Wow, AFA Losing Cadets!

I'm confused on what folks think Basic training is. Maybe things have changed in the gazillion years since I was in boot camp but I can promise what they go through in BCT at USAFA pales in comparison to what the enlisted go through especially if you are looking at the Army and even more so for the Marines. BCT is 5 weeks long... 5 WEEKS! The Air Force enlisted go through 8 1/2 weeks. During that 5 weeks they have Ice cream on the 4th of July, a day at the rodeo and doolie day out to kick back and relax. I know it is tough but lets be honest it is the easiest of any boot camp that I know of. Ask someone who just finished 13 weeks Basic training at Parris Island how many days off they had. Ask them if it was mentally hard. Ask them just how physical it was.

I have a son at the USAFA and another who is enlisted Air Force so I am very familiar with what both went through in boot camp. Boot camp is supposed to be physically and mentally demanding. Their lives may one day depend on that training. This is a MILITARY training program, not STATE U! I welcome it to be tougher and I'd think anyone who has a son or daughter there would also. I prefer my son have a fighting chance if he were to become a pilot and get shot down in hostile territory. If you cannot last 5 weeks at BCT no matter how tough, how will you survive in a real hostile environment?

When I was at A-day last year I was shocked at how many cadets I saw falling out of formation during the ceremony. It was a comfortable day and they were dropping like flies. I was wondering what kind of training did they go through that they can't even stand at parade rest for 1/2 hour without passing out.

Maybe I'm old school but I'd rather it be tough and lose some people than to make it to easy and do them all a disservice. It is their job to prepare them for the worst and that is what they need to do.
 
Rocko said:
I'm confused on what folks think Basic training is. Maybe things have changed in the gazillion years since I was in boot camp but I can promise what they go through in BCT at USAFA pales in comparison to what the enlisted go through especially if you are looking at the Army and even more so for the Marines. BCT is 5 weeks long... 5 WEEKS! The Air Force enlisted go through 8 1/2 weeks. During that 5 weeks they have Ice cream on the 4th of July, a day at the rodeo and doolie day out to kick back and relax. I know it is tough but lets be honest it is the easiest of any boot camp that I know of. Ask someone who just finished 13 weeks Basic training at Parris Island how many days off they had. Ask them if it was mentally hard. Ask them just how physical it was.

I have a son at the USAFA and another who is enlisted Air Force so I am very familiar with what both went through in boot camp. Boot camp is supposed to be physically and mentally demanding. Their lives may one day depend on that training. This is a MILITARY training program, not STATE U! I welcome it to be tougher and I'd think anyone who has a son or daughter there would also. I prefer my son have a fighting chance if he were to become a pilot and get shot down in hostile territory. If you cannot last 5 weeks at BCT no matter how tough, how will you survive in a real hostile environment?

When I was at A-day last year I was shocked at how many cadets I saw falling out of formation during the ceremony. It was a comfortable day and they were dropping like flies. I was wondering what kind of training did they go through that they can't even stand at parade rest for 1/2 hour without passing out.

Maybe I'm old school but I'd rather it be tough and lose some people than to make it to easy and do them all a disservice. It is their job to prepare them for the worst and that is what they need to do.
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Ditto on all of this Rocko. My younger son is at USNA in Plebe Summer now which will end next week while his older brother is finishing his 13 weeks of basic at Parris Island as a Marine this Friday. To say it's like night and day doesn't even begin to describe the profound difference in the environment as well as the mental and physical demands that each are subject to....wonder if the young kid could do what his brother has just done and then tell me how tough those six weeks really were.
 
Rocko said:
I'm confused on what folks think Basic training is. Maybe things have changed in the gazillion years since I was in boot camp but I can promise what they go through in BCT at USAFA pales in comparison to what the enlisted go through especially if you are looking at the Army and even more so for the Marines. BCT is 5 weeks long... 5 WEEKS! The Air Force enlisted go through 8 1/2 weeks. During that 5 weeks they have Ice cream on the 4th of July, a day at the rodeo and doolie day out to kick back and relax. I know it is tough but lets be honest it is the easiest of any boot camp that I know of. Ask someone who just finished 13 weeks Basic training at Parris Island how many days off they had. Ask them if it was mentally hard. Ask them just how physical it was.

I have a son at the USAFA and another who is enlisted Air Force so I am very familiar with what both went through in boot camp. Boot camp is supposed to be physically and mentally demanding. Their lives may one day depend on that training. This is a MILITARY training program, not STATE U! I welcome it to be tougher and I'd think anyone who has a son or daughter there would also. I prefer my son have a fighting chance if he were to become a pilot and get shot down in hostile territory. If you cannot last 5 weeks at BCT no matter how tough, how will you survive in a real hostile environment?

When I was at A-day last year I was shocked at how many cadets I saw falling out of formation during the ceremony. It was a comfortable day and they were dropping like flies. I was wondering what kind of training did they go through that they can't even stand at parade rest for 1/2 hour without passing out.

Maybe I'm old school but I'd rather it be tough and lose some people than to make it to easy and do them all a disservice. It is their job to prepare them for the worst and that is what they need to do.
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I don't think the problem is about being too hard. In the USAF, BCT is led by AF officers. USAFA BCT it is led by upper level cadets(cadre). There is a difference in experience and knowledge between an officer and a cadre. As the cadre is still learning, what over sight is exercised? What is considered acceptable in terms of mistakes/missteps/out of bounds?

I expect it to be tough. It is a testing/proving ground designed first to tear you down and then build you up. But at what point do things go from tough to unreasonable to unsafe? Where is the line? Who draws the line? Who enforces the line? How is the line enforced? These questions tend to be asked more at the academy because cadets are in charge. And the fact that many parents and basics have no family military background/experience also doesn't help with understanding the difference between "usual" and "what in hell is going on here"?

It is the not knowing/understanding which I think leads to greater worry, fear and misunderstanding/interpretation than the reality actually warrants.

Also, the cadets tend to faint because they forget about not locking their knees. It's not about how comfortable a day it is. It's all about the knees!
 
A lot of good posts above. FWIW, I have heard of an instance when at the end of the bus ride on I-Day to the footsteps at the cadet area the bus cadre said "Get off this bus" and some gal did not. Her academy experience lasted 15 minutes plus the 5 back to Doolittle.
 
Sydney C. said:
Ditto on all of this Rocko. My younger son is at USNA in Plebe Summer now which will end next week while his older brother is finishing his 13 weeks of basic at Parris Island as a Marine this Friday. To say it's like night and day doesn't even begin to describe the profound difference in the environment as well as the mental and physical demands that each are subject to....wonder if the young kid could do what his brother has just done and then tell me how tough those six weeks really were.
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Just one quick thing to mention, Plebe Summer or whatever SA summer it is, is not the same as enlisted boot camp. It is not meant to be one and the same. Different mission. Plebe Summer or Beast or whatever is meant to break down a new Cadet or Mid and build them back up to be a member of the Brigade. The goal is pretty simple... make a Plebe prepared to be a member of the Brigade. Boot camp has a different mission set to make a Marine, Sailor, etc prepared to enter the operating forces. The SAs have a 4 year program to make someone ready for the operating forces. Plebe Year is meant to be a long challenging year learning how to follow. And it is a long year. For those of us who have lived it, we will all tell you PS is often the easy part. The academic year is much harder. Each year thereafter has a leadership component such as mentorship, discipline role, then leadership. They are very different environments with different training objectives.
 
NavyHoops said:
Sydney C. said:
Ditto on all of this Rocko. My younger son is at USNA in Plebe Summer now which will end next week while his older brother is finishing his 13 weeks of basic at Parris Island as a Marine this Friday. To say it's like night and day doesn't even begin to describe the profound difference in the environment as well as the mental and physical demands that each are subject to....wonder if the young kid could do what his brother has just done and then tell me how tough those six weeks really were.
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Just one quick thing to mention, Plebe Summer or whatever SA summer it is, is not the same as enlisted boot camp. It is not meant to be one and the same. Different mission. Plebe Summer or Beast or whatever is meant to break down a new Cadet or Mid and build them back up to be a member of the Brigade. The goal is pretty simple... make a Plebe prepared to be a member of the Brigade. Boot camp has a different mission set to make a Marine, Sailor, etc prepared to enter the operating forces. The SAs have a 4 year program to make someone ready for the operating forces. Plebe Year is meant to be a long challenging year learning how to follow. And it is a long year. For those of us who have lived it, we will all tell you PS is often the easy part. The academic year is much harder. Each year thereafter has a leadership component such as mentorship, discipline role, then leadership. They are very different environments with different training objectives.
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I get that they are designed differently and understand that. But we are talking about many cadets dropping in BCT supposedly because it was too tough physically and/or mentally. I just think that is odd when you have enlisted folks who are going through much tougher training physically/mentally for much longer periods (Granted by design but they still do it). My son would be the first to tell you that BCT was tough but not "that" tough (He actually said he'd rather do BCT again then take another ACT Test). But it was a LOOOOOONG grueling grind to recognition. I'm wondering how many that drop out during BCT would actually make it to recognition. My guess would be not very many.

I think some people lose sight of the fact that while the Academies are prestigious academic institutions, they are also a part of the military. And it is physically and mentally challenging in the military...
 
Navyhoops. You are totally correct. There is a big difference. The academy basically has 4 years to do (Militarily) what enlisted basic training does in 8+ weeks. Even when the enlisted are done with basic training, and they go on to their technical training, whether it's an Air Force AFSC, Army MOS, navy, marines, or coast guard, it's 2 totally different worlds. Like you said, and I an many others have said, academy Basic Training, (equivalent for each branch), is meant to take 1200+/- individuals from 50 states, territories, every background imaginable, and to break them down and turn them into one team. They then have 4 years to get their education, learn to be a leader, and learn to meet the goals and mission. The enlisted will get thrown directly into the "Real" military. They need it to be harder. They'll have time at tech school to learn their job, but a year after basic training, they could be deployed to the sandbox. They need to be ready.

But rocko is right. As a retired enlisted person myself, I can tell you first hand that NONE of the physical or mental challenges of the air force academy BCT, can even compare to that of enlisted basic training. This is verified almost every year by the many "Prior Enlisted" who attend the air force academy and have to go through BCT along with everyone else. Every one I've spoken to, has said that it's so easy compared to enlisted basic training. And remember, the age group of enlisted Basic Training and the academy Basic Training, is roughly the exact same age group; 17-18 years old. So, if they have a difficult time at the academy BCT, chances are, they'd probably would not have made it at all at enlisted basic training.

MombaBomba: One slight correction. Enlisted Basic Training isn't lead by AF Officers. It's lead by enlisted personnel. Granted, they are experienced; usually E-5 through E-7, and your point is well taken vs the academy being lead by upper class cadets. But as Navyhoops mentioned, it's a totally different mission and purpose behind the two basic trainings. The academy is to simply prepare the cadets to be part of a team, so they can learn in a military manner for the next 4 years and become trained military leaders. Enlisted basic training is designed to prepare the same age group individual to be able to perform an operational mission, in the REAL Military. Possibly in combat.
 
Don't disagree it should be mentally and physically challenging. I would like it to be very hard and challenging. I think most Cadets drop because they realize they aren't cut out for the military, they went for the wrong reasons, and all those other nice options they had are looking really good. Too hard, I would venture to say very few drop out for that reason. And if they can't hack 5 weeks of a SA summer because of its difficulty, then they definitely need to head home and move on to other things in life.
 
Not to detract from the main topic, but Navyhoops, you brought up a very important point. One that I've mentioned a number of times over the year, but I usually mention it hidden in a long post; because I know it will create some controversy.

There is a big difference between the 17-18 year old who "Enlists" in the military. along with their parents...... and the 17-18 year old who applies to a military academy, along with their parents.

1. Those enlisting, pretty much know what they are getting into. They know they "Joined the Military". They may have no idea what it's going to be like, but they know what they're doing. The overwhelming majority of military members throughout history, were enlisted, so JOINING the military is more understood. Their parents also know that their child "JOINED" the military. They enlisted. Other than some emails and the occasional phone call home when it's allowed and there's time, the parent pretty much accepts that their son/daughter has "JOINED" the military. Yes, there are some "Support groups" and "Forums" for enlisted; but there isn't even a comparison compared to the parental involvement with a cadet.

2. Those applying/attending one of the military academies, many times, don't see it the same way. Most don't see it as "Joining" the military. Many of the parents while verbally understand their child is in the military; subconsciously see their child as "OFF TO COLLEGE". They are as involved with their son/daughter's academy experience as most parents are with their child's traditional college experience. They talk about visiting on weekends. They talk about spring break, summer break, vacations, etc. These things don't exist in the "REAL" military. When your son/daughter "Enlists" or "Joins" the military, they accrue 2.5 days of vacation time per month. That first year, depending when they enlisted, they might make it home for one of the holidays. After the first year, visits home will become more rare. And FWIW; once your cadet graduates and goes into the real military, they too will not visit you as much as they did when at the academy. But again, most of the cadets and their parents don't see the academy as the same military that the kid who enlisted or their parents do. At least not for the first few years. It starts to sink in when they are getting ready to graduate.

3. Going into the academy for the "Wrong Reason" is definitely a common theme. When I interview kids applying to the academy, I always ask them all the same one question. "IF YOUR GRADES WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, AND/OR YOUR ACT/SAT WASNT HIGH ENOUGH, AND/OR YOU DON'T RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ENLISTING"? If the individual tells me they didn't or wouldn't really consider enlisting, and that they'd probably just go to a civilian university or get a job some place, then I KNOW that they are applying to the academy for the WRONG REASON. Maybe they are applying for the free education. Maybe they're being pushed by their parents. I've seen so many scenarios. If the COMMON response by most applicants about "SERVING THEIR COUNTRY" is really the truth, then it seems that if they couldn't go to the academy or receive a commission immediately after high school via college/ROTC/OTS, then if they really want to SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, they'd be eager to enlist. Applying to the academy for the wrong reason is SO COMMON. They won't say it verbally, but deep down inside, they know the truth.

4. The academy itself, in it's advertising and recruiting, perpetuate the problem with not seeing the academy as being in the "MILITARY". How many threads talk about neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. asking why your kid is going to the academy? Couldn't they get into a REAL COLLEGE? I thought they wanted to go to COLLEGE? Personally, if it were me, for the academy I would have no problem with a christmas break for a week and maybe one week off in the summer, but that would be it. There wouldn't be a spring break. I'd change up the routine to be LESS like a traditional university. I also wouldn't allow a cadet to drop out no questions asked for the first 2 years. I'd make it ONE YEAR. If you drop out after 1 year, you'd have to pay back with ENLISTED time.

Anyway, I think a lot of this is why the academy loses so many cadets. They don't see it as "JOINING" the military. And as Navyhoops said, many come in for the wrong reason.
 
I distinctly remember lying in my bunk during BMT at Lackland thinking "What the %$#@ have I gotten myself into." Surprise, you don't have a choice at that point, you put your name on paper. The fact that you can opt of one but not the other was the key psychological difference between BCT and BMT for me.

BMT/BCT is a sprint. Four years at USAFA is a marathon.
 
I also hate to point out we are comparing the dropout rate of one (USAFA) without knowing the dropout/washed back/recycled of the other (USAF enlisted). What if it's 6% or higher or lower.

As a side note I remember thinking the same thing that first night at Lackland. I even remember hearing one guy crying in his bunk. And I hated those stupid locks that they didn't tell you that you had to push the key in rather than slide it in to open it that first night.
 
I have not been to BCT at the academy, but I can tell you that the 8 weeks I spent in the Navy's enlisted boot camp were some of the toughest weeks, physically and mentally, that I have ever experienced in my life. CC is right, when you enlist, you are in the military and there is no day off until the end of the 8 weeks. After the 8 weeks were over I went directly to C school and did not get leave until 18 weeks later. I did manage to make it home to surprise my family over a long weekend, but had to be back to school by Monday morning. Boot camp was grueling and like AFrpaso, there were many nights I lay in my bunk wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into. There were so many times when I was picking up my gear that had been thrown all over the floor that I questioned my ability and fortitude to make it through the rest of the day. But, I can tell you, in boot camp, you weren't allowed to say, "I give up, I want out, this is not for me." The only way you were leaving boot camp was if your urine showed up that you were pregnant or taking drugs, you had some mental incapacity or you became injured and could not perform physically. Other than that, you belonged to the military and there was no turning back. BCT may be hard, but unlike enlisted boot camp, you can quit and walk away for whatever reason and never look back. There is no shame in figuring out the academy is not for you as you had to be top notch to get there in the first place. However, the ability to walk away and go on to the rest of your life is not an option when you enlist.
 
Enlisted BMT has 1 MTI for approximately 50 trainees, in a flight. USAFA BCT has 5-8 cadre for approximately 30 basics. That right there is a HUGE check on incorrect cadre behavior. MTIs are a special breed of people, and their general professionalism is quite amazing. Cadre don't have the background to effectively do the same task, so they are supervised more closely and work as a team.

Basics will do PT until muscle failure, and then be asked to do 10 more reps. At the end of a run, they will stumble around like zombies, gasping for air. This is normal. Most people never exercise to their limits. BCT, training sessions, Recognition, etc, push people to find their actual limits (and expand them in the process). This is by intent, and it is a good thing.

Medical care is certainly provided. Each basic has access to 5-8 flight cadre, a squadron Safety/Medical cadre member (aka the cadre whose SOLE JOB is to ensure basics stay healthy), squadron cadre, Enlisted AMTs, an Officer AOC, chaplains, and various officers/enlisted/cadre outside their chain of command that teach various classes. If they don't get care they require, either they didn't ask, or people at 4-5 levels all simultaneously failed them.

Christcorp said:
3. Going into the academy for the "Wrong Reason" is definitely a common theme. When I interview kids applying to the academy, I always ask them all the same one question. "IF YOUR GRADES WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, AND/OR YOUR ACT/SAT WASNT HIGH ENOUGH, AND/OR YOU DON'T RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ENLISTING"? If the individual tells me they didn't or wouldn't really consider enlisting, and that they'd probably just go to a civilian university or get a job some place, then I KNOW that they are applying to the academy for the WRONG REASON. Maybe they are applying for the free education. Maybe they're being pushed by their parents. I've seen so many scenarios. If the COMMON response by most applicants about "SERVING THEIR COUNTRY" is really the truth, then it seems that if they couldn't go to the academy or receive a commission immediately after high school via college/ROTC/OTS, then if they really want to SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, they'd be eager to enlist. Applying to the academy for the wrong reason is SO COMMON. They won't say it verbally, but deep down inside, they know the truth.
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I'll have to disagree a bit. I wanted to make a positive impact, become a pilot, and get a degree. Enlisting would not have been the best path to those goals. Those who want jobs like pilot, CSO, doctor, etc, in the AF don't really move toward their goal by enlisting. There are multiple good reasons to serve, but not all of them are identical. Some are better than others. "I want to play football at a D1 school"--probably not the best reason, and I've seen several cadets leave after realizing they signed on to WAY more than they should have.
In short, don't dismiss anything other than "TO SERVE MY COUNTRY" as an acceptable answer. I love serving, but I'd make a lousy SEAL, Cost Analyst, or Dermatologist.
 
AFrpaso said:
I am not discounting the accomplishments of 2019 but many of my cadre friends commented on the lower physical standards imposed during BCT, particularly due to the enforcement of the PT card.

I have a feeling that they compensated with a psychologically tougher environment which, in my opinion, would certainly explain the attrition numbers.
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afmom2 said:
Also, if fellow cadre witness bad cadre behavior and says outloud to other basics "I don't agree how basic "" is being treated", what would cause a cadre to say that? Maybe because a basic is not being treated fairly.
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afmom2 said:
Also, if fellow cadre witness bad cadre behavior and says outloud to other basics "I don't agree how basic "" is being treated", what would cause a cadre to say that? Maybe because a basic is not being treated fairly.
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BlahuKahuna said:
You're speaking very cryptically about what I presume is a fairly straightforward individual situation. If you'd like to discuss it with either myself or haleym, please send us a message. We both worked BCT this summer. There's no way for us to be expected to respond to elaborate hypothetical situations.
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I am not sure of what afmom2 is referring, but don't be so quick to attack and silence what she posted. On my end, there is a lot of talk and disgust over in squads because of tonight and Squad 22 training from 8pm until 10:30pm with orders to shower afterward and to put on their blues until taps. Quite a few upper-class cadets from other squads are unhappy with what was happening to the 4/cs considering many are injured and all are exhausted from basic with classes ahead in just hours. Several cadets told 22 to stop training since it was after 9pm, but the cadets in 22 mocked them and pressed harder on the 4/cs because of the criticism. upper class Cadets are discussing it around and a few calls made it over to our hotel just outside of base. Some think it's funny, but most find it wrong. Also, I have talked to a few 4/c parents who are upset about what they are hearing. Really, if it's so bad that the other cadets are talking about it, the matter should be reported. See something. Say something. Today's visit for the parade and tonight at the hotel, showed me that it's not business as usual in several squads. Some of the cadets cannot handle a tad of power, I guess. On our end, it isn't fair to dismiss what's going on in several squads--22 in particular (since they apparently have some reputation to live up to) in order to validate whether or not it was tougher for previous classes. Why be reductive? Perception matters. Stop with the denial. We do not want these types of stories starting this soon in the year. USAFA doesn't deserve this kind of attention and talk...or maybe it does if the mode of thinking is that character-building devoid of ethics is productive.
 
Christcorp said:
...but I usually mention it hidden in a long post; because I know it will create some controversy.

There is a big difference between the 17-18 year old who "Enlists" in the military. along with their parents...... and the 17-18 year old who applies to a military academy, along with their parents
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Yeah... because being recruited for sports teams happens in the enlisted world, as do "thundergate events", alumni fund raising, a variety of boondoggles for clubs/teams/activities, and dozens of other traditional college-centric activities for parents and cadets. Sheesh.

Really? If you expect the SA experience to viewed the same, then make it the same... and stop trying to have things both ways by blaming the new parents/new cadets for responding to exactly what SAs and existing SA families have perpetuated.
 
Christcorp said:
3. Going into the academy for the "Wrong Reason" is definitely a common theme. When I interview kids applying to the academy, I always ask them all the same one question. "IF YOUR GRADES WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, AND/OR YOUR ACT/SAT WASNT HIGH ENOUGH, AND/OR YOU DON'T RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ENLISTING"? If the individual tells me they didn't or wouldn't really consider enlisting, and that they'd probably just go to a civilian university or get a job some place, then I KNOW that they are applying to the academy for the WRONG REASON. Maybe they are applying for the free education. Maybe they're being pushed by their parents. I've seen so many scenarios. If the COMMON response by most applicants about "SERVING THEIR COUNTRY" is really the truth, then it seems that if they couldn't go to the academy or receive a commission immediately after high school via college/ROTC/OTS, then if they really want to SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, they'd be eager to enlist. Applying to the academy for the wrong reason is SO COMMON. They won't say it verbally, but deep down inside, they know the truth.
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Agree, but in many cases wrong reasons become immaterial as many stay, graduate, and become goods officers. As much as I want to hear "I wanna be an airborne Ranger, infantry platoon leader when I gradudate to defend our country," I rarely do. I give the benefit of doubt as what do 17 or 18 year old candidates really know. I also seen some of gungho classmates, leaving the Army right after 5 years. I think for many cadets/midship, the four years at the academy enlightens them.

Applying your standard will make me recommend no appointment for majority of candidates I interview.
 
Christcorp said:
MombaBomba: One slight correction. Enlisted Basic Training isn't lead by AF Officers. It's lead by enlisted personnel. Granted, they are experienced; usually E-5 through E-7, and your point is well taken vs the academy being lead by upper class cadets. But as Navyhoops mentioned, it's a totally different mission and purpose behind the two basic trainings. The academy is to simply prepare the cadets to be part of a team, so they can learn in a military manner for the next 4 years and become trained military leaders. Enlisted basic training is designed to prepare the same age group individual to be able to perform an operational mission, in the REAL Military. Possibly in combat.
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My bad. Thanks for the correction. I relooked up E7 and E8 to be sure they were sergeants. I had thought sergeants were considered officers. What are they classified as in the scope of things? Does a Sergeant ever outrank a lower officer like a lieutenant? (Military newbie here, trying to get my head around all the stuff I am learning.)

You hit the nail on the head with the mindset of enlisting directly vs. going to an academy. When most people hear Joe Generic is enlisted in the army, they associate Joe Generic with an adult soldier. When they hear Joe Generic attends the academy, they associate Joe Generic with a college kid getting some military leadership lessons. It is a mind set issue, and the fact that the academy does send mixed messages doesn't help. I think it is the nature of the beast when the beast is looking to attract intelligent and driven kids away from the traditional college experience. From my research, the academic requirements have become more difficult over the years (maybe I looked up the wrong information, or read it wrong.). The competitive average bar has moved up. So how to attract these kids away, especially when they are not acquainted with the real military (as opposed to TV and movie versions)? I sometimes picture the academies trying to tap dance in parade dress across the high wire, trying to stay balanced and focused while making it look "appealing."
 
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