Initial Officer Selection

[The Cuyahoga Kid]

From afar my impression is that the right to wear a class ring from a U.S. Service academy is a first rate achievement. But I also have the impression that a lot of the tasks mastered (or at least borne) do not necessarily have anything to do with the training of a good officer. I am sure some reading the above will say, “What the hell does this guy know?” while others will say, “That’s putting it politely.”

I'm biased, but from my limited experience, I'm highly inclined to agree. Service Academies may have higher performing alumni than other commissioning sources (I assume this is the case, don't actually know), but I think that's because of selection bias more than anything else, and despite the type of training provided there.