<p>"First. I am curious as to why people feel the need to apologize when no insult or other deleterious offense has been committed. No wrong, no need to apologize."</p>
<p>I don't have to justify my actions for the sake of your curiosity. Go eat some cookies and watch cartoons or something.....Could it be that you missed something? Geez! Chill! To turn this around on me is rather sly don't you think. You've been pretty well on the mark so far without being in attack mode. AdanBrac will soon understand this stuff dealt out here will be mild compared to what he will come up against. My advice was for him to go to college, that I thought he was reaching here after he'd come out of the closet in the other postings along with the problems at school in addition to his grades/SAT. I am in full agreement with Shogun. But who I am to tell this kid he can't apply? He'll figure it out. If he asks some serious questions about nominations, applications, ect., I will answer. PIE! Gotta go!</p>
<p>Bill, I am not a Sergeant. I am a Sergeant 1st class, which is an E-7 if you didn't know. I'm also the 8th highest ranked cadet in the battalion, which is pretty smokin. Want to know why I'm not an officer? I'm not an officer because I was in the hospital due to a broken leg on the day of last semester's promotion ceremony. They don't promote you if you aren't there, regardless of the reason. That's why. If I HAD been there, I was going to get CSM. That's an E-11. </p>
<p>And, well, I don't have any problems that would keep me out of the military. Being gay is not a problem, as you have yourself said Bill. </p>
<p>And I'm not in bad shape, I meet the fitness requirements in every way except the run. In 1 minute I can do 49 push ups or 45 sit ups. That might not be the best, but it's still pretty good. Now I realize I have to improve on my run... But it isn't because I lack motivation. It's because for 3 years I've been on medication which has made it unsafe for me to run. I got off the meds a couple months ago and have steadily improved my mile. I started off at more than 13 minutes for a mile, and am now down to 10:30. I don't think that's too bad in 4 months. I've been getting alot better.</p>
<p>I'm also going to apply to Norwich as a backup for the military career. Academically I can definitely get in because according to collegeboard.com their average SATs are like 100 points below mine in each section. </p>
<p>Plus I just opened up a letter nominating me to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum for Defense, Intelligence, and Diplomacy this fall in Washington, DC. Got to count for something right? </p>
<p>I think that with a tougher schedule my senior year as long as I get good grades then I'll be a contender at the Academy as long as I get in shape. And I don't really see the need to get in shape anyway... I'll need it for the Academy, but not for my actual career. I'm going to be on the bridge of a cutter managing navigational charts, that doesn't require Rambo-esque strength. Does it?</p>
<p>"And I don't really see the need to get in shape anyway... I'll need it for the Academy, but not for my actual career"</p>
<p>With an attitude like that and a lack of motivation to get in shape, you're just wasting your time applying. All the academies take physical fitness very seriously, and will not hesitate to throw you out if you don't meet the standards.</p>
<p>Well, I'll be in shape by the time I apply, so what's the problem? I told you already I'm getting there. I think cutting 2 1/2 minutes off in a couple months is pretty good... I mean, hey, it took my friend Chris longer to get from 7:00 to 6:30 and he's in great shape.</p>
<p>"Cadets are required to maintain their best possible physical condition, so sports and other physical activities are a part of daily life here." This is dirtectly quoted from the CG academy website. You will be given physical tests on a regular basis. Please know that if you fail to keep up with their standards, you will be dis-enrolled. Anyone reporting to the acdemy had best in the best darn shape of their lives. These kids push the edge of physical fatigue on a daily basis the entire time they are at the academy. In most all the services, and someone pipe in here if I'm incorrect, they have madatory yearly testing to show you are fit to still serve. I know that a few years ago, a forty year old naval senior chief was required to do the same PAE that an 18 year old had to do in order to stay in the Navy. Everyone with appointments should let AdanBrac know where he needs to get. Even tho you have met the requirments, you need to go above and beyond the call of duty with it. Congrats on your National Youth Leadership Forum. That will be a great learning experience!</p>
<p>Yeah if I can scrounge the money to pay for it... $1200 is alot of money and my family doesn't have it. I have to find a sponsor to help pay for it, do you know of anyone in the midlands (i.e. businesses or rich people with a soft heart) who might do it?</p>
<p>USMMA does FAFSA. Student loans are available. Have you ever been to mini-boots? I know that some JROTC schools have done these. Its a taste of what military life offers. AdanBrac. I can't stress enough that you need to do some more research so that you will have a better understanding about the military and the academy. 4 years of AJROTC and you don't understand that officers must always be in the very best of shape throughout their careers? Strange.... Even if your a desk watcher.......</p>
<p>there's a HUGE difference between going from 13:00 to a 10:30 mile and going from 7:00 to 6:30. It's much harder to do the latter. If you're actually working hard, you should be able to get your mile time down in the 8 minute range within a few weeks, not a few months (take it from someone who's been there). Additionally, if you're not working out this summer, don't you think your mile time might... increase? At the very least go to the gym and get yourself on a stationary bike--it'll help way more than a treadmill.</p>
<p>E-1 No insignia private
E-2 private
E-3 PFC
E-4 Corporal
E-5 Sergeant
E-6 Staff Sergeant
E-7 Sergeant First Class
E-8 Master Sergeant
E-9 First Sergeant
E-10 Sergeant Major
E-11 Command Sergeant Major
E-11 Sergeant Major of the Army</p>
<p>That's what we were taught in class and what it says in our handbook, so my apologies if that is incorrect.</p>
<p>By the way, I believe everyone gets those Leadship invites. As for running, go download the Navy Seals training exercises. Just google it and you will find it in 5 minutes. A 10:30 mile is ridiculous and you will DIE at USCGA if you are in that type of shape when you arrive. Excuses are worthless and it's time to start making some serious changes if you really want to be competitive for admission to the USCGA. Get on the phone with admissions officers and bring that GPA up as high as possible. Take the SATs again and bring them way up. You will also need to get in tight with someone in the administration at your school to write a letter on your behalf excusing the suspensions and explaining how you have matured. If you don't do this and the academy finds out about them, you can kiss USCGA goodbye. Also, go on the main page at CC and look up the interviews with the admissions people about suspensions, it should help a little. I hope I wasn't too honest for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>My SAT isn't low, it's the 3rd highest score out of 400 people at my school who took it this year tyvm... And I've pretty much accepted CGA is not a good place for me. I think I'll try Norwich instead.</p>
<p>don't let some of these people get you down... it' a little early to be giving up... if you're hearts not in the CGA then I unerstand... but if not, and you're just giving up b/c you don't think you have a chance or won't be able to hack it, that's not good. </p>
<p>if you're offered an appointment, do an overnight visit, that'll really really give you a good perspective on if it's the right place for you or not..</p>
<p>your SATs are good.... but not highly competative... breaking the mid 1300s would give you a good shot.. but 1400 would make you very very competative....</p>
<p>norwich is great if you want to get commissioned for any armed service but if your hearts in becomming an officer in the coast guard.. CGA is THE place to go... no exceptions</p>
<p>You have no chance of ever being accepted in any military program except enlistment in the army or marines.</p>
<p>The academy will deduct that you are gay from your record of suspensions and the reasons for that. They will not make an investment in someone who is gay. If it is discovered, you will be chastised, cast out, and despised by most around you, even if they are not inherently against gays, but will do so under peer pressure and to avoid being chastised themselves.</p>
<p>Under constant criticism, you will likely drop out, and the investment is wasted. Since it is obvious that you have no redeeming qualities to overcome your homosexuality you have no source of respect, you have no trade off for your "marginalism". You are totally out of shape, not all that bright from what you have posted here, and from what you posted here, you "cant argue well enough to be a lawyer and you aren't smart enough to be a doctor." Tell us, what CAN you do? The academy got 3000 applications this year and gave out 300 appointments. With such a competitive applicant pool, tell us, why should they take you? I was given an appointment this year, and my resume was not only more impressive than yours, but my grades were better, my SAT's were higher, and I came from a more competitive high school. I'm not trying to be a total dick like I may sound, but people need to be straight shooters.</p>
<p>That said, there is no harm in applying, try your best to hide your flaws, and good luck to you.</p>
<p>oh and another question about that being gay thing.. could somebody be in the military and wear like... rainbow headband, short shorts, rolled up sleeves, talk with a lisp, and the whole works, and still be in the military? </p>
<p>if you watch reno 911, im talking like Lt Dangle shorts.</p>
<p>that's a little harsh, but show me an out of the closet homosexual who has survived in the coastgaurd and I'll show you a badas s mo fo who can take some serious chastizing. I don't think I'd put myself through that.</p>