Recognition Countdown

There are military members this age already risking their lives in combat and having respect for the uniform they are wearing. Perhaps tongue and cheek to you, but to the outside world the viewing of grabbing at female cadets while pretending to be drunk in uniform, the grabbing of female cadet by her pants hauling her off by her uniform pants and shoving her head down a trash chute. Grabbing cadets out of washrooms etc. and shoving against walls in uniform. Hovering over cadets with baseball bats while they do pushups. Need I go on? I can think of a million ways to raise morale, this was inappropriate. Cadets are our future leaders of our military and should be able to make better choices for "tongue and cheek" fun.
 
I understand that this video might make people frown, and it would have set off alarm bells had I seen it prior to my daughter signing her acceptance forms last year. However, please understand that this is not at all the way things are done at the Academy. My daughter and her fellow freshman cadets have been walking a tight rope all year, and are now going through the last stages of acceptance. These young adults can't sneeze without being set straight and this video is comic relieve for cadets and their parents alike. Please, please recognize that this equals a Saturday Night Live spoof. I watch it daily just to feel close to my girl and no, she is not in the video nor is it her squad. I actually regard this video as the cadets personal resolve that no 24/7/365 stress or demand will rob them of their humor, stability or sanity. These cadets will remain focused and are willing to die for their country. They are the most courageous and reliable young people we have in this country, I am sure of that. Please allow them to blow off steam during the two hours per month that are not filled with duties, demands, and a curriculum that would kill their civilian counter parts. Please allow your daughter to read this message to help her in her decision. It would be a great shame to have her denied this excellent opportunity. My daughter loves the USAFA and would not want to be anywhere else. Should your daughter need some questions answered by Sophia, then I am sure that she would be more than happy to oblige. Just let me know.
 
Morale

USAFA84, if your daughter doesn't like this video, then thank goodness she got to see it. People who go there liked it! This video wasn't made for my morale, for your morale, or for the morale of graduates past. Please share your million ways to boost morale.

If it raised the spirits of the doolies and/or other classes, then I'm all for it. Poor judgment, maybe, in allowing it to get out, but it is not about US!

Keep spirits up gang, you're almost through!
 
This over Tik tok? Could the video be more PC? Sure...but the intended audience for this was NOT the general public.

Not since WWII have we've asked so much of a generation - and they'll be cleaning up our mess for the next 30 years. So I vote to give them some slack.

I suppose people could find each of the following videos offensive...but what I see is portrayal of humanity in trying times. Life is too short and there are FAR worse things happening in the world right now than the spirit video in question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3L-_Snu7k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaWdkdFb3Y
 
I'm austounded over how much people are complaining about this. Its a spirit video. Its called such for a reason. 4*'s, upperclassmen and even faculty members I know thought the video did exactly what it was supposed to, increase morale by providing some humor. Spirit missions sometimes provide the little kick that us freshman need to make it through the day. I know several have helped me in the last few weeks shake out the stress.

And the only reason people know about this is because of youtube. Go back and talk to the grad's from the 60's through the 80's and listen to some of the things they pulled off and got away with. A well intentioned spirit video based off a popular song would have been called weak.
 
Seriously,

Moving planes, cranes, guns, making bombs, they had tons of fun. It just never went on youtube (since it didn't exists obviously). Putting a howitzer in the comms parking spot, or moving planes into the common area over by A-hall.

Later,

Brian
 
usafa84:

I understand your reasoning. We might disagree, but I understand where you're coming from. I'm not sure if you've stated this on other threads, but are you yourself a graduate, or only your husband? I'm just wandering because you mentioned him, but not yourself graduating from AFA.

And also, what does your husband think of the videos? I'm genuinely interested in hearing all sides of this, and it sounds like there are plenty of ranging ideas.
 
Yea, these are future leaders alright, but not just of the military. Don’t sell them short. They are future leaders of the country and the entire free world for that matter.

I, for one, am glad they are not humorless zombies afraid to act lest they “offend” those chained to political correctness.

I applaud their efforts and especially appreciate those female cadets who, for all I know, may have been just as involved in coming up with the skit as the lambasted males. What if we find out that’s the case, does that change anybody’s thoughts?

If you ask me who I want defending my freedom and leading the country? It’s the guys and gals with the guts to poke fun at themselves, their ‘Dant,’ and USAFA’s strict environment, not to mention nail a friggin’ back flip off the F-15! (You can keep all the ones sitting in a circle singing Kumbaya.)

By the way, has anyone taken the time to read the comments about the video? Looks like these guys should have jobs in Public Relations for USAFA.

Well done Cadets!

Well done.
 
its not like we randomly just went up to her and did it. we made sure she was ok with it. she was totally cool with it and thought it was a pretty funny idea. and its a different person with their head in the ice machine, not a trash chute. for a completely different reason we actually had to fall out at 6 this morning to get talked to, mainly while in the front leaning rest, about respect for the uniform. after 8 months of it, though it may be hard to believe, we understand how special the uniform is. people have died in it, etc. maybe we lacked some judgement with the whole thing, but honestly there's stuff like this even coming from the desert. if you're serious the whole time you lose sight of a lot of things, which can be very dangerous. just don't look into the video that far.
 
I'm amazed this is getting so much negative attention. These morale builders have been going on forever at USAFA. We did similiar skits over 20 yrs ago, some that made this video look tame. As pointed out, the difference was, they were kept pretty much in-house, with no YouTube/internet to publically broadcast them. These are bright, respectful young adults, and they "get it" Those on the outside, that haven't lived the experience need to lighten up. Barnstormin 23, I love your spirit and sense of humor, it will go far in helping you get thru the next 3 yrs. HERES TO RECOGNITION--CONGRATS!
 
You guys are a little late today. Better get it up pretty soon.

Later,

Brian
 
This time next week I probably will not be able to lift my hands above my head.
 
Haha, so I know who both of you are when I see the next kid get tripped for yelling Hap at XC.
 
Video

We thought the video was hysterical and very well made. It served it's purpose - to entertain. It was not a political statement, an official representation of USAFA or anything more than entertainment. I am sorry to hear that some people are so bent out of shape over it. What kind of message does THAT reaction send? Do we really want to tell our cadets that they have to leave their sense of humor at the front gate when they make the awesome decision to sign on the line for our country? I don't. I want them to work hard and be well prepared for the next steps in their service to our country. I also want them to have a well-rounded perspective on everything they are learning at USAFA. Letting off steam is a necessary part of this process. They can't be expected to work as hard as they do without any reprieve or opportunities for fun. Lighten up.
 
check out the second video posted by Gasdoc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqaWdkdFb3Y). One of the men in that video is currently the Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, and is a great leader. This video is of current military leaders, not future ones at the academy.

Judge us on this video and the other hundred on them. In fact, you might as well see us as everything the news reports us as: cheaters, rapists, intolerant menaces. Or listen to what it's really like. It's your choice. This reminds me of the people on the footprints video trying to say they understand how USAFA is run. It's nothing like it.
 
Very well said.

About 5 days left, i really am proud of you guys for sticking with it.
 
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