Stupid Questions People Ask about SAs

One of my best friends was always talking about how she was scared of me going to the military and how I shouldn't go to USNA. Then one day one of my teachers was joking around with me and asking me if I was going to come back in Dress Whites and be all "Officer and a Gentleman" to which I responded "I would but I don't think I'm going to want to be wearing my uniform when I'm home". Then my friend was like "Oh my god you're going to be an OFFICER thats so cool and you're going to be MY friend! I hope you still talk to me then. Are you going to be an Admiral?" Everybody in the room started to laugh at her.
 
The other night I told a friend I had received my appointment to the Air Force Academy like I was hoping, and would be leaving in June for BCT. After congratulating me, she promptly asked: "Does that mean your taking off from school for a year?" :rolleyes:

Honestly though, I have a lot of patience for people who are ignorant of SA's, because I actually didn't know much about them until last year. Like zaatarmonster though, if they start degrading the education/military or assuming I applied just for the "free" price tag...:mad:
 
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Last year, when I told a friend that my son received an appointment to the USCGA and accepted, she said "what a waste--with his high academics and all that he's done, he could really be something". WHAT?????????? Even now, I still don't think she gets it....................
 
Oh man....these are all so hilarious. I hate it when people assume you are going enlisted. It makes no sense. You would think that they could figure out that an 'academy' is a school.
 
I generally try to avoid the topic. A lot of my coaches and teachers know about the service academies and think it's great that I'm going. Pretty much everyone else doesn't get it. Most people think it's such waste that I'm dropping out of college to join the navy. I always thought that "academy" implied that it was some sort of academic institution too. Sometimes after mentioning West Point or the movie "Annapolis" they catch on. I've accepted that a majority of the people I know think I'm quitting school to go get brainwashed and kill people. Oh well...
 
Finally caught up with some of the other posts here... hilarious. See, for all the candidates and appointees, you already have something in common with those who are serving/have served/are families of those in uniform by being able to understand what's so nuts about these comments.

Thanks for all the great stories.
 
I don't know what makes me madder, all those people that are so incredibly ignorant about the service academies and our military in general, or those few who know what I'm trying to accomplish and all they want to do is discourage me. First it was getting into the Naval Academy (which I've already done despite some big setbacks), now it's wanting to become a SEAL after I graduate. I realize how competitive it is, but I also know I am more than capable of accomplishing it. I don't know how someone can look me in the eye and say "I know it's your dream, but it's way too hard, so don't even bother." The more people I meet, the less I like people in general. I can't wait to be isolated from the rest of the world with a couple thousand kids just like me.
 
Ha, I used to get frustrated when some service academy midshipmen and cadets where ignorant of other service academies (especially the two small ones), but eventually, somewhere in those 4 years I got over it.
 
My experience has been different

Small town in Michigan but we have sent enough of our sons and daughters to the academies that people seem to get it. They know who my son is and what his options are, and they ask really good questions-when does he start school, does he have to go early? Is it as tough as they say? What made him choose a SA?

My problem is asking them about their kid and what they are doing. I love their kids but they seem bashful telling me they are going to State. Not sure how to get over that one but I suspect others feel it too.
 
My two favorites of the many times it has happened, was when a buddy of mine (current USMA plebe) and I were hanging out. A family friend of his came up and asked us on our college situations in which he replied, "I'll be attending the United States Military Academy." She then just looked awkwardly at him and replied, "Jeez, what a waste why don't you go to Harvard or Yale. At least when you graduate from their you have a name to back you". I then had to excuse myself from the conversation.

Secondly, was the time our French teacher overheard the announcements over the loudspeaker that he would be attending USMA. Then after having the class applaud him she stated ever so eloquently, "The Military Academy is a great place to come from, but I've heard West Point is a tad bit better."

Both of these among the many are hilarious to people like us. Hope you enjoyed. I certainly did living through them.
 
Wow that last one was pretty bad....not know USMA from West Point...? Seriously?
 
We were talking about universities, and I mentioned how I wanted to go to USNA.

"Oh but that's not even a real university."
"What do you mean it's not real? Of course it is."
"No, I just mean, it's not really a university."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not. You'll just be learning how to be in the Navy."
"The United States Naval Academy is an accredited university! Besides learning 'how to be in the Navy', you also have to take classes, play sports.. and whatever else you would be doing in a 'real university'."
"But it's not a real university."

:bang:
 
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