Murphy's Law

Just said this in another thread.. I saw someone go to UPT at 35. Don't give up!

I knew someone that went to UPT at 35. Apply to every guard unit there is when you can. In the mean time, finish all your ratings. If big blue never lets you fly then take those ratings and pursue a civilian career in flying, if you want. Cheers!

I realize that standards being EXACTLY identical is unrealistic. Being on a club team and being a varsity IC will never be the exact same thing.. but if everyone went down to the athletic fields together and put in the same amount of time out of their busy schedule then there wouldn't be cadets ignorant to their buddy's hardships. Everyone would be in it together. Alternatively, if you are gonna have an inspection early on a Saturday morning, noone should get a pass. USAFA shouldn't have upperclassmen yelling at one kid for gazing in the dining hall while 20 ft away IC freshmen smoke and joke with their team. I couldn't care less about inspections or meal decorum or how much cadets are made to work out in the afternoon. I'm just saying that whatever the standard is, it should apply to all. Flexibility comes in with cadets being able to choose whether to do intramurals, club, or varsity athletics. Outside of that, the general expectation should be the same for everyone. Things have changed but not for the better, in my opinion. This terrazo gap is the most visible "u vs them" mentality but its not the only one... double standards destroy all faith in the system.

I was quoting someone told me. Never said I took issue with their viewpoint. But when an IC tells a squadmate to f--k off when asked to sit an hour of CQ cause he "isn't obligated to help" then it is a bit far. ICs work their asses off and get out of a lot of queep shit. That's cool. Yet, there are those who literally shit on anyone who wasn't on their team. There were non-ICs who were just as bad. Problem was that the honor code that is supposed to be universally accepted isn't in that case... and it considered OK. Tried to close that gap when I was a firstie. It is bullshit that cadets have such animosity towards eachother that anything a non-IC does is considered tool-ish and supporting the football team is seen as a burden. Everyone should be supporting their bros who worked their asses off in practice to bring home a win for the school. Alternatively those ICs should be upholding the standard off the field instead of viewing it as being a tool. That is why the T-zo gap exists. Instead of it being an us vs them... everything should just be standardized. When ICs go to practice, so does everyone else (club sport). When there is an inspection, everyone does it. That's how the first class did it and there was no loss of faith in the system because everyone had the same system to adhere to. Why would any cadet take the code seriously when he knows that half his classmates interpret it differently and adhere to it differently based on what group they belong to. I'm not arguing that one group is better than the other. I'm simply saying that whatever the standard is, everyone should be held to it. Exactly. I hated the gap but the academy fosters it with double standards. You add that to ridiculous academic rules, drinking regs, and witch hunts daily... cadets tend to lose faith in the whole system.. including the code and the honor system that backs it... corrupt as hell.

Pretty sure married folks can live where they want.. but if you want confirmation... you could ya know.. call the housing office.

Had an athlete once tell me that the only thing that mattered was winning games and his team. Skipping training/briefings to practice/sleep or "doing whatever is necessary" to pass a class is OK because their mission is to win games. His squad mates and squadron needs came second to sports. Does he speak for every athlete? No. Did he get that mindset from the athletic department? You bet. Yet on the other end of the spectrum is the kid running to tattle on everyone cause he is scared of a toleration hit instead of holding his fellow cadets accountable at the lowest level possible. He can't imagine being anything other than a robot. Does he speak for all the non-ICs? No. Did he get that mindset from never playing a team sport? You bet. I think the different standards that exist there for cadets create these deviations from the norm, which is "do the right thing". A '59 grad told me about how in his day everyone held the same standard. Everyone went to the same briefings. Everyone went down to the gym in the afternoon, athlete or not. I bet they didn't have this many issues back then when terrazo gap didn't exist. If everyone was exposed to the same daily "program".. what is and is not acceptable under the code would be pretty universal with those who deviate being sent packing. The deviating standards create a complete lack of faith in the system and that in turn creates the perception of regression. I still think cadets as a whole are an honorable bunch of people.

http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/cracks-in-the-code/Content?oid=2452353&fb_source=message Unfortunate but not surprising.

no bueno is an understatement

Ciarfeo and Carlson are now all UPT studs... that whole area of housing is known as "east berlin" and its where all the house parties occur.

Never heard of Carlson. There are 4 housing options for students.. dorms, duplexes, on base housing, and off base. Off base is only for married people or open if everything else is full. Dorms are the default for everyone; no BAH. Duplexes are available if the dorms are like 90% full and you have someone to room with (you have to show up with said person); no BAH. If both of those are full then pinnacle (on base housing) and off base housing open up with BAH. You won't be able to work either if you don't already have someone to room with within one class of you. So basically if you are married OR have someone of the same sex (within one class of you when you arrive) to room with you are most like going to get stuck in a dorm with no BAH. Its not bad though, you will be in walking distance of the O'club and its advantageous for studying. If your EAD changes to show in August or January then you have a very good chance of living where you want provided you can find a room-mate or two since thats when all the USAFA grads show and the dorms/duplexes can't hold them all. Timing and luck are everything... just like drops. Try to find someone to room with before you show.. past that there isn't much you can do. Also consider that although you may pocket cash every month with a room-mate or two on base... if your dates change alot compared to theirs, you may be stuck in a lease that is more expensive than your BAH till you are done. Happened to me. They won't let anyone else move in (they would gain an unfair advantage from your experience) or let you move to the dorms.

There are people who are APTs for 3 days and some for over a year. Show when told and assume dates past that are fluid. I got washed back and a guy who had been on station for a few days took my IFS and UPT dates (I took his). Many get to Laughlin (or other UPT bases) and get moved up. As for jobs, they will ask you to write down what skills you possess. Essentially if you have any technical skills or were an engineering major then you'll likely be washing/launching/catching airplanes with maintenance. Other jobs range from shoe clerking to exec to gate guard and you will end up doing whatever is needed most when you arrive. If you can, find a roommate prior to showing and try to get a house in pinnacle (this will mean BAH pay) otherwise you will be put in the dorms with no likelihood of getting out of them. Housing at XL is ridiculous.

"An emergency motion by Hawker, which seeks to halt work.." http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/2012/01/embraer-faces-challenge-on-super.html?page=all

Know the kid. Good guy. Said it was done in jest. Either way he has taken the commentary on the subject in stride and in good form. People have said some interesting things to him since and he has replied with laughter and a smile instead of getting butthurt or defensive. He has even stated he wish he didn't write it now cause he doesn't want to see anyone get in trouble for the emails being spread. I hope he gets what he wants.

You're at a civilian college. There is time, especially over summer. As for money, if it were me I would pull out a loan to do it if necessary. A couple grand is really insignificant over the course of your potential career. Between getting your slot and doing well at IFS, I would see it as a solid investment in yourself. If you didn't get a slot and found out later IF you had done X or Y then you woulda had one... that will be something you live with. If you don't do it and still get your dream, more power to you. I would be doing all that I could though.

Don't forget they tax you on your reimbursement on the difference between your reimbursement and the receipts you provide. So although theoretically you can make almost a dollar per pound moved... plan on less... like $0.75 a pound. Trailer must be open and smaller than 12 feet long by 8 feet wide.