<p>LFWB chose USMMA over USNA because of the many options he had as a graduate of Kings Point as opposed to those at Navy or any of the other Academies. </p>
<p>At KP he will graduate with a BS in Marine Transportation, a Coast Guard Mate’s license and will have the option of taking an active duty commission in any service or a Reserve or National Guard commission in any service and work in the US Maritime industry. Right now his top list is 1) Navy Spec Ops;2) Army Spec Ops; 3) Navy SWO. But with a mate’s license and a tanker certificate he could start at $20K a month on an LNG tanker.</p>
<p>Also, he liked the idea of spending an entire year at sea being thrown into the nuts and bolts of seamanship as part of a small crew instead of a few weeks each summer following around an officer. As a MIDN 3/C he already has 128 sea days and has sailed around the world and been to Iraq twice as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom delivering trucks and supplies to US and Iraqi forces at the Port of Umm Qasr. As an active part of the four man crew on the bridge he stood watch four hours a day in a rotation that had him serving as the navigation officer, look out, at the helm; and as command of the watch. An 18 year old MIDN in command of a 700 ft ship with a couple of $billion in cargo is a ton of responsibility he knew he wouldn’t get anywhere else. In all he has been to 9 countries and handled cargo ops in 18 different ports. And he still has 230 days to go beginning again in March.</p>
<p>Also, LFWB is a good D-III athlete, and the opportunity to continue to compete at a varsity level in college was also a big factor in choosing USMMA over USNA. Navy has a great D-I tradition, but he was realistic about his chances to participate as a varsity athlete at Navy.</p>
<p>The rigors of cramming a 154 credit curriculum into 3 years on campus along with all the Regimental responsibilities drives him nuts at times, and the fact that his longest break since I Day has been ten days is frustrating, but all in all he is very happy with his choice.</p>