- Joined
- May 31, 2008
- Messages
- 7,992
While I continually emphasize this, many parents are like Ospreys...the birds and the planes! This is a time for transition. You want to help your son or daughter? Help them --- don't do their work for them...whther on this forum; with congressional staffers; with Admissions; with DoDMERB; with Field Force (West Point); Blue and Gold Officers (USNA); ALOs (USAFA), etc.
While this is an Applicant Reference Guide, the operative word is “applicant.” We’ll help you
APPLICANTS ONLY (If your parents read this part, you’ll know why I wrote it this way) – This is YOUR future, YOUR application, and it needs to be YOUR decision. Parents are very useful in providing YOU sage advice and counsel…in the background…say again, IN THE BACKGROUND. YOU should take all actions regarding YOUR application. If YOU are offered an appointment to one/more Service Academy and/or are awarded a scholarship to an ROTC Program(s), guess what? Your parents do NOT get to attend with YOU While the Service Academies and ROTC programs have bunk beds--- those are for your roommates, not your parents! Therefore, this process begins that transition of YOUR independence. Again, they can assist YOU, but YOU should be the lead on all application actions. They should be like the military guidon bearer --- YOU are the Commander and they should be one step to the right and one step behind YOU. They can discuss anything and everything with YOU, just not DODMERB. Go easy on them. This will NOT be an easy thing for them to do…to start to let go
PARENTS: While I’ve emphasized the above to a fault, I can only share with you my vast experience in this area. Your wisdom will be deeply appreciated by your son or daughter, but the “action” part of this exercise is best for all, when the applicant takes direct ownership of THEIR process, with Admissions, Congressional Nominations, DoDMERB, etc. Your counsel is most effective, when confined to the applicant within the walls of your residence
While this is an Applicant Reference Guide, the operative word is “applicant.” We’ll help you
APPLICANTS ONLY (If your parents read this part, you’ll know why I wrote it this way) – This is YOUR future, YOUR application, and it needs to be YOUR decision. Parents are very useful in providing YOU sage advice and counsel…in the background…say again, IN THE BACKGROUND. YOU should take all actions regarding YOUR application. If YOU are offered an appointment to one/more Service Academy and/or are awarded a scholarship to an ROTC Program(s), guess what? Your parents do NOT get to attend with YOU While the Service Academies and ROTC programs have bunk beds--- those are for your roommates, not your parents! Therefore, this process begins that transition of YOUR independence. Again, they can assist YOU, but YOU should be the lead on all application actions. They should be like the military guidon bearer --- YOU are the Commander and they should be one step to the right and one step behind YOU. They can discuss anything and everything with YOU, just not DODMERB. Go easy on them. This will NOT be an easy thing for them to do…to start to let goPARENTS: While I’ve emphasized the above to a fault, I can only share with you my vast experience in this area. Your wisdom will be deeply appreciated by your son or daughter, but the “action” part of this exercise is best for all, when the applicant takes direct ownership of THEIR process, with Admissions, Congressional Nominations, DoDMERB, etc. Your counsel is most effective, when confined to the applicant within the walls of your residence
