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Ahh, the old USAFA/ROTC debate. Here's the bottom line, generally speaking, USAFA/ROTC/OTS/UPT/WIC will not make you any more or less of a douchebag than you would have been anywhere else. Some people are just douchebags. There are probably just as many shitty officers from both commissioning sources, and just as many good ones. I know some great people that are Academy grads, and that route worked for them. I would have despised the Academy and wanted no part of the Air Force, so ROTC was a better option for me.

Move to NJ?? No thanks man.

What did I just watch?

You just have to love the internet. Anonymous possible cadet guy schools anonymous internet tough guy leadership expert regarding a media story that might possibly be 50% of the story but probably doesn't even hit that level of accuracy. Hopefully, whatever powers that be at USAFA will get around to figuring out what they can and can't release about this issue, and people who are actually impacted by this story can have a factually based discussion on what is really going on there. Until then, the debates I am reading are about as productive as debating whether or not we should free the aliens incarcerated at Area 51.

This. I can't wait to hear the collective "fuck this" when I see 11Xs on the list as RIF-eligible AFSCs.

Academy pledge pin.

Sure, when the plane's broke. Isn't that why the Academy has a jump team, to get them ready for ejection seat aircraft? No, I'm pretty sure the Academy jump school exists to provide grads with the USAFA Grad Badge (jump wings) so you can readily identify them once they are on AD.

On active duty, we call that the SARC.

Why is everyone so upset, this type of system worked really well in the past. The Secret Political Department (SPO), in addition to running the general system of informants, operated special informants to infiltrate suspected counterrevolutionary groups. Finally, the Transportation Department (TO), and the Operational Department (Operotdel), also ran their own special informants networks. In addition to these networks a separate network of special informants operated under the GULAG administration in labor camps, colonies, and special settlements.

The kid was in my squadron, I would guess there is much more to the story than what he presents in this article. You only get recruited to "inform" on people if you got in trouble in the first place. The "you help us, we'll help you" type of thing. As for the demerits he racked up, he missed pretty much everything he would have to go to, even morning formation and breakfast....I doubt OSI would need to talk to him at 0630 and have him miss every formation possible. Also, the kid was the "runaway basic" he got nearly 200 demerits for that one event where he dressed up as a basic when he was sophomore and jumped a fence and ran away. The base sent out searches and I think they even locked down the base and basic training stopped ops. It was big deal and he got in a ton of trouble for it. I didn't know him all really well, but I would be careful in believing the things he is saying to the media. It took him months to get kicked out, longer than usual because he was pulling out every stop to get a chance to stay. I understand he would want to stay and if the story is true, I'd be pissed as well. But when you don't go to anything, don't do your job, and fail the PFT your firstie year, I'd say it wasn't his involvement with OSI that caused him to get kicked out. On another note, the informant "program" is an actual thing. If you're involved in a sketchy situation and can get more info, you help to inform OSI about what's going on and who's involved...pretty standard for law enforcement and investigation in general.I am very skeptical about the informant program as it is portrayed in the article, but cadets are used as informants if there's issues going on that they can help OSI with. Edit: clarified "informants" as used at the Academy

God I'm glad I went to a normal school.

So, you don't "like" that the Air Force has cadets spying on other cadets just to rat them out, but you are OK with it as long as you don't have to go to school with a bunch of kids who are smoking weed, spice, and doing other stupid things? Got it. The AFA was a great choice for you because you wouldn't have made it in a non-institutionalized college setting. Sounds like you have all the traits to be a great senior leader someday. These few idiots who are doing drugs, etc, don't reflect poorly on the big AF or AFA. This isn't the stuff that's making headlines. They will eventually get caught and be gone and forgotten by Big Blue anyway. What makes the AF and AFA look like shit, is when they invent or support programs that teach future officers to go around behind their peer's backs with the purpose of finding and reporting integrity violations and keeping secrets from their normal chain of command. The AFA should be teaching you to be a good "wingman" and beat your fellow cadet's ass when they are about to do something stupid, and prevent it all together. This will be a skill you will need not only in the academy, but when you make it to your squadron. People will try to do stupid shit there too, both on the flight line and out in town. You won't always have the luxury of running home to tell OSI. Handle it yourself when possible and save someone from a really bad decision. Not a dig at you, just my opinion...