When did you lose your “cadet youth”?

When did you finally realise what you threw yourself into? When did you fall into the realisation that 90% of the senior members you'll meet are power hungry civilians in a old air force uniform? When did you lose the youth of being a cadet, when did you take on the burden of giving in to give the newer guys a chance at a longer cadet youth than you had? Was it after a argument with some Senior Members, or dealing with threats of removal by National? Was it at an event or dealing with leading cadets? What's your story?

Take what I say with a grain of salt, CAP is a great program, but if you know what I am asking you about then you know.