I walked into high school determined to become a teacher. I came out with a better understanding of myself and a new job in mind. When I crossed the thresh hold of Gibbs High School, I knew it was the time to find myself. I chose new classes that I knew nothing about including JROTC. I chose JROTC specifically because the rope bridges looked exciting and adventurous. When I finally got to try the rope bridge on for size, it wasn’t tied properly and fell while I was on it. This typically would scare someone away from the program, but it made me more determined. I was eager to learn and to grow from each experience I ran into in JROTC. Because of my dedication and willingness to learn, I rose through the ranks. I started my journey through the Chain of Command by becoming Public Affairs Officer. Once my …show more content…
potential was noticed, I was promoted to Cadet Command Sergeant Major. This position gave me the responsibility of the Color Guard Team and all Noncommissioned Officers. At the end of my junior year, I was promoted to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and given the position of Cadet Battalion Commander which put me in charge of the entire battalion. I learned to take responsibility for not only what my battalion did well, but also what they did poorly in. However, my experience with JROTC is not the only reason why I am motivated to apply for a congressional nomination to the United States Military Academy. At the beginning of my junior year, I was given the honor to participate in an Honor Guard to welcome several Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients to the Congressional Medal of Honor Convention through my JROTC program.
Meeting these heroes is what motivated me to apply. These brave warriors offered the ultimate sacrifice for their country. They became the best of the best. They became my role models and my idols. As I held my saber high above their heads, I realized what I wanted to do with my life; I want to be an aid to those in need while being the best I can be. I don’t want to be a hero. I just want to help find justice and peace in this world. I realized that day that the best way to do this would be to join the military. My original plan was to enlist, but I also want to go to college and continue to learn and better myself. Therefore, I made the biggest decision of my life. I decided to apply to the United States Military Academy. I decided to apply to stand side by side with some of the smartest, bravest, and toughest heroes America has to offer. The graduates of the United States Military are considered the best of the best which is what I wish to
be. Attending the United States Military Academy is my ultimate goal. The bar is set high, but I’m dedicated to working towards that goal. I am motivated by the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients I met through my JROTC unit. I am motivated by my experience with JROTC. It would be an amazing honor to learn side by side with America’s greatest soldiers.
I would like to participate in the SEAP program because I am passionate about engineering. I am completely absorbed with learning everything and anything related to STEM studies. My love of engineering and science intensified during my high school years due to my favorite classes like AP Chemistry and Principles of Engineering. Chemistry is undoubtedly the most challenging class my school has to offer. Nevertheless, every topic peaks my interest.
I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.
As a freshman, I was timid and had little to no confidence. When I went to my first drill practice, I felt like I was in my element. Everyone there wanted to be there, they all joined NJROTC because they wanted to. After attending many drill practices, and NJROTC events, I started to come out of my shell. Instead of staying quiet in class, I voiced my opinions more often and sometimes cracked a joke here and there. Then came our first drill competition, where I was the freshman drill squad’s squad leader. At the end of the day we won first place. This taste of victory showed me how a little self confidence can go a long way. Sophomore year went even better. My friend group expanded, as I met more people through NJROTC. Every drill practice became so much more enjoyable, because I found out that I was actually enjoying what I was doing, because the people around me were as well. I became so confident with myself, and more and more people started to look up to me and admire me for how much I had grown. At the end of my sophomore year, I went to Area Four Leadership Academy/Sail Training for two weeks, which was a life changing experience for me. I met cadets from all over my area, and spent every waking moment with the same 35 other cadets who shared the same pas...
Jrotc has given me a glimpse of what to expect at Academy Summer Seminar. Joining Jrotc was one of the best decisions I had made in high school and was a pivotal point in my life. From that one choice, I was able to discover many opportunities that may have
For years I have aspired to become a part of an elite organization such as the military, and more importantly, the United States Navy. Its reputation for instilling high moral character was encouragement for me to develop into a more mature, responsible, and independent young citizen. There are certain qualities that an officer must possess such as: honor, courage, commitment, and attention to duty, responsiveness to orders, cooperation, loyalty, leadership, integrity, and discipline. Throughout my high school career, I showcased these qualities while an active member of The American Legion of Ohio Buckeye Boy’s State, The National Honor Society, as a leader in the Ohio State Highway Patrol Junior Cadets, Clay and Waite High School Marching Band Alumni, Quiz Bowl, and Top Ten Scholars. I was actively involved in charitable activities such as Math and SOS tutoring, community volunteering, and the Indian 100 Leadership Team, (a volunteer organization on my high school campus). I have shown strength, perseverance and leadership in my participation in wrestling, cheerleading, and bodybui...
“I brought you guys here for better”. These are the words my mother told me many times as a boy and again not long ago. My mother has always pushed me in my education, and I finally realized that my junior year of high school. My grades in everything were outstanding this year, but I was still missing out on something. I was still not very involved in school. One day an individual from the American Legion came to our school to talk to all the juniors. He told us about an event that happens every year and in every state. It was a prestigious event to be accepted to. Having no real involvement in anything, I did not think for a second that I would be accepted, but, regardless, I applied, and two months later I received a call from that same man who told me I had been accepted. I was a big reluctant and indecisive about going because, aside from the fun and games, there was government learning and marching involved. I decided to go, and will never regret that decision. The experience there changed my views in so many ways. I met so many new people, greatly strengthened my skills in leadership, and I realized I had the potential to not only dream about my goals, but to live them as well.
My Air Force story begins with me searching for a viable way to pay for college. I was brought up in a home with two hard working parents who were great role models that tried to provide every opportunity for me. However, my family was part of the lower-middle class which meant I needed a way to pay for college. I followed suit with my parent’s stringent work ethic and set a goal to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering and have the Air Force fund it. I felt that the Air Force would be a great match as it would allow me to pursue my aviation dream and also serve as a great way to fund my education due to my financial needs. After a challenging process I received an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology and pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering. In return for this scholarship I would have to pay the Air Force back with four years of service.
My personal Air Force story began with a strong family tradition of military service. My great-uncle, whom I never knew, served as an infantryman during World War I. My grandfather served in the Navy as a flight instructor during World War II, training pilots who went on to win the war against Japan in the Pacific. My father served as a Huey helicopter crew chief and door gunner in the Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he completed the remainder of his 20-year career in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, flying Medical Evacuation missions in the Huey. My uncle also served in the Army during Vietnam. With such strong examples of service set by men I respected, I decided early in life that I, too, wanted to serve in my nation’s armed forces. The only question was how.
I chose this article because I can especially relate to it. After I am done college, I will be signing up for the military, but not sure what branch yet. When you go to the recruiter’s office, they are like businessmen saying anything that you want to hear, because their job is on the line if you don’t end up joining. They are everywhere, high schools, colleges, and even around town. They give out free t-shirts, pens, and video games all to lure you in to joining. Recruitment is even harder today than ever before. The military use to be the place you learned a trade, nowadays men and women are heading to college where they can get the education they need. The military is no longer stressed as a...
I joined the military and blossom into a new person deployed to Iraq twice and overcomes combat situation. This new adventure is where I gained my leadership roles but was still internally desired for my education. I met a special person and he had a degree and I left out my education equivalency after marrying I sneaked to a GED class and pass in three months. I was ready to start a new beginning and was allowing anything stop me in my tracks, BSW in 2014 and certainly ready to attack my MSW. I have the determination and has endured life realm to be where I am today. I have no regret for the outcome of life it has made me into the person that I am today; I hav...
My deep interest in substance use disorders dates back to my undergraduate years, where I developed fundamental knowledge in neurobiology and psychology courses and gained real-life work experience at a psychiatric clinic. Particularly, I was fascinated by the overlaps between neuroscience and psychology, such as the interrelationship between dysfunctions in the brain circuitry and addiction. In addition to the biological mechanism of addiction, I was curious how substance abuse could affect oral health both directly and indirectly (e.g., due to lifestyle and poor oral hygiene). Moreover, I have been wondering about fears and cognitive distortions toward dentistry, which might make patients avoid regular dental checkups. Thus, the SARET modules taken as part of an ethics course at New York College of Dentistry (“Exploring Substance Abuse Research” and “Personal Impact Substance Abuse”) fuelled my long-time interest in the neuroscience of addiction and strengthened my resolve to involve in current research in substance abuse.
I took an oath at age 17 to be a part of an enormous family by joining the Michigan Army National Guard. I decided to join for many different reasons, but the main reason was the path I saw myself taking wasn’t a good one. I have always been interested in a job that kept you on your toes and wasn’t the same nine to five that the majority of people despise working.
I have been blessed to have led a highly fulfilling career over the past 22 years. The Air Force’s standards of conduct and performance have helped me mature into an adult while creating lasting memories along the way. I have had the opportunity to make significant contributions to my country that offer a sense of pride and personal achievement. My current duties allow me to directly contribute to the Air Force and Joint arena on an almost daily basis. Joining the Air Force helped me to realize I had undertaken a task bigger than myself.
Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to
Immediately after graduating high school I was not ready to attend college. I had little direction and was unsure what career I wanted to pursue. The majority of my concern stemmed from the cost of college tuition. My parents shared this concern and asked that I pursue other options. I had never considered the military until a close friend suggested the Coast Guard after laughing off my extravagant plan to become a lifeguard on the beaches of California at age eighteen. I was yearning to leave Ohio for California. Six months later, newly graduated from boot camp I left for the USCGC Sherman, a 378-ft high endurance cutter out of Alameda, Ca.