Achilles_MC0302

[Achilles_MC0302]

Howdy y'all, Im Achilles. Right now Im getting ready to head off to basic training at the Air Force Academy (yea yea, Air Force in an Army forum). I just graduated Air Force Prep and tried to get into West Point, but some agreement the academies have wouldnt allow that. No worries though, Im looking to either go USAFA for two years and transfer to an ROTC unit, or go USAFA four years and shoot to cross commission, so we'll see how that works. Anyhow, Im originally from Tucson AZ and live there when Im not in CO, but thats about it.

PS: reason for aiming to cross commission is that Id rather go infantry than fly (and Air Force doesnt really have infantry units), however wierd that may sound.

[Aries]

dude.. leave the academy now and do ROTC. if you stay for 2 years and then go ROTC the shock will damn near kill you. plus there are people who want to be there for 4 years. cross commissioning? good luck. the agreement between the academies is even worse when it comes to that. if you want to go Infantry and to an academy I suggest leaving USAFA, doing ROTC or somethign else for a year and then going to USMA. as long as you arent coming directly from the other places prep you should be good.

[Achilles_MC0302]

I know what you mean about someone else wanting to be here more, but it is too late for them to fill the slots right now anyhow, so whether I stay USAFA or leave, it is still one less slot. With the agreement between cross commissioning to different services, I think my odds will be a little better than going from AFA Prep to West Point or something because, well, cross commissioning is allowed. If you are another academy's prep school they seem to reject you no matter what when they find that out. Thanks for the insight though, appreciate it. Also, what exactly did you mean by the "shock" if I transferred ROTC after two years at USAFA? Change of lifestyle, change of service branch, or what? Thanks again.

[Aries]

ok. ill either IM you or PM you later..

[killernurse]

Translation: war stories of Aries' that were they to be put in the open forum would cause way too much discussion that would only serve to confuse you. Listen to the guy- it'll be good for you.

[Aries]

haha.. thanks KN

[Skull6]

Achilles, wise up, man. Voicing this kind of opinion on the open freq we call the internet shows a lack of better judgement, to say the least.

& before you mouth back young man, know that you're communicating with one who helped fasshion those moccassins you have so openly stated that you think "will be easy to fill"--to paraphrase. USAFA '88 grad who crossed to Army & got the combat patch from DS as proof here. It DAMN sure wasn't a cake walk to cross. & the "shock" that Aries has alluded to extends FAR past just changing commissioning sources, son. Not all acronyms are constant across the service branches. & that's just the very tip of the peak of the iceberg you say you'll have no problem reducing to a glass of drinking water. Do your homework.

& as to such comments not really impacting you, regardless of when "they" find out--well, let's just say that if I informed my contacts (& yes, if you do the math I'd be in the below the zone for O-6, so figure who I'm referring to) of your publically stated intentions, you'd find yourself LLMF in about 24 hours. The Aluminum Womb isn't a 2-yr junior college. It's a military academy of the US DoD. If you're not dedicated to at least TRYING to stick it out for the full 5 year tenure (& yes, I can even relate to your P-school experience PERSONALLY as well, due to prior enlistment), do not continue. Whether ot not you've kept a more dedicated individual from an acceptance slot is immaterial. You are in fact muddying the waters for those who do wish to "strive through 5"--as I did. I'm not such a vindictive person anymore, so I'll leave it up to you to do the right thing, by both my Alma Mater & your own self.

The reason you should want to attend USAFA (or ANY military academy) is that you personally wish to obtain the status of "graduate" from that institution. There are not that many other bennies merely from graduating from there that you couldn't get going through a ROTC program from any other university. But those others won't be able to claim the "right of alumnus from USAFA/ WP/ USNA" upon graduation. I felt that to be important. others did not. Neither are right or wrong, except those who tried to trick themselves or the system into thinking otherwise.

P.S. There are 3 intended goals of the USAFA prep school--1. to help prior enlisted folks transition into a university setting, 2. to help athletes achieve current admission scores in academics & 3) TO WEED OUT THOSE MARGINAL CANDIDATES THAT WON'T BE ABLE TO HACK IT AT THE ACTUAL ACADEMY. The P-school is located on the same reservation. That does NOT mean that attendance there will qualify you for automatic admission--see above.

I'd suggest you sit down & think long & hard on what you REALLY want to do in your future. There's absolutely nothing wrong with desiring to serve in the Infantry--MANY of my good friends have/had that MOS. If you want to go Army, don't put yourself behind the 8-ball & the power curve by attending anything to do with the AF. The paperwork might seem easy. Getting up to speed with all your peers who DID learn "the Army way" during their academic training is a female dog! & you can take that to the bank.

Good luck & do the right thing.

[Aries]

thanks skull.

like i told you the other night kid, I went to USMA for my time. I was given the option and after a lot of influentials telling me that i should say (read: Superintendent, Com, SF recruiter) i decided to go. Turns out it wasn't just USMA. but it was the Army that wasnt for me. Do I miss it? yeah. if i had gone to college for a year or to prep for a year before would i have been better off there? yeah. I am an only child, was even more immature and arrogant then. think about what you are doing.

[Sammy Sandbag]

I think yall scared him off. Stop doing that, it's hard enough getting people to join.

[Achilles_MC0302]

I'm still here... just not on the forum as much.

[Sammy Sandbag]

I found him, scrub him from the MIA list.

[Associate289]

sniff, its a happy day for his family...

[Achilles_MC0302]

lol, interesting...