- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 33
My S recently received appointments to both USAFA and USNA. He is obviously ecstatic and we are extremely proud of this accomplishment. His first choice has been Air Force for some time, however there are some things that have concerned us and now that he does have a choice, I was looking for some wisdom. I have never posted before, but was hoping that someone with a cadet and an honest assessment of the culture at Air Force could give us a take on their perception.
We are a multi-ethnic family, far from religious, and it has been our number one priority to teach our children (and we have 6) to accept, respect and celebrate differences in those around us. They have learned from their experiences, from their exposure--they are well traveled- and from the fact that we have always tried to walk the walk in our every day lives. At the end of the day, these values have driven their choice of profession, the diverse groups of people with whom they choose to interact, and most importantly the strong belief that they are their brothers' keepers. This foundation is by far my son's greatest strength and what has compelled him to a life of service.
That said, I am however concerned about USAFA's recent struggle with evangelism and the notion that there still may still be a culture of coercion, bigotry, and intolerance of religious and cultural differences alive and well in Colorado Springs. We did not get that sense at USNA and in fact felt that while religious needs (all religions) were supported in every way, there was a place for everyone, believer or not. My hope is that USAFA is well on their way to rectifying what seems to have once been somewhat pervasive--- but as a civilian employee in the military I know how slowly the wheels turn and how difficult self-examination can sometimes be.
I know this is a sensitive issue, and I am certainly not looking to be adversarial, I would just like to get a REAL read on what is going on today. The thing stressed most about this service academy journey is that both the candidate and the parent understand the road ahead and get the full picture.
The last thing we want is to encourage him to make a choice that he will regret.
Thanks for your input!
We are a multi-ethnic family, far from religious, and it has been our number one priority to teach our children (and we have 6) to accept, respect and celebrate differences in those around us. They have learned from their experiences, from their exposure--they are well traveled- and from the fact that we have always tried to walk the walk in our every day lives. At the end of the day, these values have driven their choice of profession, the diverse groups of people with whom they choose to interact, and most importantly the strong belief that they are their brothers' keepers. This foundation is by far my son's greatest strength and what has compelled him to a life of service.
That said, I am however concerned about USAFA's recent struggle with evangelism and the notion that there still may still be a culture of coercion, bigotry, and intolerance of religious and cultural differences alive and well in Colorado Springs. We did not get that sense at USNA and in fact felt that while religious needs (all religions) were supported in every way, there was a place for everyone, believer or not. My hope is that USAFA is well on their way to rectifying what seems to have once been somewhat pervasive--- but as a civilian employee in the military I know how slowly the wheels turn and how difficult self-examination can sometimes be.
I know this is a sensitive issue, and I am certainly not looking to be adversarial, I would just like to get a REAL read on what is going on today. The thing stressed most about this service academy journey is that both the candidate and the parent understand the road ahead and get the full picture.
The last thing we want is to encourage him to make a choice that he will regret.
Thanks for your input!
