Concerns Regarding New USAFA SAMI/AMI standards - Parent's reactions

Christcorp said:
Every once in a while, I have to say something that appears to come across as sarcastic, insensitive, rude, etc.... It's not; it's "Just my nature".

The original post; doesn't matter what the subject is, if it's been deleted, or the reason writing it; basically asks: "Are any parents concerned........"

Ok; here comes the reply which will come across by some as sarcastic, insensitive, rude, or whatever. "I'm preparing those who might take it personally".

Unless the topic you are talking about is "ILLEGAL", "IMMORAL", or directly affect the "HEALTH" of your cadet; it DOESN'T MATTER if you are concerned or not. It's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!

You are NOT THE ONE in the military; at the academy. If your son/daughter has a concern, THEY WILL CONFRONT IT!!! It's NOT YOUR BUSINESS to be involved in academy policies, rules, decisions, etc... Again; unless something is going on that is "ILLEGAL", "IMMORAL", or affects the "HEALTH" of the cadets; it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!
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High five, as a parent... your dead on, thanks. I love our DD but its her problem not ours unless as you described.
 
Are you sure? This is a very serious issue.:eek:

I hope the carpet in their rooms have been changed recently. I haven't heard too much about that lately.:biggrin:

Just had to make the "82"nd reply. Even class number thing zombies wouldn't get it..
 
Do the parents get briefed on what kind of academic facility their adult children will be attending during improcessing, or perhaps during the application process?

It is not a college, it is a military academy on a military base...run by the military.

They are not college dorm rooms, they are rooms for military members in a military barracks.

Members of the military are required to use their chain of command to resolve issues.
 
Buff-IP said:
It is not a college, it is a military academy on a military base...run by the military.
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We disagree and so does the dictionary.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/college

col·lege: noun, \ˈkä-lij\
A school in the U.S. that you go to after high school : a school that offers courses leading to a degree (such as a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree).

If anyone asks a USAFA student what college they attend, they will tell them they go to college at the AFA. I realize the mission is dramatically different. But there is no doubt in my mind that my DS is attending a college on a military base run by the military as well as a lot of civilians. Up to earlier this week, he could have switched colleges with no payback.

My apron strings have long been cut. They were cut a few years before his 18 birthday. But USAFA still courts the parent and families because they understand it's a transition. One example is "parents" weekend in a couple weeks from now. Another is they hire people to work with parents groups, have websites posting vacation time, summer breaks, etc.

Like 95% of all parents, they won't call their kids traditional college let alone USAFA.

But I do hear what you are saying. :)
 
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Does the college include being under UCMJ?

They will treat it like you say but they can taketh it away if they want- hasn't been done by Sam in recent times but he has the final say under the Oath they took and UCMJ as the enforcement.

Remember they did graduate yr groups early in the past-never say never. You will hear the needs of the service until you are discharged...
 
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Oh ya that's right it's a fairly new "College" or "UuNivercitteea' ". Good point the rules don't apply...

Carry on or in University talk do "whatever".
 
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cg82 said:
Remember they did graduate yr groups early in the past-never say never.
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I'm confused by your answer. Are you NOW saying that in the last 60 years USAFA NEVER had any year groups graduate early?
 
Three year academy programs existed during WWII, before the Air Force Academy and the Air Force existed.
 
I think a couple of the points in the original post have been lost. As a parent, I have often wondered why? I am in no way going to hold my breath on the answer as I would quickly become bluer than blue. But here are some questions that do come to mind, and some of the thoughts surrounding them.

1) Why did they choose to do a "kinder and gentler" basic especially if one of the goals was to reduce the cadet pools? Wouldn't "kinder and gentler" rather imply the BCT drop out rate may not be as high?

2) Why change to a "you have never seen a basic like this before?" Why not go back to the BCT of 2 years ago? Why make it even more difficult? Is the end goal a greater reduction in cadet population through BCT attrition?

3) Why change the SAMIs etc. now? Why remove keeping golf clubs in the room? Why was this ok for years, and no longer? Did cadets feel left out cause they couldn't afford a set to keep in their rooms, thus it promoted division in the ranks? If not on the golf team, cadets are only allowed to keep them in their cars. This means that cadet who don't own cars, can't have their own golf clubs. So then shouldn't we not allow cadets to own cars, cause some cadet will feel left out cause he cant have one and thus can't play golf with his own clubs? Was there an epidemic of rodent nest problems in golf bags?

If my cadet was looking forward to finally having clubs to play a sport he loves (BTW HUGE DISCLAIMER: My son is NOT a golfer) and that ability was removed, I would expect him to feel disappointment. I would wonder why in the world did they change such a rule as it was seen as a reward for making it through those 2 years. And me being me, I might just start a thread asking does anyone know why? Would I contact the USAFA and ask them the question? No. Though I suspect their response telling me its their business and right would be a tad bit less interesting than some of the responses seen here.

Asking why and voicing disappointment is not questioning the right or the ability of the USAFA to make and set any and all types of rules it wants. It isn't even implying that the USAFA owes any kind of explanation. It is curiosity, and perhaps an attempt to find a logical reason with which to facilitate "personal" acceptance of the new rule. (A nicer way of saying, sometimes it is easier to accept something without *****ing or getting upset about it if a sound logical reason is offered for it)

It is amazing how many assumptions and accusations are made regarding "helicopter parenting" because a simple question is asked. Now, I realize on a public forum, I will encounter any and all possible responses ranging from a serious well thought out reply, to a humors comment, to a personal insult, to an accusation, to whatever. And after a while, I start to expect certain types of response from certain posters. Oh look, its <insert name here> posting, and his/her reply will most likely be <choose any of the following: humorous, insulting, contain the phrase "helicopter parent(ing)", be well thought out, contain a lot of texting short hand, uses big words, contain unsubstantiated information, will not resemble reality in any way, will be all about feelings, follow no known grammatical rules, be a one line answer, be longer than the Sunday sermon on increasing tithing and donations, use 20 words when 2 will suffice>

So anyone got a real clue as to why they made these changes? Fake clues are welcome if amusing ;)
 
So this is how the decision process happens:

Once a year, every cadet is required to come up with arbitrary changes that could be made to the Wing. 4 degs must come up with one suggestion; 3 degs two; and so on. Those with low MPAs may submit more for a slight boost in class rank. Cadets submit these changes (and their names) on small slips of paper.

During NMF (this usually happens sometime during the Dark Ages, though it has happened as late as April), the Commandant selects at random two from each squadron. The cadets who submitted those changes are then entered into a fight to the death on the Terrazzo. Weapons are provided--usually a mix of sabers, "rubber duckies", pugil sticks, and lightsabers (the kind you get at Walmart.)

The cadet who remains standing at the end gets a 4.0 for his or her MPA the next semester, the suggested change is implemented, and everything goes back to normal. Their squadrons also are exempted from that change to the rules for the next year.

As you can imagine, it gets pretty competitive. Stereotypically, the Vandy people win (especially the Tower), whereas the worse regions in the Sijan dungeons haven't had a winner since '63.


Any questions? :D
 
Invisibility said:
So this is how the decision process happens:

Once a year, every cadet is required to come up with arbitrary changes that could be made to the Wing. 4 degs must come up with one suggestion; 3 degs two; and so on. Those with low MPAs may submit more for a slight boost in class rank. Cadets submit these changes (and their names) on small slips of paper.

During NMF (this usually happens sometime during the Dark Ages, though it has happened as late as April), the Commandant selects at random two from each squadron. The cadets who submitted those changes are then entered into a fight to the death on the Terrazzo. Weapons are provided--usually a mix of sabers, "rubber duckies", pugil sticks, and lightsabers (the kind you get at Walmart.)

The cadet who remains standing at the end gets a 4.0 for his or her MPA the next semester, the suggested change is implemented, and everything goes back to normal. Their squadrons also are exempted from that change to the rules for the next year.

As you can imagine, it gets pretty competitive. Stereotypically, the Vandy people win (especially the Tower), whereas the worse regions in the Sijan dungeons haven't had a winner since '63.


Any questions? :D
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This made total sense to me until the last line. Sijan wasn't built until 1968. So now I am sort of feeling that the rest of this might not be true. :wink:

Stealth_81
 
Invisibility said:
So this is how the decision process happens:

Once a year, every cadet is required to come up with arbitrary changes that could be made to the Wing. 4 degs must come up with one suggestion; 3 degs two; and so on. Those with low MPAs may submit more for a slight boost in class rank. Cadets submit these changes (and their names) on small slips of paper.

During NMF (this usually happens sometime during the Dark Ages, though it has happened as late as April), the Commandant selects at random two from each squadron. The cadets who submitted those changes are then entered into a fight to the death on the Terrazzo. Weapons are provided--usually a mix of sabers, "rubber duckies", pugil sticks, and lightsabers (the kind you get at Walmart.)

The cadet who remains standing at the end gets a 4.0 for his or her MPA the next semester, the suggested change is implemented, and everything goes back to normal. Their squadrons also are exempted from that change to the rules for the next year.

As you can imagine, it gets pretty competitive. Stereotypically, the Vandy people win (especially the Tower), whereas the worse regions in the Sijan dungeons haven't had a winner since '63.


Any questions? :D
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OMG! LMAO! Too funny! But you may experience a throw down on the last line :)
 
LineInTheSand said:
See, I knew there was a reason USAFA used this as their main recruiting video. It also speaks to the Air Force's love of lightning bolts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ekugPKqFw
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Yeah! I believe it. That's why they built in Colorado Springs. They have a secrete government project run by the cadets to harness the lightening storms in order to make weapons. Now don't tell anyone you know this....it is top secrete.....shhhhhhhh ;)
 
MombaBomba said:
Yeah! I believe it. That's why they built in Colorado Springs. They have a secrete government project run by the cadets to harness the lightening storms in order to make weapons. Now don't tell anyone you know this....it is top secrete.....shhhhhhhh ;)
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You got it part right they aren't making weapons. They are harnessing the lightening to power the secret base under Denver International Airport! :eek:

http://www.intellihub.com/exclusive-secret-underground-base-beneath-denver-international-airport-now-revealed-whistle-blower/
 
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