PJOC

[Nathan]

I have planned to get into PJOC but how will this benefit me?

If you're asking this question then do yourself a favor, don't apply.

It takes a lot of self motovation to get to and to graduate from PJOC.

And if you're asking the "What's in it for me" question then you probably don't have the motovation.

It's gotta come from inside...

I'm speaking as someone who did not attend PJOC, but is that a completely fair assessment? People have asked me what they get out of earning the Spaatz award and whether or not it's worth earning. I ask them what they hope to do with their lives, and then try to relate earning the Spaatz back to that.

Someone asking what they can get out of PJOC isn't necessarily indicative of a lack of motivation. It could just be a lack of understanding what the activity is, and the reasons that people typically go. I highly doubt that most people go to PJOC simply because they like running and sleeping in the woods. The cadets will likely have more motivation to attend an activity when they know what people get out of going to the activity, even if it's something as simple as the bragging rights of having attended a physically demanding NCSA.

[Flying Pig]

It's true; if you go in thinking "What can I get out of it?" you won't make it. You have to go in trying to push yourself farther then ever before.

Hmmm...interesting. "What can I get out of it?"  Im not seeing as how that is not a legit question.  Its actually a very legit question.  Why go if you dont know what it offers.  For those of us who served in the military how many of us went in open contract?  I sure as heck didnt.  I walked in and asked for a sepcific job that I was interested in.  I wanted a specific MOS and to achieve specific goals. I looked at all the services and decided the Marines is what was going to give ME what I wanted.  And I was good at it.  So knowing I was getting something out of it didnt have anything to do with finishing Boot Camp, SOI, MCSF School and a whole host of other demanding courses along the way.
Maybe mom and dad are saying "What will you get for the cost?" If your coming from, say NY, getting to NM isnt cheap. 
Maybe he wants to be a PJ.  Seeing as how the vast majority of PJs were probably never even in CAP I think its a very relevant question.  How will I benefit from going to this?
As far as telling someone they will be pushed farther than they ever have?  Ehhhhh, be careful with that generic line.  Come watch my son at swimming and water polo practice where a 1600m swim alternating Freestyle, Back, Butterfly and Breast is just the warm up!  Holy cow....I get muscle cramps just sitting in the stands.  My son joined swimming and water polo beacuse he wants to get a scholarship, stay in top shape and hopefully get into the military as SAR Swimmer.   So coming to the coach and asking "Why swimming?" had no affect on his moto.  It helped him make an informed decision.
PJOC is a course, its not a team, its not a duty assignment, nothing.  So a cadet asking "OK, what will this do for me?" is fine.  Cadets have a limited time in CAP before they get started on their lives.  Wasting a summer on a course that does nothing to help you move towards your goal is not cool when maybe something else could have actually helped.  I dont see it having anything to do with mindset or ability to complete the course.

[Perez]

Just as an update. My wing is having review boards next weekend for NCSAs, so I'm pretty psyched up for that. I've just started following workouts from http://www.rescueathlete.com/, and it's an amazing community!

[superchief1077]

Just be prepared to push yourself and SACRIFICE for the because it's going to be extremely painful if you don't. But good luck man