Army and Navy Academy - Review #3

The Army Navy Academy provided a uniquely structured environment where the self limiting influences of public school are removed so that each individual can rise to their ability. I quickly shed my fear of acceptance and found an inner strength and pride that I carry to this day. Somewhere between the uniforms that made us equals in dress, to the simple but serious rules of behavior that made us equal in the eyes of the administration, there was created a vast vacuum of individuality that could be filled by our personal effort and rewarded with success. This school may not be for everyone, but it worked for me.

The best thing I received from the Academy was self respect. I learned that in order to respect yourself you have to first respect others, and that includes both those in authority and those who depend upon you.

Listen, watch and learn. Do not try to bring your old self to the Academy. Instead, use this opportunity to mold yourself into a much better person.

I became a better person, more deserving of love and respect, and I learned to love and respect myself.

Enjoy your time at the Academy. I actually had a lot of fun there... It wasn't the kind of fun I thought I was having in Public School, but those were some of the best days of my young life.

Classes were well structured, with individual attention by professors and teachers that actually cared about us as individuals and as a group. Class Ratios were very lean, so that any individual could get the attention and assistance necessary without being singled out as slow. No one was ever made to feel dumb. There were no remedial classes, but plenty of academic assistance. I went from a sliding "D" average in public school to top 10% academically in a single year...and I LEARNED how to study, passed my classes, got into college and made a successful life. These things were all in doubt in public school. It really came down to learning a little discipline and leaning to have some pride in myself and my own abilities.

ANA has every type of athletic offering, and is not limited to baseball, basketball and football. I played basketball for the first time in my life, and dabbled with Cross Country one year. But I also observed and learned something about soccer, water polo, Lacrosse, Boxing, Wrestling, Surfing...whatever your interest there is some program there. If you want to make Silver "A", which is THE coveted award, you must be involved in a core sport in your Senior year, and I wasn't, opting instead for the Theatre Arts Program. I didn't know it was a requirement, but being "Fully Well Rounded" apparently includes core sports...Hint, go out for one of the 3 "B"s...Baseball, Football or Basketball...

The Masque and Wig club is where I spent a lot of my time...I played Emile De Becque in South Pacific, Freddy in "My Fair Lady" and Dr. Lyman Sanderson in "Harvey", as well as various other parts. The club brings in talented actresses from local high schools to fill out the casts and crew, and the shows are well attended by the cadet core, faculty, locals and parents. One of the highlights of my time at the Academy. But I should have played Baseball!

In addition to being in the Officer Corps in my Senior Year, I was also on the Honor Council, a 7 member board of seniors based on the West Point model that reviews cases of lying, cheating and stealing and metes out disciplinary recommendations ranging from Extra Duty to Dismissal from the Academy. This position is not only one of the highest honors at the Academy, but also one of the most solemn and burdensome responsibilities afforded.

When I was at the academy, the "dorm's" were pre-WW-II barracks style accommodations. In fact, there was still black paint on many of the window panes left over from the "blackout" requirement at the time. Communal showers, 2 cadets to a room, with no choice as to who your roomie would be. I would think this part of Academy life may have changed since the 70's.

The food was simple and plentiful. 3 squares a day with potatoes for every meal. Between the meals and the PT (Physical Training) I bulked up to a lean and trim 185 pounds with little or no excess fat. Cadets had about 20 minutes to get through the chow line, eat and clean up after themselves. Plebes ate in silence using the correct utensils and proper table manners for the first semester. After that, the good habits were instilled.

Carlsbad was awesome. The school is primarily a closed campus, but there were theatres in town, so if you didn't have any demerits or academic issues during the week you could hit the movies or whatever. Most of the time you would be on campus or on the beach...but the town was nice occasionally.

Social life? This is Military Academy...Social life consists of study, drilling, polishing brass, and studying some more. I remember playing some incredible marathon Backgammon tournaments though! I was from Arizona so I didn't go home much, but I spent many weekends away at friends homes in LA or San Diego...ahhh, good times!