Firstie Burnout and Cynicism

Joined
Dec 23, 2020
Messages
21
Hey Y'all, I would first like to say thank you all for the advice and mentorship throughout my years on this forum. Maybe you all can oblige me one more time before I throw my Cover in... 232 days, 7 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds (Give or take a few, put who's counting?)


BLUF: I am struggling to see stay motivated and to pass motivation on to those around me. The Academy has changed so much and I feel like an odd head after 3 years...

When I came into the Academy proper as a Doolie Freshman, I was bright-eyed and ready to tackle this place. And for the most part I feel that I've tackled it. I earned my Pilot Slot, Got accepted into a Graduate Studies Program and have achieved many of my personal and professional goals. But this last year has really been a kick in the head.

During the training of freshman year I was told that it was making me a better officer, resilient to stress and pressure, and building the intangible and so elusive grit. Now, all those same practices that they told me made me a better officer are banned and considered harmful to those who administer and participate in them (charge runs, race tracks, minutes, training sessions, recognition). This training has been replaced with briefs about resiliency and conversational study sessions. It's not that I think these new trainings are harmful but that they are so different and quite frankly it seems the heart and esprit de corps of the Academy are dead. It seems cadets are now seeking to survive rather than thrive/lead.

I try to be an inspiring Firstie but it's difficult to inspire when I find myself uncertain about my new position in this new Academy system. The status quo was changed, such things should be expected in the military, but this year feels like a different Academy. Me and my buds message each other about missing the "old Academy" where puggle stick fights and Push-up competitions marked the end of events. When asked about my Doolie year, I find myself muttering "back when it was hard..." and somehow it feels less sarcastic every time...

Anyways, any advice, interesting anecdotes, or reality checks appreciated. Thanks again to everyone who's advised me up until this point!
 
I don't think there is a single SA class who doesn't think their class had the most challenging plebe summer or plebe year. That's normal. I also think that, when you've been out a few years, you start to accept that each class has its own challenges and that we actually want our alma mater to "evolve." IOW, would we really want things today to be as they were in 1964? Or, for those from USNA and USMA, from 1864? Probably not.

It's also normal to have the thoughts you do as a firstie. Some people are very "into" 1/C year. Others look at it as just another 365 days until they start on their new lives.

Here is some food for thought. Being a leader is about leadership even when you may not "feel it." You have to lead on your good days and your bad days. Maybe your mother died the day before, your kid is sick, you didn't get the job/promotion you expected . . . the men and women you are leading still need you to be there for them. Sometimes, leadership is easy. More often than not, it's digging deep, finding that third gear, and connecting with your enlisted personnel.

There's no magic to this, and it comes more easily to some than others. Just keep your priorities in line. Your men (and women) come first. Always.

Second, organizations change. Once you're in the USAF, you'll realize that squardrons and bases change commanders. Each has a different personality, different priorities, different leadership style. You have to adapt -- just as your unit had to adapt to you when you replaced the previous leader. Sometimes, change is minor and the organization slogs ahead. Sometimes, change is major and everyone is scrambling to acclimate. [The above happens in the biz world as well]. Sometimes you like the change and sometimes you don't.

While it's okay (and natural) to want to commiserate with your classmates, you might instead think about how you can help your classmates deal with the change. How can you be a leader among your peers? I'm not suggesting you have to be a brownnoser. But this is a great opportunity to think about -- and practice -- leadership. How do you both commiserate but also drive positive change?

Hopefully, the above is what you have learned over the last 3 years. Because next year, it will be about leading young airmen. Inspiring them. Even on the days that suck. USAFA has given you the tools -- you have to figure out how to use them (as I said, no magic here).

Today is a new day! 231 days left to practice leadership.
 
You will look back and realize USAFA was just a school house and no real threats to yourself or others. The real World is much bigger and meaner to most. How fast is you chair moving at USAFA right now? Wait till you are really going 500 KTS and need to make snap decisions.
 
I'm a firstie too and I'm cynical for a different reason. I don't even know if we had it "hard" and nor do I think it really matters. I mean who cares once you commission which year group had it the "hardest"? Transition to 4 class system is good. 4th class system that we had as 4 degrees is honestly worthless because it gives cadets sense that officer development is done once recognition ends.
What makes me cynical is how unorganized USAFA is as an institution. We would accomplish all these crazy things like building a rocket and operating satellites yet USAFA still can't even get basic things right such as accountability. I did a semester at USMA and their formations served one purpose of taking accountability. They did it through the organized structure of chain and very efficiently. Here at USAFA we just form up in boxes and 2 D&C cadets take the accountability of the entire 100 man squadron- like what even is this, an elementary school? As a result it takes twice as long to do a single formation here at USAFA and of course that's cadets' time out of their days and therefore more complaining.
I know the new changes are trying to make us more organized in that sense but the way I see it and how Army/Navy exchangers tell me, we still have a long way to go. I think the biggest problem is that cadets don't have enough buy-ins in terms of shifting gears and becoming more organized. All they do is complain about how the CL28's 4 deg year is easy (they're not wrong though) while ours was hard or whatever. I think there are greater things to be concerned about than who had it harder. I think every class should have it equally hard and should progressively become harder as we rank up because we're that much closer to being an officer and facing real life problems in the big AF/SF.
 
First, people are right when they say everyone thinks their year is harder. This is true of all types of organizations. We used to say that when I was in a fraternity. Our pledge class had it worse than subsequent ones although the guys before me said the same. In many cases, its not true in other cases things have changed. My hell week was organized hazing (no alcohol invlolved) and although it was pretty safe , since we were dropped off somewhere, there was potential for someone hurting themselves. In the later years, hell week became a joke. The military is changing, some say for the better others disagree. UPT training has dramatically changed where there is less emphasis of actually flying and more on VR. Some say its betters but many says it worse. The people entering the military are also different and the academies are changing along with them. My son is a Captain in the AF and visited his AFrotc detachment three years after commissioning. He said the cadets are more "sensitive" He isnt some gung-ho type of guy. He went with his friend and his wife (all three were cadets and commissioned from that AFrotc) and even she said the same (she is nurse). Things do change sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Roll with it

Here is the ultimate truth, neither Afrotc nor USAFA is anything like the Air Force. Pilots dont lead. They are more or less equal regardless of rank until you reach Lt. Colonel. Pilots dont hang out with the enlisted. During UPT, you barely see one
 
Units, including USAFA go through the pendulum of leadership styles. From what I hear, it's really swung hard to one side right now. As a firstie, you can help provide some consistency by being level-headed and caring for your peers and subordinates' wellbeing and training. That said, you are unlikely to change the 3 star's decisions very significantly. So, do the right thing and also realize you don't set academy policies.
Use the changes to develop your own ideas about how to lead effectively. Think about what works well, what doesn't, and the 2nd and 3rd order consequences of different leadership styles and policies.

...so, basically, be a good person and learn this year. You'll get more authority over time to implement the lessons you are learning now.
 
@BridgeOverBach Many, many years ago as a young officer I was told by one of the commanders I respected the most throughout my career this little piece of advice.

Lead YOUR way because when the bullets start to fly you will revert to what is natural for you. That doesn't mean you can't learn from other leaders so try this. Get a book and whenever a leader/commander does something that builds your confidence in them and makes you want to follow them write it down. Whenever one does something that makes you want to get as far from them as possible or just follow them out of sheer curiosity, turn the book over and write that in the back. As your career progresses if you find yourself doing the things from the front of the book, good. If you are doing the things in the back then it's time to check yourself and course correct.

I write that because you have been through the Clark/Moga era and are now finding yourself with two very different leaders and your own leadership/motivation challenge. Every experience has the power to be a learning one if you choose to let it be. Take this for what it is and spend your time observing and developing into the leader you want to be and who will gain the confidence and respect of their team. USAFA is like every other unit as the previous replies have pointed out and it goes through changes just like society and the wider military so don't let one part of your experience overshadow the others. Improvise, adapt and overcome. Those who follow you and look to you for their example now deserve your best and, although they will remember these senior leaders, they will learn from you.
 
Hey Y'all, I would first like to say thank you all for the advice and mentorship throughout my years on this forum. Maybe you all can oblige me one more time before I throw my Cover in... 232 days, 7 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds (Give or take a few, put who's counting?)


BLUF: I am struggling to see stay motivated and to pass motivation on to those around me. The Academy has changed so much and I feel like an odd head after 3 years...

When I came into the Academy proper as a Doolie Freshman, I was bright-eyed and ready to tackle this place. And for the most part I feel that I've tackled it. I earned my Pilot Slot, Got accepted into a Graduate Studies Program and have achieved many of my personal and professional goals. But this last year has really been a kick in the head.

During the training of freshman year I was told that it was making me a better officer, resilient to stress and pressure, and building the intangible and so elusive grit. Now, all those same practices that they told me made me a better officer are banned and considered harmful to those who administer and participate in them (charge runs, race tracks, minutes, training sessions, recognition). This training has been replaced with briefs about resiliency and conversational study sessions. It's not that I think these new trainings are harmful but that they are so different and quite frankly it seems the heart and esprit de corps of the Academy are dead. It seems cadets are now seeking to survive rather than thrive/lead.

I try to be an inspiring Firstie but it's difficult to inspire when I find myself uncertain about my new position in this new Academy system. The status quo was changed, such things should be expected in the military, but this year feels like a different Academy. Me and my buds message each other about missing the "old Academy" where puggle stick fights and Push-up competitions marked the end of events. When asked about my Doolie year, I find myself muttering "back when it was hard..." and somehow it feels less sarcastic every time...

Anyways, any advice, interesting anecdotes, or reality checks appreciated. Thanks again to everyone who's advised me up until this point!
Keep your eye on the ball (or the prize…or whatever).

There is a lot that can happen between now and the first Wednesday after Memorial Day.

HECK! Things could kick off and go hot, like WWIII hot, any day now.

I remember January 17th, 1991 very well.

Desert Storm kicked off. We were all surrounding a big screen TV over in A-hall. I was just a SMACK then. The firsties were positively glued to the CNN coverage. There were rumors of the 91ers graduating early and shipping off to UPT. Luckily, that never happened.

My point is: don’t let the anti-climactic-ness of your current situation turn into complacency.

As far as leadership (manager???) training goes, I am sure that the USAFA of 2024 is much like the USAFA of 1994…. unfortunately, you learn more of what NOT to do because you see how the bad leaders act.
 
Keep your eye on the ball (or the prize…or whatever).

There is a lot that can happen between now and the first Wednesday after Memorial Day.

HECK! Things could kick off and go hot, like WWIII hot, any day now.

I remember January 17th, 1991 very well.

Desert Storm kicked off. We were all surrounding a big screen TV over in A-hall. I was just a SMACK then. The firsties were positively glued to the CNN coverage. There were rumors of the 91ers graduating early and shipping off to UPT. Luckily, that never happened.

My point is: don’t let the anti-climactic-ness of your current situation turn into complacency.

As far as leadership (manager???) training goes, I am sure that the USAFA of 2024 is much like the USAFA of 1994…. unfortunately, you learn more of what NOT to do because you see how the bad leaders act.
You're Class of '94?

I'm sorry; I didn't recognize you!

(Ha Ha - that joke never gets old, does it?)
 
Hey Y'all, I would first like to say thank you all for the advice and mentorship throughout my years on this forum. Maybe you all can oblige me one more time before I throw my Cover in... 232 days, 7 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds (Give or take a few, put who's counting?)


BLUF: I am struggling to see stay motivated and to pass motivation on to those around me. The Academy has changed so much and I feel like an odd head after 3 years...

When I came into the Academy proper as a Doolie Freshman, I was bright-eyed and ready to tackle this place. And for the most part I feel that I've tackled it. I earned my Pilot Slot, Got accepted into a Graduate Studies Program and have achieved many of my personal and professional goals. But this last year has really been a kick in the head.

During the training of freshman year I was told that it was making me a better officer, resilient to stress and pressure, and building the intangible and so elusive grit. Now, all those same practices that they told me made me a better officer are banned and considered harmful to those who administer and participate in them (charge runs, race tracks, minutes, training sessions, recognition). This training has been replaced with briefs about resiliency and conversational study sessions. It's not that I think these new trainings are harmful but that they are so different and quite frankly it seems the heart and esprit de corps of the Academy are dead. It seems cadets are now seeking to survive rather than thrive/lead.

I try to be an inspiring Firstie but it's difficult to inspire when I find myself uncertain about my new position in this new Academy system. The status quo was changed, such things should be expected in the military, but this year feels like a different Academy. Me and my buds message each other about missing the "old Academy" where puggle stick fights and Push-up competitions marked the end of events. When asked about my Doolie year, I find myself muttering "back when it was hard..." and somehow it feels less sarcastic every time...

Anyways, any advice, interesting anecdotes, or reality checks appreciated. Thanks again to everyone who's advised me up until this point!
1. Embrace the Change: While it's natural to feel nostalgic for the past, try to embrace the changes. New approaches may have their own benefits, even if they differ from the traditional methods.

2. Focus on the Positive: Look for the positive aspects of the new training methods. Perhaps they emphasize mental health, teamwork, or critical thinking skills. Focus on these strengths and how they can contribute to your development as an officer.

3. Lead by Example: Despite the changes, you can still inspire your underclassmen. Lead by example, maintain a positive attitude, and demonstrate resilience. Your actions can have a significant impact on those around you.

4. Seek Support: Talk to your mentors, friends, and family about your feelings. Sharing your concerns can help alleviate stress and provide valuable perspective.

5. Adapt and Overcome: The military is constantly evolving. Learn to adapt to change and find creative ways to maintain morale and motivation within your squadron.

6. Find Your Own Path: While the Academy's culture may have shifted, you can still forge your own path. Focus on your personal and professional goals, and use the resources available to you to achieve them.

7. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging times. A positive attitude can help you navigate adversity and inspire others.

Remember, this is a temporary phase. The challenges you face now will shape you into a stronger and more resilient officer. Stay focused, stay positive, and you will emerge from this experience stronger than ever.
 
1. Embrace the Change: While it's natural to feel nostalgic for the past, try to embrace the changes. New approaches may have their own benefits, even if they differ from the traditional methods.

2. Focus on the Positive: Look for the positive aspects of the new training methods. Perhaps they emphasize mental health, teamwork, or critical thinking skills. Focus on these strengths and how they can contribute to your development as an officer.

3. Lead by Example: Despite the changes, you can still inspire your underclassmen. Lead by example, maintain a positive attitude, and demonstrate resilience. Your actions can have a significant impact on those around you.

4. Seek Support: Talk to your mentors, friends, and family about your feelings. Sharing your concerns can help alleviate stress and provide valuable perspective.

5. Adapt and Overcome: The military is constantly evolving. Learn to adapt to change and find creative ways to maintain morale and motivation within your squadron.

6. Find Your Own Path: While the Academy's culture may have shifted, you can still forge your own path. Focus on your personal and professional goals, and use the resources available to you to achieve them.

7. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging times. A positive attitude can help you navigate adversity and inspire others.

Remember, this is a temporary phase. The challenges you face now will shape you into a stronger and more resilient officer. Stay focused, stay positive, and you will emerge from this experience stronger than ever.
Chat gpt? 😭
 
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