Moving up within the Academy

tthacurtis@yahoo.com

USAFA 2015
5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2010
Messages
12
I have been appointed to the class of 2015. I have been reading a lot in order to prepare for this upcoming experience and i do not want to just skate by under the radar. This may sound like a far reach but i have come a long way already so i do not see a point in stopping now. In the future i would like to possibly become the cadet wing commander. What can i do to better prepare myself for this task and at least put myself in a position to be considered. It would be nice to get some advice on this subject. thanks
 
It's good to have goals. I am curious myself as to what it would take to become Cadet Wing Commander. However I wouldn't let the cadre know about your aspirations on I-day. I could see that drawing "extra attention" to yourself.:biggrin:
 
I have been appointed to the class of 2015. I have been reading a lot in order to prepare for this upcoming experience and i do not want to just skate by under the radar. This may sound like a far reach but i have come a long way already so i do not see a point in stopping now. In the future i would like to possibly become the cadet wing commander. What can i do to better prepare myself for this task and at least put myself in a position to be considered. It would be nice to get some advice on this subject. thanks

Trolling, trolling, trolling......

oh, my feet are swollen.....

:spam:
 
I have been appointed to the class of 2015. I have been reading a lot in order to prepare for this upcoming experience and i do not want to just skate by under the radar. This may sound like a far reach but i have come a long way already so i do not see a point in stopping now. In the future i would like to possibly become the cadet wing commander. What can i do to better prepare myself for this task and at least put myself in a position to be considered. It would be nice to get some advice on this subject. thanks

Tell you what. I'll be the one that gives the "Benefit of the Doubt" here. However: I have a simple request.

Go to BCT; make it through all 6 weeks; make it to "A-Day": Then, if you still are curious about becoming the "Cadet Wing Commander", ask again, and you'll receive some serious answers. I promise.
 
Tell you what. I'll be the one that gives the "Benefit of the Doubt" here. However: I have a simple request.

Go to BCT; make it through all 6 weeks; make it to "A-Day": Then, if you still are curious about becoming the "Cadet Wing Commander", ask again, and you'll receive some serious answers. I promise.

:worship:
 
Advice given to me by a recent USAFA grad about leadership at the academy:

1.Don't make enemies, and make sure you work well with the cadets who show leadership potential in your class.

2.Volunteer for every leadership position you can.

Anybody here who is/was at USAFA think this is solid advice?
 
Advice given to me by a recent USAFA grad about leadership at the academy:

1.Don't make enemies, and make sure you work well with the cadets who show leadership potential in your class.

2.Volunteer for every leadership position you can.

Anybody here who is/was at USAFA think this is solid advice?

Is it good advice? Sound advice but not good. Can that advice be attached to anything? Yes it can. The one I have the most problem with is the first one. I understand that politics plays a roll and it basically sound advice but it’s not good advice. The reason I don’t like it is because it’s telling you to work well with the ones that show leadership in your class… Well what about the ones that don’t? You’re going to leave them behind? Not work with them to make them better to make the team better? No matter how true it is it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth but that is just my opinion. And please don’t take it as I’m slamming you I’m just giving you my view on it.

What you have to remember is that yes it’s great that you’re an overachiever but come June you’re going to be with 1,000 + overachievers just like you. And whereas most of you have reach those achievements pretty much on your own in the AF we get those achievements together not on our own. Will you get recognized if you do a good job in the AF? Of course you will. Have goals but just worry about the job in front of you not the title/job 3 years from now.
 
Being others are getting into the topic, let me just give my $0.029549839 (Inflation).

Not one appointee has any idea exactly what they are getting into, by going to the academy. You might think you do; but you don't. You can tell me how you've wanted this your entire life; but that still doesn't mean you know what you're getting into. You can rationalize that because you were in JrROTC, CAP, Boy Scouts, Star QB on the football team, class Valedictorian, etc... that you were born for this; but none of that is going to prepare you to know exactly what you're getting into. Not even the Brat, "Child of a military member", knows completely what they're getting into.

What you think today, will change the minute you hit the AOG and get on the bus to the cadet area. Your thoughts will change almost every day during BCT and your 4 degree year. It will continue to change your entire time at the academy. In order to receive an appointment to a military academy, you need to be one of the "Best of the Best". Well guess what? So were the other 1100+/- who are going to join you on that special day. In other words, you're no longer the "Big Fish in a Little Pond". You're now the "Little Fish in a Big Pond". So, where am I going with all of this?

Each new appointee; turn basic; turn cadet, is going to have opportunities to demonstrate their leadership and potential. Everyone of you will be given numerous opportunities to become informal leaders of those that you go through basic with, as well as those in your academic classes. Those who become Flight Commanders, Squadron Commanders, Group Commanders, and the Wing Commander, will float to the top of the milk. It will be because of 3-4 years of consistent teamwork and leadership demonstration. From helping the individual who is being challenged in BCT, to the person you helped get through Mechanical Engineering. And it's not because you filled some squares which were politically correct, or "Kissed Butt"; but because it was in your nature, and it flourished. Does every cadet have the potential to become Cadet Wing Commander? Yes. But most don't want that responsibility. They either aren't ready for it, or they simply prefer to concentrate on other things. Some will be group, squadron, and flight commanders. Some will choose to have staff positions and not be in command yet. All of that is OK. Each person goes at their own pace.

Just like we tell applicants to do the sports, extra curricular, clubs, etc... that they are passionate about, and not because they are filling a square in the application process; the same applies once you get to the academy. You'll have academic, military, and physical training throughout your time there. All of this combined, along with your interaction with fellow cadets; above and below your class; will determine your reputation. This system has existed for more than 50 years. Those with the leadership qualities to become Flight, Squadron, Group, and Wing commands, will become known. They will rise to the Top. And usually, they will be approached by upper class, their classmates, and/or their peers with interest on whether or not they/you will be applying for such command positions. The true leader most times doesn't see themselves as leaders. Usually it takes someone else to point out and question: "Why are all those people following you".

So; get through basic, become part of the team, learn and teach, and assist those around you. If you're going to be a cadet flight, squadron, group, or wing commander, it will become obvious. And it will happen. But I can honestly say, that if you try to "Set a Course" for such leadership responsibilities....... "Then you're NOT READY for such responsibilities". Now; do some people set these courses and achieve such rank/responsibilities? Yes, some do. And every one here who has been a cadet or has been in the military can tell you what they think of many of those individuals. Good luck.... Mike.....
 
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well good or bad, i appreciate all of the posts and advice. I guess it would have been better to ask the question in more of the aspect of how can one improve on their own leadership skills only in hopes of achieving the Academy's purpose which is making cadets into leaders. I do not mean to seem arrogant at all with this topic, i just want to be successful during my time at the Academy and as a result of team work make it through.
 
Leadership is a skill, not a title. The best leaders I saw at the academy were the ones who noticed a problem or unused potential and applied themselves. They didn't necessarily have a title, but they made a difference. Eventually, some of them did wind up in titled positions. That is the result of their habits more than planning on getting a job.
 
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