Question: Why did Gonzales leave the Air Force Academy after only two years?

[MissMarple]

Google wasn't my best friend, but maybe I didn't dig deep enough. He entered the Air Force in 1973 was stationed in Alaska, was appointed to the Academy in 1975 and stayed two years, at tax payer expense, I may add. One article said he grew tired of all the science classes and transferred to Rice University to study political science, then off to Harvard Law.

How can cadets just walk away from two years of tax payer funded education by pretty much saying "never mind". Who sponsored his appointment, and who paid his way at Rice and then Harvard? Perhaps he just worked his way through with the help of some scholarship financial aid.

Anyone have any cogent thoughts on that?

[xxqqqzme]

1. all good questions - I don't have any answers

but you raise some good points.

[ceile]

2. My brother did that at West Point.

He went, didn't like it and got back into his normal unit.
If you look at the time line, it appears that Gonzo's 4 years of over all service (1973-1977) were up at the end of those 2 years at the academy (1975-1977).
As far as his Rice and Harvard tuition...?

[MissMarple]

4. So his two years at the academy would count as "service"?

Sweet deal.

I mean Gonzo, not your brother. :)

[ceile]

5. I'm just guessing, but it appears that way. n/t

[Thothmes]

14. Yes

[Totally Committed]

3. He finally "passed" the silver wings he was forced to swallow during his initiation hazing?

That's my guess.

:rofl:

TC

[cloudbase]

6. Once a cadet begins the third year at the academy

that cadet is obligated to serve as an enlisted member if they don't finish the academy program.

[MissMarple]

8. They can just walk with two years of free, and quite good, education?

Interesting, if so. I believe if they are kicked out, they may have to pay for the education they did receive.

[sutz12]

7. His dog ate his homework? nt

[merci_me]

9. Scratching my head.....

He grew tired of all the SCIENCE classes, so he transferred to RICE???

[MissMarple]

12. Ah huh...it seems a bit puzzling... however,

I just googled popular majors at both the Academy and Rice...political science is popular at both. But that still doesn't answer the question of why he left the Academy. Maybe he couldn't hack the aeronautics requirement...or something.


http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=165

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~poli/poliugradpg.html

[radfringe]

10. I think Gonzo was asked that a few years back

he said he doesn't recall

[MissMarple]

11. Laughing out loud, here.

:rofl:

[Eurobabe]

13. Can't remember, don't recall....

[rasputin1952]

15. Hard to tell w/o a transcript of his grades, but he isn't all that

bright. So he might well have been failing. Then again, he could just have gotten sick of the whole military experience, or just figured he wasn't good enough to be a Mess Officer...:shrug:

In any case, it certainly seems like a lot of the GOP types somehow decline to finish whatever obligations the have in the military...:evilgrin: