The papers I received from West Point soon after receiving my Appointment made many suggestions on how to prepare for Cadet Basic Training (CBT) and for the physical demands we would endure. West Point provided a link on suggested physical fitness training programs, and stressed how important it was that cadets be prepared for lots of running by running three miles a day at home the months before arriving for CBT. Many who attend West Point ran track or were on cross country teams prior to their arrival, so this is not an issue for those types of plebes (freshmen cadets). However, for me, I am not a runner. I was on my high school track team, but I threw shot put and discus. Running has still been a part of my work-out routine for the past few years, but I have trained more in power/weight training events than focusing on running. Last summer and the past two semesters, I have been focusing more on running, but I am larger than the average runner and feel that there was something that I was missing. Getting proper, good quality running shoes during spring break certainly has helped a lot. I had been wearing a size 13 running shoe up until that point, and learned from a very knowledgeable sales person who analyzed my feet and running that I should have been wearing a size 11 EEE with orthotics. The smaller but wider shoe has made a big difference, even though I am still trying to get used to the orthotics, which hurt my arch. (I am slowly breaking them in by using them in the shoes I wear to class.)

I find running to be boring compared to weight training, so have been trying to come up with alternatives to running on the indoor or outdoor track, or running one set route around campus like I had been doing more recently. My new Zune helps because I like to listen to music while I run and nicer weather makes running outdoors better than during the winter months. Running around campus, it is difficult to know exactly how far I have been running. I don’t have a car down here to check distance on various routes and was talking with a friend on my hall about the predicament. He suggested this very useful website, MapMyRun.com, that is a social network for runners where you can map out different routes. It calculates the distance and all sorts of stats, including burned calories, and keeps all running activities listed in a running history. I set up my free membership and found maps for Blacksburg and campus and easily started mapping out routes, which I then saved. I have saved seven routes in total and vary the route I run depending on the day. I will obviously change my maps once I am home and plan to continue using this program. I can even go ahead and research routes on Post at West Point and have pre-programmed routes for before I even arrive. I wish I knew about this site before now and plan to mention it to my grandparents to use for their daily four mile walks. They travel a lot and can find routes no matter where they go and this will eliminate guesswork on distance traveled.

Brother Visiting VT

The upcoming days will be different since my parents and brother will be making a trip to Virginia Tech for two days. My brother, Andrew, is a senior in high school and this is his spring break week. The main reason my parents wanted to come down and had already scheduled a trip is because my birthday is April 5 and my mom wanted to take me out for an early birthday dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Blacksburg that she’s noticed on trips down to pick me up (Chinese food is one of my favorites) and she said it would be sad for her not to see me close to my birthday. The second reason is that my brother will be graduating this June and my parents felt that it would be good for him to sit in on some classes with me. This is especially important now as Andrew found out on Friday that he did not get into his number one school, UVA Engineering, but was waitlisted. Since few people get in from a waitlist, Andrew now needs to decide on another school. Right now he isn't sure which one he wants to go to. He has been accepted to VT Engineering, JMU Physics, and GMU Engineering.

Andrew is very smart and math courses come easy to him. He has always taken a challenging course load with advanced classes but still has over a 4.0 GPA, and has a lot of leadership experience, Boys’ State, Governor’s School – Math, Science, & Technology, five honor societies, and many other things so it is surprising that he did not get into UVA. I'm very shocked that he did not get in. He knows many other students with less credentials who got in, so that adds to his disappointment and frustration.

My family is supposed to arrive mid-morning on Thursday. They will leave home very early since it’s a 4 ½ hour drive and my parents want to stop in Christiansburg on their way in to get a hotel room and then on to campus to drop off Andrew’s things in my dorm room and out for an early lunch before my afternoon Physics class. Physics would be a good class for Andrew to see since it’s an example of a large lecture class and the professor doesn’t speak English. It will give him a chance to see one of the worse case engineering classes here at Tech. Depending on my work-load, I would like to take Andrew around campus Thursday afternoon to show him various places and then to D2 for dinner.

Friday morning, we’ll eat breakfast at D2 again and then Andrew will attend English and Calculus with me. It’ll be good for Andrew to visit a non-engineering class and see how that is, and then a typical math course. I’m not sure that we’ll get a chance to go to the Math Emporium, but the three classes he visits will give him a good feel for Tech. I do feel disappointed for my brother because I know how much he’s wanted UVA. He was also excited about VT Engineering when he applied to colleges last fall, but after hearing from me, some of his friends, and comments on the Web about the cons of VT Engineering, like the many bad professors, he’s concerned now about what to do. He has a big decision to make by May 1.

West Point Reception

This past weekend was pretty eventful. My mom drove down to Blacksburg on Friday and did shopping until I was done with my Physics test that evening, then we drove home, arriving just after midnight. My brother got in a little while later, and we stayed up pretty late talking. The next morning, my brother had to leave at 7:00 for the high school mulch sale delivery and I got up about the time he was heading out the door. After breakfast, my parents and I left for the Ft. Belvoir so I could try on boots and dress shoes. Both getting to and leaving from the post was interesting. MapQuest took us on a route that went out of the way, and a different route than what we are normally used to taking. It eventually took us along a scenic back road behind Lorton Prison. When we tried leaving Ft. Belvoir, we had to drive around for a while trying to find a gate that had not been blocked for security reasons. All of the exist from the post that were not main gates were blocked off. Our map showed all gates and did not specify which ones were open.

I was successful at finding a pair of Tan Hot Weather Desert ACU boots that fit, after a lot of waiting and trying on many different pair. There were four approved manufacturers for this boot that I am allowed to wear at West Point, and I went with Belleville because Matt Barnette recommended them. What was interesting in finding these boots is that I went there expecting that I would need a size 11 ½ EEE boot, and walked out with a size 11 D (Regular) boot. I was surprised that my very wide feet fit into a regular sized boot and that that size was smaller than running shoes. (I took thick hiking socks to try them on with, too, and I still needed a smaller sized boot.) I had also hoped to try on dress shoes for sizing even though Ft. Belvoir doesn’t carry the specific Black Leather Oxford Low Quarter shoe that I am authorized to purchase, but they didn’t even have my size in any dress shoe. The saleswoman suggested that we call Andrew’s Air Force Base in Maryland, which we did, and Andrew’s had one pair of the shoes I needed in a size 11 ½ Regular, which they held for me (the next smallest shoe they had in stock was an 8 ½! I was shocked at how limited military posts and bases are in keeping uniform items in stock). It took awhile to make our way off post, and we were also in heavy traffic approaching the Beltway and crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Maryland. It was about lunch time at this point. Once at Andrew’s, we found the store pretty easily, but the pair of shoes that they were holding for me was too big.

The Washington DC metropolitan area is known for its heavy traffic, and the time I spent in the car on Saturday was typical for our area. We arrived home to a very late lunch prepared by my grandmother, made a quick trip to the VA Running Store where I purchased running shoes and orthodics during Spring Break (the orthodics hurt the arch of my feet), and then back home to change for the USMA Reception at the McLean Hilton in Tyson’s Corner. Due to traffic, we had to leave around 4:00pm to ensure we’d be there ten minutes before the 5:00pm reception.

The USMA Reception was the highlight of my weekend and the real reason I came home. I got to see MAJ Tolman, the West Point Southeast Regional Commander, talk with several cadets who came down for a Crew meet and some who were there to attend the Founder’s Day Dinner later that evening, and also met a few other Cadet Candidates from the area. Even the Commandant of Cadets was there. The hour and a half Reception flew by very quickly, but it really made things feel “real” and official. I cannot wait until June!

I headed back to Blacksburg on Sunday morning and arrived around 1:15pm.It was a busy weekend, but it was great.

Spring break went pretty well for me. I didn't do much of anything over break, which was nice. I did have to get several vaccinations and blood tests done early in the week for West Point, which was a lot of fun. Being able to hang out with my family was nice. I got to see my cousins the last weekend before returning to VT. One of my cousins, David, will be working most of the summer at a job in Texas. His job starts in May, and it will be hard to be able to see him once finals end and before he has to leave, so it was nice being able to see him.

Yesterday, I received another packet from West Point with even more things that I have to get done. The main thing that I have to get done is purchasing 2 pairs of Hot Weather Tan ACU Boots, and 1 pair of low quarter shoes. I will be going home again this weekend for a West Point Reception on Saturday night, and I will be picking up the boots and shoes Saturday morning.

Classes and Spring Break

These past few weeks have been going pretty well with classes. The one thing that I have been wondering about is, why do professors think that math and science tests are best done with multiple choice? I was always taught that the most important thing in math was understanding the process, and even if you didn't get the correct answer, as long as you approached the problem correctly, then that was better than just getting an answer. Both my Calculus II class and my Physics class have only multiple choice tests, which is very frustrating for me. I am not very strong with math, and have been having problems getting good grades on the tests because I am not always able to get the correct answer. I am understanding the current material just as well as the material presented in Calculus I, but my test average has dropped from a 90% down to a 70%.

It really is a problem with the idea of the math emporium. I know so many people who hate the math emporium and how math classes require students to take tests and quizzes on the computer. For some people, especially those who are very smart with math, don't have any problems getting A's on all of the tests and quizzes, but those of us who can't do that usually struggle with those assignments. Some people who I have talked with have suggested that the math emporium was the only practical way for a professor to get test results quickly from hundreds of students, especially in classes that are lower level. I found this funny because my Calculus I professor had graders, and was able to return tests within a week. She seemed to take much more of an interest in the success of her students than my current Calculus professor. I believe that the way that a professor conducts grading for major assignments reflects on the quality of the professor.

I am sure that everyone is excited for spring break. I can't wait to get home and not have to worry about having to go to classes. Unfortunately, I will still have to study for several tests that are soon after the end of spring break. I don't really have anything planned for spring break, so I will just enjoy being able to relax.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been filling out a lot of paperwork for West Point. There is much more stuff to do after being accepted than that of the entire application process. I will have to finish most of the current paperwork over spring break. They mail out two major packets of paperwork that must be completed and mailed back to them prior to R-Day (June 28th) when I report to West Point. They have given me the first packet of forms, and I am expecting the second sometime in mid-March. Unfortunately it will be shortly after spring break, and I won't be able to do it at home when I have a lot of free time.

This week I began preparing physically for West Point. Shortly after I arrive, I will have to take the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and I have set a goal to try and max all of the areas on the test, which include pushups, situps, and a two mile run. I have started to run every day for at least an hour, followed by another hour of lifting and other various exercises.

I have also began to research some clubs and sports that I would like to do at West Point. Every cadet must participate in an intercollegiate sport or an intermural sport. I have known for a while that I want to be on the jump team, which I must try out for this October. I also would like to try the Combat Weapons Team.

4 more days 'till spring break!

West Point!

Friday morning at 11:00, my mom called my cellphone to tell me that Congressman Connolly's office had called at around 10:30 to inform us that I had received an appointment to West Point. The appointment is the actual offer to attend West Point. The actual appointment, including the certificate and all of the associated paperwork, should be arriving sometime this week to my house.

Earlier last week, my parents informed me that I had received a letter saying that I was found fully qualified by the admissions board, and was placed on the National Waiting List. I was a little disappointed about receiving the National Waiting List letter because many people who are put on the National Waiting List don't get an offer to attend the Academy. I had emailed my Regional Admissions Officer to ask him about my admissions status. He emailed me back saying that I should call him on Friday in the early afternoon. By the time I had called him, I had already found out that I had been accepted to West Point. He knew that I would be receiving the call from my congressman's office either on Thursday or Friday, and wanted to speak with me after I had found out about my appointment.

Now, all that is left is filling out a lot of paperwork. Once it arrives at my home, my parents will mail everything down to me so I can fill everything out and accept the offer to attend West Point. One of the things that I must do is apply for a security clearance, which is necessary for all cadets at West Point to have. I must report to West Point on June 28 for R-Day (Reception Day) which is the first day of Cadet Basic Training. Cadet Basic Training will last for about 8 weeks before classes will start next fall.

So far this semester, I have been really disappointed with my courses as a whole. I really haven't enjoyed being a student at Virginia Tech, and with the addition of some pretty horrible professors, and a few classes that I would rather do without, it has been pushing me towards really considering a way of getting away from Virginia Tech earlier than the end of this semester.

There really has never been a time in my life where I ever really wanted to go to college. My whole reasoning behind wanting to go to college was for training to be an officer in the US Army. That is the reason why I have wanted to go to West Point my entire life. I have never really been interested in going to college to earn a degree, but here I am, at a civilian school studying Engineering. Both of those, I am now realizing, were a mistake. My reasons for going to Virginia Tech to study engineering were very thin. Most people in engineering here wanted to come here because of VT's good engineering program and wanted to have that degree when they graduate and look for a job as an engineer. I'm in the Galileo program for engineers, and every one of them wants to do some sort of engineering job where they are designing or creating something new in a particular field of engineering. I am the only one who has no interest in ever having an engineering job. I am also the only one who had made the decision to leave Virginia Tech even before I came here. I knew that the engineering program at VT was very good and well known, and I was sure that it would help me secure a nomination to West Point. So, my reasons for coming here was so that I could leave here as soon as possible.

The first semester, I enjoyed a lot of the freedoms associated with being a college student. The friends I made certainly made most of my time enjoyable, which made me be able accept the fact that I would have to be a student at VT for this year. After the first semester was over, I wasn't sure that I would be able to take another semester because I really didn't enjoy the environment. It just wasn't what I was looking for in a school. My entire life, I looked forward to being at an all military school preparing to be an officer while taking classes to earn a degree. Now that this semester has started, I have realized that I couldn't stay at Virginia Tech, even if something were to happen where I couldn't attend West Point after the conclusion of this semester. The problem remains that no civilian schools offer what I am looking for in a school.

I guess I will just have to push my way through this second semester and see how everything turns out. If I am fully accepted to West Point, then everything will work out great. If not, then I am sure that I will not be staying here. If that is the case, then I think that I may go onto active duty in the US Army and reapply to West Point. My recruiter has an 18X spot open for active duty, which is a Special Forces direct enlistment option. Basically, I would go to a separate basic training and AIT before leaving for airborne and air assault schools and being able to try and pass the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. Though, I am very confident that I will receive an appointment to West Point, this other route is a realistic possibility for me. If I am accepted to West Point, then I want to major in Engineering Management (which really isn't an engineering degree because it isn't at all technical, but it's more of a systems management degree) and earn a degree with a Military Art and Science Area of Study and minor in Arabic. This is like double majoring and minoring. But what I do know for sure is that I will not be coming back to Virginia Tech after this semester.

Introduction

My name is David Lynch, and I am a freshman at Virginia Tech. I am currently studying General Engineering and am part of the Galileo Engineering Community for male engineering students. I had initially wanted to major in Mechanical Engineering, but have lost my interest in a technical engineering degree. This is mostly due to what I want to do for my career and my academic interests. So far I have enjoyed my time at Virginia Tech, but it is not the school for me.

Next year I will be a cadet at the United States Military Academy, known as West Point. After not getting an appointment last year, I decided to reapply to the academy, and spend a year studying engineering at Virginia Tech. I have been working closely with my Regional Commander (admissions officer) to try and get my application through the admissions process for a second time as fast as possible to increase my chances of receiving an appointment. While at West Point, I will pursue a degree in Engineering Management and a minor in Arabic. I believe that those two degrees will help me out as an Army officer better than a technical engineering degree.

In the meantime, I have joined the Army National Guard and will be serving in the 29th Infantry Division. I have not attended basic or AIT, and have not begun training yet. I will be an 11B Infantryman. I feel a connection to the 29th Infantry Division, and even tough I will not be in the 29th for long, because I will be leaving for cadet basic training in June, I still wish to return to serving in the 29th after a career as a commissioned officer on active duty in the US Army. My grandfather served for 11 years in the 29th infantry Division and was discharged as a Master Sergeant.

After graduating from West Point, I hope to serve a full career as a commissioned officer in the US Army, preferably the Infantry and then in Special Forces. Because I can't go immediately to Special Warfare School to train to be in the US Army Special Forces (The Green Berets), I hope to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment, which is a Special Operations infantry regiment and part of the US Special Operations Command. I will have to spend at least 4 years in the US Army before being able to try out for Special Warfare School, which is my ultimate goal while in the Army.

Some of my other interests are: competitive target shooting, mountain biking, and working out. I enjoy doing all sorts of shooting sports, including small and large bore shooting, pistol shooting, and shotgun shooting. Small bore shooting is shooting with a relatively weak round such as a .22 which is purely for target shooting within 25 yards, whereas large bore is shooting any high caliber rifle at long distance. My longest shot was made at around 800 yards. I also do various pistol shooting sports as well as skeet and trap, which are both different shotgun shooting sports where you hit a flying clay target. Overall, I like to stay active and always like to be doing something that involves some level of physical activity.

I am looking forward to this semester of english and writing blogs, especially because they dont' have to be as long as the blogs last semester.