I find it hard to put into words. No regrets for attending. I was a last minute appointee and always felt grateful for the opportunity to go to that school. I never once thought of leaving, but often found myself focused on the opposite -- not screwing up and getting kicked out. I wanted to be there and knew that it would have positive life trajectory altering impacts on my future.
If I were given an opportunity to hop in a time machine and go do it again - I would jump at the chance in a heartbeat. Why again? To do it even better the second time around. The first time wasn't bad and I graduated in the top half of my class, but benefitting from what I know today, I know I could play the game even better the second time around. Like
@OldRetSWO, I now know that I coasted in High School and did not have great study habits. These were learned at USAFA. I would sleep more and not try to do everything. The process taught me how to prioritize tasks and learn to accept that you cannot do everything, but to be smart in the things you chose to ignore.
I tell my kids that Disney World is not the most magical place on earth - USAFA is. As a competitive Type-A personality, there are no better places than Service Academies (IMO) to force you to grow into the best person you can be at the time. You are surrounded by thousands of other people that think and perform like you. You are surrounded by literally the best of the best and they push you to be better just to keep up. Everyone has a common goal. They hold you accountable to what you are capable of and not just what you are willing to accept. They are a true meritocracy where your rank order in the class is truly based on what you do individually and not because of the work of others on your team. As a competitor, this fueled me.
Much of the outside world is not like that.