In my humble opinion I’d like to offer some advice and perspective. One of the things my family has learned is to try and have patience in matters where we don’t have power over. My DS is a reapplying to both Navy and KP. He didn’t get a nom to Navy last time out but did get one to KP. We thought the waiting to hear was hell, but it pales in comparison when he began his journey. He didn’t get into to KP but did get a NROTC scholarship and off he went to NSI. To be honest that was harder on us than waiting to hear back from the SA. Not talking to him and no contact with him for three weeks was one of the toughest things we have ever experience we have ever had as a family. I know I speak for many of the NROTC families felt the same way because we created a Facebook group and some of those people have become such great freinds because we all had to lean on each other. It really gave me an insight to what we have signed up as a “Navy Family” and the sacrifices all of will have in A small way. We will miss birthdays, holidays and go great lengths of time without seeing each other. His decision is a decision we will make so he can fulfill his calling to protect our nation and I am proud of him for answering the call to serve. I am proud of all the families here who are willing to step up to answering that call.
These kids are remarkable, many of the parents can attest they were different than there classmates, they studied hard, were not out drinking and smoking, did volunteer work, were class leaders and love their country and our have high aspiration and goals, other wise they wouldn’t be here trying to get in to SA/ROTC. But this is reality sets in. Like the best football player in your hometown who goes off to college as a full ride, when they get there, everyone is an all city, all state, all everything letterman when they get there and now they have to compete with peers that are their equal and maybe even better is a shock for someone who has never played against anyone as good as them.
Here everyone has a nomination, was a class officer and leader and that is wonderful we have these leaders want to join the fleet. The saying goes if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans. Annapolis is great, so is KP, so is NROTC, and so is OCS and all have their own pros and cons. Please remember the goal is to commission and get a butter bar and when you get to the fleet as a JO their will be a salty Navy Chief that will be there to teach you how to be an officer and he doesn’t care how you got there he just wants you to be a leader who will learn how to give proper orders, run your department and keep his sailors safe. I had my DS talk with a Chief I know before he left for NSI and he showed him how to stand at attention, how to salute and told him his sailors lives will be in his hands and if he didn’t take this seriously someone’s son or daughter will die and he will have to tell someone’s mother and father why their child died. That helped put everything else in perceptive.
I know it’s hard to wait but try your best, relax as best you can and know this isn’t getting into Harvard or Stanford anyone can do that, what your family is doing take much much more.
A watched kettle never boils!
