I'm a Cow at USMA, AMA (Ask Me Anything)

Felix Rosa said:
Oh Army..lol
Another question: Does a grad report to his/her first duty station immediately (within the next couple of weeks or months) after graduation, Or does he/she have a year off before intiating ones career in the Army?
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You typically have 60 days of leave before you go to BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course I think). Each branch has a BOLC that will train you how to be an officer in that branch. After that you head to your first unit, typically as a staff officer assisting some Captain or Major on Battalion. Then, if you're good, you'll get a platoon.
 
FloridaToUSMA2021 said:
I'm not sure if you've answered this or not but have you branched yet and if so what did Army decide for you? If not what would you like to branch?
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I haven't, we get our branches the fall of our firstie year. I wanted Aviation, it's all I've ever wanted. I might get it, my class rank is a bit low for it. If I can't fly, I was looking to do something like Air Defense or Engineers for 5 years, get out, resign my commission, and apply to WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training). I'm not, nor have I ever been, interested in rank or money, I just really want to fly.
 
TPIAD said:
I haven't, we get our branches the fall of our firstie year. I wanted Aviation, it's all I've ever wanted. I might get it, my class rank is a bit low for it. If I can't fly, I was looking to do something like Air Defense or Engineers for 5 years, get out, resign my commission, and apply to WOFT (Warrant Officer Flight Training). I'm not, nor have I ever been, interested in rank or money, I just really want to fly.
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What class rank would you usually need to have in order to branch aviation? I'm interested in aviation also.
 
catlover2 said:
Gotcha sorry
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From my understanding once you are a 1LT promotable, you can then apply for civil affairs or foreign area officer. I'm no expert, but if you research the position I'm sure you could find the best way to set yourself up for success if you choose to apply.
 
FloridaToUSMA2021 said:
What class rank would you usually need to have in order to branch aviation? I'm interested in aviation also.
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Right now it's going out at 370. Aviation is undermanned though, it's budget restraints that have reduced funding to Ft. Rucker where flight training is. They can't afford to teach as many pilots so they accept less USMA grads. It used to go out mid 500s and will likely bounce back to that level for 2019 and onwards. They can't be undermanned forever.
 
Civic is right. I have no idea how Civil Affairs work so it'd best to listen to him/her
 
TPIAD said:
Right now it's going out at 370. Aviation is undermanned though, it's budget restraints that have reduced funding to Ft. Rucker where flight training is. They can't afford to teach as many pilots so they accept less USMA grads. It used to go out mid 500s and will likely bounce back to that level for 2019 and onwards. They can't be undermanned forever.
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Aviation isn't undermanned. It's shrinking as a branch, along with the rest of the Army.
 
scoutpilot said:
Aviation isn't undermanned. It's shrinking as a branch, along with the rest of the Army.
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I could be wrong, but my instructor, an aviator, showed us the Aviation slide deck from his career course. Aviation is shrinking, but they're still not meeting the number of 2LTs that they need. He said the issue was budget cuts at Rucker that prevented more pilots from going. I could be wrong, but that's just what I've been hearing down the grapevine.
 
TPIAD said:
I could be wrong, but my instructor, an aviator, showed us the Aviation slide deck from his career course. Aviation is shrinking, but they're still not meeting the number of 2LTs that they need. He said the issue was budget cuts at Rucker that prevented more pilots from going. I could be wrong, but that's just what I've been hearing down the grapevine.
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If it was from his career course it's likely 3-4 year old data (unless he was a DMI instructor, which is a whole other subject).

But I don't know a whole lot about aviation.
 
EVDfootball said:
Are cadets allowed a very small quantity of civilian clothing?
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It varies by class year. Plebes can't wear it unless going on pass/leave. Yuks can wear it going on pass/leave. Cows wear them on OPP (Off Post Priveleges aka permission to leave at night) and after 1600 2nd semester. Firsties get them after 1600 all year. Upperclassmen can wear them to the messhall and around post. It's probably the best (possibly only) decent change to happen in the past year.
 
TPIAD said:
It varies by class year. Plebes can't wear it unless going on pass/leave. Yuks can wear it going on pass/leave. Cows wear them on OPP (Off Post Priveleges aka permission to leave at night) and after 1600 2nd semester. Firsties get them after 1600 all year. Upperclassmen can wear them to the messhall and around post. It's probably the best (possibly only) decent change to happen in the past year.
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Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and the questions of others! We appreciate it a lot!
 
I've accepted my appointment for the Class of 2020, I'm excited to start in June but got a couple (or more) questions. For starters, I need to order my boots soon or find them soon, we have four options, which is the best and why? Should I buy insoles as well? My other question is, earlier you mentioned wearing ACUs but when I looked at some of the admissions packets online it said we would be wearing the new Multicam combat uniforms and that we need to order our extra names, branches, and flag velcro patches in that color, do you know for certain which the class of 2020 will be getting? And last one for now did you buy the usage of internet for non-academic or military related activities?Anything I should know about the electronics purchases like that and the Ipad (I saw you said that you don't use them so I'm thinking about just getting the cheapest one) and laptop optional add-ons (I noticed you say you wish you had bought it)? Your time is much appreciated.
 
texas05 said:
I've accepted my appointment for the Class of 2020, I'm excited to start in June but got a couple (or more) questions. For starters, I need to order my boots soon or find them soon, we have four options, which is the best and why? Should I buy insoles as well? My other question is, earlier you mentioned wearing ACUs but when I looked at some of the admissions packets online it said we would be wearing the new Multicam combat uniforms and that we need to order our extra names, branches, and flag velcro patches in that color, do you know for certain which the class of 2020 will be getting? And last one for now did you buy the usage of internet for non-academic or military related activities?Anything I should know about the electronics purchases like that and the Ipad (I saw you said that you don't use them so I'm thinking about just getting the cheapest one) and laptop optional add-ons (I noticed you say you wish you had bought it)? Your time is much appreciated.
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Order boots by preference, I personally wear blackhawk desert ops boots. They are comfortable and have gotten me through a combined 10 weeks in the field by this point. Love them to death. ACUs refer to our combat uniform, there are two variants: UCP and OCP. You'll be issued OCP, we have UCP and have to buy OCP at some point. 2020 will most likely get OCP since that's what the Army is transitioning too (plus it looks so much better). I have a pair but if I wear them now I'd be one of the special snowflakes wearing OCP and everyone would think I was a tool. Raggedy torn up, ghetto sewn UCP it is haha. Be nice to your uniforms too, in three years I have catasrtophically torn so many pairs I don't get how it is possible.

Buy the internet, it isn't too reliable right now but without netflix and facebook you will hate your life. You need things to pass the time during off hours. Get the cheapest ipad, it is what I did. You don't use them that often unless you just like them. Classes barely require them (I have yet to use my ipad for class). An Ipad mini will fit in your ACU cargo pockets. Buying the package is a good idea because you can pick it up after beast, and everyone will have similar equipment. This makes exchanging ink and cords super easy. I brought most of my stuff from home so that's why I went without it.
 
It wasnt hopeful thinking, lol. Its that I heard about it somewhere and I needed a proper answer haha. As long as I branch what I want, I won't really mind not having a free year. I'm in it because I love it.
scoutpilot said:
Lol...a year off?
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