Your son/daughter goes where???

Just last week, telling a coworker my DS would be home for a week/spring break. Her response -- "I didn't know they'd let him leave."

When explaining the initial costs for WP to my sister (who has two college graduate DDs), she kept saying repeatedly "but it's free, isn't it?" I finally said, "yes, there is no tuition or R&B but he will pay back with 5+ years of active duty service." Her response -- "but it's free, isn't it?" smh

"Do you have to file the FAFSA?" I said no, WP is federally funded, and the mother looked shocked (and she is married to an AF officer). Maybe it was envy...

"Does he love WP?" My response from July-December, "well, he doesn't "love" it but he is glad to be there."

When telling others DS broke his nose during Plebe boxing, I got many responses asking why he's taking boxing (it's required) and does he have health insurance (yes, the Army covered it 100% and took good care of him).
 
This isn't quite in the same vein, but humorous none the less.

DD and another friend had applied to USNA and were discussing it at school. They were asked, "Why would the Naval Academy be in Maryland? Isn't that in the middle of the country?"

... *sigh* .... :wow: At least she realized that the Navy needed an ocean.
 
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baileydb said:
This thread brings to mind something that Abraham Lincoln once said: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
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there are people that honestly dont know the academies exist or just know about west point or navy. there are some people that know a little bit but think they know more; and there are some people that know a lot and are genuinely excited about the news. unfortunately there doesnt seem to be much of a drive to advertise/showcase the academies and the only time they make the news is because something negative happens. kinda sad if you ask me. we actually didnt know about AFA until junior year so we were one of those ignorant people lol.
 
skismuggs said:
there are people that honestly dont know the academies exist or just know about west point or navy. there are some people that know a little bit but think they know more; and there are some people that know a lot and are genuinely excited about the news. unfortunately there doesnt seem to be much of a drive to advertise/showcase the academies and the only time they make the news is because something negative happens. kinda sad if you ask me. we actually didnt know about AFA until junior year so we were one of those ignorant people lol.
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*sighs* unfortunately, it's very true. As a young female who is soon going to USAFA, I sometimes tell people I get in, and their face gets dead serious. "Just be careful there, Bailey. You've heard about..." and they proceed to warn me about various scandals at the academies.
I love when people ask questions, though, and I can tell them all about these wonderful schools. Yes, I definitely used to be one of the most ignorant haha so I can definitely forgive the uninformed ;)
 
And not everyone has heard about West Point or know it is Army -- it doesn't seem to matter which region of the US people reside in. Perhaps history classes (even elementary/jr high schools) should touch on this subject. Definitely a history lesson to be taught!
 
skismuggs said:
there are people that honestly dont know the academies exist or just know about west point or navy. there are some people that know a little bit but think they know more; and there are some people that know a lot and are genuinely excited about the news. unfortunately there doesnt seem to be much of a drive to advertise/showcase the academies and the only time they make the news is because something negative happens. kinda sad if you ask me. we actually didnt know about AFA until junior year so we were one of those ignorant people lol.
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skismuggs you hit it. Most people just do not have exposure to what a SA is. Some do not care. Others are just ignorant. Some have negative opinions. As someone who entered USNA hearing all these things, I would like provide my opinion. It is nothing more than that and some will agree and others disagree. I was a D1 basketball recruit for many universities to include many Ivies. I have heard everything from killing kids, its too bad I am not going to school because I am smart, to why enlist when you had all those scholarships. The one things I learned to do is take these all in stride. For those who really didn't know I would often ask them if the knew about SAs. Mostly they simply didn't. I would take the time to explain what they were and how it all it works. Most of the time the response was very positive and they were happy I opened a dialogue. Some just simply refuse to grasp the concept, I can't change that. I had one lady at the airport who told me, "I never want my kids to be in the position that they have to serve." I responded with, "Ma'am, I chose that path. I was accepted at Princeton among many other schools. My parents supported me regardless of my choices. I wanted to serve my country and I didn't sacrifice anything by going to USNA. I loved it all (minus parts of Plebe Year), got an Ivy League level education, played D1 basketball, made the greatest friends on the planet and tomorrow I will hold hands with my closest friends as we bury our buddy. We all chose it, none of us regret it." She had no response.

There was a thread on here awhile ago discussing the military civilian divide. It was a great thread. I didn't take the time to dig it up, call me lazy! But as members of a SA and the military we have a responsibility, as do civilians to learn, to educate the public about the schools and the service. The military can be a very closed and intimidating environment to outsiders. And military members as a whole do not do the greatest job of interacting outside our circles. I encourage those to take the few extra minutes to explain things and engage in a conversation. You might be the only military member they know! The impression you leave them will make up their minds for alot of things. When I got out of the military I worked for the DoD and in DoD building. I was still sort of isolated from the civilian world as all my friends were grads and work was all military. When I finally left that world, I now work at private large corporation that does actively recruit veterans, but there are not a ton of us. My colleagues are genuinely interested and ask questions. I try to answer them the best I can. I even had someone ask if I shot or killed someone. For those of us who have been in combat we generally hate this question and I refuse to answer it. I have never answered it for a single human on this planet and never will. I politely declined to answer, told him why and mentioned that vets really do not like this question and suggested he not ask again to someone. I did this the most polite and genuine way I could without shutting him down. He really didn't know not too. In the time I have been at my company, I have received so many questions, mostly people want to know and are curious. If I am short or respond badly to stupid questions it doesn't help to bridge that gap. I bring this up, because the questions won't end with an acceptance to a SA, they only increase. Each military member is an ambassador to their service and the military at large. We all start as civilians and will end as one too.

Yes, the SA process is long and stressful. But, don't discount the stress other families with children applying to other schools. This is just as an exciting and stressful time for them too in its own regard. These are just my views and opinions. Just trying to provide a little different perspective/food for thought to some of this. And the weird questions and statements won't end anytime soon. As a women's basketball player at USNA, can you imagine seeing 15 women in uniform with most of them over 6' tall at the airport or in a restaurant? Yes, we have heard more weird questions and statements then you can imagine. I am thankful for this forum as it allows conversation and a place for families and candidates to express their concerns, release some stress with others in the situation and learn from one another.
 
My own Father has asked me several times about our Son...who is at USNA.."So will he have college degree when he gets out?" And he only lives about 90 miles from the Academy. Grrrrr

But my favorite is...we live in a rural County which has a little community community known as westpoint. Yeah you see where this is going... and when it was announced at High school that my son had received and appointment to West Point, One of the kids from school came up to him and said "so your going to West Point I live out at Westpoint, I didn't even know we had a college out there".

Anyway enjoying this thread but it is Kinda sad to think how many people in this country know so Little about such prestigious institutions.
 
Falcon A said:
Just wait until your DS is mistaken for a doorman or the curbside baggage guy when he is waiting for you to pick him up curbside at your hometown airport when he comes home on Christmas break 4th class year wearing his doolie/plebe uniform and overcoat ...
Happened to me ... :blowup:
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went to the NYC today and every time we passed by those apartments with doormen, i burst out laughing as I remember this post! I cannot look at another doorman straight in the eye ever again :)
 
Aside from the already mentioned encounters, I have had this scenario play out a few times:
New Friend: So where did you go to college?
Me: The Air Force Academy
Friend: Oh, my cousin went there
Me: Oh Wow, when did he graduate?
Friend: He just graduated High School last year, he's stationed in Iraq now...
 
And then there is the confusion between what Academy Grads major in and what they actually do in the military
Friend: So what did you Major in?
Me: Biology
Friend: Oh, so are you a health professional?
Me: No, I am a personnel officer
Friend: And what about your husband?
Me: He majored in Mechanical Engineering
Friend: Oh Wow, my husband's an engineer too
Me: Well, mine's actually a pilot
Friend: (Totally confused now)
 
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