When It Rains, It Pours...

OK3-Wire
Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:56:13 +0000

Good Morning Folks,

In the continuing saga of GOOD NEWS…our son received official notification in the mail last week from the Naval Service Training Command in Pensacola, FL that he was accepted for a 4-year Navy ROTC scholarship. Apparently the first Navy ROTC selection board met in August for those entering college during the fall of 2009, and they’re in the process of notifying those accepted.

He applied to Army ROTC as well, but was told their first selection board would convene in September, with results to follow later this month. I had mentioned in an earlier post on another thread that Army beat Navy virtually every step of the way during the academy and ROTC application process. However, credit where credit is due: Navy beat Army to the punch on the first ROTC selection board.

Our son received a very nice note from the USMA admissions office after returning his signed Appointment acceptance card. The Navy ROTC package contains a response letter with several choices. One of those choices is, “I decline my NROTC scholarship nomination for the following reason,” with several additional selections that follow, including “Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy.” He’s placed a check in those two blocks. He has until 30 OCT to return the Navy letter.

As an aside, I’ve been dumbfounded by some of the recent comments I’ve heard regarding our son applying to the service academies and ROTC. A few of my wife’s acquaintanances have actually said, “I’d send my son to Canada before I’d let him join the military!” These are generally the same moms who are doing all the calling to various college admissions offices for their kids. I’m always inclined to ask such folks just exactly how they thought this country had remained free for the past 230 plus years. Or what George Washington or Franklin Roosevelt might’ve said regarding such a statement.

Heck, maybe I just need to go watch the new film “An American Carol.”

Best Regards,
OK3-Wire