SLE— Dirty?

Smalltowngirl

Smalltowngirl

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Mar 17, 2015
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My DD is currently at SLE and has texted that the facilities are pretty dirty?? Is this normal? Her roommates are of the same opinion—“gross” was actually the word they used. One of the girls was at USNA and said it was much cleaner and AFA is spotless.
 
My DD Is there right now as well, she didn’t say dirty, so much, but she said it felt kind of run down and not very updated. It isn’t supposed to be luxury accommodations though and we don’t have anything to compare to.
 
What barracks are they in? Please note: some of our barracks are older than the entire Air Force Academy. WP is on a current project to update. Davis is brand new and several barracks have been updated, but there are several to go. Grant will be torn down.
 
For the record, this is why my DD felt it was important to attend SLE. She has nothing to compare this experience to, we know no one who has gone and other than google searches and YouTube,really know nothing about what being at USMA is all about. And I am sure that what is she experiencing now is nothing compared to what is to come should she actually receive an appointment, but it is good for her to adjust her expectations now than a year from now when she has already committed.
 
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This reminds me of my first sleep away camp. I was maybe 10. I have no idea what I was expecting...but it was quite primitive compared to what I"d imagined. I cried...my dad yelled, "get in the car; let's go home!" With my lip quivering, I said, "no, I'll stay..." Of course, it was the best week of the summer--of many summers. The Army is very different from AF and Navy...and so is the academy. We do have some old, outdated barracks as opposed to spiffy dorms. Our mission is different; we're preparing officers for a different role in the armed forces. I hope once the shock wears off, they open their minds and can decide which branch is best for them. Good luck as they make their decisions!
 
Smalltowngirl said:
My DD is currently at SLE and has texted that the facilities are pretty dirty?? Is this normal? Her roommates are of the same opinion—“gross” was actually the word they used. One of the girls was at USNA and said it was much cleaner and AFA is spotless.
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Field conditions are expected to be dirty and uncomfortable. Garrisons should be spotless and in good condition.

Years of budget cuts have left USMA behind in facility maintenance, construction, and cuts to janitorial staff. Some barracks are very good and some are old and in need of renovation. Unfortunately, it looks like SLE got the latter. However, conditions should become more consistent with recent funding increases.

But you still have to look at the long term when deciding between academies - which service do I really prefer over the next 10+ years?
 
I'd like to know what was specifically "dirty." (asking out of curiosity) I stayed in Bradley barracks during my overnight in March, and there was nothing unusually dirty about it.

I've also stayed in 2 different dorms/buildings at Stanford University for football camps, and they were both cramped and filthy. What was filthy?
- Spider webs in the closets & ants crawling near the window ledge.
- Bathrooms smelled bad & wet all the time.
- Can't go barefoot in the dorm rooms because it was like walking in the woods --> floors caked with dust.
- I'm not even going to describe the bare mattress and the various "stains" observed.
- Desks with graffitti & carvings.
- Rooms smelled moldy.
 
Most all colleges have some run down dorms. Nothing out of the usual here.
 
Time to watch Private Benjamin again:

Judy Benjamin: I think they sent me to the wrong place.

Capt. Doreen Lewis: Uh-huh.

Judy Benjamin: See, I did join the army, but I joined a *different* army. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms.

…

Judy Benjamin: To be truthful with you, I can't sleep in a room with 20 strangers.

Capt. Doreen Lewis: Oh dear.

Judy Benjamin: And I mean look at this place. The army couldn't afford drapes? I'll be up at the crack of dawn here!

…

Judy Benjamin: Have you seen the bathroom?

Capt. Doreen Lewis: Do you think that the latrine... do you think that it's unsanitary?

Judy Benjamin: It's disgusting! There are *urinals* in there!

…

Pvt. Wanda Winter: Just keep marching, Benjamin.

Judy Benjamin: My name is Judy! J-U-D-Y Judy and I'd like somebody to call me by my name! Oh, okay I took my life in my own hands, I made a mistake fine I'm sorry! I'll never do it again! I wanna wear my sandals... I wanna go out to lunch. I wanna be NORMAL again!
 
mom3boys said:
This reminds me of my first sleep away camp. I was maybe 10. I have no idea what I was expecting...but it was quite primitive compared to what I"d imagined. I cried...my dad yelled, "get in the car; let's go home!" With my lip quivering, I said, "no, I'll stay..." Of course, it was the best week of the summer--of many summers. The Army is very different from AF and Navy...and so is the academy. We do have some old, outdated barracks as opposed to spiffy dorms. Our mission is different; we're preparing officers for a different role in the armed forces. I hope once the shock wears off, they open their minds and can decide which branch is best for them. Good luck as they make their decisions!
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As an Army officer who served in multiple theaters with combat units I don't see a correlation between the Army mission and the condition of the barracks at USMA. My CSMs would lose their minds if Soldiers tried to argue that dirty barracks were because we're field Soldiers.
 
Tell your girl to check out Davis Barracks, which is brand new and fabulous. Many of the barracks are being renovated as part of a rolling process. One of my kids lived in recently renovated stairwell style rooms with air conditioning. It was pretty fabulous. The other kid lived with four men shoehorned into a three man room. Not luxury.
The SLE students are not in the best barracks in addition to the fact that when the cadets vacated for the summer, they did not have to do some sort of post-move out inspection for spotlessness. There are no janitors in the dorms/barracks--so no one comes in after the cadets to keep it lovely and fresh. However, if living conditions are the number one reason for selecting where to apply, you might not apply to West Point...it is really cold and gray there for like seven months a year, even the snow turns grey. Also, the Army...sometimes you live and stay in really crummy places--for a long time and not just on deployment. Your girl should think about that...it isn't nice all the time in the Army but the people are awesome and the mission is the best in the world.
 
@Dr.Mom, I cannot agree with you more. My daughter is attending SLE now. She insisted she want to go to military school , like West Point. My feeling is very mixed , I am happy for her because likes school, but on the other hand, I As a mom, I just want her be happy and easy life. I am not sure does she know enough what a military life like. And is prepare enough for the path that she choose.
 
DD is having a great time and has gotten over the cleanliness issue. Her squad has decided to cope with the cold showers instead of walking to the other building because “it builds character”! So there you have it.
 
@Smalltowngirl Hey...did she get a chance to visit Davis Barracks? Tell her to run up there and check it out. It is gorgeous--architecturally, the view, purpose-built study spaces, high ceilings, lots of light--just shiny and brilliant. Send me a PM if you want her to have a guided tour...my cadet is still there. Glad her week got better...cold showers--not awesome. I hope she had fun and learned a lot.
 
DrMom said:
@Smalltowngirl Hey...did she get a chance to visit Davis Barracks? Tell her to run up there and check it out. It is gorgeous--architecturally, the view, purpose-built study spaces, high ceilings, lots of light--just shiny and brilliant. Send me a PM if you want her to have a guided tour...my cadet is still there. Glad her week got better...cold showers--not awesome. I hope she had fun and learned a lot.
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Thanks! I hear very little from her. A text or two in the evenings so I’m not sure where she’s been! She said that after her first day, her Sergeant took them on a tour and showed them the beautiful areas of campus and shared some insight about how he feels about being there. She had a change of heart at that point. One of her sister’s best friends from high school has been at Buckner this week and we were hoping she’d be able to come back and touch base with her—not sure yet if she will be back in time, however.
 
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