Phone Calls?

Amen Scoutpilot, amen.
Also, if anyone here has a NC one of the best places for info, besides S:thumb:P, is usma plebe-net. The moderators are very knowledgeable and answer questions promptly and accurately either in the forum setting or privately if you desire. This is a great resource for new wp parents. We told our kid not to think too far ahead during CBT--day to day, pillow to pillow, or meal to meal. We are doing the same.
There is a similar set up for candidates, etc. just go to the usma home page and follow the links
 
Amen Scoutpilot, amen.
Also, if anyone here has a NC one of the best places for info, besides S:thumb:P, is usma plebe-net. The moderators are very knowledgeable and answer questions promptly and accurately either in the forum setting or privately if you desire. This is a great resource for new wp parents. We told our kid not to think too far ahead during CBT--day to day, pillow to pillow, or meal to meal. We are doing the same.
There is a similar set up for candidates, etc. just go to the usma home page and follow the links

While plebenet was helpful in the past, a more up-to-date option for information is on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/WestPointParents
This site is managed by the Directorate of Public Affairs and Communications at West Point. There is a discussion section and you can contact the administrator, Deb Dalton, privately to ask questions that you don't want to pose on a public forum. This site has many links to pictures, etc that other parents are sharing. It is a great resource!! All information comes straight from West Point, so the accuracy is never in question. :thumb:
 
While plebenet was helpful in the past, a more up-to-date option for information is on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/WestPointParents
This site is managed by the Directorate of Public Affairs and Communications at West Point. There is a discussion section and you can contact the administrator, Deb Dalton, privately to ask questions that you don't want to pose on a public forum. This site has many links to pictures, etc that other parents are sharing. It is a great resource!! All information comes straight from West Point, so the accuracy is never in question. :thumb:

I agree, mom3boys! Never any question about whether information is current or not because it comes straight from the "horse's" mouth. Deb is wonderful and so helpful! Plebe-Net can take a lot of time to wade through to glean the useful nuggets.
 
To respond to the earlier posts....

Yes, I am happy. Yes, it is selfish. But my being happy isn't changing his decision - and he hasn't "given up." When he called he wasn't crying and saying, "I miss you guys and the dog and my girlfriend... this sucks. I'm coming home." He was very calm and very certain, and talking about his long-term future in the military, and whether or not a commitment to being in the military is something he really wants for himself and future family. He decided that it wasn't. It had nothing to do with "sticking it out," or even the lack of contact [he claimed to be enjoying the physical aspects, and let's face it, if the lack of contact were bothering him that much, he'd have written a letter]; he simply decided that he did not want to make that sort of commitment to the military.

And while my parents repeatedly asked him whether he was certain of his choice, they aren't going to encourage him to stay somewhere that he truly does not feel is right for him. While I respect the Cadets who choose to stay, I don't blame the ones who don't; the military is not the life for everyone.

And also, to respond to what mom3boys said, they've had him talk to four counselors so far, each of them trying to convince him to stay, but from what he said, his decision is firm. So I'd say they're trying rather hard. lol
 
Too bad for the other noms that he couldn't have figured it out BEFORE he went
If he can make that judgment only being there a week, it would seem he could have jumped to the conclusion without using up a slot. Best of luck to your brother,I am sure he will do great. I saw in other posts you were considering applying, be sure to talk to your brother about his experiences so you will be armed with more info for your decision.
 
Oh man! That is the first "casualty" from "attrition" I heard.

I can't convince your brother to stay. But last week must have changed his view.
The question is, has he seen enough parts of activities at WP to make a good decision? Does one week in Beast make a good enough foundation?
 
Oh man! That is the first "casualty" from "attrition" I heard.

I can't convince your brother to stay. But last week must have changed his view.
The question is, has he seen enough parts of activities at WP to make a good decision? Does one week in Beast make a good enough foundation?

No, it doesn't. It's a shame a slot was wasted like that. I find myself wondering exactly what he thought WP was about, since the military commitment seems to have taken him quite by surprise. Despite the semantics, the fact remains that he did "give up." Quitting by any other name is no less a breach of commitment. It's sad that 8 days was all the longer this young man lasted.

This is why we do candidate interviews, and I try to ask some blunt and startling questions. It's easy to tell who has thought deeply about it and who has not.
 
I can't believe the military commitment took him by surprise.
I think the Beast activities took him by surprise, although he did not admit it to his family, lol.
 
I can't believe the military commitment took him by surprise.
I think the Beast activities took him by surprise, although he did not admit it to his family, lol.

That's entirely possible. I found that kids who gave up often had some pretty wild tales to tell their family about the "horrors" they faced or the supposed deep soul searching they did. More than once we were asked to answer for some supposed torture a new cadet who quit had endured. Once the family started talking to the Tac and the cadre, the kid's story usually fell apart quickly.

It's not hard for a leader to tell which guy can't stand to be away from his girl and his family. It happens, but it's at the expense of other qualified people who might have toughed it out.
 
No, it doesn't. It's a shame a slot was wasted like that. I find myself wondering exactly what he thought WP was about, since the military commitment seems to have taken him quite by surprise. Despite the semantics, the fact remains that he did "give up." Quitting by any other name is no less a breach of commitment. It's sad that 8 days was all the longer this young man lasted.

This is why we do candidate interviews, and I try to ask some blunt and startling questions. It's easy to tell who has thought deeply about it and who has not.

Ahhh. This is what I'm afraid of. I'm definitely aware of Beast and all the difficulties and "consequences" I must face, but I'm afraid that if I am rejected or wait listed, those who will "give up" will waste a spot that either a determined person or I would have been able to fill... help!
 
Ahhh. This is what I'm afraid of. I'm definitely aware of Beast and all the difficulties and "consequences" I must face, but I'm afraid that if I am rejected or wait listed, those who will "give up" will waste a spot that either a determined person or I would have been able to fill... help!

Not quite sure what you mean by consequences......
 
I sincerely hope you don't think that service in the military is a "consequence."

Oh definitely not. I used a bad choice of words. I meant "consequences" in the viewpoint of a person who "gives up"-- the difficulties one must face following the application and their possible acceptance or if I get in trouble,etc. :/ My apologies to any offenses taken.
Hopefully that cleared things up :thumb:
 
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To respond to the earlier posts....


And also, to respond to what mom3boys said, they've had him talk to four counselors so far, each of them trying to convince him to stay, but from what he said, his decision is firm. So I'd say they're trying rather hard. lol


It is unfortunate he didn't have this "soul searching" inner dialogue prior to accepting his appointment. He took a spot that someone who unwaiveringly wants to serve could have had. :frown:
 
Just got a call from my son 9:00PM. The call lasted 10 min. The call came as a number from GA. Signal wasn't too good. But I understood that the life was very busy there. They didn't see the firework due to other unfinished activities. The food was good and he was told it was only going to get better. I asked him if he needed anything he said no. I also asked about the heat. He said it was hot but they are all doing fine in the 90+ F conditions. I am very proud of these kids.
Finally, because of this discussion we had here, I nervously asked whether he would possibly quit? He said why? "I am fine dad, and I have not seen anyone quitting." He is in Company-A.
 
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Just got a call from my son 9:00PM. The call lasted 10 min. The call came as a number from GA. Signal wasn't too good. But I understood that the life was very busy there. They didn't see the firework due to other unfinished activities. The food was good and he was told it was only going to get better. I asked him if he needed anything he said no. I also asked about the heat. He said it was hot but they are all doing fine in the 90+ F conditions. I am very proud of these kids.
Finally, because of this discussion we had here, I nervously asked whether he would possibly quit? He said why? "I am fine dad, and I have not seen anyone quitting." He is in Company-A.

Sounds like he's having a great time. Good stuff to hear.
 
Phone calls

We heard from his girlfriend yesterday that all is fine. Roomie from nc. Food is good, military part fantastic. Gets yelled at but nothing one would quit over. A bit surprised she got called instead of us hmmm I guess they are growing up!
 
@scoutpilot; Quite frankly, my brother had the right [and apparently, academic and athletic talent] to pursue what he had, at the time, thought was his dream. If a kid didn't get a nomination, perhaps they should have put more effort into it. Really, I don't think anyone who can't earn the nomination in the first place is in any kind of position to whine about or criticize someone who gives it up. Let's see them actually get that far first, eh?

Furthermore, there were no "horror stories" he told us; he had no problem with Basic Training itself. As I already said, he was actually having fun with the rigor of the athletic and physical parts of it. He isn't someone who easily gives up. He simply realized that the military is not where he wants to spend the next four years, and he has every right to make that decision; he earned that accomplishment, and he can walk away from it if he so chooses.

@elan_xu; I really don't think so; he was very gung ho about Basic Training before he left, and he didn't have any complaints about it when we talked to him, just very serious doubts about whether or not this was something he truly wanted. And as far as him having seen enough of it, I guess he did. -shrug-

@hkim93; Well, just put your best into it, and whoever EARNS the slot will get it. :)
 
@scoutpilot; Quite frankly, my brother had the right [and apparently, academic and athletic talent] to pursue what he had, at the time, thought was his dream. If a kid didn't get a nomination, perhaps they should have put more effort into it. Really, I don't think anyone who can't earn the nomination in the first place is in any kind of position to whine about or criticize someone who gives it up. Let's see them actually get that far first, eh?

Furthermore, there were no "horror stories" he told us; he had no problem with Basic Training itself. As I already said, he was actually having fun with the rigor of the athletic and physical parts of it. He isn't someone who easily gives up. He simply realized that the military is not where he wants to spend the next four years, and he has every right to make that decision; he earned that accomplishment, and he can walk away from it if he so chooses.
/QUOTE]


By taking a slot, what was meant that there are usually 10 nominations from each MOC. Most don't seem to give primary and allow West Point to chose who receives the offer of admission.
Do you mean appointment?

It would have been a great thing if your brother would have done his soul searching about military life prior to arriving at West Point and taking one of the spots of the 9 others who were nominated.
He sure does have the right to depart. But as far as giving up easily, it does seem that he does. 8 days into something is a very quick time to make the decision that military life isn't for him. I truly hope that down the road he doesn't look back and realize that he made a mistake. As he's not struggling with the physical aspects of Beast, maybe he should spend a bit more time seeing some of the positive aspects of being a part of something as special as West Point.
 
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