Drinking at prep schools

[Alaskan]

Was curious if anyone had any input on the lack of discipline at certain prep schools? Underage drinking and a real disregard for rules etc.. "cadre" at certain school telling cadets not to be "petty" and report to "jump up the ladder". I assume this is very common but very discouraging for DS who worked his tail off to get where he's at and how nonchalant others are with what they have.

 

[AuxNoob]

This is real. In previous posts I have mentioned this. It is important for SA prepsters to recognize what they could lose if spending time with the wrong crowd. Most of the other students at the prep schools do not have a Service Academy in their future. For the Coast Guard the definition of an alcohol incident is much broader than the legal terms of underage drinking or DWI. An it can be a career ender. Best to stick with other Coasties or SA candidates that you like and trust.

 

[Alaskan]

This is real. In previous posts I have mentioned this. It is important for SA prepsters to recognize what they could lose if spending time with the wrong crowd. Most of the other students at the prep schools do not have a Service Academy in their future. For the Coast Guard the definition of an alcohol incident is much broader than the legal terms of underage drinking or DWI. An it can be a career ender. Best to stick with other Coasties or SA candidates that you like and trust.

It was surprising to me that after summer orientation and getting "squared away" that there is a clear effort by the prep school to "loosen them up".

 

[Next Generation]

Sounds like you and your DS are pretty disappointed by the situation. My DD is a 4/C this year at CGA, and she, too, was shocked and disappointed about how the "prep school kids are always telling stories about all the partying they did." She seemed to think that the drinking age in that/those states was 18 instead of 21, but I wasn't so sure on that (and your post kind of confirms my suspicions). She seems to feel the academy itself is on the up-and-up, so tell your DS to just hang in there. It will not be the only time he'll be tested (or disappointed) on this journey, yet what a fine journey it will be.

 

[Next Generation]

I should qualify lest it looks like I'm dissing all prep school kids, which I'm not. However, my DD noted that the direct appointments did not seem to have those partying stories to share, or if they did, it did not seem like they saw them as a way to gain acceptance in the same way that the prep school kids did.

I'm sure there are some prep school kids who did not succumb to the invitations to "loosen up," and your DS needs to find them. Stick with the winners!!

 

[Alaskan]

Sounds like you and your DS are pretty disappointed by the situation. My DD is a 4/C this year at CGA, and she, too, was shocked and disappointed about how the "prep school kids are always telling stories about all the partying they did." She seemed to think that the drinking age in that/those states was 18 instead of 21, but I wasn't so sure on that (and your post kind of confirms my suspicions). She seems to feel the academy itself is on the up-and-up, so tell your DS to just hang in there. It will not be the only time he'll be tested (or disappointed) on this journey, yet what a fine journey it will be.

The cadet leadership is lacking, but the instructors are top notch. He's hanging in there and actually doing quite well. The cadre at summer orientation warned about this stuff before they left. He's got a good group to hang with and is proud to have the opportunity that he's been given.