Just for fun...

We all love our service academies, right? We especially love the kids that attend, and dedicate their lives to service.

But...

I thought it might be fun to post our pet peeves regarding the academies, or even the military for that matter. I'll save mine for a bit, so as not to spoil someone else's fun. (I know, that's someone's pet peeve, asking others to do something before I do it myself)

What's yours?

Everyone too scared to chime in!

1) I wish the Mountain West football was more accessible to the Appalachian East.

2) I wish USAFA would have told me that my son was hospitalized (nothing too serious), since he "forgot" to do so in his 4* year. I'm not a freak-out parent, but I would have like to have known.

3) I wish the no-motorcycle rule extended to ADAF.

Probably not what you were after

Oh, and I really lose patience with parents who are certain their child is the best thing to hit high school since "Awards Night."

I wish USNA had offered an appointment to my DD

Edit - can't say another peeve because I don't have the knowledge!

I wish nrotc would not play the hurry up and get this done asap game and then let the candidate twist in the wind until late April. I wish all AROTC cadets, SMC and non-SMC were evaluated and recommend for AD based on their oml ranking.

Oh, I wish nrotc would publish their board meeting dates... why secret????

I can't stand it when the coach of XXXA or XXXXA academy tells the inquiring athlete that they need to be at such and such a qualifying time to be recruited when all but one of the athletes on their roster are not at those times.

I'll go ahead and say it: I hate shaving every morning. My favorite part of the summer when I was a cadet was the corresponding woodsman beard.

Another thing that's come up are some things that should probably be taught in ROTC, like whether or not I should wear my uniform when on permissive TDY looking for housing but before BOLC.

1. No naps as a Plebe. I understand it's purpose in theory, but think it's stupid. Maybe limit it and then Plebes earn more as they show time management skills.

2. On the application side working with candidates, I get really frustrated with candidates who could care less about the military and just want the academics. If their questions are 100% academic I start asking questions. If they divert from those and ignore them it raises huge flags for me. I have been around long enough to know that not every kid is there for reason #1 to be a career officer and waving a flag. That is fine, but it needs to be on the radar and have a desire to serve. I also get peeved by parents who do the entire thing for their kids... Not a good thing. It must be owned by the candidate.

3. I think the SAs have done lots of great changes since I was there. Some uniform adjustments, more overnight Liberty for everyone, earlier service selection, PCA (I know Mids hate this, but let's face it might be the most important thing!) I feel like they give too many internships in the summer, Mids need to be out and exposed to the fleet.

From a former BattO perspective, I wish there was a way the SAs could screen for the "bad eggs." These would be the amoral mids/cadets who planned to do criminally wrong things, did them, and showed no remorse. They were smart enough to snow the system and bamboozle their parents, coming from unremarkable homes and families. Granted, there are not a lot of these, but there are some in every class, and I can't help but think of the great candidates who were not chosen.

I am not talking about "Stupid Mid Tricks." Some sample incidents I have personal knowledge of:
- The mid who figured out when people were having their wisdom teeth out or other routine procedures when Percoset or other desirable painkiller was prescribed. He would sneak into their rooms and steal a few, and sell them. When the pattern surfaced, NCIS set up a sting and caught him.
- Book thieves. Many instances over the years, with books being sold in Craigslist.
- The infamous car theft ring.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1996-04-12/news/1996103002_1_stolen-cars-academy-indictment
- Last and most horrifying, the female plebe, who, with her USAFA doolie boyfriend, intentionally trapped and murdered another girl while still in HS.
Google "Diane Zamora" and "Texas cadet murder."

I realize that with 4200+ mids over years and years, statistically, there will be criminals. One of our neighbors, a USNA grad and Marine Reserve officer, was indicted for investment scams, Bernie Madiff style. Bilked people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Not a "just for fun" entry, but where my mind went when wondering "how did USNA let THAT mid get in?!"

Holy cow!

Traffic. How about the parking at Navy, or the gridlock getting to and from events at USAFA? Hang around the academies much, and you'll get sore feet!

Don't get mewrong, I love the security for our kids, but I'm getting old!

+1 to Capt MJ. I could have laundry list of examples of things that fall outside the stupid mid tricks that would just baffle everyone. I wish honor offenses were heavier with today's Brigade. It was nearly always separation and wish they went back that direction. I know they are working on some tweaks to it, but doubt it gets tougher.

Zamora! The after school special movie was wonderful. I Day isn't on a battle ship? And Plebes during Plebe Summer don't make out at the coke machine?

Pretty sure I covered the book on stupid Mid tricks and got caught once or twice! I think one of the best ones was my best friend I saw the Dant for stupid Mid tricks. At that level you go in and they have you put your cover on, salute, un cover then are put at rest. You also do this after you have been thrown the book at (which we deserved). My best friend managed to put her cover on backwards. I was staring straight ahead and could see it out of the corner of my eye. Oh man! What a sight that was. We escaped with some restriction and a stern lecture! The Dant then laughed at us and told us to keep having fun but keep it in regs!

Losing to Navy for the past 13 years.

NavyHoops said:

1. No naps as a Plebe. I understand it's purpose in theory, but think it's stupid. Maybe limit it and then Plebes earn more as they show time management skills.

2. On the application side working with candidates, I get really frustrated with candidates who could care less about the military and just want the academics. If their questions are 100% academic I start asking questions. If they divert from those and ignore them it raises huge flags for me. I have been around long enough to know that not every kid is there for reason #1 to be a career officer and waving a flag. That is fine, but it needs to be on the radar and have a desire to serve. I also get peeved by parents who do the entire thing for their kids... Not a good thing. It must be owned by the candidate.

3. I think the SAs have done lots of great changes since I was there. Some uniform adjustments, more overnight Liberty for everyone, earlier service selection, PCA (I know Mids hate this, but let's face it might be the most important thing!) I feel like they give too many internships in the summer, Mids need to be out and exposed to the fleet.

Click to expand...

NO NAPS! Ouch after swimming that was the hardest thing of all for My Plebe....Course like so many he took a few sitting straight up in class. 20 min here or there can change the world!

That pesky potential for the ultimate sacrifice thingy.

some things never change even after decades...

Hurry Up and Wait!

1. Hurry up and wait
2. Get on line. Let pick up some brass.

My DS getting issued a M-240 at LDX without ear protection.

The 22 mile limit for plebes.

The way hotels jack up prices during the times of academy events.