I only know a little bit about West Point.

It is very different than the training of entry level solders like you had. I am not surprised that it is something you couldn't fathom at all. Besides, with the American education system, the training they received as independent thinkers in high school has already made them a lot mature as a citizen.

I consider myself a history and philosophy buff. I am still impressed by the depth of the article my sixth grader wrote about American civil rights movement for his history class.