Plebes, Cadets, Swabs, ROTC, Rats & Knobs! Oh My!

What are the things that inspire/d you most in choosing your futures? Was it an event in time? A person? An ambition to become one of tomorrow’s leaders? The challenges of the places themselves?

Parents, feel free to comment about how you saw your child steering towards their goals & dreams. Those of you still awaiting news - join in!

Are there similarities that you all share?

Well I will chime in for my son....

My Grandpa was a pilot in the Army/Air Force (as it was called back then) during WWII. Spent 26 yrs in the military.

My Dad was a helicopter pilot in the Army (and was killed) in Vietnam.

My Father-in-law was in the Air Force.

My husband was in the Navy during the first Gulf war.

My older son is currently in the Navy.

Each one of them loved their time in the service and filled us with great stories. He grew up listening to them, and he told me he never considered anything else. He has always wanted to serve. So I guess you couldn't exactly say what the defining moment was, he just knew.

kpwehope said:

Well I will chime in for my son....

My Grandpa was a pilot in the Army/Air Force (as it was called back then) during WWII. Spent 26 yrs in the military.

My Dad was a helicopter pilot in the Army (and was killed) in Vietnam.

My Father-in-law was in the Air Force.

My husband was in the Navy during the first Gulf war.

My older son is currently in the Navy.

Each one of them loved their time in the service and filled us with great stories. He grew up listening to them, and he told me he never considered anything else. He has always wanted to serve. So I guess you couldn't exactly say what the defining moment was, he just knew.

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Lots of history there...some very proud history. I think it was called "Army Air Corps" during WWII.

Ohhh I can answer this kind of question too:

My Maternal Grandfather died in WWII while serving in the German Army (as a Red Cross medic). My Paternal Grandfather served in WWI in the German Army, then immigrated to the USA in 1925.

My father is a veteran of WWII and Korea as a Seabee and two tours in Vietnam as a Soldier and retired after 28 years Active Duty.

My brother is retired from the US Army National Guard, and he served 10 years active duty in the US Navy as a Seabee.

Brother In Law #1 and #2 were both US Army (one during Vietnam)

A Nephew is in his 10th year in the US Army, another nephew currently in his 13th year as a US Marine, another served 8 years US Navy.

My Ex Hubby was a US Marine, and was there in desert Storm for 8 months (I was in Oki at the time).

My hubby is retired US Air Force (1979-1999). His Uncle (more like a dad to him) is retired US Air Force, and he has several cousins that were USAF and USN.

My DD would also add her "biological" mother is a US Marine and her "biological" father is US Navy...

I come from a non-military family, but I'd always wanted to be a fighter pilot as a kid. I guess that never went away.


I think the thing that did it for me was on September 11, 2001 (I was a fifth grader).

I watched all the events occur, and when I got home from school, I heard a plane flying over my house. I ran outside to see what it was.

It was Air Force One, with a fighter plane flanking each wing. I told myself I wanted to be up, protecting not just the President, but the idea of a president, and those who live in this country. I wanted to serve my country.

So here I am, appointment in hand to the USAFA, c/o 2013.

My great times 4 grandfather was in the civil war, an uncle was in ww2, and my two grandfathers served in the Army and Marines. I want to continue this tradition.

9/11 also had an effect for me and i am very proud to one day enter the ranks.

I used to take my son boating when he was younger.

He would watch me smuggle drugs and Haitians into the US, steal lightbulbs from buoys, discharge oil and bilgewater into the harbor, use gill-nets to fish in protected waters, disable the flotation devices on other boats, and send false distress signals over channel 16.

He knew I had to be stopped.

lmfao.

Luigi59 said:

I used to take my son boating when he was younger.

He would watch me smuggle drugs and Haitians into the US, steal lightbulbs from buoys, discharge oil and bilgewater into the harbor, use gill-nets to fish in protected waters, disable the flotation devices on other boats, and send false distress signals over channel 16.

He knew I had to be stopped.

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hahaha.
9/11 did it for me, and I want to catch terrorists. I've wanted to be a Green Beret since I was in 9th grade. I have superior confidence that The Citadel will push me in the right direction.

packermatt7 said:

I think the thing that did it for me was on September 11, 2001 (I was a fifth grader).

I watched all the events occur, and when I got home from school, I heard a plane flying over my house. I ran outside to see what it was.

It was Air Force One, with a fighter plane flanking each wing. I told myself I wanted to be up, protecting not just the President, but the idea of a president, and those who live in this country. I wanted to serve my country.

So here I am, appointment in hand to the USAFA, c/o 2013.

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Got chills reading this

Ever since third grade I picked up anything that was military. I brought home an Army enlistment brouchure to my mom that I found in third grade. In fourth grade my love for the history of WWII started. I have picked up anything about WWII since. Then 9/11 happened and ever since I have been dead set on the military, I always had a desire to serve my country, but this really did it for me. It was first enlisting till I heard about the academies. Now Im going to USAFA in 2 3/4 months

Well, several factors made up my decision for me...

First off, the fact that my grandfather was in the Army and my dad in the Navy, so hey, somewhat tradition I guess. Another reason is that I'm the type of person that likes to challenge myself physically and mentally and go for being the best, which is why ever since the 7th grade I've wanted to be a Green Beret. Yet a different reason is that the military teaches to you through training, values and morals such as discipline and courage that help you in any part of life and make you a better person practicing those. Finally, call it valor and patriotism, but I realize the freedoms that this great country has and don't want to take them for granted and want to defend it from anyone who would oppose and destroy this great country of ours.

I watched too many war movies as a kid.

Zaphod said:

I watched too many war movies as a kid.

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Hahaha

My family history is limited: my uncle is a colonel in the Army, a JAG lawyer; my grandfather on my dad's side was an Army engineer. A family friend first started pushing me towards the Navy at a young age (his wife was my principal from kindergarten-3rd grade).

I'm gonna have to follow with the other guys here on the 9/11 bit. For me, it wasn't something to cry about; I remember sitting in front of the TV with my family. It felt like my 2 older bros and my younger sister didn't really get it. I guess it was then that I felt this kind of strange feeling. Wasn't til later that I realized what it was: I wanted to serve.

LineInTheSand said:

Lots of history there...some very proud history. I think it was called "Army Air Corps" during WWII.

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Actually it was "Army Air Corps" until 1941 then it became "Army Air Force" until 1947, then finally "Air Force". So I guess we are both right!

Zaphod said:

I watched too many war movies as a kid.

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Haha same I kinda am still a kid, but not legally. Gotta love those war movies

tpg said:

...the Navy Recruiter decided to not show up for our appointment. But not to worry, the Marine Recruiter was in his office and simply told me….why play a Marine as a Corpsman when you can be the real thing…

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That's why I love Marines!

I wanted a challenge. I was always interested in the military. I wanted the best chance at becomming a pilot...and I watched too many war movies and the History channel ...

USAFA seemed like the best combination for me.

From about age 5 my son was interested in all things Army, probably from hearing his Dad talk about his Army experience and other family member’s experiences. He used to play Army all the time; he had to be the officer or NCO and his little brother the private. His love of history, especially Civil War history, may have contributed to his interest. When he got old enough to watch war movies I am sure that just added to it (one of his favorites is “Patton”).

He first got interested in West Point while in middle school. A family friend of ours was elderly and widowed, my husband and sons would go over to her place frequently to do yard work and other things that needed done. She started telling my son about her Dad who graduated from West Point in the 1920’s and was an Army engineer. Her stories got him thinking about applying to West Point.

I wasn’t surprised the he wanted to serve in the Army I was only surprised when he told me he wanted to make it his career.

i wanted a challenge and the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. the spark came after watching that Inside the Academies show on the military channel.

Easy answer...

Paternal Grandfather was in Navy in WWI, Army in WWII/Korea...served a total of 41 years active and reserve; first as a swabbie then as one of the first flight surgeons in the AAF. Maternal Grandfather served in WWII in Pacific; he was not allowed to serve in Europe as he had several cousins in both the Wehrmacht and the SS and could have been considered a traitor to his homeland.

Dad did 30 years AF, flag officer, flight surgeon; his brother did 20 years active/reserve first in intel and then as a JAG. I guess it's in the genes.

Me...well, the class crest says it all.

WHY USAFA and not another service?

When I was 7 I sat in an F-100 at RAF Lakenheath and wore a helmet and with the pilot on the ladder, I talked to the tower, started the jet in taxi mode, and taxied the jet out of the alert hanger and parked it in a spot near other jets. And I know I did it because I had his helmet on and pressed this button and spoke to the tower and they did all I said I was going to do. When I moved the throttle, the jet moved, when I moved the controls, we turned, and when I "shut off" the throttle, we stopped just where I was told to go!!!

Okay...I never saw the tug and the crew chief I was really speaking with. But it was an epiphany for me. So I asked the pilot: "How do I get to be an F-100 pilot?" And he told me: "I went to a place called the AFA then to Columbus and then to Luke."

So I got out my Big Chief pad of paper and my big pencil and I wrote USAFA and said I wanted to go to USAFA, and then to Columbus, and then to Luke and to be an F-100 pilot so what did I need to do now?

I still have the letter from 1967, and the catalog they sent me. They "advised" that I keep doing well in school and consider reapplying in 1977.

So now when I meet with candidates and ask them: "So...when did you decide you wanted to do this? HOW serious are you???" I take that "well worn and weatherbeaten" catalog with me. It raises a few eyebrows.

Steve

Steve, I was in my freshman year of high school at Lakenheath 60-61 when the 100's stood alert -- our dorms were at the end of the runway (dad was at RAF Bruntingthorpe)... just a few years earlier!