USMA Environment

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armypanda_

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How “corrupt” is the majority of USMA? As in like drugs, alcohol, intercourse, etc. I know there’s probably groups of more corrupt and less corrupt cadets, but as a whole would you say it’s pretty corrupt or not too corrupt.
 
This is a ridiculous question. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with what "corrupt" actually means. Are there things that go on there that are inappropriate - of course. But to qualify that as being corrupt suggests you don't know what that means. Perhaps you should investigate another path to the military if you are that concerned with "corruption."
 
USMAZoo98 said:
This is a ridiculous question. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with what "corrupt" actually means. Are there things that go on there that are inappropriate - of course. But to qualify that as being corrupt suggests you don't know what that means. Perhaps you should investigate another path to the military if you are that concerned with "corruption."
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cor·rupt
/kəˈrəpt/

adjective

  1. 1.
    having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
Agreed, swing and a miss.
 
Civilian or military, every school has their own problems with drugs, alcohol, etc. You will find corrupt and less corrupt students in EVERY school. But keep in mind that SA's get more spotlight in the media (compared to other colleges) when these bad events occur due to it's recognition and prestige worldwide. Associating West Point as a whole with the word corruption (or any institution) based on individual events is unreasonable.
It's good that you are concerned about the academy's environment and aware about the unfortunate decision-making of certain cadets; however, keep in mind that these incidents don't entirely determine if a school is "corrupt."
 
Everyone is right, I’m sorry for the misuse in language. Thank you for the clarification. I was using a slack version of “corrupt” that I use to describe “non pure” things… Again, I’m sorry for any disrespect I said about West Point. I was just wondering about the environment because my whole area has very negative views of our country and the military, so I have been exposed to an extreme perspective. I am trying to clear up any misconstrued pieces of information I’ve heard. I understand it would not be appropriate to label West Point as a whole as “corrupt”. It is an amazing school that I also really want to go to! I will be more careful with my language. Thank you everyone.
 
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Armypanda, if you are serious about the possibility of attending West Point, I strongly suggest visiting if time and money allow it. As a parent and a non-military family, I can say that I am very impressed with the faculty and leadership at West Point. Each person I have heard speak is intelligent, dedicated and well-spoken. I have confidence that my son is being challenged and molded into the best version of himself in ways that a civilian school would not. For example, DS is a second year and has a plebe that he is to mentor. This weekend was a significant and thorough room inspection. DS worked with his plebe to get the plebe’s room squared away first before spending a late night getting his own room ready. Servant leadership. (Plus DS has learned about dusting—something most teen boys are completely unaware 🙂.

He has 2 roommates who are his best friend. One is the son of a minister, the other is ranked in the top of his class. One is from the north, the other from the south. The roommate who is top of the class held tutoring sessions for the other plebes in calculus and physics—about 10 plebes in all. Again, selfless service.

West Point has cadets from every congressional district across our nation who have had to go through the vetting of the application process. Is everyone a saint? No, but you are going to get as classmates some very impressive people and you will be challenged and transformed.

West Point is a national treasure. DS often goes to trophy point and looks out at the view of the Hudson and reflects on how lucky and blessed he is to be there. It is unfortunate that folks in your area have a dim view of the military. That is an uninformed view. A trip to West Point should help confirm that it is a fantastic place to become a leader.
 
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Allectus said:
Armypanda, if you are serious about the possibility of attending West Point, I strongly suggest visiting if time and money allow it. As a parent and a non-military family, I can say that I am very impressed with the faculty and leadership at West Point. Each person I have heard speak is intelligent, dedicated and well-spoken. I have confidence that my son is being challenged and molded into the best version of himself in ways that a civilian school would not. For example, DS is a second year and has a plebe that he is to mentor. This weekend was a significant and through room inspection. DS worked with his plebe to get his room squared away first before spending a late night getting his room ready. Servant leadership. (Plus DS has learned about dusting—something most teen boys are completely unaware 🙂.

He has 2 roommates who are his best friend. One is the son of a minister, the other is ranked in the top of his class. One is from the north, the other from the south. The roommate who is top of the class held tutoring sessions for the other plebes in calculus and physics—about 10 plebes in all. Again, selfless service.

West Point has cadets from every congressIona district across our nation who have had to go through the Vetting of the application process. Is everyone a saint? No, but you are going to get as classmates some very impressive people and you will be challenged and transformed.

West Point is a national treasure. DS often goes to trophy point and looks out at the view of the Hudson and reflects on how lucky and blessed he is to be there. It is unfortunate that folks in your area have a dim view of the military. That is an uninformed view. A trip to West Point should help confirm that it is a fantastic place to become a leader.
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I really hope to visit at some point; I live all the way on the West Coast, so a trip to West Point would be costly in money and time. However, if I get appointed 🤞, I have hope my dad will allow me to do an overnight visit.

All aspects that you mentioned are some exact reasons why I want to attend. Thank you!
 
This question in no way reflects how I view West Point or the military, I was simply trying to gain a better understanding of the environment. I apologize for using unprofessional terms and language.
 
JWP said:
Why is anyone responding to this post? Should shut this one down now...moderators?
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We are less likely to shut down or remove a thread and more likely to watch it play out. I feel that the OP asked a poorly formed question and has received ample, appropriate responses.
 
DrMom said:
We are less likely to shut down or remove a thread and more likely to watch it play out. I feel that the OP asked a poorly formed question and has received ample, appropriate responses.
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Well said, rather than shut down discussions that are "controversial" it's good that we are letting the civil discourse play out. Armypanda asked a question and I am sure they received ample information, sure the question was poorly worded, but the lesson was clearly learned. Thanks Mods!
 
CPonn05 said:
Well said, rather than shut down discussions that are "controversial" it's good that we are letting the civil discourse play out. Armypanda asked a question and I am sure they received ample information, sure the question was poorly worded, but the lesson was clearly learned. Thanks Mods!
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I want to add...for everyone. When we are young, we hold ideals but part of growth and leadership is learning that even among the most august group of people--like those individuals who fully qualify and are selected to attend a service academy each year, we are still a large group of humans. Leading soldiers means learning that sometimes people are not motivated by wanting to do good all the time. (This floored me as a 2LT...I had a ring of thieves and another guy who became a drug addict and was married to a striper...) This is not just at USMA--which has had its share of scandals over the years...it is the same at the other service academies and frankly at any college, university or institution. The difference is that the service academies are transparent given both the requirements and the expectations. Group of lacrosse players found dealing pills? It wouldn't news if it weren't at West Point. Sexual assault numbers? The period from August to Thanksgiving is universally known as the 'Red Zone' at colleges and universities when sexual assault and rape are rampant. No one group has the solution, but at the service academies there are systems in place to train, prevent, and seek justice in these cases. Also, there is the federal requirement for full reporting. Raped at a civilian school? You are very unlikely to have a pathway to report, let alone seek justice. This is well above what the OP asked...but anytime you get a group of 4000 humans together, everyone is not playing by the same rules even with very clear cultural norms and values.
 
DrMom said:
I want to add...for everyone. When we are young, we hold ideals but part of growth and leadership is learning that even among the most august group of people--like those individuals who fully qualify and are selected to attend a service academy each year, we are still a large group of humans. Leading soldiers means learning that sometimes people are not motivated by wanting to do good all the time. (This floored me as a 2LT...I had a ring of thieves and another guy who became a drug addict and was married to a striper...) This is not just at USMA--which has had its share of scandals over the years...it is the same at the other service academies and frankly at any college, university or institution. The difference is that the service academies are transparent given both the requirements and the expectations. Group of lacrosse players found dealing pills? It wouldn't news if it weren't at West Point. Sexual assault numbers? The period from August to Thanksgiving is universally known as the 'Red Zone' at colleges and universities when sexual assault and rape are rampant. No one group has the solution, but at the service academies there are systems in place to train, prevent, and seek justice in these cases. Also, there is the federal requirement for full reporting. Raped at a civilian school? You are very unlikely to have a pathway to report, let alone seek justice. This is well above what the OP asked...but anytime you get a group of 4000 humans together, everyone is not playing by the same rules even with very clear cultural norms and values.
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Thank you, DrMom.
 
DrMom said:
Any time Panda. You've been asking a lot of questions here, which is good--but I hope you are spending time pulling together your nomination packets for your Congressman and Senators and working on your application to USMA.
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Yes! Most actions required now involve my teachers and counselors who don’t allow contact with students until school starts. Trying to finalize my essays and train for the CFA now!
 
One further thought: if you are disturbed by a potential lack of integrity at West Point you may need to take a deep breath before considering your eventual responsibility for a platoon of 18 year olds that did not pass through as fine a filter as the academy. Our troops are a wonderful sampling of the country as a whole, but as @DrMom pointed out, that's a knife with two edges. Prepare yourself to live in the world: lead where possible, set examples, provide guidance, show forbearance and forgiveness. It's a job that requires some subtlety, so you may end up with a little more grey on your palette than you might expect. Good luck.
 
@armypanda_ My DS is from the West Coast and our home district has historically been the county with the least participation in the Armed Services in the nation. All I can tell you is that my experience of his classmates is that they are high achieving but very "normal". They have made a different choice than many, but they are normal kids with all of the potential descriptions that might imply
 
ALF648 said:
@armypanda_ My DS is from the West Coast and our home district has historically been the county with the least participation in the Armed Services in the nation. All I can tell you is that my experience of his classmates is that they are high achieving but very "normal". They have made a different choice than many, but they are normal kids with all of the potential descriptions that might imply
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Thank you, ALF648.
 
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