If you get so down you think it'll never happen...read this!

[flieger83]

Hello Navy Lovers!
(Hey, what'd you expect from a USAFA type?)

I wanted to pass along something that I think will bring a smile to some faces. We all talk about "will I get in, do I have the best package, etc...etc." I know I did when I was applying. And some will get that golden ticket while most others, sadly, will have to exercise plan B. That's why we all stress having a superb plan B that you will enjoy!!

This morning I received an IM. I had to look twice to see who it was from; it was from a former student of mine that graduated HS in 2017. She ended up not becoming a candidate for any SA...she had a rough senior year. Then she and her family moved to the PNW and I lost track of her. A year or so later I heard a rumor that she'd joined the navy. So using some contacts...I found her in training at Pensacola NAS. She was becoming an AE (Aviation Electricians' Mate) working on MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and was headed to Japan! After that...not much contact, until this morning.

This morning she sent that IM...and she asked if I'd write her some letters of recommendation. "To whom?" I asked. "Sir, it'll be to my Congressman and two Senators." "WHAT?!!" I practically shouted through the internet.

"Well, you see sir, I guess I did okay as an AE3...last year I did a 10-month cruise on a CG and near the end, my Chief pulled me aside and spoke with me...then my division commander...then a board of officers, and then finally I had to meet with the captain. He had me at attention for about a minute and then said "Petty Officer, nearly all my staff believe you're wasting your time aboard my ship. What do you think?" "I said, sir, I'm not sure I understand?" And then the captain said "Well...they think having you aboard is a waste of your talents; they believe you should be in Rhode Island proving to the staff there that you belong in the academy. Would you like to give that a try?"

"I was struck silent sir!!" (this young lady was seldom at a loss for words). "I looked at him and said, Sir, I would be honored to set that course!" "GOOD!" said the captain, "Plan on shipping out very soon after we return to port."

And last week she arrived at NAPS and is quarantined for two weeks before she begins academics. And, as you know, if all goes well, she'll graduate from NAPS next year and enter USNA with the class of 2025.

A JROTC super-star, athletic and academic super-star, and a non-candidate her senior year. And today, three years later, she's at NAPS on a journey to becoming a midshipman.

I'm probably only just a little less proud than her mom and dad are!!

It can be done...how bad do you want it?

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(And I've helped four go to USNA)

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello Navy Lovers!
(Hey, what'd you expect from a USAFA type?)

I wanted to pass along something that I think will bring a smile to some faces. We all talk about "will I get in, do I have the best package, etc...etc." I know I did when I was applying. And some will get that golden ticket while most others, sadly, will have to exercise plan B. That's why we all stress having a superb plan B that you will enjoy!!

This morning I received an IM. I had to look twice to see who it was from; it was from a former student of mine that graduated HS in 2017. She ended up not becoming a candidate for any SA...she had a rough senior year. Then she and her family moved to the PNW and I lost track of her. A year or so later I heard a rumor that she'd joined the navy. So using some contacts...I found her in training at Pensacola NAS. She was becoming an AE (Aviation Electricians' Mate) working on MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and was headed to Japan! After that...not much contact, until this morning.

This morning she sent that IM...and she asked if I'd write her some letters of recommendation. "To whom?" I asked. "Sir, it'll be to my Congressman and two Senators." "WHAT?!!" I practically shouted through the internet.

"Well, you see sir, I guess I did okay as an AE3...last year I did a 10-month cruise on a CG and near the end, my Chief pulled me aside and spoke with me...then my division commander...then a board of officers, and then finally I had to meet with the captain. He had me at attention for about a minute and then said "Petty Officer, nearly all my staff believe you're wasting your time aboard my ship. What do you think?" "I said, sir, I'm not sure I understand?" And then the captain said "Well...they think having you aboard is a waste of your talents; they believe you should be in Rhode Island proving to the staff there that you belong in the academy. Would you like to give that a try?"

"I was struck silent sir!!" (this young lady was seldom at a loss for words). "I looked at him and said, Sir, I would be honored to set that course!" "GOOD!" said the captain, "Plan on shipping out very soon after we return to port."

And last week she arrived at NAPS and is quarantined for two weeks before she begins academics. And, as you know, if all goes well, she'll graduate from NAPS next year and enter USNA with the class of 2025.

A JROTC super-star, athletic and academic super-star, and a non-candidate her senior year. And today, three years later, she's at NAPS on a journey to becoming a midshipman.

I'm probably only just a little less proud than her mom and dad are!!

It can be done...how bad do you want it?

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(And I've helped four go to USNA)

Very briny tears escaped my eyes with this story. Thank you for sharing. I predict an Annapolis visit for some oath-administering?

Interestingly, DH got a call today from a young woman, friend of the family, whom he had been mentoring in her application to USNA. Her test scores were not up to par, though she had many strong points in her application in terms of leadership and sports, and was also not offered prep. She decided to enlist to just get on with her desire to go Navy, blew away her rating placement tests, and is in CT (crypto tech, very smart sailors) training. Her chain of command has already talked to her about NAPS next cycle and re-applying, and how they would support her, because she has made such an impression.

Loved your story, not only for itself, but for how it demonstrates how far we have come, when a young female sailor could garner the support of a ship’s chain of command - a long way from the days when sending women to sea was publicly called “creating a sea-going brothel.” That was the third or fourth briny emanation.

 

[flieger83]

CaptMJ...one of her good friends from that JROTC "gang of gals" (our senior staff was almost exclusively female, with only one male) is a CTR. My "joke" (perhaps not really a joke, come to think of it) is that she wears a navy uniform and works for the NSA.

And she is shore-based in "alphabet soup-ville..."

And oath administering...God willing...for her...and my Class of '21 former student that still says he wants to go marine...and hopefully for my young man in '23.

Steve

 

[Heatherg21]

Well dangit someone must be cutting onions somewhere in my vicinity. I love the stories of persistence despite conditioned pigeon holing and really respect the support offered to help that soon to be junior officer the opportunity to succeed and excel.

 

[WT Door]

Steve,
I see a potential “rotor head” or even a “go fast” type somewhere down the line. Or maybe even a SWO, for the sea can be romantic and enticing (10 months on a cruiser!). Her options are wide open due to her persistence and your impact as an educator.

 

[justdoit19]

What a FANTASTIC story. Amazing.

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

.
Somewhere over the rainbow. Good things happen to good hard working people.
.

 

[kinnem]

Very inspiring tale, Steve. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Just Dad]

Phaaah! A great big "thanks" for reminding me that my testosterone levels aren't what they used to be.

Absolute best of luck to her! Tell her to come home to the Great-PNW when she is ready, we'd be proud to have her.

Now if you don't mind, I have to get back the Hallmark Channel.

 

[DSANN]

Thank you for this sharing your story. I wish and pray much success to her! How wonderful!

 

[Tom Nicholas]

Awesome story, thank you for sharing it!

 

[txfwindian]

Absolutely, the story is overwhelmingly heart warming with joy. I would also credit the leadership of the ship for providing that guidance that she rightfully deserved. At the end of the day, it's all about leadership and expectations that are set.

 

[ATX]

Hello Navy Lovers!
(Hey, what'd you expect from a USAFA type?)

I wanted to pass along something that I think will bring a smile to some faces. We all talk about "will I get in, do I have the best package, etc...etc." I know I did when I was applying. And some will get that golden ticket while most others, sadly, will have to exercise plan B. That's why we all stress having a superb plan B that you will enjoy!!

This morning I received an IM. I had to look twice to see who it was from; it was from a former student of mine that graduated HS in 2017. She ended up not becoming a candidate for any SA...she had a rough senior year. Then she and her family moved to the PNW and I lost track of her. A year or so later I heard a rumor that she'd joined the navy. So using some contacts...I found her in training at Pensacola NAS. She was becoming an AE (Aviation Electricians' Mate) working on MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and was headed to Japan! After that...not much contact, until this morning.

This morning she sent that IM...and she asked if I'd write her some letters of recommendation. "To whom?" I asked. "Sir, it'll be to my Congressman and two Senators." "WHAT?!!" I practically shouted through the internet.

"Well, you see sir, I guess I did okay as an AE3...last year I did a 10-month cruise on a CG and near the end, my Chief pulled me aside and spoke with me...then my division commander...then a board of officers, and then finally I had to meet with the captain. He had me at attention for about a minute and then said "Petty Officer, nearly all my staff believe you're wasting your time aboard my ship. What do you think?" "I said, sir, I'm not sure I understand?" And then the captain said "Well...they think having you aboard is a waste of your talents; they believe you should be in Rhode Island proving to the staff there that you belong in the academy. Would you like to give that a try?"

"I was struck silent sir!!" (this young lady was seldom at a loss for words). "I looked at him and said, Sir, I would be honored to set that course!" "GOOD!" said the captain, "Plan on shipping out very soon after we return to port."

And last week she arrived at NAPS and is quarantined for two weeks before she begins academics. And, as you know, if all goes well, she'll graduate from NAPS next year and enter USNA with the class of 2025.

A JROTC super-star, athletic and academic super-star, and a non-candidate her senior year. And today, three years later, she's at NAPS on a journey to becoming a midshipman.

I'm probably only just a little less proud than her mom and dad are!!

It can be done...how bad do you want it?

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(And I've helped four go to USNA)

Hello Navy Lovers!
(Hey, what'd you expect from a USAFA type?)

I wanted to pass along something that I think will bring a smile to some faces. We all talk about "will I get in, do I have the best package, etc...etc." I know I did when I was applying. And some will get that golden ticket while most others, sadly, will have to exercise plan B. That's why we all stress having a superb plan B that you will enjoy!!

This morning I received an IM. I had to look twice to see who it was from; it was from a former student of mine that graduated HS in 2017. She ended up not becoming a candidate for any SA...she had a rough senior year. Then she and her family moved to the PNW and I lost track of her. A year or so later I heard a rumor that she'd joined the navy. So using some contacts...I found her in training at Pensacola NAS. She was becoming an AE (Aviation Electricians' Mate) working on MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and was headed to Japan! After that...not much contact, until this morning.

This morning she sent that IM...and she asked if I'd write her some letters of recommendation. "To whom?" I asked. "Sir, it'll be to my Congressman and two Senators." "WHAT?!!" I practically shouted through the internet.

"Well, you see sir, I guess I did okay as an AE3...last year I did a 10-month cruise on a CG and near the end, my Chief pulled me aside and spoke with me...then my division commander...then a board of officers, and then finally I had to meet with the captain. He had me at attention for about a minute and then said "Petty Officer, nearly all my staff believe you're wasting your time aboard my ship. What do you think?" "I said, sir, I'm not sure I understand?" And then the captain said "Well...they think having you aboard is a waste of your talents; they believe you should be in Rhode Island proving to the staff there that you belong in the academy. Would you like to give that a try?"

"I was struck silent sir!!" (this young lady was seldom at a loss for words). "I looked at him and said, Sir, I would be honored to set that course!" "GOOD!" said the captain, "Plan on shipping out very soon after we return to port."

And last week she arrived at NAPS and is quarantined for two weeks before she begins academics. And, as you know, if all goes well, she'll graduate from NAPS next year and enter USNA with the class of 2025.

A JROTC super-star, athletic and academic super-star, and a non-candidate her senior year. And today, three years later, she's at NAPS on a journey to becoming a midshipman.

I'm probably only just a little less proud than her mom and dad are!!

It can be done...how bad do you want it?

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
(And I've helped four go to USNA)

What a great story. If you thought it appropriate to share her name with me, I would like to tell my DD, who arrived at NAPS 3 weeks ago, about her in hopes they meet each other early in theIr NAPS journey. Thank you!

 

[Old Navy BGO]

If you thought it appropriate to share her name with me, I would like to tell my DD, who arrived at NAPS 3 weeks ago, about her in hopes they meet each other early in theIr NAPS journey

I am sure everyone at NAPS could identify her -- its a very small group (roughly 300 ish), and can't be that many female AE3's there (probably just 1! Great story Flieger !