New Cadet BBQ

Chaplin's time... Is that very appealing to this generation of cadets?

Sorry, i just pictured an old picture show and New Cadets bored out of their freaking minds.

I am also a veteran and parent of a new cadet- as long as we're vetting each others' qualifications. My initial comments in the thread were actually addressing some of the( IMHO) misplaced concerns of other parents. Nowhere in the piece did I question the ability or commitment of these new cadets. Conversely, my disappointment/ questions are derived from a concern related to lowered expectations so that everyone gets to feel like they did something without truly being challenged or pushed the way I and many others before them were. These new cadets will strive to exceed expectations- it's how they are wired, or they wouldn't be where they are today.

My concerns were related to the actual expectations and how some parents feared their little snowflake was going to be harmed. The challenges of military service are not going away. My main question is when do new cadets face that crucible of introspection when they make a choice of where they want to be with regard to their commitment to service, their fellow service members, and themselves? Is there more intense training in subsequent summers?
 
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nothingventurednothinggai said:
. . . Just relax.....grads, parents, cadets, applicants......life is both unfair, and the cream does rise. My advise is just be yourself, and if yourself is highly skilled or fancy, be more discreet than people who post 5000 times on this site.

Take a note Bigbear.
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My two cents,

Some folks are just too sensitive. Read what is posted not what you think is posted.

I don't think anyone blamed new cadets for the BBQ. Like several folks pointed about they were just following orders.

I think most folks are discreet - I don't recall anyone mentioning awards, rank, and etc directly. I don't recall any claiming to be a hero. Folks share some of their accomplishments/experience to give creditability to their postings.

As for Bigbear, I actually interviewed him when he was applying to West Point. He could have changed a lot, but when I interviewed he was a very respectful and my subsequent contacts with him, he was also very respectful. After all this is an internet forum, so if Bigbear can't share what is on his mind within the forum rule, what's the purpose of this forum.

I think he is respectful to his chain of command as he shares his opinion about how he doesn't like certain things at West Point, but he doesn't outright say that the Commandant sucks like someone else.

If you want to help Bigbear, you should provide clear suggestions.
 
FlyBoy1993 said:
Chaplin's time... Is that very appealing to this generation of cadets?
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It was appealing to me back in 1990, although I was and am not very religious, as I was able to get away for a bit.

It was also very popular during Ranger School.
 
FlyBoy1993 said:
. . . My main question is when do new cadets face that crucible of introspection when they make a choice of where they want to be with regard to their commitment to service, their fellow service members, and themselves? Is there more intense training in subsequent summers?
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Very good question. I think it's different for everybody. It could be R-day, it could be after graduation, or never. I think sooner is better. But more than likely, it will happen when they are challenged.

Nothing like being sleep deprived, hungry, tired, and cold, asking yourself why am I here?

In a way, Beast could be the most intense experience these new cadets could have. Cadet Field Training is more tactics focused (used to be). This is a year after at West Point so they should be able to handle the stress better. For me Beast was more stressful. I think CTLT will be a hit or miss as a cadet might be actually given a platoon or be just be a tag along. MIAD, such as Airborne and Air Assault, can be challenging, but might not be stressful.
 
MemberLG said:
Nothing like being sleep deprived, hungry, tired, and cold, asking yourself why am I here?
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COLD!? Sounds like a dream. I distinctly remember CGA being very hot, especially during swab summer.

Somehow they had a knack for scheduling when the Chase Hall heat would come back on.... there would be one cool day and the heat would come back on. The next few weeks returned to summer temps, so it was a nice double dose of heat. Box fans upon box fans!
 
LineInTheSand said:
COLD!? Sounds like a dream. I distinctly remember CGA being very hot, especially during swab summer.

Somehow they had a knack for scheduling when the Chase Hall heat would come back on.... there would be one cool day and the heat would come back on. The next few weeks returned to summer temps, so it was a nice double dose of heat. Box fans upon box fans!
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There are always one or two nights where the temp drops from a balmy 100+ in the daytime to low 50's overnight...and it's always when you decide not to bring your bivvy sack to the field that day
 
scoutpilot said:
...
Let's not confuse a discussion on training methods (for which new cadets are neither responsible nor accountable) with some sort of measurement of the value of individual New Cadets as people ...
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This would have been a great start to this entire thread, and bears repeating.
Thanks for stating the obvious scoutpilot.

Being passionate about something is a good thing, being arrogant about it is another. I think the problem is that the lines get a little blurry given different cultures, backgrounds, personalities, and (IMHO) frames of reference (read age).

While I don't agree with some of the comments (and occasionally the attitudes) posters may have, I DO appreciate the input provided by people with SA experience. Specifically; Bigbear, MemberLG, ScoutPilot, LineInTheSand, FlyBoy93, and others who I can't think of off the top of my head.

Thank you.
 
FTR, I am just a parent of a new cadet.

My prior service was USMC-enlisted. When I spoke of the challenges of training, it was from that vantage point...and now that of my son.

Thanks for the kudos, though.:thumb:
 
scoutpilot said:
It's pretty much a dead giveaway someone has an ax to grind or some skin in the game when they register and immediately make their first post in a contentious thread.
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I'd expect more first posts to be in contentious threads.

Not everyone bothers to introduce themselves on the Introductions board.
 
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