Comments on: Military Service and Civil Service, One and the Same http://uspublicserviceacademy.org/blog/2009/06/15/military-service-and-civil-service-one-in-the-same/ America Deserves Our Best Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:50:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: USAFA12 http://uspublicserviceacademy.org/blog/2009/06/15/military-service-and-civil-service-one-in-the-same/#comment-116795 USAFA12 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:21:11 +0000 http://uspublicserviceacademy.org/?p=313#comment-116795 The idea of a USPSA is an interesting one that I and several of my colleagues here at the US Air Force Academy just can't get our heads around. At USAFA, and the other Academies, we're all bonded by the tough things we've gone through and the commraderie we share as future officers in the US Air Force, or other branch. But a Public Service institution wanting to have that same idea... I might need a little more explanation. Service Academies like to exchange cadets with one another, so how would an Air Force cadet exchange with someone at the Public Service Academy? Would they? My guess is probably not, seeing that those in the USPSA didn't take the same oath that we have taken in the military, nor have any military training. Would the occupants of the USPSA take an oath? And what would separate USPSA from a normal institution? As someone who went to a "normal" college for 2 years prior to coming to USAFA, I'm curious how USPSA would differ from that. The other Academies differ due to the military training, emphasis on athletics, and the strong commitment to a higher calling than yourself. If the USPSA doesn't have the emphasis on athletics or a "basic training" (don't know why you'd need one in the first place), then what would set it apart from say, UNC or the University of Florida? This idea looks great on paper, but let's get real here: If you want more public servants, try pushing for colleges to lower the price of tuition. As a USAFA cadet, my specialty will be as an Air Force officer. For a USPSA cadet (or whatever you'll call them), their specialty will be... doctor? nurse? lawyer? cop? Who is their allegiance to? Other Academy cadets and midshipmen serve under their branch of service... How would that work for the USPSA people? Just a thought. The idea of a USPSA is an interesting one that I and several of my colleagues here at the US Air Force Academy just can’t get our heads around. At USAFA, and the other Academies, we’re all bonded by the tough things we’ve gone through and the commraderie we share as future officers in the US Air Force, or other branch. But a Public Service institution wanting to have that same idea… I might need a little more explanation. Service Academies like to exchange cadets with one another, so how would an Air Force cadet exchange with someone at the Public Service Academy? Would they? My guess is probably not, seeing that those in the USPSA didn’t take the same oath that we have taken in the military, nor have any military training. Would the occupants of the USPSA take an oath? And what would separate USPSA from a normal institution? As someone who went to a “normal” college for 2 years prior to coming to USAFA, I’m curious how USPSA would differ from that.
The other Academies differ due to the military training, emphasis on athletics, and the strong commitment to a higher calling than yourself. If the USPSA doesn’t have the emphasis on athletics or a “basic training” (don’t know why you’d need one in the first place), then what would set it apart from say, UNC or the University of Florida?

This idea looks great on paper, but let’s get real here: If you want more public servants, try pushing for colleges to lower the price of tuition. As a USAFA cadet, my specialty will be as an Air Force officer. For a USPSA cadet (or whatever you’ll call them), their specialty will be… doctor? nurse? lawyer? cop? Who is their allegiance to? Other Academy cadets and midshipmen serve under their branch of service… How would that work for the USPSA people?

Just a thought.

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