Too Many Midshipmen in the Brigade?

[Pima]

But, a zero tolerance approach isn't a bad thing b/c that's what it's like as an officer. Best to learn now.

So true. Think of entering USNA as a plebe and how you were forced at a high speed to get with the program.

The same is true for AD.

I recall when Bullet made O3, and someone joked you know why he has 2 bars, instead of one? Because now crap gets stuck on him!

In the end, we as a nation have deficit issues. Taxpayers may be hit in their own wallet. They will not take kindly to the fact that their wallet is hit, their child is tens of thousands in loans, and they are paying to keep cadets on the payroll when they have "issues".

There already is rumbling that retirement pay for AD members is not a happy thought. The DOD has already cut them by not giving a COLA. AD members got one of the lowest pay increases I can remember. ROTC Scholarships are being cut. In essence, they are trimming as much as they can to scrimp and save without hurting the force.

This is not personal, it is business. People want to believe that the DOD is not like corporate America, but it is. They have a budget. They have fiscal constraints. If getting rid of the excess at USNA (remember 4400 is their max strength number), and they decide to use academic or honor codes to get them within their constraints they will do it.

Just as everyone told every applicant for the SA's, the same is true for them once they are there...do not aim for the mins!