DCA says everyone is hiring
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 747 FO
Posts: 937
There are many institutions, even in other industries, that are referred to as "The Academy". So no, not even the AF academy has an exclusive claim to that term, no more than DCA, FlightSafety or anyone else.
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: 737 Right
Posts: 305
I have always been curious about why people have this train of thought. If it isn't OK to say "The Academy" when speaking of DCA, then why is it OK to say "The Academy" when talking about the Air Force Academy. Is West Point, VMI and others not an Academy? What makes the Air Force so Special to have reserved the right to be called The ONE AND ONLY "Academy?"
Just curious......
Just curious......
TurboDog,
You are correct that DCA can be defined as meeting the definition of an "Academy", ie:
1.a secondary or high school, esp. a private one.
2.a school or college for special instruction or training in a subject: a military academy.
3.an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature, or science:the National Academy of Sciences
4.a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship, art, etc., who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas.
However, many professional pilots, both military and civilian, will assume that you went to a U.S. Military Academy if you say that you went to "The Academy." Many military personnel commonly refer to the US Military Academy as "West Point", the US Naval Academy as "Annapolis" and The US Air Force Academy simply as "The Academy".
Also, to compare DCA to one of the military academies is truly comparing apples to oranges. The purpose of the US Military Academies, as USMCFLYR has pointed out, is to develop and train military officers -- some of whom are fortunate enough to end up in military aviation. The military academies are 4 years long and lead to an accredited college bachelors degree with most graduates earning 160+ college credit hours in 4 grueling years; as compared to most civilian colleges where a bachelors degree only requires approx. 120 credit hours. It is only after that 4 year life altering experience that the lucky ones get the opportunity to go through a formal military flight training program leading to the award of US military pilot wings.
In a nutshell, to compare DCA flight training to any US military academy graduate who has then gone on to military flight school is a joke. You will have to learn to deal with the reality that the term "Academy" to a lot of people implies a graduate of one of the U.S. Military Academies.
Cheers!
Thunder1
Last edited by Thunder1; 06-24-2009 at 10:04 PM.
#27
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: crj-200 FO
Posts: 479
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,197
TurboDog,
You are correct that DCA can be defined as meeting the definition of an "Academy", ie:
1.a secondary or high school, esp. a private one.
2.a school or college for special instruction or training in a subject: a military academy.
3.an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature, or science:the National Academy of Sciences
4.a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship, art, etc., who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas.
However, many professional pilots, both military and civilian, will assume that you went to a U.S. Military Academy if you say that you went to "The Academy." Many military personnel commonly refer to the US Military Academy as "West Point", the US Naval Academy as "Annapolis" and The US Air Force Academy simply as "The Academy".
Also, to compare DCA to one of the military academies is truly comparing apples to oranges. The purpose of the US Military Academies, as USMCFLYR has pointed out, is to develop and train military officers -- some of whom are fortunate enough to end up in military aviation. The military academies are 4 years long and lead to an accredited college bachelors degree with most graduates earning 160+ college credit hours in 4 grueling years; as compared to most civilian colleges where a bachelors degree only requires approx. 120 credit hours. It is only after that 4 year life altering experience that the lucky ones get the opportunity to go through a formal military flight training program leading to the award of US military pilot wings.
In a nutshell, to compare DCA flight training to any US military academy graduate who has then gone on to military flight school is a joke. You will have to learn to deal with the reality that the term "Academy" to a lot of people implies a graduate of one of the U.S. Military Academies.
Cheers!
Thunder1
You are correct that DCA can be defined as meeting the definition of an "Academy", ie:
1.a secondary or high school, esp. a private one.
2.a school or college for special instruction or training in a subject: a military academy.
3.an association or institution for the advancement of art, literature, or science:the National Academy of Sciences
4.a group of authorities and leaders in a field of scholarship, art, etc., who are often permitted to dictate standards, prescribe methods, and criticize new ideas.
However, many professional pilots, both military and civilian, will assume that you went to a U.S. Military Academy if you say that you went to "The Academy." Many military personnel commonly refer to the US Military Academy as "West Point", the US Naval Academy as "Annapolis" and The US Air Force Academy simply as "The Academy".
Also, to compare DCA to one of the military academies is truly comparing apples to oranges. The purpose of the US Military Academies, as USMCFLYR has pointed out, is to develop and train military officers -- some of whom are fortunate enough to end up in military aviation. The military academies are 4 years long and lead to an accredited college bachelors degree with most graduates earning 160+ college credit hours in 4 grueling years; as compared to most civilian colleges where a bachelors degree only requires approx. 120 credit hours. It is only after that 4 year life altering experience that the lucky ones get the opportunity to go through a formal military flight training program leading to the award of US military pilot wings.
In a nutshell, to compare DCA flight training to any US military academy graduate who has then gone on to military flight school is a joke. You will have to learn to deal with the reality that the term "Academy" to a lot of people implies a graduate of one of the U.S. Military Academies.
Cheers!
Thunder1
It's all in a name as well. How many people do you know that went to "Ridddle?" Not Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, but "Riddle."
Basically I don't think it is wrong for the word "Academy" to be thrown around. It sounds like the problem lies with the guys who have graduated from one of the Military Academy's that dislike anyone else using the term, because they have dubbed it theirs. I respect all military personel and appreciate what they do for us, but I don't think they should get wrapped around the name.
What about people that have gone through the UTI program. Universal Technical Institute, or Marine Mechanics Institute? I don't hear VMI graduates complaining that UTI is not a real Institute, or that they are not worthy of using the name Institute because they aren't military.
#30
Don't most police forces have "academies". At least they made a few movies about it. I went to the FAA Academy for ATC training. It was a royal pain in the *ss, but only 3 months long, and no marching or shooting. No breadth of education either.... strictly vocational training and screening for potential future ATC training.
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