What made your child pick a service academy?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
41

<p>Cougar,</p>

<p>I know exactly what you mean. When my daughter returned from IAW (SLS) she said it was the first time that she felt more kids were like her and that she really fit in. It was an incredible motivator for senior year. Now I have to admit that she still enjoys the video games and some tv (she's coming home this weekend and I bet she'll spend some precious time in these activities), but the perspective is completely different.</p>

<p>I certainly don't want to gloat, but I also think that the parents on this thread know exactly why we are bursting with pride over our children. And I think we share the pride, even without knowing each other. I'm proud of Jamz becoming a squad leader and of shogun's daughter for making corps cross country. And whose son was running backwards with a ruck just before R-Day? Lots of us were amazed by that. What about cadet2009 who had to leave WP after 2+ weeks due to an illness? Look at her maturity to come back here and help this year's candidates immediately after such a disappointment. And cougar's daughter who is working so hard for a goal that she knows won't lead to riches. </p>

<p>These are all very smart kids who could be at the top schools and graduate with great jobs leading to high-paying careers. How marvelous that they really, really understand that's not what life is all about.</p>

42

<p>Ok. I'm up from my nap and not nearly as grumpy! :) Momoftwins and Cougar. I gotta be honest here. I'm afraid my kid was alittle about the bling-bling. He says his duty to country comes first then he's gonna try to work his way up that shipyard ladder to some cushy port somewhere very very warm for his later years as an "old salt". LOL! As to the video games, I know this kid (cough-cough) who is such a computer nerd gamer kid that he's hacked through firewalls (cough-cough) to play his games online. I mean, I really don't think I know exactly who he is. But I've heard tell that he's pretty much set up the entire Plebe population with some programming (cough-cough) uh.... shortcuts. So a few video games prolly doesn't hurt. Hey, they need to blow off steam somehow! </p>

<p>Seriously though. Consider what our kids went through during Beast or Indoc or whichever name used per academy. They've probably experienced more LIFE and challenges in those few weeks than most kids will ever see at a civilian college. I'm still jealous over Boss' son's Eagle gig! This is gonna sound so small but to me it was a big deal. Just today, mine told me a story of a handicapped person that works at his academy. He says he goes out of his way to say good morning or hey how ya doin' today? to this guy. He says that he thanks the kitchen workers at every meal who prepare their food. These are the type of kids that are at these academies or will be soon going. Kids that care deeply about humanity and just being kind in general. Its such little things to do but he truly feels its important. He wishes he was down in the gulf helping and I know your kids feel the same way. Our kids aren't allowed to watch tv so he's getting his news via cnn.com and through us. And he is beside himself with whats going on. They are tough & cocky to be sure. But I find something in these kids that shines, don't you? And I'm not just talking about mine here. I've met kids from all the academies and they are solid and motivated to do good things. Can't put into words how proud I am of all these guys/gals. They are meant for bigger things and they're on the right road. K. I'm done now. :) Naps are refreshing!</p>

43

<p>Add ons allowed! I add on to my looooong post:
Oregon Mom, your kid is one of ours. Dedication deserves kudos! I applaude your daughter's motivation to do something great with her life. Congrats! I know you must be so proud. Uh, hey, does she give discounts to a few plebes I know who need wisdom teeth out? hmmmm? LOL</p>

44

<p>From all of these posts, I really hope my son gets into the Academy or NROTC for 2010. He fits in so well. Its so wierd that 2 of my kids want to serve. Nobody in our family is in the military. They just want to do something meaningful.</p>

<p>The only scary thing is that my son has been watching the BUDS documentary and says "I think I might want to do this after college."</p>

45

<p>That BUDs documentary scared the heck out of me just watching it with my bowl of popcorn! Those guys are absolutely off the charts!</p>

46

<p>Oregon Mom:</p>

<p>Don't worry about your son's interest in BUDS. From what I hear, it's a blast.</p>

<p>Seriously, I would expect that most academy cadets/mids initially focus on the combat aspects of the military rather than the administrative/leadership parts. At 18, most would prefer to jump out of planes and blow things up than to sit in a planning meeting organizing the maneuvers.</p>

<p>Good luck to your son.</p>

47

<p>Aspen:</p>

<p>You make a lot of sense.Now if I can only keep my 14 year old from blowing up everything around him he might stay alive long enough to go to college as well.</p>

48

<p>Skirbyy-I feel ya' not medically unqualified-it's academically. If I would've known back then what I know now, I would've busted my butt to the point of exhaustion; no limit. Good luck in your endeavors and I hope you do get an appointment. I have a decent GPA but not good enough to stick out with the "best and brightest". Although, I do have a friend who I made through another friend (who I shadowed for the weekend @ Mary Bladwin-corps of all female cadets) who attends the USAFA.I'm so glad she and I keep in touch-she's very hilarious,lemme tell ya'. The Armed Forces inspire me to vouch for this beautiful country with much gratitude and honor.</p>

49

<p>Hollyert-Let me start off by saying good luck to you as well in whatever path you chose to take. I also wanted to let you know that my friend, an AFA 3 dig, got an appointment having never played a sport.Yes, you will have less lung capacity b/c your 7,000 ft. above sea level buy eventually you'll get through it.Academies prefer you to be an all-around kinda student, but if you just inhabit a two-man act they are not going to rebuff you for that i.e my friend.But hey, it's nice to know you've got those push-ups down and the running cuz believe me from what I here you'll being doing those 24/7 and quickly learn to love it. Also, "dimonds are forever".</p>

50

<p>Hollyert -- </p>

<p>Thanks for starting a great thread. My son is a plebe at Kings Point and his primary reason for wanting to attend an academy was to serve his country and be academically challenged with course work he knew would be relevant to what he would be doing when he got out. His biggest challenge in high school was staying motivated. There has been none of that at KP and he loves it. </p>

<p>I was thinking the best way to answer your question is with his answer to that question by his MOC. </p>

<p>I want to serve my country as an Officer in the United States Navy. While I am also applying to Navy ROTC programs, the more thorough and demanding preparation, the outstanding academics, and the opportunities to serve provided by the Naval Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy make them my first choices of all colleges. I have been fortunate to be exposed to the Naval Academy through friends and family for many years. In ninth grade, I needed a beta ray source for my science fair project at Alice Deal Junior High School, and the Naval Academy was both encouraging and helpful to me in successfully completing my project. This summer I was privileged to participate in the Naval Academy Summer Seminar Program where I gained an even clearer understanding of the opportunities to lead and the challenges of Academy life. In March I visited the Merchant Marine Academy overnight. More recently in August, I returned to Kings Point to meet the wrestling coach and once again attend classes with Midshipmen and visit with the admissions office.</p>

<p>Six years ago I traveled with my family to visit friends in Macedonia and Ukraine. It was there that I started to understand the privileges we have in the United States -- not only wealth and comfort -- but also the freedom that makes that all possible. This summer, I helped lead a service trip to Honduras with my church. That experience helped reinforce for me the important role America plays in the world. Because of these experiences, and that of 9/11, I have wanted more and more to do my part to protect that freedom and give something back for the benefits I have. Attending the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy will both prepare me well and provide me with many opportunities to meet that goal.</p>

<p>In Honduras, we represented St. Mark’s Church, but we also represented the United States. Even in the smallest villages, as Americans, we symbolized an intangible that I think meant more to them than the labor and supplies we brought. That intangible is our belief in a bright and secure future, and this belief is manifest in our willingness, as Americans, to share our abundance. On a much larger scale, the Navy projects both the American people’s belief in the future and our generosity to the rest of the world better than any other entity. My Grandfather was a Supply Officer in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s and his stories of interactions with local merchants around the world are as much a foundation for this belief as my understanding of the global scope of today’s Navy.</p>

<p>Academically, I know that I do better when I am constantly challenged and can see the relevance to my future. The classes I attended at the Merchant Marine Academy and the workshops I attended at the Naval Academy during Summer Seminar were compelling, challenging, and directly applicable to service at sea. Additionally, at either Academy I would be able to continue to wrestle and have the opportunity to participate in a range of extracurricular activities that would broaden my leadership skills.</p>

<p>I am proud to have attended DC Public Schools and of the fact that they have prepared me well to compete with the best in the country not only academically, but socially as well. At Summer Seminar, I realized that the breadth of diversity at Wilson provided me with skills to work effectively with all candidates in a way that candidates from more homogenous private and public systems could not.</p>

<p>What motivates me most to attend either the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy are the Officers and Midshipmen I have met who not only share my commitment to serve our country, but who also have leadership and academic skills I would hope to emulate.</p>

<p>Hollyert -- figure out what you want and go for it!!</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

51

<p>Very well written by your young man. You can and should be proud of him!</p>

52

<p>Thank you.</p>

53

<p>And this just proves that there are some truly great kids at the Academies or are Academy bound and positively in other colleges. I'm blown away by some of this young generation's amazing minds. They've got it going on. Makes me feel much better knowing there are caring kids out there who are out to make good things happen in the world. </p>

<p>Lets turn them loose on Medicare parts A, B & D and get that nasty little thing simplfied before I have to be on it. How about them getting rid of hunger while they're at it. And I want a little world peace too. </p>

<p>I've got big plans for these kids. They are AWESOME! We can start small. A USMMA Wrestling Championship will do fine for the moment.........
and of course Go Navy Beat Army as always!</p>