Military acadamy

[East Bay Rider]

Has anyone here ever attended one?
My son is a sophmore in high school and has started receiving letters and emails from colleges inviting him to attend athletic summer camps so now he's starting to give a lot of thought to where he wants to go to college and what he wants to do. As of right now his primary focus in life is sports, sports training, management.
He was never much of a kid in love with the army or military. He never had much interest in guns or weapons but lately he's entertained the idea of attending a military college. I suspect the notion of a heavy athletic focus is a strong factor in his interest. I also suspect the notion of attending a school with a strict honor code is also appealing. If it's he's going to be away from home, best to be in a safe(r) place where there are rules rather than the mayhem commonly associated with college life. He's always had a cautious nature.
So as his Dad I've been perusing the various military acadamy websites trying to learn what I can. No matter where he attends, military or civilian, I know he can handle it. I just suspect he may appreciate the structured life a bit more as he sets off on his own.

[Dr.Brian]

If you want a serious honor code, UVA (the University of Virginia) has a hardcore no BS honor code.
And it's a pretty good school as well, in a very safe location, with plenty of southern belles running around.

[towernick]

I went to a boarding school and college with very serious student run honor codes. PM for information. I also was very close to going to Virginia Military Institute for college, did the overnight and everything. As to the comment made earlier about UVA, while they have an honor code, it's not taken very seriously by anyone there.

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by towernick

I went to a boarding school and college with very serious student run honor codes. PM for information. I also was very close to going to Virginia Military Institute for college, did the overnight and everything. As to the comment made earlier about UVA, while they have an honor code, it's not taken very seriously by anyone there.

The number of students that get thrown out every year for honor code violations would suggest that they do take it pretty seriously.
As a graduate, I can tell you that the honor code was taken quite seriously in the '90s. I have no reason to believe it's any different now. They're quite proud of it. When I was there 2 people got kicked out of the Medical School for cheating on pass/fail homework assignments. What are the chances of someone getting accepted to another US medical school after being thrown out of another for cheating? Zero. Ever. That sounds pretty serious to me.

“Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness: ‘I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia.’"

[towernick]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

The number of students that get thrown out every year for honor code violations would suggest that they do take it pretty seriously.
As a graduate, I can tell you that the honor code was taken quite seriously in the '90s. I have no reason to believe it's any different now. They're quite proud of it. When I was there 2 people got kicked out of the Medical School for cheating on pass/fail homework assignments. What are the chances of someone getting accepted to another US medical school after being thrown out of another for cheating? Zero. Ever. That sounds pretty serious to me.

“Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness: ‘I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia.’"

They had a great blueprint to copy, all they had to do was look south at Hampden-Sydney and copy their honor code.

[Deep Sea]

I went to one of federal military academies, and loved it. I received nominations to two different academies, as well as several full scholarships to state schools, but ultimately chose the academy route (and don't regret it one bit).

The honor code is much more strict at the academies than a regular college, which was somewhat of a draw for me. I partied my butt off in high school, and figured I'd suffer in college if I didn't have somebody/something to keep me in line.

If you'd like more info, or to chat, drop me a PM.

[akiruno]

Go for it...I have nothing but praise for our Military Academies...my daughter graduates Naval Academy 2012. As for me, I recently retired after 26+ years of Air Force service. PM me.



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[Lisa]

But Bill! His beautiful hair!

[TheVTCGuy]

I did not attend a military acadamy, but earned a comission by attending AOCS (Aviation Officers Candidate School) after graduation. I can't speak for the acadamy per se, but can tell you my military service and experience is something I'm very proud of. Sure, it's difficult, it's disciplinary, it's restrictive, but things I learned in my 12 years of service helped me later in life. I know it seems like a long time, but IMHO, it's worth it.

[GradyPhilpott]

Tell him to go for it.

I took JROTC in high school and enlisted before graduation, so no military academies for me, but the values and knowledge I learned in the JROTC program helped during my enlistment.

Having graduated from two universities since my enlistment, I can tell you that as valuable as college is, it doesn't do squat to instill the values of intense personal discipline and real teamwork.

[paddy_crow]

Military discipline sounds cool until you have to live under it. Some guys thrive, others can't deal with it.

[Lamone]

I think that VMI (Virginia Military Institute) and The Citadel are excellent Military schools.

[Lisa]

Debby Downer here... I don't know how these stats compare to non-military colleges and universities, but I'd be worried if my daughters showed any interest in attending a military school.

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-12-15/u...ators?_s=PM:US

[CashGap]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Debby Downer here... I don't know how these stats compare to non-military colleges and universities, but I'd be worried if my daughters showed any interest in attending a military school.

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-12-15/u...ators?_s=PM:US

Why the concern? The article gives no indication that the military academy number is higher or lower than any other schools.

(Oops - edit - Kevin provided a superior reply)

[CPTL]

Lisa: interesting point, and I will try to take some of the shock value out of "sexual assault in the military" articles and statistics.

Background and disclaimer: I'm a military attorney. I supervise a section of military prosecutors. We prosecute sexual assault cases. This is Kevin's opinion, not the Army or DoDs. (So as not to totally hijack the thread, I'm also a West Point grad.)

The Army, and DoD in general, does a very, very good job of responding to, educating about, and preventing sexual assault. We focus a lot of time, energy, and money on the topic. The reason is because our population is the high-risk population for sexual assaults. Our average Soldier is young, type-A, impulsive, and uses alcohol. They live together in dorm-like environments. (Note that the preceding two sentences apply to most college environments as well.)

We also rely on the concept of team for survival and mission accomplishment. Nothing is more detrimental to the team than intra-team conflict. When a group of Soldiers from the same unit goes to a party, two of them have sex, and one wasn't a completely willing participant, that causes a LOT of intra-team conflict.

The Army educates every single Soldier on what a sexual assault looks like, how to recognize sexual assault, the types of behavior and environments that lead to sexual assault, and what to do after. We provide multiple avenues for reporting, both with an eye towards criminal investigation and "private" reporting that allows the victim to seek counseling and other victim services. If a female Soldier tells her roommate, even in confidence, "PVT X and I had sex last night, but I told him I didn't really want to..." then it is reported as a sexual assault. Immediately. Every time. (Maybe not every single time, but that's the idea.)

The Army is heavily scrutinized by the media on the sexual assault issue. The issue of where women stand in our organization is publicly debated. As such, the way women are treated in the Army is a much more public concern than the way they're treated at the University of Virginia or Duke.

There are certain members of congress who are very, very interested in sexual assault in the military. It's almost crusade-like. We gather and report data on every conceivable metric related to sexual assault.

The Army has a slightly higher than normal occurrence of reported sexual assault for the demographic. Looking at all of the above, it is easy to understand why. When the entire organization from top to bottom focuses on recognizing, responding to, and preventing sexual assault, the numbers of reported incidents would climb. (What do you think would happen if the University of Texas launched a campus-wide program for prevention of drug abuse, including education, testing, confidential treatment, and dorm-room inspections. The "occurrence of drug use" at the University of Texas would go way, way up.)

The DoD has recently revamped their entire approach to education and prevention. We're focusing on the buddy team: if you're socializing with friends, and you see one of your friends in an intoxicated and overly "friendly" state, you have a duty to intervene. Get in the situation and ask hard questions. "Do you feel safe with him/her?" "Do you intend to spend the night with him/her?" "Please let me take you away from this party back to your room."

Iraq is not as safe as we'd like it. Parts of Afghanistan are a living nightmare. Our barracks, however, are much, much safer than your average college dorm, apartment, or fraternal organization. We are a team, and we take care of our teammates.

[sierra11b]

I come from a military family and could gone straight to the Air Force Academy with a phone call but enlisted because I was impatient.

Of all the Platoon Leaders I had the best came from West Point or the Citadel. A lot of doors open for those guys, especially if you meet all the requirements along the way. There's also the AF and Naval Academy... he could fly a plane or a desk if he wanted instead of being in a leg combat branch.

[Lisa]

Thanks for your post and your perspective, Kevin.

[CPTL]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Thanks for your post and your perspective, Kevin.

You're welcome.

[evilfij]

If he wants to be in the military, sure it makes perfect sense. If not, it is not much fun (I went to the school next to VMI).

[rr-nyc]

I needed more structure and discipline so my parents gave me choice: Military Academy or Boarding school. I took one look at Culver Military Academy and I chose boarding school

[AIKO]

I think it is a fantastic education (US Service Academies) while serving your country. I have three people working for me that attended these schools: West Point, Air Force Academy and the Citadel.

For the major US service Academies, it seems major connections/recommendations at the Federal level are required for admission.

Two of my three guys are total rock stars.

[sierra11b]

Originally Posted by AIKO

West Point, Air Force Academy and the Citadel.

....

Two of my three guys are total rock stars.

[Deep Sea]

Originally Posted by AIKO

I think it is a fantastic education (US Service Academies) while serving your country. I have three people working for me that attended these schools: West Point, Air Force Academy and the Citadel.

For the major US service Academies, it seems major connections/recommendations at the Federal level are required for admission.

Two of my three guys are total rock stars.

A nomination to one of the five academies (West Point, Naval Academy, US Merchant Marine Academy, US Coast Guard Academy, Air Force Academy), comes by way of a Congressional Nomination.

This is usually a Senatorial or Congressional nomination, from your home state. Less common are a VP nomination, and even less, a Presidential nomination. I also believe the Sec. of the Army/Navy/AF can also nominate candidates, as can delegates from the US territories. Also, I've heard that the children of Medal of Honor winners have automatic admittance (not sure if it's true or not).

In a nutshell, you don't need to be politically connected (my family sure wasn't). What you need to be is a very good student, and a positive contributor to your community. As an example, the tipping point for my nomination to the second academy was earning my Eagle Scout award.

HOWEVER, if you want to go the academy route, it sure won't hurt to get in touch with the senator or congressman from your state/district and let them know, and schedule a sit-down. In this day and age, anything that can get your name in front of those making decisions will never hurt.

[Boopie]

I would love, love it if either of my boys went to a service academy.

[akiruno]

Another little know way to gain entrance is to be accepted from the Enlisted ranks by way of the USAF Academy Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development (LEAD) program.

1. To all of you, let me express my sincere appreciation for your significant part in the success of the LEAD program. Your contributions are changing the lives of young men and women pursuing a commission through the United States Air Force Academy—one of the most selective and prestigious universities in the nation.

2. Although the number of enlisted applicants to the Academy and Prep School took a sharp rise when the LEAD program was introduced, those numbers have been steadily declining. For the last couple of years, we have not filled the 50 LEAD Prep School slots. In addition to the Prep School, we have 85 direct entry slots at the Academy reserved for airmen, many of which remain vacant every year due to lack of qualified applicants. The program was established as a long-term commissioning option for our sharpest airmen—we must continue to seek them out. Our commitment to you in the field is to assist your efforts in promoting the Air Force Academy while minimizing the paperwork associated with the LEAD program.

3. Once again, we appreciate your LEAD initiative. The prior-enlisted cadets attending the Air Force Academy thank you for allowing them to excel. Most importantly, the Academy thanks you for sending us your top airmen to enhance the Academy experience for all.

--SIGNED—
GREGORY J. MYERS, Lt Col, USAF
Director of Enrollment Programs

ANSWERS TO COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. I have conflicting information on the current age requirement for the Academy. What are they?
A. Applicants must be under 23 years of age on 1 Jul of the year that they enter the Academy and under 22 for the Preparatory School.

Q. Are 50 slots at the Prep School and 85 at the Academy set in stone?
A. No. We can increase the number of personnel that we take into the Prep School based on the number of qualified applicants. The 85 direct entry slots at the Academy are set in stone and are based on nominations allotted by law. However, this number can increase if highly qualified airmen use congressional, presidential, and vice presidential nominations.

Q. How critical are test scores and high school GPAs?
A. Very critical! Sixty percent of an applicant’s eligibility is based on their academic accomplishments. The LEAD program takes into account the maturity and experience that an airman brings to the Academy and Prep School, but a student can not survive at the Academy without the basic academic knowledge and skills required for success.

Q. How much does a person’s personnel file (EPRs, training records, etc) affect their appointment?
A. The selection panel never sees an individual’s personnel file. We expect the individual’s commander to utilize this as a screening tool before signing the AF Form 1786.

Q. What is the percentage of personnel who complete the Preparatory School who make it into the Academy?
A. Very High! In the upper 90%. Basically, we have invested a year of time and effort into a “preppie” and make every effort to make it pay-off for us. Unless there is some disciplinary or academic action involved, most who graduate from the Prep School and want to go to the Academy get an Academy appointment.

Q. What if a commander is unwilling to sign the AF Form 1786 on an airman?
A. That is their prerogative and the basis of the LEAD program. We assume that the commander knows who their good people are and will use that information to make an informed decision on who they nominate. It is one of our check-and-balances.

Q. How do most airmen feel about an extra year at the Preparatory School as opposed to entering the cadet wing directly?
A. We have heard mostly positive comments from airmen who go through the Prep School first. Most rave about an extra year to save money before taking a pay cut at the Academy. Others cite the support network they develop before entering the difficult Fourthclass (Freshman) year as the school’s strong point. In all cases, it is a great transitional school for airmen entering the Academy.

[East Bay Rider]

Thanks for all of your knowledgeable responses. I would also be very proud IF he were choose to attend a military college. Proud for the dedication. Proud for the voluntary commitment to a quality life. Proud for the service. Proud for the things he's learning. Proud for the courage to completely immerse himself into something so new that he has absolutely no knowledge or experience with. Proud that he boldly faced the challenge of being torn down and rebuilt. Proud that he was living a life that many undisciplined kids just couldn't handle.
Yes I would be proud.
He's a good kid; Smart, well mannered, athletic and with a good sense of right and wrong. Maybe all fathers see their kids this way. On the other hand, maybe many fathers don't bother to look. I see many of his sports teammates as sneaky and opportunistic back stabbers. Surely that's not being encouraged? They're everywhere, though I expect that behavior is tolerated less in these circles.
Sadly when the time comes I can't make this decision for him. I do know that I'll be proud no matter what he chooses to do.