Usafa

[Soldier]

I have seen very little of what people think of this place anymore; there is of course the media, but I never trust the media anyway. I am curious as to what opinions real people (in this case, all of you specifically) have about the Air Force Academy.

Also, if you have any questions/rants, I'd be happy to clear them up.

[Peach]

My teammate who's going there says he's working hard but likes it.

[Soldier]

Really? What year is he, and what's his name?

[DHCJr]

I'm am not sure in what area you want the opinions so I will try and look at many aspects. My experience with them started in '85 while Nick Toth was around. I will say that Toth produce many very good fencers, but sometimes not so good human beings. The Honor Code, did not always appear on the strip and the language was not always the best.

With Coach Salem, you get both good fencers and outstanding individuals.

The facilities are amazing and the view is magnificant. I don't believe the cadets, at least in the first few years get to see how beautiful it is.

I have known a number of fine cadets and some do come back to the Academy and are a fine addition.

As far as the negative publicity, I don't know. But of the names I've seen, none have been fencers and those are the only ones I have associated with.

[Peach]

Originally posted by Soldier
Really? What year is he, and what's his name?

First year, and I'll find out if he minds if I tell you his name.

[Soldier]

There's a doolie here by the last name of Toth, though I'm sure no relation. They just had the Nick Toth open on Sunday; haven't heard how they did.

I have talked to Coach Salem (also an Arabic instructor here, if I'm not mistaken) several times, and met him a few. Good guy. Actually saw him in the intercollegiate weight room yesterday - he came right up to the girl next to me, demanding in his Arabic accent why she was screwing around. She was extremely confused, and when she asked if she knew him, he realized he'd mistaken her for somebody. Quite apologetic, a rather funny incident.

The facilities and view are magnificent. Things have changed a lot here; it's a bit easier for us underclassmen to look around a bit. I did manage to climb one of the major peaks just behind us last week - words can't describe it. I also managed to end up with a room that looks out directly at the front of the chapel - very nice indeed.

Peach - does your teammate fence?

I regret to say that I had to refrain from trying out (I would have made it, too, looking at the others who did) for the fencing team. The problem is that it would have monopolized my time, preventing me from doing any of the sundry other clubs that grabbed my interest - hence the change in screenname.

[DHCJr]

Coach Salem was on the Egyptian National Team for 10 years. He competed at 1984 Olympics, where I first met him and afterwards went to work at Westside Fencing Center in Culver City (L.A.).

On the men's side the Epee team was hurt with the graduation of Seth Kelsey and the Foil team is all new. The Sabre is fairly strong. On the ladies side, the team is fairly well off, especially Sabre and Epee which both have two returning fencers who were at the NCAA's last year. Foil, while not has strong has returning fencers.

[Ramrod]

Hi Soldier:

I have always had good feelings about the academy. Turns out some fine professional pilots.

From what I've seen in the media it appears that a few of the upper classmen over many years have felt free to have their way with junior females, and abuse their positions of authority. It also appears that administrators had a practice of covering up and hush-hushing these incidents.

That's a bad habit to get into and breeds further abuse. Too bad so many fine young men and women are tarnished by these excesses of a few.

Keep your nose clean and remember you duty to God, Country and Corps, and you'll make an outstanding officer and gentleman.

[Soldier]

You'd like the new leadership here. When it all started hitting the fan, they just completely cleaned house, got us all new staff, and even a lot of fresh faculty. Our AOC (Air Officer Commanding, the officer in charge of the squadron) is awesome - wonderful guy, very honorable - and in a twist of fate, used to fly under my father.

The biggest changes were the new Commandant of Cadets and Superintendent (they left the Dean of Faculty). The new Commandant is Brig. Gen. (one star) Weida, former Thunderbirds lead. The Superintendent is Lt. Gen. (three stars) Rosa. Both, Weida in particular, are intensely interested in the welfare of the cadets. Weida makes a point of walking around the cadet areas on a close-to daily basis, talking to anybody he runs into. At the football game (against Wyoming, as I recall) last weekend, I was coming up the stairs from the stands, reached level ground, and happened to look up pretty much straight into a star.

Slug in the shoulder - "Hey, Cadet ______! How you doing today?" Snap to attention. He stopped to just chat for about ten minutes, until another cadet came by and he started talking to him. Keep in mind I'm a fourth-classman; lowest of the low.

Both of these generals are fiercely protective, and proud, of the cadets - were I to be accused of any kind of sexual assault, I would seriously fear bodily harm. I cannot sing their praises enough for the leadership they demonstrate on a daily basis, and for the changes in the system they are implementing - and enforcing.

[Ramrod]

Bodily harm and cleaning house is what should have happened after the first incident. At the time though the brass probably thought "women should'nt be here anyway".

Good to here you have leaders who are concerned and involved with all the cadets on a daily basis.

I never ran into a General, must feel kinda like standing before God.

My sincere thanks to you and all the cadets for your service.

[Soldier]

That's exactly the thing - it doesn't. It feels like running into an older friend. And that's a testament to the general.

Of course, when you've got classes taught by full colonels, you do get a little rank-desensitized, I guess...

[Crin Dalmeiier]

Even through the whole fuss in the media last year, I guess I've always had a lot of respect for the Academy.

For one, one of my good friends is a fourth class there right now. He's dating my best friend, and I can usually go to him if I want a guy's opinion on anything.

I also wanted to attend there until my junior year of high school. I decided somewhere in that year that I wanted a more conventional college experience and opted for ROTC instead (I'm still in, and it looks like I'm going for butterbar). I guess I'm kind of regurgitating some of my dad's opinions (SMSGT, Ret.), but the Academy has always been a sort of high-class place to me.

I'm hoping to wrangle a trip to visit up there next fourth of July--my friend is adamant that I see it then.