Friesian101
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2013
- Messages
- 9
Any girls out there? How is the Air Force Academy from a female perspective? Are my mood swing going to be a problem?
Do we have to get our hair cut short?
HAHAHA, probably not a big one unless your talking clinical, then being "low" combined with stress could be pretty rough.
I am a female grad (2012). I loved it, and before you ask, I felt very safe there. Any specific questions?
All right, here we go.
1. I had pretty much zero military background going in, I didn't even know USAFA existed until my Sophomore year in high school. My best advice regarding this issue in a training environment is to pay attention at all the endless sexual harassment/assault briefings you get during in-processing and the first couple days. They will make it clear just how serious USAFA is about its zero tolerance policy and tell you exactly how you can get help if it is needed. If there are still concerns, then ask questions. They typically split off the girls for a separate briefing (or two or three or four) for the express purpose of making sure it is a safe, comfortable environment to talk and ask questions. Outside a training environment like basic/freshman year, my advice is the same as for normal college and melindayching hit the nail on the head. Be safe when drinking, if your going to go share a cabin for skiing, make sure you share it with people you know and trust, and avoid getting too drunk to take care of yourself (I personally don't drink at all, but that is an exception, not the norm)
2. YES. While I didn't experience what it was like before, the whole culture is one of protecting and zero tolerance up and down the chain of command.
3. Honestly I was determined to go no matter what and looking back, I didn't really give it much thought until I got there and experienced endless hours of sexual assault briefings. Now looking back I can see why my mom was so worried, but from my perspective the culture of zero tolerance was one of the first things we "learned" in basic and it was very apparent that I had the right to keep myself safe, and I knew how to do it, although like I said, I felt very safe there and never encountered any problems.
4. The vast majority of cadets are great people who really care about each other and you can feel that atmosphere there. I don't know how to explain it, and I don't have any great personal examples where someone stepped in to stop something, but I know that the people I hung out with would have if needed.
In summary, I don't have any real evidence for why I felt safe, that is why it is a feeling, but IMHO the academy has done an amazing job of making resources available and accessible and building a strong culture against any form of sexual harassment or assault.
I just viewed this and am so impressed!
If four sisters can do it, (fill in the blank)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fxV3jFe681c