- Joined
- Apr 25, 2018
- Messages
- 7,112
I wonder about my place on this forum because I don’t usually have touchy-feely words or stories of heroics at the academies. My son was dropped from USNA football recruiting like a hot potato and he had no Plan B. It took five schools over a few years to get his bachelors. He got it though and breezed through OCS and TBS. I’ve shared a few things with other Marine Dads but decided to put this on the open forum to show different ways to success. The photo is of my son standing before the most unique and arguably most high speed unit in the 1st Marine Division. He’s about to turn over command and finally transfer from the operational forces after eight plus years since commissioning. The Marines especially don’t care from where you graduate. Apparently at least from what I’ve heard and observed in my son’s realm, the public perception of a nation gone soft and youth gone weak are myths. My son was ranked the number one captain in the battalion and before the 1st MARDIV commanding general departed and took over III MEF, hand wrote on his FitRep that he was also the number one captain in the entire division.
He trained his company to the maximum extent with the help and guidance of his 1stSgt and MSgt who he pinned with meritorious service medals Friday at the change of command ceremony. Enlisted sailors and Marines receiving the MSM before retirement is very rare. He cared that much and pushed the writeup all the way to the CG. His departure speech was heavy with praise for the enlisted who he described as the best the country has to offer. He thanked them for their dedication to Corps and Country and for their contributions to his development as a leader and officer.
I’m not posting this to brag but to show that not getting into the Academy or ROTC is the end of the world. The hard work begins after graduation though, regardless of what school is stamped on your ring.
