Changes to the 4/C “Training” System

ringczar23 said:
I have an observation, use of the term "um" by someone at this level is unacceptable.
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There were quite a few "umms," for sure.

I think she has vision, but maybe lacks in imagination. Time will tell. I believe that overall the direction is sound. I got the sense that many of the old timers were a bit cool to her ideas. It's been my impression that they wield a lot of influence at the academy.

I strongly agree with limiting authoritative supervision of upper classmen over lower. I would absolutely recommend that active duty military personnel be present during any such training interaction. A light hand is all that would be needed.

Anyway, interesting video. Very enlightening.
 
I think she is on the right track even if it upsets graduates and current cadets alike. It's going to be a painful process but the right one. Just before graduation our AOC met with us and asked if we were to change things about USAFA, what we would do? It was a leadership exercise for us soon to be graduates/leaders and a time to reflect on what we learned about the institution in our time there. Most of us addressed these 3 issues

-Training of the cadet wing as a whole. This obviously was the most polarizing issue amongst cadets about how to handle neccessary changes. Most agreed that AOC/AMT oversight was key and including them into individual squadron training was crucial in preventing hazing/inappropriate interactions with 4 digs by upperclassmen. Often our PP leadership would participate as if they were a 4 degree in training sessions to ensure appropriate level of professionalism. This also included picking a respectable 1st class cadet as training officer who would not stand for harassment or anything else and ensure his fellow cadets fell in line too.

-2 being treated as adults. I'm still shocked by the transition from a 1st class cadet to 2Lt. No one is checking that my facial hair is in regs every morning (besides the wife who hates my mustache) among other things. There are a lot of cadets who act like they are 12 which causes these reactions by PP, support staff, etc. This leads to an US vs. THEM mentality when the goal is simple to produce a quality 2Lt. I think personally most of my unnecessary stress was caused by this kind of behavior. Examples of this is our base supporting squadrons treating cadets like **** when they needed something from the med group, to logistics, mitchell hall, etc. Every cadet was like a turd to them out of the gate.

-3 the TZO gap. It may be there, it may not actually be there. No matter what, for a lot of people, there is perception that it exists. Most of it is athletes or other club participants using their status to exclude themselves from events even if there isn't official practice/event happening that day. Other times it's done by coaches/leaders purposely scheduling activity such as practice to ensure exemption from whatever event is upcoming. There was a lot of conflict even among sports teams vs other clubs as the other clubs would often have to make up events such as SAMIs during the school week where the athletes were just completely exempted. Different groups of cadets were definitely given different privileges while I was there. Up to you whether to decide if that's fair or not based on all the extra work cadet athletes have to do already.

I think the new comm is working hard to address all 3 of these issues even in the very hard academy environment. She's 1 of 3 mission leaders there of equal/equivalent rank. They all have their own interests at heart and hopefully the cadets ultimately. Unfortunately if I was her I would tell all the grads to shove it when they judge her decisions. They should have stayed in, gotten involved, fixed issues as cadets before they become problems. Just my 2 cents
 
Hodge said:
I think she is on the right track even if it upsets graduates and current cadets alike. It's going to be a painful process but the right one. Just before graduation our AOC met with us and asked if we were to change things about USAFA, what we would do? It was a leadership exercise for us soon to be graduates/leaders and a time to reflect on what we learned about the institution in our time there. Most of us addressed these 3 issues

-Training of the cadet wing as a whole. This obviously was the most polarizing issue amongst cadets about how to handle neccessary changes. Most agreed that AOC/AMT oversight was key and including them into individual squadron training was crucial in preventing hazing/inappropriate interactions with 4 digs by upperclassmen. Often our PP leadership would participate as if they were a 4 degree in training sessions to ensure appropriate level of professionalism. This also included picking a respectable 1st class cadet as training officer who would not stand for harassment or anything else and ensure his fellow cadets fell in line too.

-2 being treated as adults. I'm still shocked by the transition from a 1st class cadet to 2Lt. No one is checking that my facial hair is in regs every morning (besides the wife who hates my mustache) among other things. There are a lot of cadets who act like they are 12 which causes these reactions by PP, support staff, etc. This leads to an US vs. THEM mentality when the goal is simple to produce a quality 2Lt. I think personally most of my unnecessary stress was caused by this kind of behavior. Examples of this is our base supporting squadrons treating cadets like **** when they needed something from the med group, to logistics, mitchell hall, etc. Every cadet was like a turd to them out of the gate.

-3 the TZO gap. It may be there, it may not actually be there. No matter what, for a lot of people, there is perception that it exists. Most of it is athletes or other club participants using their status to exclude themselves from events even if there isn't official practice/event happening that day. Other times it's done by coaches/leaders purposely scheduling activity such as practice to ensure exemption from whatever event is upcoming. There was a lot of conflict even among sports teams vs other clubs as the other clubs would often have to make up events such as SAMIs during the school week where the athletes were just completely exempted. Different groups of cadets were definitely given different privileges while I was there. Up to you whether to decide if that's fair or not based on all the extra work cadet athletes have to do already.

I think the new comm is working hard to address all 3 of these issues even in the very hard academy environment. She's 1 of 3 mission leaders there of equal/equivalent rank. They all have their own interests at heart and hopefully the cadets ultimately. Unfortunately if I was her I would tell all the grads to shove it when they judge her decisions. They should have stayed in, gotten involved, fixed issues as cadets before they become problems. Just my 2 cents
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Hodge made three coherent, well supported points with respect to important changes at USAFA. However, you lost me and I suspect, the majority of the Long Blue Line with the last two sentences, telling "all the grads to shove it". Most USAFA Grads have more respect for those who went before them. Also, it is likely that the Comm actually wanted feedback from the Association of Graduates, a fine organization.
 
USAFA'77 said:
Hodge made three coherent, well supported points with respect to important changes at USAFA. However, you lost me and I suspect, the majority of the Long Blue Line with the last two sentences, telling "all the grads to shove it". Most USAFA Grads have more respect for those who went before them. Also, it is likely that the Comm actually wanted feedback from the Association of Graduates, a fine organization.
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Sorry that wasn't my intention as my classmates and I have a huge respect for those who have come before us. You have all left a fine legacy that we aspire to follow behind. Like I said if you're involved with the AOG or similar program you're doing the right thing. The comment was more directed towards the recent graduates that are still on active duty questioning the decisions of an O-7. I think we can offer our opinions in a civil way but social media (Facebook) has shown that not everyone can. She is still a flag officer even if not in our direct chain of command and deserves that respect. Recent classes have failed the legacy if changes like this have to be pushed from the congressional level on down (anti-hazing, etc.)
 
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I though I would restart this thread and ask if/ how has the “4/C” system changed since the new commandant arrived. And if people generally view it favorably?
 
related - unrelated.... the Commandant is now a 2-star. That is a little weird in my experience with that position. I had always assumed they were promoted enroute to their next assignment and not before.
 
USAFA'77 said:
One of classmates (a very fine and accomplished gentleman) made the comment to the Commandant at the end of the 40 minute video about wearing blues to football games. His comments were well-reasoned and articulate. We were proud to wear the uniform, even in the days when the country was not at all pro-military.
It was unfortunate that his remarks were not taken seriously.
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As a doolie, I actually like wearing ocps to a football game, officers are more willing to take their rank off and give them to me (to wear) when they’re wearing OCPs in comparison to blues.
 
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