I would like to thank everyone for contributing to this forum. I would especially like to thank USNA69 for his expertise and professionalism. Listen to him-they are a rare commodity to be found. My son recieved his appointment to NA yesterday and the place isn't the same. I hope that I will be able to help those in future as many of you did.
Thank You
- Thread starter cga82
- Start date
cga82 said:
Congratulations!!!! Thanks for the compliments. Anything we can do to get the good ones and keep them away from the other academies, especially CGA, is time well spent.
You were an aviator? What did you fly? I had a classmate who ending up in the CG flying helos. I think they sent him to TPS.
Just_A_Mom
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Well done!! Many congratulations are in order! Have a party!
USNA69,
I spent 3 yrs on an icebreaker as an engineer. She was a 1944 vintage breaker (some of the crew had her advertised in boat trader as a 1944 cabin cruiser) that was given to Russians during WWII on the lend lease program. We went to both the North and South poles (east and west side). In 1984, we nearly sank in the Antarctic Ocean in the Wedell Sea area.
I spent some time in lovely Liberia Africa for the CG Omega (Navigation) Systems-GPS did away with this system. Liberia was quite an experience- great civil unrest, coupes , check points and other fun stuff.
I flew the Facon jet. Civy world Falcon 200. 3 Various models slightly different packages for each airframe. French made-American engines-don't ask.
I enjoyed every minute, well not everyminute but my memory is good...
I spent 3 yrs on an icebreaker as an engineer. She was a 1944 vintage breaker (some of the crew had her advertised in boat trader as a 1944 cabin cruiser) that was given to Russians during WWII on the lend lease program. We went to both the North and South poles (east and west side). In 1984, we nearly sank in the Antarctic Ocean in the Wedell Sea area.
I spent some time in lovely Liberia Africa for the CG Omega (Navigation) Systems-GPS did away with this system. Liberia was quite an experience- great civil unrest, coupes , check points and other fun stuff.
I flew the Facon jet. Civy world Falcon 200. 3 Various models slightly different packages for each airframe. French made-American engines-don't ask.
I enjoyed every minute, well not everyminute but my memory is good...
Thank you J A M. We are loving it but the boy is holding back because he's more mature than us- He is always telling us when we're violating some rule. My daughter a Junior at Alabama just can't wait to go shopping in Annapolis and something else about all the Mids.
kp2001 said:Congratulations on the appointment. Now comes the hard work though
Let's not scare people too much. Even though it is two totally seperate events, it is arguable which is the most difficult. Each year, 12,000 apply. Two thirds of those triple qualified, enter the Academy. Eighty percent of those who enter, graduate.
Even though the naysayers complain about the snails pace of USNA admissions, they have fine tuned the process to a superb result. The vast majority who resign do not do so for true academic deficincies. Effective BGOs are weeding out the ones who want to be there for the wrong reason. Those numbers are decreasing yearly as NASS and CVWs become more common. The quality and motivation of candidates today are at an all-time high. Most were heavily involved in extra curricular activities while in high school. They do not understand the concept of free time.
It may come as a surprise to some of us old timers but a lot of midshipmen are actually having a good time at the Academy.
They are where they want to be and are preparing themselves for the career that they have always wanted.
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kp2001
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USNA69 makes a very good point above. He is absolutely correct in that if you are admitted you have what it takes to graduate. It is very similar for medical school....if you get in, you can graduate.
My overall statement is not meant for any one person, but rather a generalization for all those who decide to go to a service academy or in fact any college for that matter.
The key is to put in the work wherever you end up. I guess my main point would be that just because you got straight a's in high school without studying much doesn't mean the same thing will happen in college. This goes for any school, not just the academies. I learned this lesson the hard way in my first year of medical school.
My overall statement is not meant for any one person, but rather a generalization for all those who decide to go to a service academy or in fact any college for that matter.
The key is to put in the work wherever you end up. I guess my main point would be that just because you got straight a's in high school without studying much doesn't mean the same thing will happen in college. This goes for any school, not just the academies. I learned this lesson the hard way in my first year of medical school.
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peskemom
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to concur with usna69 about the current state of midshipmen....the current retention rate is so high with the classes especially of the plebes 2010 as well as the graduating class of '07, that the class of 2011 actually has to be a bit LESS this year than other years. This comes directly from Admissions. So that's a statistic that provides both cheers and groans ( if you are one of those hoping for a 2011 appointment at least)
I asked my Plebe about the 'happiness' factor of her company Plebes and she says that while at this point no one in her company has left there are a few that have opted to wait out the year - but they say they will separate after this year is out....we'll have to wait and see. But for the moment her Company group of Plebes has held steady - which really helps with morale, and continuity and stability there for them all.
I asked my Plebe about the 'happiness' factor of her company Plebes and she says that while at this point no one in her company has left there are a few that have opted to wait out the year - but they say they will separate after this year is out....we'll have to wait and see. But for the moment her Company group of Plebes has held steady - which really helps with morale, and continuity and stability there for them all.
Thanks Again everyone! I will pass it on to my son.
Getting to graduation for some is nothing but constant work and desire. Sometimes, you just have to bite on like a bull dog and never let go!
My two older brothers on the other hand did not have as much a strain.
Getting to graduation for some is nothing but constant work and desire.
Sometimes, you just have to bite on like a bull dog and never let go! My two older brothers on the other hand did not have as much a strain.