ARTICLE: Air Force Academy has leadership problem

Capri120 said:
At the end of BCT, DD's roommate woke her up in the wee hours and said, "xxx, do you know you were just doing facing movements in your sleep?" DD had no idea. What I didn't find out for sure was if she was doing this laying down or standing up, sleep-walking!
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Yes, but was she doing them crisply or sloppily? Seems to make all the difference on this thread. :rolleyes:
 
kinnem said:
Capri120 said:
At the end of BCT, DD's roommate woke her up in the wee hours and said, "xxx, do you know you were just doing facing movements in your sleep?" DD had no idea. What I didn't find out for sure was if she was doing this laying down or standing up, sleep-walking!
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Yes, but was she doing them crisply or sloppily? Seems to make all the difference on this thread. :rolleyes:
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Now that would have been impressive if she did it crisply while laying down :D
 
madhttr said:
FWIW--visited the Academy just yesterday with some family from out of town and observed a number of small groups of cadets (less than a squadron) doing drill training after lunch. Whether this is related to the forum topic or routine procedure, I don't know, but there was a lot of "left-right-left" going on.
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These are the cadets that will be the cadre for Basic Cadet Training this upcoming summer. Not only are they learning how to perfect their own marching, but they are preparing to teach marching and lead the class of 2021 as well.
 
Both USNA and USMA looked sharp in the parade. USNA is cycling in a new Dant who I hope they have chosen well because the outgoing one has been simply outstanding.
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Maplerock said:
The academies are much kinder and gentler than ever before, and in my opinion may not be producing the quality of officers than in years past.

Academies are trying very hard to attract candidates that they have determined are needed to make the academies look more like the service they represent. Perhaps they don't want to be too harsh and turn off candidates.

When the academies lose all sense of tradition they will be just like other colleges, and I fear they will be phased out in favor of ROTC.

Sorry if my comments offend, but I truly love the academies, and respect them because it is such an ordeal that special kids are willing to endure for the love of their country. I fear it's slipping away.
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Maplerock, you are exactly right. I wouldn't say that the article is silly. I think it addresses the broader point of a military that is becoming incredible soft and politically correct. As a member of generation Z I hope that our generation can begin to see it and change it. Much of my generation is aware, and informed and doesn't want this continual decline of institutions that made america great. My generation will make america great again.
 
AFrpaso said:
Btw, many people think these attacks on the AF Academy are Wood's attempt to get some publicity for his upcoming book.
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If you read the article you can clearly see that he is not "attacking" the academy. He is simply critiquing the leadership that is running it. I think Mr. Wood loves and cares about his alma mater and therefore has the courage to write an article to address the issues that face it. He wants to keep/safeguard the institution that he loves.
 
woodlax81 said:
AFrpaso said:
Btw, many people think these attacks on the AF Academy are Wood's attempt to get some publicity for his upcoming book.
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If you read the article you can clearly see that he is not "attacking" the academy. He is simply critiquing the leadership that is running it. I think Mr. Wood loves and cares about his alma mater and therefore has the courage to write an article to address the issues that face it. He wants to keep/safeguard the institution that he loves.
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Bingo!
 
woodlax81 said:
AFrpaso said:
Btw, many people think these attacks on the AF Academy are Wood's attempt to get some publicity for his upcoming book.
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If you read the article you can clearly see that he is not "attacking" the academy. He is simply critiquing the leadership that is running it. I think Mr. Wood loves and cares about his alma mater and therefore has the courage to write an article to address the issues that face it. He wants to keep/safeguard the institution that he loves.
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So where has he been the past 30 years? If he was truly so concerned about the Academy, why didn't he visit more often and become involved as other grads have?

I disagree with his motives and those of you who think they are admirable because of his previous article, which was easily picked apart for its falsehoods. I will research the previous thread when I have access to a computer where most of his "facts" were discredited. In the meantime, one that stands out is his complaint about the noon meal formation that was nonexistent...there WERE high winds and a high wind warning and hence, the normal squadron formations did not happen due to safety concerns.

For those who are USAFA grads, maybe you can explain to others, as my DH has explained to me, just exactly why the AF Academy is called the ZOO.
 
Capri120 said:
So where has he been the past 30 years? If he was truly so concerned about the Academy, why didn't he visit more often and become involved as other grads have?
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How can you make such a ridiculous conjecture and then put the spotlight on me... You are the one who made this statement.... not me
 
As a side note, the picture from the Washington Times article was blown up from this official USAFA public anouncement (see http://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Articl...academy-cadets-march-in-inaugural-parade.aspx ). I'm willing to cut the Cadets marching some slack because it was taken before the parade started. That said, there is no excuse for a USAFA employee, Melissa Porter (U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs), to post a picture of Cadets "marching" before the parade route. They are out of step because they were in a pseudo-casual mode. Up to this point, I'm a little suspicious of what the authors beef is. A.K.A., he is stretching to make his point.

But I was interested in seeing how the Cadets looked when they crossed the President's viewing station. Google is a powerful tool.;) Answer: See https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4653995/usafa-inauguration-parade. Watch it, then scroll and pause to 00:27. I'm not impressed. :oops: Advise to the author L Todd Wood: First, try Googling for 3 seconds. You could have put together an even a stronger argument. Perception is reality: and the perception is, the small group of marchers lacked discipline. I'm going to call a spade a spade; guilty as charged.
 
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MN-Dad-2016 said:
As a side note, the picture from the Washington Times article was blown up from this official USAFA public anouncement (see http://www.usafa.af.mil/News/Articl...academy-cadets-march-in-inaugural-parade.aspx ). I'm willing to cut the Cadets marching some slack because it was taken before the parade started. That said, there is no excuse for a USAFA employee, Melissa Porter (U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs), to post a picture of Cadets "marching" before the parade route. They are out of step because they were in a pseudo-casual mode. Up to this point, I'm a little suspicious of what the authors beef is. A.K.A., he is stretching to make his point.

But I was interested in seeing how the Cadets looked when they crossed the President's viewing station. Google is a powerful tool.;) Answer: See https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4653995/usafa-inauguration-parade. Watch it, then scroll and pause to 00:27. I'm not impressed. :oops: Advise to the author L Todd Wood: First, try Googling for 3 seconds. You could have put together an even a stronger argument. Perception is reality: and the perception is, the small group of marchers lacked discipline. I'm going to call a spade a spade; guilty as charged.
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Hmmm, I tried to find USMA from that same c-span video site, and found nothing.
 
Brawny77 said:
Both USNA and USMA looked sharp in the parade. USNA is cycling in a new Dant who I hope they have chosen well because the outgoing one has been simply outstanding.
C23RWl9XEAAZ0nG.jpg
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Good thing they brought a soldier along to maintain order!:director:
 
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Capri120 said:
For those who are USAFA grads, maybe you can explain to others, as my DH has explained to me, just exactly why the AF Academy is called the ZOO.
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My son is a plebe at USNA, but he attended USAFA SS last year. There, he was told USAFA is called "The Zoo" because visitors to the Academy stare through the fence at the cadets inside the restricted area, as if they are watching animals in a zoo. True???
 
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