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<p>I am dealing strictly with second-hand information and the upper class mids and recent grads seem busy now. We could really use their perspective. I am commenting basically due to the gists of several recent posters that there is a breakdown in military demeanor, for lack of a better work, among the three upper classes. And I am too lazy to go back and find them and put each poster on the spot. If we recognize the system as plebes and everyone else, we acknowledge a ‘two class’ system. The Academy should be a ‘four class’ system. This is evident in the area of privileges since they increase each year. I also feel that responsibility also is commensurate with each class rank. Where the breakdown seems to occur is in accountability. There doesn’t appear to be the zeal of the upper class to mature the upper classmen junior to them so much as working solely with the plebes. Admiral Fowler obviously recognized this by placing the first class in khakis. It breaks them out as different. We already know that the plebes are broken out on the bottom. With the firsties broken out on top, the idea is for them, as a unit, to enforce the accountability of the other two upper classes. Also, perhaps the brief discussion of deemphasizing some of the rites of passage for the survival of plebe year was intended to lessen the significance of this ‘two class’ perception.</p>
<p>Mom3Mid, Native Texan; listserv is probably a great tool for keeping parents informed and helping them survive the ‘rigors’ of Plebe Year. However, it is not a source for the understanding of the nuances of military leadership. However, using it as such does provide my humor for the day.</p>