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<p>Well, at least you have discontinued countering your ‘vast majority’ with ‘way too many’ and ‘plenty of others’, to ‘SOME’ , we are making headway. However, with the ‘exclusive’ and ‘inclusive’, yes, I am attempting to make a specific point. Are specific points verboten in this forum. Sometimes I think so, but I hope not. Somehow you are attempting to tie the 5% or so who don’t make it through plebe summer and the 15%-25% who don’t make it to graduation as an indicator of those desiring a free education. While you recognize those who don’t know what they are getting into, you either seem to ignore their significance in the attrition numbers or somehow try to imply, in my opinion, that they are one in the same.</p>
<p>First off, I ask you, how can a USMA candidate today, seeing all the casualty figures from Iraq, and being an informed candidate, not realize that USMA is in no way, shape, or form, a ‘free education.’ To state otherwise gives these candidates no credit at all for their intelligence. I would go so far as to say that, as friartown points out, you are insulting them. </p>
<p>Now, “those who don’t know what they are getting into”. This is entirely another matter. Probably, if the statement were made at quarters on the morning prior to the plebes joining the brigade/corps for the first time; “Would all of those whose plebe summer experience was not what they expected, take one step forward”, it would be tantamount to; “Corps, one step forward march.” The experience, by definition, since it is different for each and every cadet, means they do not know what they are getting into. How well they cope is the definition of success. Free education has very little to do with it. Yes, in my opinion, as one who has been there. the terms are more exclusive than inclusive.</p>