Second Helper Project: West Point and Air Force SLS!

In a way this project could be considered a "self-helper project". Instead of doing a formal helping project with another student I applied to attend the Air Force, Army, and Naval Academy's Summer Leadership Seminars. These seminars provide a student with the opportunity to live like a cadet. It is essential for knowing what it is like firsthand because many people dont know what they are getting themselves into. Those people end up taking up someone else's spot, who really wanted to go, just so they could drop out a year later. For each academy about 40-50% of the people attend that particular SLS will go there. The attrition rate for such students is less than 10% which helps the recuits decide who to select. It was more a less of a week of immersing ourselves in the physical, academic, and military lives of a cadet.

Approximate Daily Schedule

4:30 or 5:30 wake-up
5:40-6:40 Physical Training(PT)
7:00 Breakfast
7:30 Leadership Briefing (Usually from a Col. or General)
9:00 Class
noon-12:30 lunch
12:30-3:30 class
4:00 Intermurals, Military training, or Squad Leader time
6:30 Dinner
7:00 Intermurals, Military Training, or squad leader time
11:00 lights out

During many of the days we had variance in the schedule because of things like the Canidate Fitness Assessment or some kind of field trip. The most interesting part was the people that attended SLS. Everyone there is a leader in some way, shape or form and that's when the true leaders stand out from the regular leaders. At both academies we were given the opportunities to talk with athletic coaches that may want to recruit us in the future. The amount of fun a person has at SLS is dictated by the group leader that you are assgined. The cadets in charge truly make or break the experience for some.

List of West Point Stuff and Air Force Stuff

West Point:
Museum-like and incredibly massive
tight knit group of students, cadets, etc.
huge temperature fluctuations
close to new york
in charge of 200 people upon graduation
average dorms
excellent food
motivating teachers and majors
highly market-able degree
undergrad research is required

Air Force:
modern buildings
students, staff, cadets, etc. are more prude and tend to be more concerned with themselves.
high altitude (7,258 ft)
stricter standards
not in charge of many people upon graduation
very nice cool carpeted dorms (also inspected more often)
excellent food
motivating teachers and majors
impressive degree
undergrad research isn't required
minors available
40% of students go to flight school

At both academies we were constantly test physically and mentally. It was obvious who was prepared right then and there for that school and also for those who aren't ever going to be ready for one them. It is still 50/50 for me if both academies accepted me. I had an excellent time even though it was exhausting but regardless of choice I feel ready to join the USM.