Questions about Service Academies

beachmom
Fri, 19 May 2006 18:56:46 +0000

Godfather-Forgive me if this sounds harsh; it is not my intention. Please understand that I am coming from the perspective of the wife of a career navy man, the mother of a Marine and a future midshipman. My family sort of bleeds red, white and blue.

From all that you have written, I do not get the sense that the military is something you would choose. My impression is that you see it as a means to an end, when for many people (my family in particular), the military is the ultimate goal. To my husband and daughters, there is no greater honor than serving our country. Even if we disagree with policy, we truly believe there is no greater country on earth. As a military officer, you would have no choice but to support whatever actions were ordered by the Commander in Chief. You don’t get to pick and choose the operations.

So unless you can get excited about putting on that uniform (and spending months or years away from loved ones), please choose another way to achieve your goals. The sacrifices are hard enough if you really want that life. If you see it as a way to get a good education at little expense, you will be miserable every day you serve. My husband and I have spent too much time apart for me to recommend this life to anyone who wasn’t positive it is what they want. Save yourself the years of heartache and find another way to fund your education.

Best of luck to you.