High School Graduation

illesq

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
37
I heard, although I can’t recall the source, that one to two Naval officers show up for the high school graduation ceremony for incoming USNA Plebes to be. Has anyone heard something similar?
 
Not a standard practice by any means. When it does happen, more likely to be B&G Officer, I believe.
 
I don't think the Navy can send 1200 officers to graduations. That said, many BGO's go to graduations or Awards nights and present the blue appointment folder to the appointee. This occurred with DD.
 
Sometimes the USN sends folks to give out the NROTC scholarships. These are typically officers or enlisted from the local recruiting station. As noted, BGOs may attend for the USNA folks -- some are still in uniform and some are not.
 
There are several threads on this Forum about BGO's attending High School Award nights to present Appointments. I presented at a graduation several years ago (very small school), but I generally try to avoid graduations because it takes away from the celebration of all the graduates.

As others have pointed out, beyond BGO's the Navy simply doesn't have the resources to send people out for graduations or awards nights.
 
I heard, although I can’t recall the source, that one to two Naval officers show up for the high school graduation ceremony for incoming USNA Plebes to be. Has anyone heard something similar?

This would be driven by the Plebe to be/high school. Not by USNA. Certainly one could reach out and request a presentation or similar. But as discussed in the various multiple discussion about this, make sure it’s the students actual desire (vs parents). Most of these kids are humble by nature and don’t want to show up their classmates. It’s their last few moments of anonymity.

Our high school doesn’t allow any outside presenters at all due to time constraints for both scholarship night and graduation.
 
The way DS did this was to send an invite (email) from both guidance counselor and from DS (that way BGO knows he/she is welcomed by the school and it is something that the appointee wants - not just the parent). This was for senior awards day. It worked out very well - BGO was busy but asked AC to present (in summer whites). Guidance counselor put it very early in the program so AC didn't have to stay the whole two hours (but he did). This turned out to be low-key and appropriate.
 
Our high school has NJROTC. Scholarships and appointments are announced at the end of year awards ceremony. There are always uniformed active duty service reps. (usually enlisted, and likely recruiters). Scholarships and academy appointments are announced by the NJROTC Senior Naval Science Instructor. I have seen both an academy appointment and ROTC scholarships announced in such a manner. The plans for all graduating seniors from the unit are announced at the awards ceremony as well, whether being service academy, regular college, ROTC, enlistment, etc. It's great to hear what all the seniors are planning to do and it restores my faith in our future.
 
DD had her senior awards tonight. We were so very honored to have her BGO, a retired Captain, show up on his own accord to present for her. He drove for more than six hours to make the appearance. DW and I were stunned with gratitude and DD was over the moon.
It was an amazing experience.
 
Class night yesterday evening for our DS. His BGO traveled to our high school and sat through a very long evening to present his Appointment. We truly appreciate his time and dedication. Our principal reached out to him and he was more than willing. Fantastic night.
 
Just wanted to add that we learned at the senior awards day that the retired captain who presented DS with his offer of appointment is Class of 1973 and will be part of 2023 class "link in the chain". That made it additionally special to DS, to us (parents), and, I suspect. to the captain, who showed up in his summer whites, sat through two hours of not-so-exciting presentations, and was working on a gimpy leg (waiting for a knee transplant later this summer). DS commented later that this is not like anything that his friends are experiencing as they graduate and getting ready to move on - he is really beginning to feel like he on the cusp of a very unique journey that thousands of others before him have taken - and he will not be alone on this journey.
 
Your B&G officer will send and email to you about attending. They will probably want I speak with the principal or coordinator of graduation, so have the information ready.
 
I am guessing that in very large high schools with graduating classes of say 500-1000 there just isn’t time for all the awards
 
Depends on the high school. I sent an email to the headmaster of my son’s private upper east side Manhattan school (who was a West Point grad and former Army Colonel) offering to set something up. I received no response. The school did mention the appointment during the ceremony, though.
 
Our son’s BGO presented at his BS Eagle ceremony. His high school does not announce awards or even the colleges the grads are headed to, so this was moot for graduation.
 
This seems to be school and district dependent (and also what part of the country you're from, whether your in the city or burbs or country, etc.). DS's high school made nice accommodations for recognition during senior awards day - but the only attendees are the parents of other seniors receiving scholarships and awards (about 30 kids in total).

My DS's school has a strict policy of "no decorations" on graduation garb. It's because people are taping messages to the top of the miters and back of the gowns. Good policy, IMHO. But DS received a red, white, and blue cord with an Eagle dongle by the local National Eagle Scout Assn. chapter to recognize his Eagle and his appointment to USNA. He's been told he can't wear that during graduation because if they make an exception for him, then they would have to do it for everyone.
 
This seems to be school and district dependent (and also what part of the country you're from, whether your in the city or burbs or country, etc.). DS's high school made nice accommodations for recognition during senior awards day - but the only attendees are the parents of other seniors receiving scholarships and awards (about 30 kids in total).

My DS's school has a strict policy of "no decorations" on graduation garb. It's because people are taping messages to the top of the miters and back of the gowns. Good policy, IMHO. But DS received a red, white, and blue cord with an Eagle dongle by the local National Eagle Scout Assn. chapter to recognize his Eagle and his appointment to USNA. He's been told he can't wear that during graduation because if they make an exception for him, then they would have to do it for everyone.
That last strikes me as a bit ridiculous. Schools across the country do things with different dongles to recognize some achievement. My DS's college had a red, white, and blue dongle for graduates who completed the military science courses in the various services. It's tasteful, fits into the miter/gown thing and doesn't really attract much attention - unlike messages on the miter itself. Oh well. Welcome to America in the 21st century.
 
That last strikes me as a bit ridiculous. Schools across the country do things with different dongles to recognize some achievement.

We're not a military family but our fathers were combat veterans and I grew up with a great respect for (and was taught to respect) men and women who serve in the armed forces. DW and I have tried to instill this in our sons (pretty successfully, thanks to important community institutions). But in the last few months, we have been surprised and saddened by the very negative responses that acquaintances, clergy, teachers, etc. have had to DS's decision to attend USNA. This is not universal, by any means, but it has come from several sources we would have never suspected. The senior administration of our school district has not been friendly. It's been an eye-opener for us (I guess we are naive).
 
.
... The senior administration of our school district has not been friendly. It's been an eye-opener for us (I guess we are naive).
.
This saddens me .... I say make some noise.
.
 
Back
Top