Easiest Service Academy?

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burningblade1678

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I am applying to USAFA this year, and I really love it a lot. When I visited a few weeks ago, the military strictness was more lax than I expected. This experience aligned with what I heard about USAFA being the least strict of the service academies. Is this true? I appreciate your responses!
 
There's no "Least Strict" when it comes to the academies. This is why so many doolies, plebes, etc. QUIT. Matter of fact, I'd say the entire 1st year is a PITA. It does get a little less strict once you're no longer a Doolie or Plebe, but that first year for sure is strict for everyone.

Nothing against those who visit the academies, go to summer seminar, etc. but that isn't designed to give you any sense of what it's REALLY LIKE. It's simply "Marketing" and a chance for you to put SOME realism to until then was something you only imagined. That's like the misunderstanding many JrROTC and CAP members in high school have; THINKING that because they are member of JrROTC or CAP, they "KNOW" what the military is about and they are "READY" for it.

Put it this way. I had an applicant who received an appointment to the air force academy. He was in JROTC. He was the commander of the JROTC unit at the high school. Been doing it all 4 years of high school. Felt very confident with being prepared for the academy......... He DROPPED OUT half way through basic training.

Sorry if I can't give you an answer you're looking for. Then again; not sure WHY you are asking such a question. Are you looking for the "EASIER" way out? Or the opposite and looking for the more difficult. NEITHER should play into your decision on which academy to apply to. You should know WHY you want to apply to one of the academies. There are some that apply to ALL of the academies; including merchant marines and coast guard. Some do that because they are looking at the "FREE" college education. Some truly do simply want to serve and don't care what branch they serve in. MOST applicants know what they want. They know where their skills and demeanor will fit better in; and they only apply to those academies. My son was like that. He only applied to the air force academy. If he wasn't accepted, he'd go for Air Force ROTC. If that didn't work out, he'd attend college on his own and apply for OTS when he graduated. In other words, he only wanted the air force. He never applied to anything else.

Not saying you should or shouldn't apply to only one. Simply saying, you need to know WHY you want to be an officer in the military. Then, determine the type of officer you want to be. Then, choose the academy(ies) that will help you be that type of officer you're wanting to be.

But the first year at the academy; ALL of them are strict. It really sucks at times. Some quit and some put up with it. ALL of them get better the 2-4th years. But that first year; especially at basic training, they will be in your face and tearing you down. That's the purpose. What you experience when you visited; was simply "MARKETING". Just like any college trying to recruit you. If you visited during september when school was back in session, you probably saw a typical academic day. All the academies have 3 MODES. 1) Academic mode; 2) Military mode; and 3) Brain dead mode. After breakfast during the week, it's mainly academic mode. Same as most universities. If that's what you saw, it's similar at all academies. But when not in class, it's military mode or brain dead mode. (Brain dead mode is what little down time you have when not doing military stuff or studying.)
 
dah19 said:
Right now the entire academy is on restriction, so I wouldn't call that less strict.
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Um, why? We’re going for a visit next Friday. What does restriction entail vs. the norm?
 
THmom said:
Um, why? We’re going for a visit next Friday. What does restriction entail vs. the norm?
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They did something deemed "disrespectful" to the commandant of cadets and she placed the Academy on restriction. All cadets are restricted to inside the black gates. This is different from the norm. My DS says it will go until this weekend, but there is no end date as of yesterday.
 
+1 to @Christcorp. It’s all relative. And how do you define strict? Many would just call it discipline. While it’s natural for cadets/mids to chafe and complain about strictness, most of them chose an SA because of the strictness. And in the end, what will you do with this information? Would hate to think this is how one makes a nine-year decision (if not more).
 
My DS is a Doolie and less strict is not word he would use. There is a lot of good natured banter among the SA's over who is the "most strict". The cadets at USAFA would probably tell you Doolie year is the hardest of all five SA's and then years 2-4 may be the "easiest" (relative term) as Doolies get a lot of their privileges after recognition in March. At the other SA's those privileges are granted more over time.

Again someone from USMA or USNA may disagree but in the end they all teach discipline and codes of military conduct, are very stressful environments in an effort to forge you into a leader, and have very high expectation of all cadets. It is a great program but not for everyone.

They are on restriction this weekend (just like last) with no definitive end date. My DS said there was a secondary incident above and beyond the show of disrespect last weekend that caused the extension of the restriction.
 
BBQ-Devil said:
My DS is a Doolie and less strict is not word he would use. There is a lot of good natured banter among the SA's over who is the "most strict". The cadets at USAFA would probably tell you Doolie year is the hardest of all five SA's and then years 2-4 may be the "easiest" (relative term) as Doolies get a lot of their privileges after recognition in March. At the other SA's those privileges are granted more over time.

Again someone from USMA or USNA may disagree but in the end they all teach discipline and codes of military conduct, are very stressful environments in an effort to forge you into a leader, and have very high expectation of all cadets. It is a great program but not for everyone.

They are on restriction this weekend (just like last) with no definitive end date. My DS said there was a secondary incident above and beyond the show of disrespect last weekend that caused the extension of the restriction.
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My DS is a doolie as well and last night was the first time I felt he was having a hard time. I think the restriction has been tough on them. He will be fine and I just tried to be supportive. I agree and have always said the academy is great, but it's not for everyone!
 
I'll also add that the degree of "strictness" varies greatly with whoever the commandant is. For example, while we have had the whole freshman class restricted that I remember, we NEVER had the whole WING restricted...I am very curious as to what prompted that move. In my 4 years there alone we went from having mandatory breakfast every day for everyone, to being able to sleep in until the AMI period (like 830 I think) if you didn't have class in the morning as a junior or senior AND we got to use our own bedding to make our beds instead of being stuck with the issued "quilt" (aka dog blanket...). It almost felt like normal college (not that I would actually know what that is like).
 
you could get an ROTC scholarship and take it to Citadel or VMI if you want strict - you'll get it in spades, especially at VMI
 
Christcorp said:
There's no "Least Strict" when it comes to the academies. This is why so many doolies, plebes, etc. QUIT. Matter of fact, I'd say the entire 1st year is a PITA. It does get a little less strict once you're no longer a Doolie or Plebe, but that first year for sure is strict for everyone.

Nothing against those who visit the academies, go to summer seminar, etc. but that isn't designed to give you any sense of what it's REALLY LIKE. It's simply "Marketing" and a chance for you to put SOME realism to until then was something you only imagined. That's like the misunderstanding many JrROTC and CAP members in high school have; THINKING that because they are member of JrROTC or CAP, they "KNOW" what the military is about and they are "READY" for it.

Put it this way. I had an applicant who received an appointment to the air force academy. He was in JROTC. He was the commander of the JROTC unit at the high school. Been doing it all 4 years of high school. Felt very confident with being prepared for the academy......... He DROPPED OUT half way through basic training.

Sorry if I can't give you an answer you're looking for. Then again; not sure WHY you are asking such a question. Are you looking for the "EASIER" way out? Or the opposite and looking for the more difficult. NEITHER should play into your decision on which academy to apply to. You should know WHY you want to apply to one of the academies. There are some that apply to ALL of the academies; including merchant marines and coast guard. Some do that because they are looking at the "FREE" college education. Some truly do simply want to serve and don't care what branch they serve in. MOST applicants know what they want. They know where their skills and demeanor will fit better in; and they only apply to those academies. My son was like that. He only applied to the air force academy. If he wasn't accepted, he'd go for Air Force ROTC. If that didn't work out, he'd attend college on his own and apply for OTS when he graduated. In other words, he only wanted the air force. He never applied to anything else.

Not saying you should or shouldn't apply to only one. Simply saying, you need to know WHY you want to be an officer in the military. Then, determine the type of officer you want to be. Then, choose the academy(ies) that will help you be that type of officer you're wanting to be.

But the first year at the academy; ALL of them are strict. It really sucks at times. Some quit and some put up with it. ALL of them get better the 2-4th years. But that first year; especially at basic training, they will be in your face and tearing you down. That's the purpose. What you experience when you visited; was simply "MARKETING". Just like any college trying to recruit you. If you visited during september when school was back in session, you probably saw a typical academic day. All the academies have 3 MODES. 1) Academic mode; 2) Military mode; and 3) Brain dead mode. After breakfast during the week, it's mainly academic mode. Same as most universities. If that's what you saw, it's similar at all academies. But when not in class, it's military mode or brain dead mode. (Brain dead mode is what little down time you have when not doing military stuff or studying.)
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You seem to be answering the question as if he asked which is the easiest academy so that he could join that one. All he said was that he wants to join the AFA, was surprised how lax it when visitng and since it confirmed some things said about it, was this the way it really was. You seem to read more into his question that I think he was really asking. You are correct in telling him how strict it is for the first year and but I think he was asking a simple question based on what he saw and what he has heard
 
While at USAFA (Junior Year), DD spent an overnite at the Naval Academy. Commented that it was stricter then the AFA. Also was not a fan of the bunk-beds as I recall (think someone or her friend broke their leg getting out of one). She also attended a conference at VMI & would agree with @GoDogsBeatV's post.
 
An USAF General told the following joke at one of our USAF Dining Out...

The President identified a particular building and told each service to secure the facility.

The Army air dropped in troops while coordinating the approach of tanks and artillery and quickly surrounded the building.

The Marines flew in several Helos, marines fast roped into position and had harriers on standby to secure the building.

The Navy turned off all the lights and locked the doors.

The USAF signed a 5 year lease with three two year options to extend.

I was in USAF pre 9/11 and post Iraq War I - we were focused on accomplishing our mission. Compared to folks I spoke to in other services, the USAF was less strict. Think about the mission though. If I was at an air base in a dangerous part of the world, the standards would have been different. At the cozy stateside base during a non-war period, standards are different. We were not going to shoot or be shot at. We were however supposed to meet engineering design goals and budget requirements. I was outnumbered by civilian contractors 20 to 1. It was a different environment.
 
I understand that USAF flight crew members do get their fair share of strictness at SERE. :eek2:
 
USAF does have a reputation among veterans as being less strict or less formal than other services; hence the multiple jokes . My favorite is that service in that " the Air Force is an honorable alternative to military service." I spent time on an Air Force Base for Nav Training in the 80's, and it is certainly a different experience. That being said, USAF is not less military, just a different mission and organizational structure, and I can assure you no USAFA grad ever said they had it easier than a USNA or USMA grad, There are a lot of comments above that ring true for each of the service academies, and experiences vary based upon the current leadership and even what Company you are assigned to.. The bottom line is easy --there is enough SUCK (as in "embrace the suck") to go around.


dah19 said:
Right now the entire academy is on restriction, so I wouldn't call that less strict.
Click to expand...
> Must be something in the air .....I've been reading on the USNA Forum how USNA Commandant has locked down "spirit missions" , gave the Upperclass some marching extra instruction, and is telling the Alumni not to feed Midshipmen during Marchovers to football games, Morale Suppression is out in full force !
 
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