Military academies face criticism for using prep schools to fill athletic teams

[nitpicker]

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/military-academies-face-criticism-for-using-prep-schools-to-fill-athletic-teams-1.302079

Military academies face criticism for using prep schools to fill athletic teams

By Tom Roeder
The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette
Published: September 8, 2014

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (MCT) — The Air Force Academy is among the most exclusive colleges in America, with nine applicants turned down for every one accepted — making it the 15th-toughest college in which to gain admittance, according to a U.S. News & World Report study.

The academy touts its academic standing and the quality of those who apply. High test scores, great grades and a pile of community service are the norm.

But there's a back door, and it's open wide for athletes. If you can throw a football or dunk a basketball, are at least 17, unmarried with no dependents, you're on track to become a cadet candidate at Air Force Academy Preparatory School. The school provides about a fifth of cadets entering the academy and a big share of its top athletes, including 17 of the school's 22 varsity basketball players this year and 69 of 189 football players.

It and similar cram schools at Army and Navy are unique, taxpayer-funded programs that give applicants an extra year after high school to meet academic muster to get into the respective academies. Prep schoolers are paid, get free tuition and train with coaches in the intricacies of academy sports. Each is packed with athletes.
(snip)
Preparatory schools were created for Army and Navy after World War I as a way to give enlisted soldiers, sailors and Marines a chance at becoming officers.

But GAO reports dating to the 1970s show that the schools have had little success in that realm but are a fine source of athletes.

(snip)
The officer source, who is familiar with the admissions process, said saying athletes and nonathletes are given the same treatment is like saying first class and coach airplane passengers are given the same treatment.

"Athletes, those kids are fast-tracked," he said. "A blue-chip athlete will be worked through the system one way or another."

Even the lack of a nomination is no barrier, the officer said. The superintendent of the Air Force Academy can bring in 50 students per year without further permission, as long as the prospective cadets meet "the needs of the academy."

(snip)

[yeoman6987]

1. Oh for goodness sakes

The prep school is a great tool. The majority are minorities who end up being very successful at the Academy. This is a great program. Do not get rid of it unless you get rid of the entire Academy. This story is very unfair. I know because I worked for one of the Academies in the Admissions and specifically the prep school.

[MADem]

2. This isn't just about athletes. Absolutely, athletes are pushed through that pipeline,

but they're not the only ones that benefit from it.

Seriously, who in hell, with existing athletic talent, who didn't need a leg up, would bother with an academy education over a college one and a quick shot at the big leagues? Anyone going to an academy is going to have to go through hell to avoid payback service (they'll end up in the reserves and doing military PSA ads for ten years if they are lucky).

The academies don't want their athletic contests to look like junior varsity high school games. If they have to rely on what walks in off the street, that's what they'd end up with.