- Joined
- Jul 26, 2008
- Messages
- 6,201
Hey Pima!Flieger, you know I love you, but I want to pose this to you:
A. Let's acknowledge hazing (BCT) in your day and what occurs now...it is night and day.
B. If you had to re-live the memory of the AFA as a C2C, you would agree you probably had the same opinion. Age made you wiser, regarding how to address the issue. We are fortunate for the internet and that you can impart your wisdom. You did not have that in the 80s.
C. I agree, have the goal, but I differentiate from you on the cadets slamming her for the dream. I think they are concerned more about her "ME" attitude than her dream.
You and I both love the AF to the bottom of our hearts. If I didn't, do you think I would kiss our DS on his cheek and say "God Speed"? If I didn't do you think I would say to Bullet go and give the oath to an AFA cadet? We both have seen the AF changed in the past 20+ yrs, some good, some bad. If I was to be brutally honest I would say that the military has become to political and has lost sight of their true mission, I don't because I still believe.
I understand your point believing that they are hurting the AF with the following quote:
However, they need to bond, and I believe that 1980 BCT was a lot worse than 2010. There's our difference, I believe that the cadets don't want her to fail, I believe if they are hard on her, it is to her advantage to get rid of the "ME" attitude, and understand that it is "US".
Honestly, what kids state on internet postings is a true light into their mind.
I think it is great you gave the cadets something to think about regarding incoming cadets, but at the end of the day we must trust these cadets enough to pass the torch. They are our future leaders. Yes, they are young, but they aren't ignorant, arrogant or stupid. We mus cut our apron strings, and accept the fact that they are worthy.
No, we agree here. And in 1980 as a newly minted 3 degree (I'm older than you think/know, BCT was in June '79: a year after HS) I actually was locked in the opinion that I would NEVER be like the classes of '80 and '82 as they had just put me through the most miserable year of my life (up to that point).
And in fairness, I don't know how I would have felt had we the internet, social networking, etc. I do know that I was a proponent (and passed to my doolies) of being "a hole in the air" and NOT standing out needlessly.
What has bothered me here, and in my ALO work (and in TDY assignments to USAFA) is the "from what I've seen" prevalent attitude among a LOT of the cadets I have dealt with of "I'm so much more superior than them, I will show them too!" And while I'm all for confidence, what I have seen during BCT, and the academic year isn't that, it's more of a "I have the authority and will therefore have some fun with them" attitude.
And I hated it as a cadet and as an officer I despise it.
My greatest concern, as you correctly point out, is the "me" attitude; however, I'm afraid its being inculcated AT USAFA. I work with so many candidates that have attitudes like this young lady would profess...but they're so pumped/nervous/curious about what they're about to enter...and then they get there and the HUGE PUSH is about "your class, your classmates, etc." AS IT SHOULD BE.
However...after the doolie year, I've seen so many of the upperclasses develop a "ME" attitude and a whole lot less of the "class/classmate/squadron/group/wing" attitudes. And I'm not sure where that's coming from. And that is what concerns me.
Like you, I'm a rabid USAF person! It's been my life since...well since I was born, way back in 1959. Dad's dad did 41 years, dad did 30 years...I'm the last of the line. And I really REALLY want to see OUR USAF continue to excel, to show the nation and the world that we really are "all that and a bag of chips!"
And these cadets, and new appointee's, they are our future. I don't want ONE of them to take a hit just because of a silly comment online...it's TOO TRIVIAL; especially this early on. And let's be fair: if a few of our cadets here online decided to make her life miserable, they could quite easily. And if they did, it just might be the "extra nudge" that changes her mind on the USAF, etc.
It's tough enough as is...she/anyone else, doesn't need the extra "attention."
I'm really not all upset etc., with our cadets here online. My heavens, they've really contributed SO MUCH to our discussions, knowledge, etc. I just wanted to "gently push" back with a "...be nice" thought...
Of course, it's that fighter pilot "gentle nudge" that showed...
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83