AFA class of 2017 filling up!

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chjorg

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
19
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...
I think this might be one that is uncalled for. It sounds like he has the academics to back his sportman skills. I think he might be a great candidate and I am sure it remains conditionally on his grades. I agree that there are some that are hard to swallow but this is not one of them. The USAFA makes it very clear they look for the best of the best. Sounds like this guy is an awesome hockey player and his GPA is 3.88, not bad at all for an athelete who probably spents a lot of time working out and on the road for his sport. Again, I agree there are some aplicants that are accepted in the AFA or Prep school that I feel are ridiculous considering their academics. i.e. spoke to a guy during orientation somewhere in GA and he told me he got into prep school with a GPA of 2.8 and is now in the AFA, helped he was a football player and a minority but I think those are the cases that I don't really understand. This one I totally understand and my congratulations go out to Dau, sounds like he has earned it.
 
chjorg said:
This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
Click to expand...
I completely disagree. I don't think this article reflects negatively on either the USAFA or the young man. I'm sure there are enough things to find fault with the USAFA without the need for reaching. Just my opinion...
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...

You really must have something better to do then to spend your time with post like this.
 
Call me confused, but how is he "committing" to USAFA for the class of 2017 when their app process doesn't start for an entire year from now.
 
chjorg said:
I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US.
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In no way did Dau imply that he wouldn't serve outside the US. To the contrary he had been told that the coach served in the US, yet Dau expressed a willingness to serve wherever he was needed.

MorganC said:
Call me confused, but how is he "committing" to USAFA for the class of 2017 when their app process doesn't start for an entire year from now.
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He was talking about the committment that an athele gives to play at any given school which is different from accepting an appointment (or accepting academic admission offered to a civilain school). He gave a verbal committment to the coach to attend the AFA. From reading on this forum I've gleaned that the NCAA allows SA athletic coaches to approach potential scholarship athletes earlier than those from civilian colleges.

It's also my understanding that an athlete can approach a coach at any time, but the article doesn't make clear under which circumstance Dau and the coach first communicated. I'm not sure though when an official committment, that doesn't compromise the athlete's eligibility is allowed.
 
MorganC said:
Call me confused, but how is he "committing" to USAFA for the class of 2017 when their app process doesn't start for an entire year from now.
Click to expand...

He isn't. He is simply being recruited by the hockey coach. No different than any other college. And not just for sports. There are plenty that have been "woo'd" because of their academics. The academy is simply trying to get him excited and "internally committed". And that's what it sounds like. This individual wants to come to the academy, and now he may not seek other schools.

But remember; a commitment to the academies is not binding in any way. Until they walk off that bus and say "I Do", they can change their mind at any time. Just like any basic cadet trainee. And more so, you have 2 full years to change your mind and quit if you determine it's not right for you.

So, the only "Commitment" involved here, is an individual's desires. So many things can happen between now and when he raises his right hand.
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree. Dau does seem like he is among the best and brightest. Just because someone is athletic, doesn't mean they are not smart. These hs kids are actually referred to now as student-athletes (emphasis on student). The article quoted Dau as saying he will serve anywhere in the US and the world. Doesn't seem like he is avoiding any responsibility.
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if he does very well at the Academy and turns out to be an outstanding officer. It takes mental and physical toughness and guts to play hockey at the level he's playing it. His GPA is fine.

I once heard a commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, a major general, talk about his Academy experience. He said he went only because he was recruited to play basketball. "I was looking forward to completing my minimum commitment and moving on." he said. Then he laughed and said, "But I'm still here."
 
As for the comment about AP classes. I hadn't heard of them until I applied. Why? Because my high school of 200 students didn't offer them. Looks like I didn't need them either since I have a year down and three to go.
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...


That's how it all works. Colleges recruit athletes. At least this kid has the grades. His GPA is better than the one that I sent to USAFA.
 
chjorg said:
This recent article highlights why it is NOT always the best and the brightest. I especially love the line about serving his country, but just in the US. I am also amazed that the taxpayers have to pay a very expensive 4 yr. education to get a hockey coach. This article certainly did not portray the AFA in a very positive light.
http://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/event/article/id/42873/

BTW--no AP classes needed.
Click to expand...

Your comments/conclusions seem unfounded. Young man has good grades and states:

I can be anywhere across the U.S. and the world doing my job. It’s exciting.
Click to expand...

I was just browsing here to see if the other forums get stuff like this or if it was just my Alma Mater's forum that has this sort of stuff. I guess we all have some "debates" in process....
 
aglages said:
I completely disagree. I don't think this article reflects negatively on either the USAFA or the young man. I'm sure there are enough things to find fault with the USAFA without the need for reaching. Just my opinion...
Click to expand...
That is what I was trying to say.
 
OK! I am reading the article and it is mentioning this hokey player with a 3.8 GPA. Well done Dau! What it doesn't mention is everything he did outside of hokey. All candidates have a sport. Community service? AP an Honors? OH, lets not forget the college courses some took while in AP classes and still achieved A's. I get the picture of athletic recruiting. What I don't get is with MY HARD EARNED DOLLAR PAYING FOR IT! At one time, USAFA was consider the "Ivy League" of military education. Today......I think NOT.
 
usafa84 said:
OK! I am reading the article and it is mentioning this hokey player with a 3.8 GPA. Well done Dau! What it doesn't mention is everything he did outside of hokey. All candidates have a sport. Community service? AP an Honors? OH, lets not forget the college courses some took while in AP classes and still achieved A's. I get the picture of athletic recruiting. What I don't get is with MY HARD EARNED DOLLAR PAYING FOR IT! At one time, USAFA was consider the "Ivy League" of military education. Today......I think NOT.
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Not all candidates have a sport. Most but not all. And certainly not all of them are Division I athletes. I had hardly any community service. Maybe ten hours. I never took AP or Honors because we didn't have them. I cannot understand the criticism of this young man?
 
ILHunter92 said:
Not all candidates have a sport. Most but not all. And certainly not all of them are Division I athletes. I had hardly any community service. Maybe ten hours. I never took AP or Honors because we didn't have them. I cannot understand the criticism of this young man?
Click to expand...

Consider yourself one of the lucky. I sit and see the many cords adorning daughter's graduation gown. Just this week my son, (sophomore at Notre Dame) was chosen to work hand in hand with a professor's research project on thermal proton lasers on DNA and offered co-publishing) Do I wish any of my kids back into USAFA? I do not. My husband hangs on to the memories of the USAFA he attended; however, he admits it is not the same.
 
usafa84 said:
OK! I am reading the article and it is mentioning this hokey player with a 3.8 GPA. Well done Dau! What it doesn't mention is everything he did outside of hokey. All candidates have a sport. Community service? AP an Honors? OH, lets not forget the college courses some took while in AP classes and still achieved A's. I get the picture of athletic recruiting. What I don't get is with MY HARD EARNED DOLLAR PAYING FOR IT! At one time, USAFA was consider the "Ivy League" of military education. Today......I think NOT.
Click to expand...

Admissions is by no means a perfect process, but USAFA gets it right a large percentage of the time. In fact, the attrition at all service academies is significantly lower than that of colleges and universities throughout the US. I rarely post, but I am absolutely stunned that anyone would feel compelled to question a candidate's appointment in an open forum. It is demeaning, and simply insensitive. This is someone's son--an accomplished young man who does not deserve to be the subject of scrutiny-especially by those who have no personal knowledge of him or his circumstance. I sit on the admission committee of a highly selective institution. Final admission decisions in extremely competitive environments are very complex and fraught with subjectivity--USAFA is no different. USAFA's decisions (as well as ours) go beyond the formulaic--often it is something insignificant that can be the difference between admission and a "TWE." There are many outstanding candidates-and a great number would find success, but it can be a gut response to an essay, a perception that a candidate is "too perfect," or just a negative vibe that can be a deciding factor. The straight A student with all the AP classes, that kid with hours of service, the student body president with multiple outside activities is not necessarily the most impressive or memorable. It is the applicant with dignity and humility with a quiet commitment to self-improvement who has me at hello. and athletes are no exception. My son was not first in his high school class--nor the most involved, he was not a recruited athlete and he was not even sure the he wanted to attend a military academy, yet he received an LOA and has excelled. He will graduate in a couple of weeks. The fact that an applicant does not meet the standards of some on this forum, is inconsequential;thankfully his fate was not decided by them. Any young person willing to make this commitment ought to be celebrated, not criticized by strangers. I am not a moderator, but it seems to me that this is an extremely unproductive discussion.
 
usafa84 said:
Consider yourself one of the lucky. I sit and see the many cords adorning daughter's graduation gown. Just this week my son, (sophomore at Notre Dame) was chosen to work hand in hand with a professor's research project on thermal proton lasers on DNA and offered co-publishing) Do I wish any of my kids back into USAFA? I do not. My husband hangs on to the memories of the USAFA he attended; however, he admits it is not the same.
Click to expand...

Another worthless blog.
 
usafa84 said:
OK! I am reading the article and it is mentioning this hokey player with a 3.8 GPA. Well done Dau! What it doesn't mention is everything he did outside of hokey. All candidates have a sport. Community service? AP an Honors? OH, lets not forget the college courses some took while in AP classes and still achieved A's. I get the picture of athletic recruiting. What I don't get is with MY HARD EARNED DOLLAR PAYING FOR IT! At one time, USAFA was consider the "Ivy League" of military education. Today......I think NOT.
Click to expand...


So what your saying is that you're willing to take a few cheap shots at this kid and the Air Force Academy for what an article did not choose to cover? It appears to me that the article was written from a sports point of view. It did not state what else he was involved in. So it would be unfair to assume that he is not what you think a cadet at the Academy should be.
 
mdanderson said:
I rarely post, but I am absolutely stunned that anyone would feel compelled to question a candidate's appointment in an open forum. It is demeaning, and simply insensitive.
Click to expand...

Nobody is questioning his appointment. You know why? He doesn't have one.
I don't know why we are even discussing this kid. There are so many factors involved in the process we have no way of knowing what will happen in 2 years. DoDMERB is the biggest one. And he never said he didn't want to serve outside of the US...
 
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