Commandant's Culminating Exercise/CULEX/ Crucible

Stormbird

Stormbird

Stormbird USAFA Grad
Joined
Apr 6, 2023
Messages
121
No recognition week but this instead.

Culex has culminated, once everyone unfreezes I'd be interested in hearing a synopsis.

Any observations out there?

Also wondering about the cadets' interpretation of the Superintendent standing by himself on top of Spirit Hill and what followed.
 
T-37IP said:
Both of my cadets said it was alot of standing around.
Click to expand...
Yeaaaa about 5-8 hours worth I would say. Kinda was expecting my butt to be kicked. It was cold for sure but kicked? Well not the word I would use. Plus pp side looked not planned. Like the kind of things going wrong I would expect from like a sophomore planning an event not majors up. Anyway it was what it was. We did tccc, land nav, evasions, ethics and cadets did grade so guess it was cadet lead.
 
FlyFalcon said:
Yeaaaa about 5-8 hours worth I would say. Kinda was expecting my butt to be kicked. It was cold for sure but kicked? Well not the word I would use. Plus pp side looked not planned. Like the kind of things going wrong I would expect from like a sophomore planning an event not majors up. Anyway it was what it was. We did tccc, land nav, evasions, ethics and cadets did grade so guess it was cadet lead.
Click to expand...
I have heard poorly planned, poorly executed, and permanent party participation poorly thought out
 
Stormbird said:
I have heard poorly planned, poorly executed, and permanent party participation poorly thought out
Click to expand...
Actually I'm going to defend PP on the second part. Many many (including mine) AOCs were there. For my group we had one of the worst schedules and with below zero temps ( due to the winds) and barely any shelter seeing many AOCs out there for the full 16 hours was huge. They tend march down with us and back up too. For context the next groups safety briefs? They weren't the same ours which was watch out for animals, theirs was how bad our injuries were and how our layers ahead of time didn't stop the injuries.

Many PP had no idea what was going on due to the constant changes but trusted cadets when cadet groups gave out changing orders based on what made sense for the groups. Many times it happened we would finish an event earlier than planned. We would radio this in and cadet group commanders would work together on the spot to plan and have an idea in place. CW didn't radio AOCs, cadet groups did because well radio silence for an hour in this event was too long. The groups all had different schedules and graders were limited. Due to this planing an organizing on the cadet side was key.

I will say I can't defend PP graders. They were given only a 45 minute brief on how to grade all topics. We ended up with not only unfair grading, because most graded off of operational knowledge weren't taught ( ecp procedures and tcc most effected) but also tended over ride our command teams who had the most recent information on changing events due to teams. My feed back for the event would be spend at least on day training going through each of the four events and make a detailed scoring sheet with consistent guidance. A 6 hours event shouldn't be a one page sheet with 7 vague check boxes. Plus even between cadet groups information was taught differently, yet each event I moved heard cadet graders clarify with the groups pieces of information to ensure consistency.

Next look at the weather and don't just give one paper tent with two small heaters and tell cadets only 20% of the squadron can be in with 50 mile plus winds. We'll follow guidance and we did from 2300-0600 those were the conditions and we followed them. The results showed up on the safety brief. Im amazed of our 100 man team we didn't get one frost bite case, especially as we stood behind temporary ECPs ( those concrete road blockers? That only go up to your knees ish?) outside of the forest so no cover at all for the winds. Then the cut down the time because of how dangerous it was for other groups. Yeah they knew, and it was obvious for almost everyone the easy solutions.

This was an unacceptable risk for a training exercise. We weren't upset at the weather ( we're training war fighters after all, well supposedly.) but the lack of precautions taken when this was a known event since last semester. This is what I mean by oversights I expect from a lower classman and not from pp.

(All feedback was sent up during the event and will be sent up again during a hot wash)
 
"TCCC, ECP, land/nav"...what are these? Sounds like something army pukes would do.

I cannot begin to relate to any of this. In my time, the doolie class relived "Hell Week" in May, sort of a return to the initial days as a new cadet. Nothing special, normal daily routines, just a lot of chin ins, yelling, push ups, etc, and most of it done with a grin because everyone knew it was a rite of passage. and the end was in sight. No grading, no competition, just one last class bonding experience that marked the transition from high school kid to academy cadet.
 
My cadet said it was the most poorly planned event since he's been there. And that includes last year's "recognition" that pp guidance completely changed less than 24 hours before it began.

Last year's "recognition" was delayed over 24 hours and then shortened and moved indoors because of weather, but this year they exposed all cadets to dangerous weather conditions with no alternative plan.

And all social media from the Com and Supe will praise the success of the event and how cadets adapted to changing conditions because it's all a PR stunt/resume builder to "prove" their own successful leadership in making cadets warfighter ready on day one.

I'm just thankful it's over so these cadets can focus on academics for the remainder of the semester. The past 10 days or so have been brutal for cadets with mandatory events, training, SAMI, PFT, and the Culex within that time period, and GRs and projects don't go away because of it.
 
FlyFalcon said:
Actually I'm going to defend PP on the second part. Many many (including mine) AOCs were there. For my group we had one of the worst schedules and with below zero temps ( due to the winds) and barely any shelter seeing many AOCs out there for the full 16 hours was huge. They tend march down with us and back up too. For context the next groups safety briefs? They weren't the same ours which was watch out for animals, theirs was how bad our injuries were and how our layers ahead of time didn't stop the injuries.

Many PP had no idea what was going on due to the constant changes but trusted cadets when cadet groups gave out changing orders based on what made sense for the groups. Many times it happened we would finish an event earlier than planned. We would radio this in and cadet group commanders would work together on the spot to plan and have an idea in place. CW didn't radio AOCs, cadet groups did because well radio silence for an hour in this event was too long. The groups all had different schedules and graders were limited. Due to this planing an organizing on the cadet side was key.

I will say I can't defend PP graders. They were given only a 45 minute brief on how to grade all topics. We ended up with not only unfair grading, because most graded off of operational knowledge weren't taught ( ecp procedures and tcc most effected) but also tended over ride our command teams who had the most recent information on changing events due to teams. My feed back for the event would be spend at least on day training going through each of the four events and make a detailed scoring sheet with consistent guidance. A 6 hours event shouldn't be a one page sheet with 7 vague check boxes. Plus even between cadet groups information was taught differently, yet each event I moved heard cadet graders clarify with the groups pieces of information to ensure consistency.

Next look at the weather and don't just give one paper tent with two small heaters and tell cadets only 20% of the squadron can be in with 50 mile plus winds. We'll follow guidance and we did from 2300-0600 those were the conditions and we followed them. The results showed up on the safety brief. Im amazed of our 100 man team we didn't get one frost bite case, especially as we stood behind temporary ECPs ( those concrete road blockers? That only go up to your knees ish?) outside of the forest so no cover at all for the winds. Then the cut down the time because of how dangerous it was for other groups. Yeah they knew, and it was obvious for almost everyone the easy solutions.

This was an unacceptable risk for a training exercise. We weren't upset at the weather ( we're training war fighters after all, well supposedly.) but the lack of precautions taken when this was a known event since last semester. This is what I mean by oversights I expect from a lower classman and not from pp.

(All feedback was sent up during the event and will be sent up again during a hot wash)
Click to expand...
Good synopsis. But overall looking at that I would call it a fiasco. I had heard the upper two classes had come up with a fairly viable, relatable and relevant operations plan (iow AF relevant) but it was knocked down by senior leadership.

As for permanent party, I was not referencing AMTs or AOCs but academic instructors that had been drafted into this fiasco.
 
Stormbird said:
Good synopsis. But overall looking at that I would call it a fiasco. I had heard the upper two classes had come up with a fairly viable, relatable and relevant operations plan (iow AF relevant) but it was knocked down by senior leadership.
Click to expand...
It must just be about politics and optics rather than improvement, then. Scary times.
 
FlyFalcon said:
Next look at the weather and don't just give one paper tent with two small heaters and tell cadets only 20% of the squadron can be in with 50 mile plus winds. We'll follow guidance and we did from 2300-0600 those were the conditions and we followed them. The results showed up on the safety brief. Im amazed of our 100 man team we didn't get one frost bite case, especially as we stood behind temporary ECPs ( those concrete road blockers? That only go up to your knees ish?) outside of the forest so no cover at all for the winds. Then the cut down the time because of how dangerous it was for other groups. Yeah they knew, and it was obvious for almost everyone the easy solutions.
Click to expand...
Suddenly Annapolis summer heat and humidity doesnt sound that bad!
 
Stormbird said:
Good synopsis. But overall looking at that I would call it a fiasco. I had heard the upper two classes had come up with a fairly viable, relatable and relevant operations plan (iow AF relevant) but it was knocked down by senior leadership.

As for permanent party, I was not referencing AMTs or AOCs but academic instructors that had been drafted into this fiasco.
Click to expand...
Ah yes then we agree completely. The academic instructors were the graders I was referring to unfortunately.
 
soccer67 said:
"TCCC, ECP, land/nav"...what are these? Sounds like something army pukes would do.
Click to expand...
Well the training manuals are all army. TCCC- basic medical. Think triage so look for bleeding, clear air ways, etc. ECP procedures- manning an entry point and walking through what happens when someone walks up to a gate. Land nav, yes this is completely army, reading a map and compass and getting from one point to another
 
FlyFalcon said:
Well the training manuals are all army. TCCC- basic medical. Think triage so look for bleeding, clear air ways, etc. ECP procedures- manning an entry point and walking through what happens when someone walks up to a gate. Land nav, yes this is completely army, reading a map and compass and getting from one point to another
Click to expand...
That map and compass comes in pretty handy while flying too.

Unless you’re flying IFR….

I
Follow
Roads

Of course now all the kool kids have an iPad running the ForeFlight app. The really fast crowd is running Garmin avionics too.

WARNING: slight thread drift here

Granted it is the Marines, and a totally different branch with a totally different culture:

IMG_0007.jpeg

I think Marine Corps officers including aviators go through “The Basic School” (TBS):

en.m.wikipedia.org

The Basic School - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org

Which includes this:

IMG_0008.jpeg


Ssssooooo…,all that “army stuff”. I think… before they go to Pensacola to learn to fly. I think. If I am wrong, somebody will be along shortly to correct.

Not that I’m recommending that USAFA goes all “HOOYAH!”

BACK ON TOPIC….

If my memory is correct, about the first weekend in May 1994, after Recognition, we had some sort of cadet wing wide training thing. I was some sort of guide / safety officer for it. There is some trail to the south of the cadet area that eventually leads up to Eagle’s Peak. Parts of the trail were still covered in ice and snow, so that was where I was hanging out…to help cadets get down off the mountain without getting hurt. About mid-afternoon it started snowing. So there was a big rush to get everybody down. It is kind of a trip…snow in May.
 
soccer67 said:
"TCCC, ECP, land/nav"...what are these? Sounds like something army pukes would do.

I cannot begin to relate to any of this. In my time, the doolie class relived "Hell Week" in May, sort of a return to the initial days as a new cadet. Nothing special, normal daily routines, just a lot of chin ins, yelling, push ups, etc, and most of it done with a grin because everyone knew it was a rite of passage. and the end was in sight. No grading, no competition, just one last class bonding experience that marked the transition from high school kid to academy cadet.
Click to expand...
This wasn't Recognition. This was a culminating exercise, something new that the new supt wanted all 4 classes to be a part of as part of his new "4 class system" he touted back in August. This isn't any thing alum or anyone, really, can relate to or even know wtf was going on. This was amateur hour...or 6. But ya know...they sure got a lot of pics to post on the Commandant and Supt's social media though.

Recognition does not exist this year. It is not on any calendar, rebranded or anything. And when you ask parent liaisons, their answer is, "I don't know" or you get ghosted with no answer. This is the amateur hour that parents and cadets have been complaining about since August, but we're told to trust the stars.
 
DS pretty much echoed the same sentiments as above, poorly planned, lots of waiting and standing around. Nights ops cancelled due to a cadet slipping on ice and breaking her arm apparently.

This was USAFAs first go at this so hopefully next year they’ll have learned from this years mistakes.
 
Apparently $45M worth of wasted time (that's the figure the Comm and Sup kept giving the cadets). Even for a first time at USAFA, realistic scenarios and event planning are not new to the military so why try to reinvent the wheel? Apparently, there were supposed to be airsoft guns issued for the tactical training scenarios but they didn't get them in time for the cadets and OpFor to be trained with them. Cadets were even issued high quality ballistic goggles for protection from the pellets but that never happened. Quite interesting that they didn't see the potential for poor weather at the start of March in CO! I guess it was brought to you by the same team that didn't see a potential rationing problem when they restricted the entire Wing to base at the start of the year. The field exercise involved rotating from standing watch to standing around to standing around in a warming tent. Very valuable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top