Politics and academy life

Aviator25 said:
Do you happen to be from Connecticut as well? A couple of others from CT have also been offered appointments to USAFA, but no one from CT for USNA.
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No I'm from Georgia. Still waiting, but I just hope I just don't get rejected cause it's going to be a pain to get a nom next year.
 
I would just avoid politics in the military. Of course you should uphold your duties to vote, but I have become more apolitical as I have progressed through college. It pains me to see the genuine hatred between Americans for something as simple as a belief. It pains me to see the division that is being contributed to by both sides, but no one can step up and take accountability. If anything I would suggest avoiding politics on social media. People will see your posts and formulate opinions on you based off of a couple things. At the end of the day you swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Not the President, not a political party, and not a belief.
 
fullspeedahead said:
I would just avoid politics in the military. Of course you should uphold your duties to vote, but I have become more apolitical as I have progressed through college. It pains me to see the genuine hatred between Americans for something as simple as a belief. It pains me to see the division that is being contributed to by both sides, but no one can step up and take accountability. If anything I would suggest avoiding politics on social media. People will see your posts and formulate opinions on you based off of a couple things. At the end of the day you swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Not the President, not a political party, and not a belief.
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Beautifully written, and advice taken to heart. Thank you!
 
USNA2025Prospect said:
No I'm from Georgia. Still waiting, but I just hope I just don't get rejected cause it's going to be a pain to get a nom next year.
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Oh, I kind of see what you mean now with this and your earlier comment being from Georgia since their Senate seats flipped color. To be honest, the entire nomination application process for me has been very professional. Even though CT Senators and also my Congressmen/Congresswomen often engage in much of the political action in D.C., their application processes have been very professional, each having separate non-partisan political committees (mostly former military officers/academy graduates) handle the nomination selection process. The only thing that could have had a hint at being political was during one interview when the interviewer told me at the end that one of the issues that a military officer out on the battlefield should be concerned about is mental health in response to a question about what I believe the responsibilities are for a military officer. I thanked her for letting me know that and told her that I would not forget that as a military officer. I thought about it afterward and realized that the interviewer had a good point. Other than that, I think the Military has been good about staying out of political issues (even in the partisan climate we are in today) and those in Congress have also been good about being non-partisan in their responsibilities with nominations to Service Academies.
 
Aviator25 said:
Oh, I kind of see what you mean now with this and your earlier comment being from Georgia since their Senate seats flipped color. To be honest, the entire nomination application process for me has been very professional. Even though CT Senators and also my Congressmen/Congresswomen often engage in much of the political action in D.C., their application processes have been very professional, each having separate non-partisan political committees (mostly former military officers/academy graduates) handle the nomination selection process. The only thing that could have had a hint at being political was during one interview when the interviewer told me at the end that one of the issues that a military officer out on the battlefield should be concerned about is mental health in response to a question about what I believe the responsibilities are for a military officer. I thanked her for letting me know that and told her that I would not forget that as a military officer. I thought about it afterward and realized that the interviewer had a good point. Other than that, I think the Military has been good about staying out of political issues (even in the partisan climate we are in today) and those in Congress have also been good about being non-partisan in their responsibilities with nominations to Service Academies.
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My son had congressional interviews with both parties - politics played no part in the nomination process at all.
 
Aviator25 said:
Oh, I kind of see what you mean now with this and your earlier comment being from Georgia since their Senate seats flipped color.
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I know you mean red to blue but those words are being used to stir up stuff when you didn't really mean anything by your statement.

See how If I wanted could have disrupted a conversation, called you out in a public forum, or called you a name.
 
fullspeedahead said:
I would just avoid politics in the military. Of course you should uphold your duties to vote, but I have become more apolitical as I have progressed through college. It pains me to see the genuine hatred between Americans for something as simple as a belief. It pains me to see the division that is being contributed to by both sides, but no one can step up and take accountability. If anything I would suggest avoiding politics on social media. People will see your posts and formulate opinions on you based off of a couple things. At the end of the day you swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Not the President, not a political party, and not a belief.
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General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made a good point about this:

(Transcription from AP)
MARK MILLEY: But we can come here. We can see the relics and hear the stories through the eyes and the voices of the individual soldiers who endured so much for the cause of freedom, and their unrelenting devotion to the Constitution of the United States, the moral north star for all of us in uniform. It is that document that gives purpose to our service. It is that document that gives purpose to this museum. And we, in uniform, are willing to die to pass it on to the next generation.

In it are the ideas and the values that make up this experiment called the United States of America. And the motto of the United States Army for over 200 years since 14, June, 1775, the motto has been this we will defend. And that this refers to the Constitution and to protect the liberty of the American people.

You see, we are unique among armies. We are unique among militaries. We do not take an oath to a king, or queen, a tyrant, or a dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual.

No, we do not take an oath to a country, a tribe, or religion. We take an oath to the Constitution. And every soldier that is represented in this museum, every sailor, airmen, marine, coast guardsmen, each of us will protect and defend that document regardless of personal price.
 
Aviator25 said:
Oh, I kind of see what you mean now with this and your earlier comment being from Georgia since their Senate seats flipped color. To be honest, the entire nomination application process for me has been very professional. Even though CT Senators and also my Congressmen/Congresswomen often engage in much of the political action in D.C., their application processes have been very professional, each having separate non-partisan political committees (mostly former military officers/academy graduates) handle the nomination selection process. The only thing that could have had a hint at being political was during one interview when the interviewer told me at the end that one of the issues that a military officer out on the battlefield should be concerned about is mental health in response to a question about what I believe the responsibilities are for a military officer. I thanked her for letting me know that and told her that I would not forget that as a military officer. I thought about it afterward and realized that the interviewer had a good point. Other than that, I think the Military has been good about staying out of political issues (even in the partisan climate we are in today) and those in Congress have also been good about being non-partisan in their responsibilities with nominations to Service Academies.
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No I asked for mine directly and the Senator herself dealt with it. The new Senators haven't released anything about Congressional Nominations yet.
 
USNA2025Prospect said:
No I asked for mine directly and the Senator herself dealt with it. The new Senators haven't released anything about Congressional Nominations yet.
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Hmmm.... that's odd. The professional way to do Service Academy Nominations is to have a non-partisan committee handle it. I've looked at many different nomination pages from all different states and usually, they all have something similar to that.

Anyways, I'm still waiting too. Wish you the best with your application and I hope to see you on I-Day.
 
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Aviator25 said:
Hmmm.... that's odd. The professional way to do Service Academy Nominations is to have a non-partisan committee handle it. I've looked at many different nomination pages from all different states and usually, they all have something similar to that.

Anyways, I'm still waiting too. Wish you the best with as well and I hope to see you on I-Day.
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Well, I was a special case tbh. Byt yea hope to see you on I-day
 
Aviator25 said:
Oh, I kind of see what you mean now with this and your earlier comment being from Georgia since their Senate seats flipped color. To be honest, the entire nomination application process for me has been very professional. Even though CT Senators and also my Congressmen/Congresswomen often engage in much of the political action in D.C., their application processes have been very professional, each having separate non-partisan political committees (mostly former military officers/academy graduates) handle the nomination selection process. The only thing that could have had a hint at being political was during one interview when the interviewer told me at the end that one of the issues that a military officer out on the battlefield should be concerned about is mental health in response to a question about what I believe the responsibilities are for a military officer. I thanked her for letting me know that and told her that I would not forget that as a military officer. I thought about it afterward and realized that the interviewer had a good point. Other than that, I think the Military has been good about staying out of political issues (even in the partisan climate we are in today) and those in Congress have also been good about being non-partisan in their responsibilities with nominations to Service Academies.
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@Aviator25: I know you said it was a good point, but how is being concerned about mental health political? I'm pretty sure mental health issues cross party lines without concern for the affected's political leanings. I would love to see a peer reviewed study showing whether mental health issues effect conservatives and liberals at different rates. And, as a military officer, one of your responsibilities is absolutely to be concerned about the well being of both those you lead and yourself.
 
One of the amazing parts of USNA is you will meet people from every cross walk of life... rich kids, poor kids, large families, tiny families, atheists, Christians, Jewish, Mormon, a tons of other religions you have only heard of, every race, big cities, rural farms, every state possible, US territories, and some other countries, sexual orientation, and everything in between. Be open minded and get to know tons of your classmates and shipmates, its amazing what you can learn from each other with just having a conversation. Yes a civil conversation, they can happen. Do Mids talk politics, yes. There is a time and place for it, like everything in the military. And yes, you can be friends with those who are not exactly like you. I have 4 extremely close friends from USNA. All 4 while at USNA were Christian Conservatives. 1 still falls in that category, 3 are more middle of the road politically, but are all still Christians.

As an officer your Marines or Sailors shouldn't know who you voted for or what party you are registered with. Your Sailors and Marines will be a very diverse group. More diverse then even what you see at USNA. Its your job to lead, mentor, train no matter what their background or beliefs are. I have no idea what your beliefs are and honestly it doesn't matter, but you could walk in as a young Ensign and have a Sailor say they are transgender and need assistance with maintaining standards and want to transition. Regardless of views, as an officer, its your job to help that Sailor or Marine navigate the orders and instructions, advocate for them and anything else that is required. Like I said, I have no idea what your views are or anyone else's are, but just calling this one out as its one that I have friends helping Sailors and Marines navigate today. That Sailor should never know what your views are on the topic, other then their leader helped them, watched out for them and provided guidance. As to the question about mental health... its a massive issue and has zero to do with politics. As someone who has led Marines on the battlefield its a huge topic. And its doesn't take a battlefield for it to be an issue.
 
WaveThatFlag said:
@Aviator25: I know you said it was a good point, but how is being concerned about mental health political? I'm pretty sure mental health issues cross party lines without concern for the affected's political leanings. I would love to see a peer reviewed study showing whether mental health issues effect conservatives and liberals at different rates. And, as a military officer, one of your responsibilities is absolutely to be concerned about the well being of both those you lead and yourself.
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I agree mental health should not be political. I apologize if that was not clear. Mental health was never something I covered in my Interview Prep, so I talked about it with a friend after school one day and the teacher whose room we were in suggested that it could just have been the interviewer's political bias.

Anyways, I agree with you. Mental health should not be a political issue and should be something everyone cares about.
 
There's politics. Academies are first, academic. There's also a mix of believes, so, while it may be less liberal than many schools, it's not homogenous. You'll find people who you identify with (no matter what that thinking is) but I think it's important to have relationships with liberal wieners and right wing nut jobs (from a JibJab song).

Politics has a different place in academics than your future professional life. On my ship politics was pretty off limits. I wasn't really sure where people stood on this, politically, and that probably made work easier.

But at an academy? Engage in those discussions, in the academic setting, and even some barracks settings, between equals. I'd avoid 1. discussing with upperclassmen not in an academic class with you, 2. your subordinates, 3. your commands and 4. enlisted personnel when you're an officer.

But please, enjoy the freedom in an academic setting to explore beliefs, yours and others.
 
Conservative views are certainly looked down upon by those who are vocal about politics here. However, this is only the case because the conservative mids aren't vocal about their views.

USNA is probably 50/50 left to right leaning, but 80/20 left to right in terms of vocality (is that a word?). If you do what you're supposed to and avoid politics you will have zero issues.


This is what I've observed over the last 1.7ish years (subtract the six months I was at home). It really isn't a issue either way.
 
Skipper07 said:
Conservative views are certainly looked down upon by those who are vocal about politics here. However, this is only the case because the conservative mids aren't vocal about their views.

USNA is probably 50/50 left to right leaning, but 80/20 left to right in terms of vocality (is that a word?). If you do what you're supposed to and avoid politics you will have zero issues.
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I think that fits with what I have heard.
 
Skipper07 said:
Conservative views are certainly looked down upon by those who are vocal about politics here. However, this is only the case because the conservative mids aren't vocal about their views.

USNA is probably 50/50 left to right leaning, but 80/20 left to right in terms of vocality (is that a word?). If you do what you're supposed to and avoid politics you will have zero issues.


This is what I've observed over the last 1.7ish years (subtract the six months I was at home). It really isn't a issue either way.
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What about the professors though? The thing I hate about High School is when the history/government teachers allow their political bias to influence the class a lot.
 
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