. Mary's has been dubbed with for decades, and people are getting sensitive enough to be offended by anyone who uses it.
I think I caught the tail end of this, though. I hope it settles down. It seemed like a legit question. If Christian wants to do international but those opportunities are null at West Point, he might have better opportunities elsewhere. It all weighs in to the decision he's making.
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I'm so lost as to where the friction in this thread started. I was reading the dating thread and scoutpilot was the one that mentioned the nickname "Mt. St. Mattress." My pops graduated in the class of the lady (1980) and told me when we were visiting about that nickname, so because of the sources its obviously not a one-person deal.. Christian didn't ask anything out of the ordinary, like how to sneak past the admissions board review for some potentially questionable test scores. Unless several pages of that thread got deleted, it seems like the fight is being picked because of a nickname that Mt. St. Mary's has been dubbed with for decades, and people are getting sensitive enough to be offended by anyone who uses it.
I think I caught the tail end of this, though. I hope it settles down. It seemed like a legit question. If Christian wants to do international but those opportunities are null at West Point, he might have better opportunities elsewhere. It all weighs in to the decision he's making.
His opportunities will be as good at WP as at any other Academy. However, if these opportunities are what's driving the OP, then I expect there will be more of them elsewhere in the civilian world. Nothing is guaranteed in the military where budgets are subject to the whims of politicians. And even when the opportunities are there they have to be earned. I believe this to be more true at an academy than anywhere else.
christiano241
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Opportunities are just one component. But while we are on the topic.. West Point even with these cuts has plenty. I had the privilege of meeting a Truman Scholar, a Firstie, when up there. He was quick to tell me, when talking about an Ivy he considered, how West Point had more opportunities--even factoring in budget decisions.
Even if all these programs and experiences didn't even have funding, West Point as an institution and experience win the day in my mind. I hope this clears up where my thoughts were going. I really just wanted to see the extent of the damage and assess the situation; I didn't mean on starting a war over motivation or phrasing.
Even if all these programs and experiences didn't even have funding, West Point as an institution and experience win the day in my mind. I hope this clears up where my thoughts were going. I really just wanted to see the extent of the damage and assess the situation; I didn't mean on starting a war over motivation or phrasing.
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Opportunities are just one component. But while we are on the topic.. West Point even with these cuts has plenty. I had the privilege of meeting a Truman Scholar, a Firstie, when up there. He was quick to tell me, when talking about an Ivy he considered, how West Point had more opportunities--even factoring in budget decisions.
Even if all these programs and experiences didn't even have funding, West Point as an institution and experience win the day in my mind. I hope this clears up where my thoughts were going. I really just wanted to see the extent of the damage and assess the situation; I didn't mean on starting a war over motivation or phrasing.
Well, that does help because it wasn't clear to me from some of your previous posts on this thread. I'm glad to hear it. Good luck at the Academy.
In my opinion, West Point has leadership development opportunities that I could not imagine in a civilian college. For example, for Plebe Parent Weekend, we have a whole plebe chain of command just for the weekend, right? It seems easy, but just today, after I was informed of the duties that I have to do, I have spent no less than some 4 hours figuring things out for the PPW organization. I have already learned a lot, and it was only the first day... I will be holding my position for another week and a half! This should be interesting 
Disappointed in the mothers who ganged up on christiano. "freebies"? Come on......the boy had legitimate questions about the budget cuts. If you had two job offers at the same time, wouldn't you look at what each had to offer before making your decision? A little overkill.
The trade-offs for USMA vs. ROTC are normally guaranteed active duty, a little more control in branch selection process, more abudndant and advanced training opportunities, and of course the whole no tuition+ paycheck thing.
A lot of those advanded training opportunities are disappearing these days. However, we still have more than ROTC and it's still free.
And like BillSL said, you'll get all the leader development you need doing drill
A lot of those advanded training opportunities are disappearing these days. However, we still have more than ROTC and it's still free.
And like BillSL said, you'll get all the leader development you need doing drill
Wow!When I first read the post by 241 I was thinking that these are the same concerns that I had, and I can't believe how quickly it turned into a personal attack. I would hate to see my DS (class of 2016) loose his opportunities for internships, study abroad and other IAD opportunities which I would consider VERY important for a future leader to experience (probably why most civilian universities really emphasize them). One of the knocks against the service academies is that the students are so locked into their own world they don't experience enough of the outside world during their 4 years, thus making them less well rounded than ROTC officers (not my opinion). That being said I have full faith that West Point will figure out ways to keep offering these kinds of opportunities that will produce well rounded officers and continue to fulfill their mission as the #1 leadership university in the world, despite the political gamesmanship that is being played out right now in Washington. And for the record he does complain about the cutbacks and some things at West Point but not anymore than his friends at civilian colleges complain about some things at their schools. They are students it goes with the territory.
And like BillSL said, you'll get all the leader development you need doing drill
Nah I didn't mean with drill. Drill has its purposes, sure, but I'm talking about other experiences - like being a team leader and other leadership positions, getting staff jobs in clubs, getting leadership positions for PPW and stuff...
I know, I was just making a joke that the only "military" training we do during the school year is drill.
But... but... sandhooah...
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Unless you are completely incompetent, AD is pretty much guaranteed in ROTC as well. Now branching what you want is another animal...
Beast getting easier was the direct result of decisions made by the old Commandant and higher, not budget cuts. If anything, "nice beast" costs more because they spend more time at the range, etc.
This is not true at all I know very competent and high achieving individuals in my Army ROTC battalion who do not get active duty