LandM wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 7:01 am
MD,
Prior to this post to the best of my knowledge you did not weigh in on graduation at an Academy. But you did in a round about way state that some Academy graduates are egotistical and have their heads up a channel. Which I agree with you, we call those guys ring knockers. I like them as much as you do. My point was I am not one of them but I will defend the institution to the surprise of anyone who knows my travels of the academy experience. Thankfully I played a game that is very important for all the service academies - bragging rights.
Further, it has been customary that the President rotates and speaks at a service academy and the VP does the same. Had I not been given my "sabbatical" I would never had the opportunity to shake Reagan's hand - yes, he stayed out there for all of us which was atypical - first 20 cadets get the shake and he exists right. My old man retired E-9 had a 40x40 hanging in the living room when my parents were alive. That was the proudest day of his life.
At the academy, even athletes go through the same O-course, SERE, jump school, hell week, ring night, T-41 school, and for me over 100 confinements and over 100 tours, I am proud to say that I am one of the few to accomplish this
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
. I never took my experiences at the academy seriously but when I was sworn in as an LT and when I was given my assignment and now it become real. Just for kicks because I had a few run-ins with the academy police (enlisted folks ranging from an E-3 to E-5, who are great guys) i drove through the gate and got saluted so I did that about 10 times
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
and yes that set me back over $200 but it was fun and they had fun.
Graduates of an academy are not props for a President that you and others cannot stand. They went through way more cra$ then the average college student. The academy is not college. It exists going all the way back to USMA's founding to train future leaders of the military full stop.
Again, I think you may have mixed me up or my views up with someone else.
I guess that if I've critiqued someone who happens to have also been a USMA grad that would meet the criteria of "some" as in
"some Academy graduates are egotistical and have their heads up a channel." Perhaps fitting your term "ring knocker".
But I'm not so sure that my critique of any such individual ever actually had anything to do with where they went to school, USMA or otherwise. If I've critiqued a USMA alum, it was because he (don't recall critiquing any female grads, but could have) did something I thought deserved such critique.
I do think I've separately pushed back on the notion that military service or SA automatically confers infallibility, nobility, or other exceptional quality. Not automatically, and certainly not to the exclusion of others without the same backgrounds.
Which isn't to say that I don't have a positive bias about SA grads and their likelihood of numerous positive qualities well above average relative to the overall population. Likewise, I'm quite aware of the challenges present in an SA experience that are unlike the typical college experience. I have two SA alums in my family, and quite a few friends and colleagues. One friend of my dad's, now deceased, former Commandant at USMA. My son very seriously considered USMA, had recruiting interest from there, and I was pleased that he was so serious in that consideration and would certainly have been proud of that choice had that been where he came down.
All of which is to say that these young people and their institutions should definitely NOT be viewed as mere props for a politician.
I believe that's how TRUMP views them. He should not.