Ive got a nasty cold.
- Thread starter Buyanaa
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So you are an international student who is slated to report to USNA for the class of 2022? If it’s just a cold, take some over the counter drugs, rest and hydrate. If it gets worse a clinic should be able to help. Not sure who you are staying with right now, but your host family or even the International Student Admissions rep should be able to help. Even your countries embassy probably could point you to a nurse on site or clinic. Once you report to USNA they will take care of your medical needs.
For those who aren’t familiar... USNA usually has 10-15 Mids in each class who stay for 4 years at USNA and then go back to their countries and serve. Some even have incredibly long commitments like 10-15 years as pay back. They report a week or so early to USNA to get acclimated and complete their paperwork. So if you see someone sitting during I day and not take the oath, more than likely it’s an international student (but yes, some Plebes freak out and don’t do it).
For those who aren’t familiar... USNA usually has 10-15 Mids in each class who stay for 4 years at USNA and then go back to their countries and serve. Some even have incredibly long commitments like 10-15 years as pay back. They report a week or so early to USNA to get acclimated and complete their paperwork. So if you see someone sitting during I day and not take the oath, more than likely it’s an international student (but yes, some Plebes freak out and don’t do it).
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Plus one on the embassy advice. All US Embassies have military liaisons and hopefully our allies do as well. I've worked with several overseas outposts and that is one of their bread and butter missions. But, if it's just a cold, it's just a cold. You'll be fine.
I believe there was one in class of ‘18 required to commit for 20 years to attend USNA. Her major was Nuclear Engineering and her classmates think she will be the CNO equivalent of her country in the future.
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Curious the draw or appeal for international students to attend American Academies? Is it because of their reputation? Or a goodwill type thing? Also do all countries participate, or is it more so ones that don’t have a military academy equivalent?
Variety of reasons. Some host countries don’t have a SA or if they do, they might not have a Navy one. Some want to get a top notch education and military training. I had one young man who spent 2 years at his country’s SA, then came to USNA for 4 years. He was amazing. I had another young woman who had a 5 year commitment and came back and married a classmate from USNA. I saw in Shipmate a few months ago an upperclassman in my company at one point is now an Admiral for his country. They come from a variety of countries all over the globe. Not 100% positive, I think they are supposed to be NATO countries. Throughout one’s military career they will train with members from foreign militaries. We had exchange officers at TBS. Flight school trains foreign militaries also. There are exchange programs also. Not to mention just military exercises that one will participate in.
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Many times it’s part of a DOS aid package in furtherance of joint DOD-DOS goals to build long-term relationships. DOS funds so many seats for x country.
It also happens at other military schools - the admiral who was the Peruvian Naval Academy Supe a few years ago was a US Naval War College grad. He spoke colloquial American English and had many close ties among his former USN classmates, which improves informal relationships over the years.
Even land-locked, Navy-free countries have mids at USNA. They return to serve in government in diplomatic roles or in another armed force. Some have already attended a year or two of their home country SA.
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That’s amazing. It blows my mind [emoji15][emoji100] to think about the students DS will interact with. What an amazing opportunity!
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I’m still very close to our Peruvian sponsor daughter, as well as a another foreign alum who was in my Batt, was so well-regarded he was on Batt staff, and is now a senior diplomat in his home country. He comes to visit us every trip to the US, and promises us the VIP treatment should we get to home country. We introduced him to maple syrup, Vermont extra sharp aged cheddar, twice-baked potatoes, pecan pie, peach pie, breakfast for dinner, and Reese cups in the freezer, among other things. His parents visited once and cooked for us, took over the kitchen. A festive night for the entire mid family.
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A former president of the Philippines — after the dictator Marcos and before the current crackpot — was a USMA grad. He returned often to meet with and encourage the handful of Filipino cadets who attend WP each year. Several Filipinos at USNA and USAFA also, as the Philippines is a crucial Pacific ally.
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This is a very important part of our foreign policy. When I was on Shore Duty at a school command, I was the collateral duty "Foreign Training Officer" in addition to teaching them in my classes. As FTO, I took them from the Norfolk area to visit DC and NYC as well as American attractions like amusement parks and Colonial Williamsburg and all was funded by DoD. This is to allow them to see the non-military side of the US and (hopefully) make long term friendships. I saw the benefot of this sort of thing while on a port visit to Brazil during a time when the countries at the upper levels were a bit strained with each other but the upper levels of the military were quietly very helpful to us on some local issues.