Your son/daughter goes where???

brewmeister said:
Most folks seem to know what USAFA is, but lately we've run into a few "so where is he going to be stationed?" questions.
Along with a few other "I thought he was going to college?"
Explaining it as "West Point for the Air Force" seems to clear it up.

Also a surprising number of people who wonder if we support his decision to be part of the armed forces. Didn't expect that.
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Asking if you support it seems like a rational and logical question. My wife is still pissed my son went through Rotc and is in the Air Force. That doesnt mean she didnt cry when he commissioned and got his wings.
 
It took my parents almost 2 years to get on board with my plan to go to USAFA/be in the Air Force and they got asked the question of whether the supported me pretty much weekly after I started telling people I had applied to the Air Force Academy. I am from Oregon, which has very little military presence. My high school guidance counselor knew absolutely nothing about the application process/the Academy. I usually explained it as it is like West Point for the Air Force as well - but for some, even that didn't clear it up. My parents support me now, but it took a lot of time on this forum and attending parent events in Oregon for my mom to come around.
 
HCopter said:
Depends on who is asking, and what they are REALLY asking, and why they are asking at all.

For the PTA crowd: Most know about SAs but not USMMA. I say DD's top 3 includes USMMA and then the question, so I size up who's asking and whether they really want to know all about the Merchant Marine academy. Usually not - they are really asking "How elite is the Merchant Marine Academy?" So I crafted this for the Ivy-centric, "reach-schools-are-better" crowd: Here's a very loose analogy: Suppose I told you DD got into HYPS, and you asked me which one she chose. Then I say Cornell, and you gasp. Then I tell you she is double majoring - in Hotel Management and Entomology with special research on the bedbug. And Cornell also offers everything from Chemistry to English. That is sort of like USMMA where it is incredibly difficult to get into, and at first blush you might chose HYPS, but then realize that Cornell is arguably the best in the county in these 2 fields plus offers all the other majors. The USMMA's main mission is to train Merchant MarineRs (me making a big R in the air) not MarineS (a big S in the air and x'ing it out). You get a year at Sea - no kidding, the mother of all study abroads! But it is unique that you could go to any branch of service upon graduation. Now how's your DS/DD's college process going?.....me adhering to the unspoken rule of 3 minutes of air time, next persons turn...because even more than Where is DD going/is it an elite school, they really are saying, you get 3 minutes, then my turn to talk about my own DS/DD (why they asked me anything in the first place)!
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Saw a great t-shirt on USMMA alumni website I might just have to get. It listed all five SA on back and on front has USMMA - a federal academy
 
Not sure if I'm deviating from the spirit of this thread but I can honestly say this has been a fantastic week for DS. Upon receipt of his USMA appointment certificate this past Tuesday he's received wonderful reactions from classmates and professors hugging him in the middle of class, family members with tears in their eyes as he read the appointment letter and texts/emails/phone calls from family and friends across the country (and outside of as well) offering their congratulations! While I'm sure all of them aren't aware of the specific S.A. details, they almost universally understand the significant effort DS put forward in the process as well as his commitment to serve and lead in the future.
 
Hurricane12 said:
It probably should...

When I was applying to the academies and as a mid I think I held a lot of the same opinions as the more enthusiastic parents on here. Some of my older posts probably reflect similar opinions. How could people not know about the Naval Academy and how prestigious it was that I got in/went? How were people so ignorant about something that was so important to me? My own parents, while wonderful people who respected my decision to attend USNA and interest in military life, harbored a lot of doubts and worries about those choices. At time I took this as kind of an affront, but now as someone comfortably established on active duty it makes a lot more sense. To their everlasting credit, despite their legitimate concerns about sending their daughter off to the military, they allowed me to choose my own path and now whenever they visit want to stop by the PX to get all the "Marine Mom/Dad" gear they can carry.

There are wide swaths of America that don't have a ton of people interested in the military. Many people don't know anyone on active duty. Even in San Diego, where there is a HUGE military presence, I talk to a lot of people who don't really interact with the military personnel here or know a lot about military life. There are a lot of people to whom Camp Pendleton is just a stretch of I-5 without houses on it. While maybe not ideal, that is reality. Most of the questions that people respond to in this thread aren't borne from any ill-will, but from ignorance. Reacting with "It's like Harvard....but more selective" Is a good way to have those people shut down or not really learn anything. Patience and understanding go a lot farther.

At the end of the day, this is a career where your children will work very hard, often in difficult and possibly dangerous conditions. They will fail at something, be yelled at, and be physically and mentally miserable at some point or another. That your child could be killed or seriously injured on active duty, even in peacetime, is a simple fact. They will likely know people who will die. I wonder sometimes about the parents on here who express only pride and happiness in their children attending the academies or going on active duty. I am not yet a parent, but have to think that I would have a long conversation with a child of mine that wanted to enter the military about what that really means. Absolutely be proud of your children for wanting to take a different path and that you have prepared a child for the road vs. the road for the child or whatever. Others may not feel the same way, and that's fine.
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Excellent. Thank you.
 
CatC said:
Not sure if I'm deviating from the spirit of this thread but I can honestly say this has been a fantastic week for DS. Upon receipt of his USMA appointment certificate this past Tuesday he's received wonderful reactions from classmates and professors hugging him in the middle of class, family members with tears in their eyes as he read the appointment letter and texts/emails/phone calls from family and friends across the country (and outside of as well) offering their congratulations! While I'm sure all of them aren't aware of the specific S.A. details, they almost universally understand the significant effort DS put forward in the process as well as his commitment to serve and lead in the future.
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Similar (positive) situation with my son since he was appointed to both USCGA and USMA. He has had very positive reactions from teachers and classmates. We do not live in a tremendously "pro military" area of the country and our HS might send one kid per year to a SA (out of approx 450 graduating). Family is a GIVEN as we are a military service family and have previously sent kids to SA's. The only negative thing we encounter among family members is meddling in which academy for him to choose (we have all branches represented in the family).
 
so what will you be doing at the Air Force Academy? What are you doing afterwards?
Some of my classmates are under the impression that it is a version of boot camp
 
I haven't had any really out there comments, but my classmates' mouths have dropped when I told them about what life during BCT and as a Doolie will be like. Why on earth would I want to box eat (squaring off during meals), get yelled at, have to do PT, keep my room clean, etc.? But everyone has been super supportive so far, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to educate my peers on what a Service Academy is. I still can't wait for June 24th!
 
Shadowman said:
I was a helo pilot in the navy...went back to my 10yr high school reunion...someone asked me, "So I hear you are our working on a cruise ship!" I just said yeah...Med deployment vs working on cruise ship...I couldn't have possibly explained the difference to her. lol
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Simple. No cocktails are served during sea and anchor detail. One of the reasons we enjoy civilian cruising. 🤣🤣
 
KiwiBird said:
I haven't had any really out there comments, but my classmates' mouths have dropped when I told them about what life during BCT and as a Doolie will be like. Why on earth would I want to box eat (squaring off during meals), get yelled at, have to do PT, keep my room clean, etc.? But everyone has been super supportive so far, and I am glad that I have had the opportunity to educate my peers on what a Service Academy is. I still can't wait for June 24th!
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Btw, my DS did not square any meals (assuming you mean moving the food from plate to mouth) last year. Maybe the new Com will re-institute them. I would say they dropped it to focus on making sure the cadets got good nutrition, but not sure how the chicken tendies and mac fit into that.
 
So my family and I, my parents and younger sister, all flew out to Colorado a few days early to acclimate. I also packed tons of my AF and AFA stuff. A couple of families and people related to USAFA in some way came over to say hi, but they all saw what I was wearing and asked my sister if she was going to USAFA, not me. I literally look like a 12 year old. 😂 Obviously, this isn't a 'bad' thing like some of the other stories on here, I just thought it was funny.
 
KiwiBird said:
So my family and I, my parents and younger sister, all flew out to Colorado a few days early to acclimate. I also packed tons of my AF and AFA stuff. A couple of families and people related to USAFA in some way came over to say hi, but they all saw what I was wearing and asked my sister if she was going to USAFA, not me. I literally look like a 12 year old. 😂 Obviously, this isn't a 'bad' thing like some of the other stories on here, I just thought it was funny.
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It all counts as a good story when humans reveal their biases and assumptions.
 
DS is at Boys State this week. I have mentioned it to a few people. They look at me as if I were speaking Chinese. Apparently most people have never heard of it.
 
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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Or...a groups of WP plebes in target asked if there is a bus drivers convention
 
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