‘25 PS so far

Two incredibly helpful perspectives here. SA parents seem to easily forget that there are 18–year-old recruits deep into boot camp, who didn’t get dropped off to a warm and welcoming reception, didn’t get sworn in amid pomp and circumstance, don’t get care packages on the second day and every three days after that, don’t get photographed so that Mom and Dad can be assured via Facebook that all is well.

I’ll make a broad and gross generalization here, but it’s something I deeply believe: Many of those recruits are there because they didn’t have helicopter or lawn-mower parents. Many of them have smarts, fitness and leadership acumen that are equal to or better than that of many cadets and midshipman. And in a few years, they’ll be showing our junior officers how things are done. And our junior officers will need to earn their respect.

I grimace whenever I see parents post on social media that Junior didn’t get enough tasty options at mealtime or walked into a filthy Mother B room when reassigned quarters or didn’t get the care package with brownies baked by lovely Aunt Judy until two weeks later. Meanwhile, somewhere downrange…

USNA is N*OT COLLEGE. It’s different. And in many ways, it’s better. I know that, other than the other SAs, there is no college in America where the students are more closely watched or more highly regulated or better cared for. And nowhere else are the powers that be so fully invested in the students’ success. Because of that, I sleep quite well at night.
I am currently applying for the Class of 2026 as a Fleet Applicant. As I have I have gone through boot camp, I can wholeheartedly agree with this!!
 
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