Getting Cold Feet

+1 to @Kierkegaard.

I once had a former JMO (USNA, naval aviation) report to me in a Fortune 200 company. He taught me about “servant leadership.” I leaned from him that officers most effectively lead by serving, not bossing around, their subordinates. I carry that lesson with me to this day.

Seems like @usnamidshipman33 has yet to learn — or embrace — the power of servant leadership.
 
MidCakePa said:
Seems like @usnamidshipman33 has yet to learn — or embrace — the power of servant leadership.
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I'm starting to lean towards this user being a troll. Their writing is no where near the quality of other MIDNs that are active here. So either @usnamidshipman33 has a lot more English work to do, or they are just a troll. If actually a MIDN, I'd suggest less time weighing in on the forums and more time spent with extra help from the English professors.
 
usnamidshipman33 said:
My best advice is to not come. We do not want to deal with plebe summer washouts. If you are already this soft about it and haven't even started the process, you will be a mess during your time here. You do not have great potential here. People will lie to you, butter you up about how you "learn to enjoy the suck!" and other dumb nonsense. This is a stressful environment and you need a strong vision in order to succeed at the academy. I do not want to read your sorry *** jodels at 2 AM about how stressed you are. Go to a different school. We do not want you
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Funniest post so far. I liked @Kierkegaard's response starting with "Shipmate" and all the irony that carries with it. :biggrin:
 
Kierkegaard said:
Shipmate are we really doing this? It’s pretty naiive to think that those who are successful here never experienced self-doubt. During training for Plebe Summer Detail, Colonel McCarthy specifically said “I want you to make them question their decision to come here” and we were pretty good at that if I do say so. OP hasn’t given me any signs that they’re likely to DOR over Plebe Summer (Much of this
seems like common butterflies), but even if they do, we absolutely will deal with it. There’s an SOP for that, and we have Tango company for a reason. Idk if you’re trolling or just had a rough week but some of what you said was needlessly vitriolic and not the right way to anonymously represent the Brigade online.

Now I do agree that the Academy is unforgiving and a lot of cliché advice about how “It’s tough but you’re setting yourself up better than you could anywhere else” and “There’s a lot of fun/cool opportunities” and “the friends you meet will make it all worth it” etc are just not necessarily true for everyone, and one should only come here if they are ready to make a lot of sacrifices. The OP makes some accurate observations and should do some serious soul-searching and seek counsel from parents/teachers/coaches/ministers/scoutmasters or whoever they can trust for sound mentorship, and ultimately make the decision that’s best for them, whether it’s going or not.
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Ready to pin butter bars on you today, young leader. Well said.
 
usnamidshipman33 said:
My best advice is to not come. We do not want to deal with plebe summer washouts. If you are already this soft about it and haven't even started the process, you will be a mess during your time here........
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Wow..didn't see that one coming. First post on the Forum even, so he/she had to go through the efforts of setting up an account. I vote TROLL, and if not , am really disappointed that he/she hasn't learned anything about leadership while attending USNA.
 
IMHO, there are two kinds of self-doubt. The first -- which I think most of us are used to and experienced -- is the "Am I good enough?" / "Will I be able to make it?" / "Am I ready to spend at least the next 9 years in the military?" type. That's normal and expected. The second type takes the form of: "I never wanted to do this; I'm just doing it to please my mother / father / other relative / friend" or "I applied to make X happy and everyone was so excited when I was appointed . . . it was a tidal wave that took off on its own but was never what I really wanted."

If anyone is experiencing the second form . . . pay attention. Don't go to any SA with the primary goal of making someone else happy. Don't get swept away by the tidal wave of other people's excitement. Don't assume it will get better or you'll learn to like it. Rarely, if ever, does that happen.

Anxiety about the future . . . normal. Going to an SA when it was never your dream . . . likely not going to work out for you.
 
As a Napster, I had to report in my enlisted whites (crackerjack uniform) a day early. I was staying at my parent's house in Annapolis (where my brother and his wife were renting the house from our parents while our Dad was doing his CO tour in San Diego), so my brother dropped me off at the gate. It was super chill when I got there. Showed to my room, stored my crap, got ready for the upcoming day's shenanigans.

Come I-day, all of the Napsters and priors looked like everyone else during that time (Plebe summer of '92). You could not visibly tell the difference between direct admits and priors/NAPS people until later in the summer when we got to wear a uniform where we could wear our ribbons. My cadre was a bit shocked to see a three row stack and Army air crew wings on my uniform as I kept it mostly quiet. Didn't need to be yelled at more by being an Army person that was released to go to NAPS. Best to keep a low profile. ;)
 
I'll be honest..I was a NAPSTER long, long ago, and really don't recall much about reporting to USNA or I'Day.
I recall flying out to Annapolis alone two days before I'Day, staying at a Holiday Inn, and having a last beer with some NAPS classmates.
Next morning (day before I'Day), we checked in and proceeded through gear issue --- I didn't realize it at the time, but I suspect that we were the dress rehearsal for the rest of the Class checking in the next day. Then they showed us to rooms in Bancroft Hall and more or less left us alone until right before the swearing in... I really don't recall what we did all day ..... Of course, after the swearing in , SHTF !
 
Just remember that they wouldn't have given you an appointment if they didn't think that you could do it. Also, you can always take away what I always say to my Mid when she complains, though I do get eye rolls most of the time. "You have it a lot better than they had it on Guadalcanal!"
 
usnamidshipman33 said:
My best advice is to not come. We do not want to deal with plebe summer washouts. If you are already this soft about it and haven't even started the process, you will be a mess during your time here. You do not have great potential here. People will lie to you, butter you up about how you "learn to enjoy the suck!" and other dumb nonsense. This is a stressful environment and you need a strong vision in order to succeed at the academy. I do not want to read your sorry *** jodels at 2 AM about how stressed you are. Go to a different school. We do not want you
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Shipmate, I’ll bet my 2 cents that either a) you’re not a midshipman or b) you’re way too stressed about finals. Either way, don’t spew your nonsense and pretend you speak for the Brigade.
 
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