'Situational Awareness' gone too far?

[Pima]

Okay I was wrong to say love, I should have said happy or content or whatever you want to place in for love. You all get my point, and it appears you don't disagree, that it is just part of the path that the SA/SMC/ROTC program demands.
~~~~ Something Bullet said to me when he was an O1....This decision was made at a higher pay grade than mine. My job is to salute sharply.
~~ That is his new reality regarding the process.

My point was, and is, at the end of the day facing this head on will give him a sense of accomplishment, and will make him a better cadet, a better officer.

As an MSIII or IV they will have a command position with I and II's somehow reporting to them.

Your child will be an MSIII or IV, and there will be a cadet like him as an MSI. This is something he has to think about. This is something to ask....pretend you are that MSIII, what would you do differently? Would you now, 1 yr out from going AD, say have the folks bring the weights to the room, run on your own, go to the college gym at 8 when you know nobody is there so it is easier?

What is his career aspiration? Flying a Helo? SA is huge! What they are doing will be an asset when it comes to UPT. Flying world is cut throat to get that airframe? Tanks? Isn't it a close quarter world inside the tank that you need to do your job, and also be cognizant of what everyone else is doing at the same time. Med. field...same thing, you are working on members in combat to save a life, and it is noises, voices, upheaval, one slip is life or death.

I am not trying to make light of this, but I have to say, I think this is more about finding his footing at college and ROTC than Situational Awareness at the Gym.

OBTW, I know I shaded, but I was trying to make a point, that even those cadets at an SA leave. IMPO, kids entering college in Aug. think they are a failure if they leave, when in fact it happens ALOT!

For me that is the time parents step in, and remind them, they are 18, and it is better to leave now than live for 9 yrs this life (college and AD).
~~~ It is the only time to step in.
~~~~ It is also why I sit here and scream from the rooftops as an ROTC scholarship recipient talk to the folks about finances before matriculating. If a child feels the only way to attend their dream college is to stay in ROTC because of fiscal issues, than it usually doesn't end pretty. It is a pressure they will feel for @ a decade.

OBTW, our DS commissioned from the Number 1 largest AFROTC unit in the nation, including SMCs.
~~~ At his det. Every 100 aka MSI was assigned to an 300 aka MSIII until the 100 became a POC (300) as a mentor. Someone they could go to ask privately what to do.
~~~ They had GMC (MSI/II) nights every week at the det. to hang out and bond. Ask your DS if they have that at his school.

Just saying if he sticks with it, later on he can show leadership by suggesting programs like this that do not cost a penny, but bonds new cadets.

 

[Bullet]

Or they may have to take care of their distraught fellow officers when the Air Force Officers Club has run out of Dijon Mustard.

Amonst my fellow fighter aviators, we find that a simple hug and a compassionate pat on the back while saying "There, there" usually takes care of those not strong enough to handle the tragic situation of running out of a good condiment for the accompanying side dishes for our daily-issued filet mignons.

But if the Club was to run out of....(have to take a break, it gets me chocked up and shaking in fear just to type the words....),

if the club..... (Its OK, Bullet, you can do this....)

if the cl-cl-club *sniff*.... somehow ran out of... *sniff, sniff*....Jeremaih Weed... (Oh God! heaven forbid! how can I even THINK about this let alone specualte about it!.....)

Well THEN? Then there will be riots and Hell to pay!

Man, that was tough to even discuss.... Gotta go hit the fighter bar now in my office and "strengthen my nerves" a bit.

 

[NorwichDad]

Amonst my fellow fighter aviators, we find that a simple hug and a compassionate pat on the back while saying "There, there" usually takes care of those not strong enough to handle the tragic situation of running out of a good condiment for the accompanying side dishes for our daily-issued filet mignons.

But if the Club was to run out of....(have to take a break, it gets me chocked up and shaking in fear just to type the words....),

if the club..... (Its OK, Bullet, you can do this....)

if the cl-cl-club *sniff*.... somehow ran out of... *sniff, sniff*....Jeremaih Weed... (Oh God! heaven forbid! how can I even THINK about this let alone specualte about it!.....)

Well THEN? Then there will be riots and Hell to pay!

Man, that was tough to even discuss.... Gotta go hit the fighter bar now in my office and "strengthen my nerves" a bit.

Another Great Post!!

 

[dunninla]

The Army has been doctrinally distancing itself from the "break and rebuild" mindset since before I enlisted. Basic training today is nothing like it was in the old days. Screwing with people constantly doesn't make proactive leaders, it makes reactive ones. It seems like every institution in the military has caught on to this except the academies.

Yes, I was speaking primarily of the culture at the Academies. I assumed that ROTC was never like that, but maybe it used to be and isn't so anymore. And it seems the SMCs are in the middle.

 

[payitforward]

Yes, I was speaking primarily of the culture at the Academies. I assumed that ROTC was never like that, but maybe it used to be and isn't so anymore. And it seems the SMCs are in the middle.

One thing to note: DS is a candidate in a specialty training group that is considered a co-curricular activity. He can drop out of the group at any time; it's not mandatory participation. From what I can tell so far from his college experience and from speaking with other parents, the ROTC program at UNG does not have that "break-them-down-to-build-them-up" culture. If it does, I've not seen any evidence of that so far.

DS doesn't want to be a quitter though, so since he's made it this far in the group he tried out for, he's "embracing the suck" of the group's ethos. I am now convinced (by you great people) that he will figure out on his own how to deal with the gym situation. I've decided my best course of action is to wait and see if he brings up the subject again. And if he does, I'll ask him if he can think of something he and his buddies might do to work together to make this situation better.

 

[goaliedad]

One thing to note: DS is a candidate in a specialty training group that is considered a co-curricular activity. He can drop out of the group at any time; it's not mandatory participation. From what I can tell so far from his college experience and from speaking with other parents, the ROTC program at UNG does not have that "break-them-down-to-build-them-up" culture. If it does, I've not seen any evidence of that so far.

DS doesn't want to be a quitter though, so since he's made it this far in the group he tried out for, he's "embracing the suck" of the group's ethos. I am now convinced (by you great people) that he will figure out on his own how to deal with the gym situation. I've decided my best course of action is to wait and see if he brings up the subject again. And if he does, I'll ask him if he can think of something he and his buddies might do to work together to make this situation better.

This sounds like a "tradition" that developed apart from the "normal" arbitrary rituals of that SMC, given that it is only for that specific group.

That being said, should he continue with the tradition himself, will he be influential enough to modify the rules to exempt certain hazardous situations (lifting weights for expample) from this practice? It takes a bigger man to see the problem and confront his peers to improve the overall purpose of the tradition. When strong leaders do not correct these things, over time they become more and more dangerous/dysfunctional. Many examples of this can be found in Fraternity/Sorority hazing rituals, many of which are similar to the "situational awareness" exercise your son is going through. Usually, the problems here come with extreme punishment as opposed to hazardous situations, but the effects can be similar.

So, in addition to the learning experience he will have this year, you might want to talk to him after his time is done to talk about why payback is not always the best option...

 

[Jcleppe]

So, in addition to the learning experience he will have this year, you might want to talk to him after his time is done to talk about why payback is not always the best option...

Well said.

 

[payitforward]

So, in addition to the learning experience he will have this year, you might want to talk to him after his time is done to talk about why payback is not always the best option...

Well, that's one of the greatest things about my son. He's a pay it forward kind of guy, always looking out for the little guy, the oppressed, the hungry, those in need of a helping hand. It's why he wants to be an Army officer.

When he was in 9th grade and getting hazed by the seniors on his sports team, he vowed that when he was an upperclassman, he would never treat the freshmen the way he had been treated. And he didn't.

I think now's a good time to remind him of how much he hated 9th grade, and how much respect he had earned by 12th for doing the right thing.

 

[Ohio2015Parent]

Well, that's one of the greatest things about my son. He's a pay it forward kind of guy, always looking out for the little guy, the oppressed, the hungry, those in need of a helping hand. It's why he wants to be an Army officer.

When he was in 9th grade and getting hazed by the seniors on his sports team, he vowed that when he was an upperclassman, he would never treat the freshmen the way he had been treated. And he didn't.

I think now's a good time to remind him of how much he hated 9th grade, and how much respect he had earned by 12th for doing the right thing.

Now you're thinking like a mentor Support is the name of the game - let them vent to us and point them back into the thick of it.

I think by some of these characteristics you've mentioned that our boys would be battle buddies

There were some amazing points in all of the previous post - whether the official policy is "break 'em down, build back up" or not, these cadets all have been pushed through some growing pains as they adapt to their duel roles as students and cadets. Any struggle they get thru only adds to their personal growth and will only increase their ability lead.

Think I'm going to go call my boy and check in on his "personal growth" this past week