<p>Currently we have one at the Coast Guard Academy, one at USMA, and one at USAFA, but none have ever gone to USNA. I will be the first... and when I start my school will have one person at each of the Academies.</p>
<p>One of my best friends straight up told me I was going to die. She thought that just because I was going in I would die... and this from the valedictorian.</p>
<p>Most adults that hear I'm going there are proud of me and wish me good luck. Even if they don't agree with my decision they are still respectful of it. I don't know where my generation is heading, but I hope I'm not going there too.</p>
<p>While a few of us were practicing for our exhibition drill competition on a field adjacent to some tennis courts, a player poked his head out, and this conversation with the team captain followed:</p>
<p>Player: "Are you guys in ROTC?"
Captain: "Yes"
P: "Do you guys like spinning those rifles?"
C:"...Yes, we enjoy it."
P: "So you'd rather spin rifles than play tennis?"
C: "Yeah, pretty much."
P: "Why don't you send the rifles over to Iraq so you can blow more peoples' head off and kill even more kids?"</p>
<p>Our captain then strode over to the gate the player was standing at. He dove back into the court and shut the gate. The captain had a few words with him, but the player was cowaring behind the gate and wouldn't come out. He never told us what he said to the guy...but by the look on SOB's face, it sure put him in his place.</p>
<p>Dmeix, you should send us the address of your ROTC Captain so we can all buy him a beer! Good for him!</p>
<p>We live in San Diego county, a relatively military-friendly area, but we still get our share of loonies who look at we parents like we are absolutely crazy for 'letting' our daughter go military. As if we are going to ball and chain her home at 18???</p>
<p>I loved that Punch Sport Drink. Heh. That video reminds me of when I had my family doing some PT the other night in the living room. My brother keeps saying how his abs hurt, but he loves that he doesn't feel fat any more. Showing the video to him might hurt his confidence, though.</p>
<p>As for the whole
[quote]
A lot of the time I hear "the Naval Academy? But don't you want to go to college?" Or "You got into Harvard and you might go into the MILITARY?" Or "You're smart; why would you want to waste your life by going into the Marines?" Or "is the Naval Academy a school?" Many other versions of that same sentiment...</p>
<p>Despite this, most of my teachers and friends all say that they will "respect whatever decision I make", and that I'll "succeed no matter where I go". Some of my most liberal teachers wrote my recommendations for both USNA and NROTC, and it all worked out for me. I know that they'll support me no matter what.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I hear you there. I hear both ends of the spectrum, but one thing really hit me the other day. A guy in my class of 100 (we all know each other) said, "I just can't see you in the military. I can't see you leading a bunch of people in combat." Ouch. That hurt. That's like me saying, "Oh! You want to be a doctor? I can't see you helping people."</p>
<p>Of course, I get, "So, you might go Navy or Marines? Marines? Ookaay. Sure. <em>snickers</em> So, if you do make it, are you going to shave your head like G.I. Jane?" There's other [stupid] questions like, "Do you have to go train before you serve? Don't they only let men in the Marines? Why didn't you apply to [x] college? I thought you'd be going to [x] and become a doctor or a lawyer or something. The military? Do you want to meet a nice boy/husband? Are you going to date a senior? Can you date the officers?" Sometimes I laugh, but other times it's insulting almost. I'm not going to be dating any midshipmen [I say that now].</p>
<p>I just want to go, serve, and prove to them that I can do/could do/did it. If it's all in God's plan, of course.</p>
<p>Yes, Zaphod, that's why we do anything, but in this case they'll wind up either seeing it as one way or another -- failure or success. And, admit it, we all like to shove it in some people's faces every now and then. ;)</p>