Yay BCT is ova

UNcynical
Fri, 12 Aug 2005 12:37:56 +0000

“Besides----isn’t Parent’s Weekend for ALL the cadets, and not just the 4 degrees?—This day clearly belonged to the doolies, and ONLY the doolies!”

While Parents Weekend is indeed for all cadets, I disagree that Acceptance Day belongs to the four degrees alone. It is true that they take a huge step as they get admitted to the wing and get their shoulder boards, however, that also marks the day that the upper three classes begin to exercise their leadership involvement in the context of the academic year. It is the first time the firsties are leading THREE classes, the first time the two degrees can be cadet NCOs with TWO classes below them, and it is also the first time the three degrees have anyone beneath them that they are allowed to interact with on any level (as up to that point, they are forbidden to talk to the basics, as are the other cadets in the upper 2 classes who did not work BCT).

“Did a large percentage of parents attend?”

Relative to the number of members in the class of 09? No.

“How did the upper class respond?”

Most upperclassmen had meetings and other appointments they needed to make that day, so whether or not the new four degrees had parents there was not necessarily at the forefront of their mind. There were very few who actuially escorted them on the terrazzo.

One thing I disliked about the the interactions that was was that some of the four degrees became very dependent on their parents - for things they could (and should) have figured out on their own or from other cadets. For example, I was over in Fairchild (the academic building) for a meeting, and some new four degrees were walking around with their parents so their parents could look at their schedules and tell them where all of their classes were. I found that ludicrious, as that’s unheard of even in high school; this is the military. Mommy and Daddy should have no part in things like that.

Concerning E-Dodo, I definitely do not advocate future cadets or fourth class cadets in particular going there. Some of the discussions there are valid, however, there is also a LOT of cynicism. Cynicism is a big problem here, and four degrees (and those individuals considering applying here) cannot decipher between intelligent info/concerns there and bitterness; they shouldn’t be unnecessarily exposed to that.