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I said I never had a terrible day and only a few bad hours. How is that down and discouraged??? haha
Countdown
- Thread starter bsa07eagle
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- Apr 13, 2008
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Please save that and re-read it this time next year and see if it is still true. I am willing to bet it is not the case.
After the first week, your passion will be assuredly dulled. Everybody's will, and you just got to pretend it's not. Upperclassmen will insult you, criticise you, and make you seem very insignificant. What you need to do is be in excellent physical shape well before inprocessing, and study knowledge. You'll quickly realize who the weakest are in your flight, and you must help them. Once cadre sees teamwork, they'll stop being insulting, and start encouraging.
bsa07eagle
10-Year Member
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- Jun 24, 2009
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- 670
Thanks for all of your advice guys, I really do admire you guys (especially since you will be some of the ones that will be cadre next year, lol). As for my statement: "I would rather have hell at the Academy than heaven at home." That still will still be true next year, although maybe not quite as passionate. What is worse, sitting around all next summer staring at your rejection letter, or presuming your dream, yes I realize it is not a "walk in the park," but I doubt any of you guys would pick "door number 1 (sitting at home)?" Talk to you all later. Good luck in all your classes (and everything else you have to do).
Later,
Brian Andre
Later,
Brian Andre
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- Oct 20, 2008
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Most of us here that are now 4digs thought exactly like you a year ago. Believe me, even if you don't realize it or don't want it to happen, you mindset will change. And don't get me wrong. I like this place a lot despite all the stupid stuff we have to put up with. Every day i realize how awesome it is that I'm waking up in Sijan Hall at the United States Air Force Academy. You are correct in assuming my dreams are coming true. I am thankful every day for that. I will admit that there are a lot of people who do hate this place, and they make it worse for those that like it here. As a 4 degree, however, things do occasionally get to you. Things will make you real angry and make you remember your time in high school and how much easier/fun/etc. it was. We're just trying to give you some advice on how to get through BCT and get through your 4dig year. It can be tough, but if you have lots of good memories of home and have a strong support base, things will be much much easier. Believe us. And for the most part, you will get Hell at the Academy next summer. Just wait for the assault course
Keep up the motivation you have right now and next summer/next year will be a lot better. Good luck on your application!
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- Dec 21, 2008
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everyone says this place sucks.... it doesn't really. if only you could see how motivated we get during a good training session. we're just trying to prepare you for the "culture" shock. you WILL wonder why you came here and you WILL sound like the rest of us eventually. just know that most of us don't really mean it- just makes us feel better to say stuff like that every now and then. personally, i think life sucks more for you having to wait to get here
BSA - keep it up, but enjoy the ride.
Our C4C has had not one negative thing to say, from the first day at basic until today. He was disappointed when Jack's was over, when his cadre got in trouble for overtraining them, and on Doolie Day IN when he was sick and feverish but still marched out to Jacks afterwards.
We sent him typical parents' "hang in there, son" letters, only to have him tell us to quit nagging him, that he was fine and loving it. He's never been happier (according to him). You might be a freak like him
Now the other cadets are right, don't waste time looking forward, enjoy this year. You only get one senior year! All things in their own time!
Dtk
Our C4C has had not one negative thing to say, from the first day at basic until today. He was disappointed when Jack's was over, when his cadre got in trouble for overtraining them, and on Doolie Day IN when he was sick and feverish but still marched out to Jacks afterwards.
We sent him typical parents' "hang in there, son" letters, only to have him tell us to quit nagging him, that he was fine and loving it. He's never been happier (according to him). You might be a freak like him
Now the other cadets are right, don't waste time looking forward, enjoy this year. You only get one senior year! All things in their own time!
Dtk
bsa07eagle
10-Year Member
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- Jun 24, 2009
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Thanks all,
I love getting your experienced advice. If I get that appointment letter I will have a ton of questions for you next year. Thank you for contributing so much to this site and to all of us (2014). I really respect and appreciate you guys, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going," that is what I remember you all for. I hope that I will someday get to join the ranks of many honorable men and women that have gone before me. I hope I will be able to steal more valuable information from you along my way.
Later,
Brian
I love getting your experienced advice. If I get that appointment letter I will have a ton of questions for you next year. Thank you for contributing so much to this site and to all of us (2014). I really respect and appreciate you guys, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going," that is what I remember you all for. I hope that I will someday get to join the ranks of many honorable men and women that have gone before me. I hope I will be able to steal more valuable information from you along my way.
Later,
Brian
Assault Course Mas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and for the most part, you will get hell at the academy next summer. Just wait for the assault course
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- May 8, 2008
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Stop... THE MEMORIES!
We sound discouraged because it sucks here the first year. Yeah, we're here at the Academy, and that was definitely part of my dream, but don't be blinded. You'll miss home and friends a lot. You'll miss having free time, you'll miss TV, music, movies. You'll miss the little things, like driving around with your friends, or just driving. Don't get me wrong, this place isn't hell. It definetly sucks, but it is a stepping-stone to the ultimate goal of becoming an officer in the United States Air Force. There are some really crappy times here, but there are also really awesome times here, and everything in between.
Life goes by fast, don't blink and miss senior year because of the excitement of coming here.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2008
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- 809
Haha, for me during basic, I missed much simpler things. Sure, I did miss frends, family, having fun, but we didn't get lots of time to think of that. I missed things like being able to sit and relax, knowing the time, knowing what I was doing next, going to the bathroom without a battle buddy...
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- Mar 1, 2007
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Reminds me of CST, i missed... water and food. Talk about the bare necessities.
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- Jan 28, 2009
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This place truly does not suck....Its all about attitude and perspective.
Attitude wise, keep up a positive attitude. Stay goal oriented and understand what the reasons are for everything you do here. Like they say, EVERYTHING has a purpose, well mostly everything! lol. 4* is somewhat of a drag, but I still wake up motivated every morning, simply because I realize I AM A CADET AT THE USAFA. Alot of Cadets, 4* mostly, let the enthusiasm and pride they had for USAFA before they arrived fade into cynicism. If you can keep your motivation high and just try your best at everything, you will do fine here!
As for perspective, the best advice I have received thus far was from a 1* prior enlisted. He told me that attending USAFA does not mean I am a "student" attending college, rather I am doing a job! He said most priors do well at the academy because they see their time here as a path in their AF career, just being stationed here for 4 years to receive outstanding training and receive a degree. You are literally being paid while attending USAFA. Most Cadets don't realize until their 1* or 2* degree year what it means to graduate from this place. The younger Cadets, 4* degrees especially, compare this place to a civilian college and always ponder the "what if". They complain about rules, regulations, restrictions, and how this place won't let us do this and that, that other colleges would allow them to do. This is not a standard college, its one of our nation's TOP institutions. Its goal being to prepare the brightest and the best to be the next highest leaders in our nation's military..............when I think about all this, I realize I have no right to complain or bicker, rather I should be thankful and motivated, showing it through my efforts in all aspects of the Academy experience. I'm not here to be a college student, I'm here to do my duty and become the best officer I can possibly be.
Attitude wise, keep up a positive attitude. Stay goal oriented and understand what the reasons are for everything you do here. Like they say, EVERYTHING has a purpose, well mostly everything! lol. 4* is somewhat of a drag, but I still wake up motivated every morning, simply because I realize I AM A CADET AT THE USAFA. Alot of Cadets, 4* mostly, let the enthusiasm and pride they had for USAFA before they arrived fade into cynicism. If you can keep your motivation high and just try your best at everything, you will do fine here!
As for perspective, the best advice I have received thus far was from a 1* prior enlisted. He told me that attending USAFA does not mean I am a "student" attending college, rather I am doing a job! He said most priors do well at the academy because they see their time here as a path in their AF career, just being stationed here for 4 years to receive outstanding training and receive a degree. You are literally being paid while attending USAFA. Most Cadets don't realize until their 1* or 2* degree year what it means to graduate from this place. The younger Cadets, 4* degrees especially, compare this place to a civilian college and always ponder the "what if". They complain about rules, regulations, restrictions, and how this place won't let us do this and that, that other colleges would allow them to do. This is not a standard college, its one of our nation's TOP institutions. Its goal being to prepare the brightest and the best to be the next highest leaders in our nation's military..............when I think about all this, I realize I have no right to complain or bicker, rather I should be thankful and motivated, showing it through my efforts in all aspects of the Academy experience. I'm not here to be a college student, I'm here to do my duty and become the best officer I can possibly be.
bsa07eagle
10-Year Member
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- Jun 24, 2009
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- 670
Thanks Dan,
That is a great perspective to have. I have never really thought about it that way before. Thanks for sharing that with all of us. That really puts it into a different category, instead of the traditional college.
Later,
Brian Andre
That is a great perspective to have. I have never really thought about it that way before. Thanks for sharing that with all of us. That really puts it into a different category, instead of the traditional college.
Later,
Brian Andre