Summer Training is Almost Over. Any thoughts?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
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<p>One son's Yearling roommate, and one of his best friends to this day, chose to leave after Yuk year. He went on to graduate from a fine college, but realized he had made a mistake. He says that even after two years away, his best friends in the world are still those he made at West Point. They kept in touch almost as if he had never left. Last winter he successfully petitioned to return to West Point. He's there now as a new minted cow, and Affirmation on Sunday surely will have special meaning for him. He'll earn his second BS on Graduation Day 2007, and then join his friends in the Army.</p>

<p>It's one of the more revealing and inspiring stories I know about what makes West Point so special.</p>

62

<p>Haven't heard what USMMA DOR is yet. I'm still holding my breath. Someone in admissions told us last year that USMMA had the highest DOR (that could have been overall), but boy, when I look at the CG numbers that Boss posted, I wonder how that could be. WOW. </p>

<p>I can't even comprehend what these kids go through to decide that they either can't do it physically or they can't emotionally. Takes a lot of soul searching and they probably thought they'd done a good deal of that before entering in. You can count on one thing though. If they had the push to get in, they'll have the push to go on to bright futures. These kids were all meant to be leaders and will find a way to accomplish goals. I don't see them as quitting. They just had to step back to find their way forward. I wish them well no matter what. I would say that at this point, some of our kids have asked themselves at least once why there are there although we may not have heard it vocalized. </p>

<p>It'll be a hard road for those parents who had really wanted their kids at an academy too. What do you do for a broken hearted kid when he comes home? It'll take loads of super glue and duct tape to put 'em back together again. Hope they give lots of hugs & kisses. Sigh.... My heart goes out to them.</p>

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<p>laxdad,</p>

<p>That really is an inspiring story. He is a very special person to be able to make that kind of decision.</p>

64

<p>Military Brief - How One's View of Freedom is Relative</p>

<p>On a lighter note, we received our first email from our son this afternoon. His major request was that we send him his old boxer shorts. He says that after Saturday the "gates of freedom" will be opened for the plebes and they will be free to choose their own underwear. </p>

<p>As only guys would appreciate, I think, he says that a bunch of the guys have, at great personal risk, been "going commando" during CBT rather than wear the cotton whitey-tightys. Says with the hot weather and rain, only bad things happen when you wear cotton briefs.</p>

<p>Wonder how many of the plebes thought they would view chosing their own underwear as a big deal?</p>

65

<p>As regards USMMA, they admitted 286 candidates.</p>

<p>Upon reporting in the first day of Indoc, one candidate withdrew his acceptance. He did this, accoording to the Vice Admiral, shortly after arriving.</p>

<p>In the following week three others left ... one was dis-enrolled for colorblindness...I do not know the reason for the other two.</p>

<p>Compared to last years class, these are much better numbers. The class of 2008 lost 11 candidates during Indoc.</p>

<p>I too lift these young people up in prayer, what a difficult &/or disappointing decision.</p>

66

<p>This is in response to Aspen's earlier post:</p>

<p>I would also like to petition those who read this to say a special prayer for the safe return for the Cadets and Midshipmen to the various Academies after summer training, especially those that will be entering their Second Class Academic Year. As they begin the Academic Year each will reaffirm their Oath and set in play their future as Officers in the Military of the United States. These brave young men and women, each wearing proudly the Medal of Freedom for voluntarily electing to serve in the armed forces of the United States during a time of war, will be committing to a lifetime of selfless service to our great nation. I believe our future is in great hands.</p>

<p>Here are the Cadet and Midshipman prayers from three of the Academies. I did not mean to leave out the other two, but searched in vain for them on the Internet. If anyone has access to them, please post them also.</p>

<p>CADET PRAYER</p>

<p>O God, our Father, Thou Searcher of human hearts, help us to draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural.</p>

<p>Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of all. - Amen</p>

<p>THE MIDSHIPMAN PRAYER</p>

<p>Almighty Father, whose way is in the sea, whose paths are in the great waters, whose command is over all and whose love never faileth; let me be aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and in deed, and helping me so to live that I can stand unashamed and unafraid before my shipmates, my loved ones, and thee. Protect those in whose love I live.
Give me the will to do my best and to accept my share of responsibilities with a strong heart and a cheerful mind. Make me considerate of those entrusted to my leadership and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted in me. Let my uniform remind me daily of the traditions of the service of which I am a part. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and keep before me the life of Him by whose example and help I trust to obtain the answer to my prayer, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.</p>

<p>THE PRAYER OF A COAST GUARD CADET</p>

<p>O God, Thou who are waiting to bring peace to my uncertain soul, give me the grace to accept Thy perfect love which casts out all fear and feverish tensions. Accept my gratitude for the privilege of wearing the uniform of a Cadet. Keep me steady in all my strivings to become worthy of the trust, which others have placed in me. Grant that I may have the heart and mind to make decisions in terms of what is right and wrong and not according to my emotions or desires. Fill the sails of my life with courage, strength and truth that I may be one with those who steer their lives by the stars above. Enable me to live as a good brother or sister in the family of mankind, sharing all my good fortunes with others, irrespective of their station, race or creed. Quicken my spirit as I seek to live by the honor code. Make me wise in patience, tack and understanding that I may be found worthy of leadership. Bless my loved ones and may I never fail them. Bring me to a good end and an unfailing confidence in Thy protecting care. AMEN.</p>

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<p>GEB..</p>

<p>AMEN and thank you</p>

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<p>Prayerfulmom - I have tried to open the parent's handbook on the USMMA site. Its really laggie today & wouldn't load.... Anyhow, they have the Merchant Marine prayer in a section called "What every Plebe should know" section. I wanted to copy & paste it here but was unable. It could be the same as the Midshipmen's prayer. Not sure. Maybe you could try? I will try again tomorrow and see if I can get in there if you are unable as well. Thats so sweet of you GEB to post these here. Of course, us Hoosiers are known to be sweet. And smart. And good-looking. And witty. And not too furry.........</p>

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<p>Attention all parents who may be in the Long Island area for the weekend. </p>

<p>For the 8th consecutive year , a group of about 80 midshipmen from the USNA are scheduled to arrive in Freeport, Long Island today. The 8 boats of the academy's Sail Training Squadron will dock on the Nautical mile. There will be open tours on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. I'm going up for A-day at WP tomorrow. May try to make it to Freeport on Sunday.</p>

<p>Aspen - My son would not wear the tidy whities either. I think he "rinsed" the one pair of boxer shorts he wore on R-day every few days.</p>

<p>My son told me an interesting story of his roomate from last year that left the USMA graduation week this past May. He is now a plebe again at the USAFA. I guess he liked being a plebe.</p>

70

<p>Congratulations to the parents of the USMA Class of 2009! Your sons and daughters have Beaten the Beast and were accepted into the Corps of Cadets this morning! They are now officially "cadets" and "plebes."</p>

<p>I admit to feeling a bit nostalgiac since this is the first Acceptance Day I've missed in five years. Their senior year in high school our sons were invited to to their sport's Top Recruits Day on A-Day 2000, and we attended all four years our sons were cadets.</p>

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<p>I add my Congrats to USMA 2009!! Its a BIG day for all! Gotta watch for those pictures soon of today. Can't wait!</p>

<p>Cobia - that is the strangest story. Bet that rarely if ever has happened. The devils in the details and I'd have to guess that the circumstances were a bit odd. When you get back, we want to hear every impression from your first to your last on your visit. Pleeeease!</p>

<p>Laxdad, you must get double dose nostalgiac with having had two there at the same time. Know of any other twins at the academy now?</p>

72

<p>I finally could pull up the page I was looking for. Indeed it wasn't a prayer. But boy, its ever so nice so I thought I would share it anyhow.
ETERNAL FATHER
(Sailor's Hymn)
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea!
Lord, stand beside the men who sail
Our merchant ships in storm and gale'
In peace and war their watch they keep
On every sea, on the vast deep.
Be with them Lord, by night and day,
For Merchant Mariners we pray.</p>

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<p>cobia- thanks for the info on Freeport- did not see anything in the local paper, but will try and get there tomorrow and check it out!</p>

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<p>Jamzmom - Actually the reason my son's roomate left is quite simple - he wanted to fly Jets. </p>

<p>The details of A-day will have to be left to plebe parents. My cadet, his girlfriend, mom and myself headed over to the palisades mall for a much needed day out of uniform. There were many other upperclassmen also at the mall, but you knew who they were. Seeing all the plebes in their white over gray uniforms, when we returned about 9:pm, I couldn't help to think how fast the last year had past.</p>

<p>I was was there for the Acceptance parade and it was spectacular (and unbelievably hot). One funny story I can pass on. I was standing out in front, across the street from Grant Hall. The bottom floor has a caferteria. The upper floors house cadets. The cadets put on a skit for the plebe parents. On the 3rd or 4th floor, 2 cadets stood in an open window . 1 cadet was "correcting" the other cadet (plebe), really giving him a good dressing down. All of a sudden the 1 cadet appears to strike the other cadet (you could hear the smacking of skin) the cadet who was apparently stuck falls to the floor, he continues to be berated and even kicked. All of a sudden a fully clothed cadet is thrown out the window from the upper floor to the landing below (the people in the street could not see where the cadet had landed. A few seconds later, a cadet (who had crawled out unseen on to the roof) jumps up, brushes himself off, waves to the crowd with a big smile on his face and exits through an open window. The crowd and the cadets in the open windows really got a kick out of it.</p>

75

<p>Just got back from Steve's shoulder board ceremony, in which he became a 4/c cadet and joined his new company(Delta) at the Coast Guard Academy. Very nice ceremony; entire corps of cadets marched on. We got to spend about a half hour with him afterwards which was an unexpected bonus. He looked great as did the other cadets. The temperatures even cooled down for us. A great day for all!</p>

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<p>Congratulations and God bless all the new Coast Guard 4th Class!</p>

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<p>job well done- congrats to all!</p>

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<p>Boss! Welcome back! C'mon... More details. I'm dyin' here! Was he well tanned from his trip, was he well, did he tell you much about his adventures, did he bring back any treasures, what are the next steps he'll be doing, are his classes lined up now, do they have their computers, will you be able to "speak" with him through email or instant messaging, how great did those shoulder boards look, did you keep it together during the ceremony and did you tell him how proud your new computer friends are of him???? LOL What a great day it must have been.... Wish I could have seen it. Can't wait for ours! 32 more days & counting! Did you happen to get photos!? Lets be sharin' them you hear! 100 Congrats to you & your family.</p>

79

<p>Hi JM and everybody...yesterday's post was done on the fly so here's some more details:
We got up there a little early and walked around the campus...much more activity with the entire Regiment back from summer training. We ran into a kid from back home who is a 1/c and was able to speak with him for a few minutes as his company lined up.
The swab summer band(very good btw) led the regiment in, with the swabs marching in by (new) company. It took me a while to find mine, but d---d if he wasn't in the FRONT ROW! Hardly recognized him in his combo cover. He was well tanned from his trip and extra three days on Madiera.
After getting the shoulder boards put on by the summer cadre, he joined with his new company mates and marched in review in front of the big shots. They all looked super!
Well his mom, gram, sis and I thought that was our one glimpse of Steve...wrong! They gave us about 15 minutes to chat him up. It was great; he is very upbeat and looking forward to ac year. Minor complaint about his room(right over the kitchen!) and no fan but he's in a double(there are some triples...CGA is renovating Chase Hall). A couple of his buddies from Yankee 3 are in Delta along with a kid from Utah whom we brought to R-day so he's pleased with that as well.
We took over 100 pics and will be posting em soon...some computer troubles at the home office so it may take a day or two. I convinced his mom to pose "pinning" the shoulder boards on him. "Corny" she said but when see saw it the tears started coming.
Along with the Cadets are several exchange students from AFA, USMA and USNA...they marched in along with the regiment in full dress whites, blues and even one kid in cammos!
After we thought we'd left him off until Labor Day weekend, we saw him marching back in the "bus" after his lecture got cancelled. "We've got a few more minutes" he said so we spent them with him. He went back to his room briefly and brought his cell phone which got waterlogged on the Eagle and some gifts. He has his laptop and email address and has room phone privileges so hopefully we'll hear more soon.
Sorry for the long post but it was a great day! Good luck to all the Coasties and the others.</p>

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<p>Bossf51: congratulations again...we can all hear how proud you are of your "coastie"....thanks for sharing...gives us all something to look forward too!!</p>