Where Are They Now?

Child labor laws are ruining this country.

 

ScoutBaby Academy?

 

The Marines require Kindergarten ATTENDANCE but will accept kinderGEDs from candidates displaying the appropriate fitness and commitment levels.

 

I guess I'll mention my son AKA SonOfOldRetSWO.
SonOfOldRetSWO entered USNA in 2007 with the class of 11 and majored in Aeronautical Engineering. Intramural warrior during plebe year but then went for and had 6 seasons on Varsity Intercollegiate Sailing where his teammates included several children of MY former teammates. He entered as a committed future aviator but 2nd class summer moved him in a different direction and he service selected Subs. Upon graduation, he attended Nuke power school where he just missed top of the class and nuclear prototype where he was the class honorman and then Submarine School where he was also top of his class. He then served aboard an attack sub homeported in Pearl Harbor and did several full deployments to the far east and elsewhere. Near the end of his tour, he applied and was selected as an Olmsted Scholar and was sent to language school prior to enrolling in his grad school at the University of Lujibiana Slovenia. He is in the second year of that now and has the schoolwork just about done and will complete in the spring at which point he goes back to the submarine Navy, first to Advanced Sub school and then to a Sub as Chief Engineer. While in Slovenia, he and his wife had our first grandchild who is now 13 months old and into everything.

 

The greatest, steamy tryst of my life came courtesy of a cadet trip to the University of Ljubljana. I suspect his take is different. Congrats to him.

As for the kids...I don’t know that I’d want my daughters to join the military. Much about the treatment of women will have to improve before I feel moved by the spirit to compel them to serve.

 

You’re kind to say that.

The most resilient, strongest, powerful women I have met in the military seemed to have parents who believed in them and their abilities and taught them to hold boundaries and not take any pick-your-word from anyone, while encouraging kindness (but not doormattishness), integrity, physical self-confidence and high regard for their own bodies and how and with whom they shared that part of their lives.

A sense of humor and what really matters in life are also helpful, as is the ability to get along with people in stressful and everyday situations.

As I have noted before, I have my share of #militarymetoo stories, but far more positive sea stories over the course of my military and civilian careers. Everything I am today, good and bad, is a product of past experience. I learned how to have a professional game face in awful situations, grew a thick skin, and learned from bad leaders what not to do.

Sea story from my personal locker: Back in the mists of the late 20th c., a Chief of Staff O-6 was debriefing my fitness report to me, a LCDR department head. It was all good, and then there came the “but” - “You’re too strong, and it’s just not feminine. When I look at you, all I can see is a woman.” Me: (WTH? Ewwww...) “Uh, yes sir.” I didn’t change a thing, got the top ranking of DHs, waited out that COS and absolutely loved the next COS.

As for ScoutKids - I bet they grow up to know and speak their minds just like their dad.

@Hurricane12
@usna1985
and others not to overlook!

 

Late to the party...but, I'm a '17 grad from the zoo who went through Vance (T-6/T-1) for UPT, now in the MC-130J. My wife is also a grad and a contracting officer. Happy to talk AFSOC/UPT/join-spouse with anyone who has questions!

 

"The 4 fans of freedom!"