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cut the strings or don't apply
- Thread starter wink
- Start date
My BGO specifically wanted my parents at the interview. He quickly realized within about 2 minutes (no joke) in no way had they pushed me to apply to the Academy or to join the military. He even mentioned he got the feeling my mom was trying to sway me out of the military. The interview quickly turned into sea and flying stories -- he was a -60 Pilot. Another thing he did was he wouldn't do interviews until applications were complete (or maybe like 90% complete, I can't remember, either way it was most of the application). From that point on, that guy worked his butt off to help me into the Academy.
Parents can be a hit or miss when it comes to that kinda stuff. Mine never really interfered much with the academy process. In fact, I think they helped gather up some of the paperwork that i needed to find and fill out. However the ROTC application I was trying to do as a backup totally got messed up by them. I was working with the marine recruiters and everything was going great till my dad calls them up and starts yelling at them saying he really wanted to go navy and you lied to him yada yada yada. Needless to say the Marine Captain switched it over to a navy rotc scholarship because of my father. I knew it was marine and I had no problem with that but my father called them up with out me even knowing it. I didn't find out till about a day or two after when he told me what he did. I was like what the hell man? Needless to say it didn't matter because I got the academy spot but still... Parents can be a real hit or miss sometimes on those things...
I remember my BGO had a strict policy of never doing an interview at an applicant's house, only his own, because he didn't want the applicant's living conditions or financial situation to sway his opinion one way or the other. Seemed wierd at the time, but makes alot of sense now.
He invited my parents over for meetings, but most of the one-on-one stuff was done over the phone. They got along great, though, so I guess it worked out in the end.
He invited my parents over for meetings, but most of the one-on-one stuff was done over the phone. They got along great, though, so I guess it worked out in the end.
Must be a Naval Academy thing My Mommy didn't tell me I could enlist or go to OCS. Here come the Flames.
No flames, just the shame of a completely dumb comment.
You could definitely tell the kids at the Academy who where there for themselves or for their parents. Needless to say, the latter group didn't last very long at all, or if they did they were the shitbags of the company. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to try and do your job with the parents hovering. I did some small time stuff recruiting stuff while I was a mid and there were definitely some parents who were firing off the questions and not the kid.
BGOs are supposed to talk with parents when possible. We are specifically instructed not to conduct an interview with parents present. Among other things, that is to make sure a parent isn't having undue influence on the kid's desire to apply or in their interview answers. Maybe your BGO knew from the start that wasn't an issue with you. I have made those calls before, but still go one on one to make it seem as professional and exclusive as possible. Most my interviews are at the applicants home for their convenience, But I have done them at my home, starbucks, school and a public library. Interviews do not have to be done until the candidate gets through about 75 % of the application. They can be done sooner. If I have a guy that is very highly qualified and seems motivated, I will interview early just to size him up and see if I will have to prevent him from going Army or Air Farce. The slackers and ordinary get interviewed when they go over the magic number, not sooner.
I think Wink's unfortunate experience is indicative of a bigger problem with today's youth: Failure to remove their coddled little lips from mommies titty and take responsibility for their futures and actions.
Wink, just so you know, my previous comment in no way was a criticism of you. I feel for you, I would have lost my top if that was happening to me. For whatever reason, I can't recall having an interview with my BGO without my parents present; I do remember him saying that part of the reason he wanted to come to my house was to see how much my parents were influencing me and like I said, he quickly saw that there was zero influence on their part.
Goggle the term "Helicopter Parents" and see what you get. Some Colleges and Universities are actually catering to them.
It's interesting...because the superintendent here used that term when he was briefing the parents earlier this year during firstie parents weekend. Something to the effect of that the academy had a big problem with helicopter parents, and that they needed to let their mids deal with issues at the academy on their own. I remember some of the parents were up in arms about it, but it made a lot of sense to me. We can't really develop ourselves if our parents are constantly hovering over. I totally agree with you Wink, and I hope that this one experience was the exception instead of the rule.