An attrition rate of almost a third? That's higher than I thought it would be. I worked alongside many Air Force Academy graduates in my time, and I was very impressed with the great majority of them. I even worked with an Annapolis graduate who transferred to the Air Force (he had a great story about being interviewed for submarine service by the legendary Admiral Rickover). The Air Force, being as new as it is, doesn't have the same richness of tradition as the Navy or Army.
My two oldest sons were good students, but would not have gotten into a military academy. That's not where their interests lay and I never pushed them toward the military even though I am a retired Air Force officer (ROTC).
I never pushed my third son toward the military either, and he was only seven years old when I retired from my last assignment (Europe), so he doesn't remember much about military life. I have no idea why he decided he wanted to go to a military academy. Just one day about a year ago he said that's what he wants to do (and fly). He's as hard-headed stubborn as they come when he makes a decision and he has never wavered since. He's friendly, well-liked, has moved up quickly among his peers in the AFJROTC unit and was personally picked by the operations commander (a senior) to be first sergeant. Math and science are his preferred subjects but he's also an excellent musician and is cello section leader in the school orchestra (although I don't think any academy has a student orchestra). Having a military background myself, I recognize in him those all-important traits of fellowship and camaraderie that are essential to unit cohesion.
As a dad, I couldn't be happier with his decision, although he still has to be accepted into an academy--and that's a tall order.
I like the suggestion about running on his own outside of school. I have decided to prepare for a marathon and may invite him to train with me.