USNA: Blue and Gold Interview

The B&G (Blue and Gold) Interview allows the Naval Academy one more opportunity to insure that they appoint

Areas B&G Officer will rank you

candidates who will make it through the next nine years. Few other colleges invest the time and money in a personal in-home interview (except for recruited athletes) and the follow-up that the Service Academies do. But then, they’re spending taxpayer money and want to be sure to get it right.

For the Naval Academy, it’s a mandatory step, and an important nod in the approval process. By this point in the interview process, the B&G officer knows you better than any other person involved in the selection. His/Her opinion of you will weigh heavily as the admissions personnel review your application.

Be sure to create a good rapport with your B&G officer. Chat with her/him at any Academy Nights you attend. Email him with updates in your application process. Ask his help if you’re stuck on anything.

Sometime after you’ve been named a Candidate, probably after your DoDMERB physical, and when s/he’s sure you’re a viable candidate–that you have the stamina and commitment for a Naval Academy adventure,–s/he’ll arrange a formal interview  (‘formal’ may vary, depending upon the person). Wear something casual, but not sloppy–khaki pants and a collared shirt—conservative, respectful. His/her questions might sound similar to the Congressional Interview—why do you want to attend the Naval Academy? What will you do if they don’t select you? Nothing tricky. S/he must write up her/his recommendation to the USNA admissions, so her/his goal is to have one last conversation to determine the level of fit between you and a Navy life.

S/he may have suggestions about becoming more competitive among the applicant pool, or getting your self in shape for the rigors of USNA life. S/he may want you to start winnowing out unnecessary activities from your schedule and concentrate on physical and academic areas.

All in all, it should be a stress-free interview that helps you understand better what your chances are and what the future will be if you are selected. Don’t be surprised if you leave it wanting to study harder!

Send a thank-you note to him/her. Check the CIS Candidate website to see when the section alluding to ‘B&G Interview’ shows up as completed.

–from Building a Midshipman 2008

ASVAB or USNA? You Decide.

If you don’t want to join the military via a Service Academy, you can enlist. To do that, you must take the ASVAB– the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). It’s multiple choice administered by United States Military Entrance Processing Command prior to enlistment. Areas of competence include:

• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Shop Information (SI)
• Automotive Information (AI)
• Electronics Information (EI)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• General Science (GS)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
• Assembling Objects (AO)
• Verbal Expression (VE)

It’s scored as a hundred points, 50 representing where 50% of applicants end up. Depending upon which service you are interested in, minimal scores differ:

• Air Force/Air National Guard 36
• Coast Guard (AFQT) 45
• Navy (AFQT) 35
• Marines (AFQT) 32
• Army (AFQT) 31
• Army National Guard (AFQT) 31

Here are a few practice questions:

If Lynn can type a page in p minutes, what piece of the page can she do in 5 minutes?

A. 5/p
B. p – 5
C. p + 5
D. p/5
E. 1- p + 5

Everyone in the bank-including the manager and the tellers, ran to the door when the fire alarm rang.

A. tellers, ran
B. tellers:ran
C. tellers, had run
D. tellers-ran
E. tellers’ ran

The prince abdicated the crown and returned to his castle.
Abdicated means

A. Gave up
B. Sold
C. Reinvested into
D. Auctioned

Military.com has a multi-part review of the test, with tips and strategies and what it means to your military future:

The ASVAB is a timed multi-aptitude test, which is given at over 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide and is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense.

Start now by taking our practice ASVAB tests. These tests will give you an idea of how you’ll score, and identify areas that need improvement. Then use our suggested resources and ASVAB study guides to learn how to prepare for the ASVAB test.

How important is the ASVAB test?

Your scores in four critical areas — Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Mathematics Knowledge (see below) — count towards your Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score. The AFQT score determines whether you’re qualified to enlist in the U.S. military.

Your scores in the other areas of the ASVAB will determine how qualified you are for certain military occupational specialties and Enlistment Bonuses. A high score will improve your chances of getting the specialty/job and signing bonus you want.

Scoring high on the ASVAB will require study and concentration. Don’t skimp on preparing for this test. It’s your future. Get the most out of it.

Are Muslims in the Military a Problem–Reprise

After the disaster at Fort Hood, it bears re-reading the post, Are Muslims in the Military a Problem? A snippet:

Last March three conscripts of the Austrian army refused to salute the Austrian flag because they said this was incompatible with their Islamic religion.

A Marine’s Letter to His Dad

This is a poem sent from a Marine to his Dad. Read it. It’ll make you thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.

MARINE

We all came together,

Both young and old

To fight for our freedom,

To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,

We stand our ground,

And we protect our country

From all terror around.

Peace and not war,

Is what some people say.

But I’ll give my life,

So you can live the American way

I give you the right

To talk of your peace.

To stand in your groups,

and protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,

I don’t fuss, I don’t whine.

I’m just one of the people!

Who is doing your time.

I’m harder than nails,

Stronger than any machine.

I’m the immortal soldier,

I’m a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,

And leave from your home.

Fight for the people who hate you,

With the protests they’ve shown.

Fight for the stranger,

Fight for the young.

So they all may have,

The greatest freedom you’ve won

Fight for the sick,

Fight for the poor

Fight for the cripple,

Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,

Do what I’ve done.

For if you stand up for freedom,

You’ll stand when the fight’s done

By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

Hey Dad,

Do me a favor and label this ‘The Marine’ and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US ; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn’t that long and I don ‘t have much time anyway.

You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. ‘When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it.’ Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.

Aaron

Lone Airman at Combat Outpost Keating recounts enemy attack

This is an eye-witness account from Afghanistan. Worth reading for any considering placing themselves in the field of battle.

by Tech. Sgt. John Jung
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

11/2/2009 - FORWARD OPERATING BASE BOSTICK, Afghanistan (AFNS) – Being the only Airman assigned to an Army Combat Outpost on the outskirts of Afghanistan-Pakistan border can be a little intimidating and scary.

Being assigned to COP Keating while under attack by hundreds of insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades is absolutely frightening, and exactly where Staff Sgt. Matthew McMurtrey found himself on the morning of Oct. 3.

Sergeant McMurtrey is an Airman from the 755th Air Expeditionary Group based at Bagram Airfield and was attached to the Army’s 3rd Squadron, 61st Calvary, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division at COP Keating. His job there was to set up and maintain a satellite system used to provide Soldiers with Internet accessibility. While under direct enemy fire, he overcame his fear, performed his assigned duties admirably according to Army and Air Force supervisors.

The large, coordinated attack began with rocket-propelled grenade and machine-gun fire at approximately 6 a.m., rocking him out of a sound sleep.

“Basically it knocked me out of bed. It was a pretty big hit,” said the nine-year Air Force veteran deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. “The room was covered in dust and I started to hear more explosions. (I) figured OK, this is an attack,” continued the Spokane, Wash., native.

Sergeant McMurtrey grabbed his M-16, put on his individual body armor [IBA] and just as he had practiced in a battle drill a week ago, he ran out of his sleeping quarters, turned left and went to his battle position at the COP Keating’s aid station.

As he arrived at the aid station, Army Capt. Christopher Cordova, a medic from the 3-61 Calvary, 4th ID, Fort Carson, Colo., told him to get into the back of the aid station as far back as he could go.

“I usually push people to a safe position,” Captain Cordova said. “The safest place was back away from the door, behind a wall.”

This turned out to be an accurate assessment as approximately 30 minutes into the firefight an RPG exploded on the corner of the aid station’s front door, showering shrapnel on everyone in the aid station except Captain Cordova and Sergeant McMurtrey.

“It ricocheted off one of the side walls and hit (a Soldier). He was a couple of inches from me. It hit him in the calf and peppered a couple of the other medics with shrapnel and (also) hit the front of his IBA and started firing off some rounds that were in his vest,” Sergeant McMurtrey said.

Sergeant McMurtrey and the medics moved quickly to remove the Soldier’s vest and other gear and treated his injuries, putting him in a side room in the aid station. At that time Sergeant McMurtrey was given an M-4 instead of his M-16 and posted behind a table as security at the side door of the aid station.

“I just pointed the red dot at the opening of the door and waited,” he said.

Wounded U.S. and Afghan soldiers arrived shortly after the RPG attack. The first to arrive at the aid station were Afghan National Army soldiers brought down from the main entry control point who bore the brunt of the first wave of RPGs.

“(The ANA) started coming in pretty beat up … with a lots of (bad looking) wounds,” Sergeant McMurtrey said.

According to Captain Cordova about five to seven ANA soldiers came in all at once taking up most of his medics’ attention. After they were treated and stabilized they were moved back to where Sergeant McMurtrey was posted as security.

“We didn’t have a lot of medical personnel on hand so we utilized Sergeant McMurtrey by having him keep an eye on (intravenous) bags, checking on patients to make sure they were still conscious and making sure they didn’t require any more treatment,” the captain said.

As the day progressed, RPG and small-arms fire increased, as did the casualties coming into the aid station. Enemy attacks soon took out the power in the building and the medics had to treat patients with only emergency power to work with.

Soon afterward, the first U.S. casualty was brought into the aid station. Sergeant McMurtrey was ordered to clear his weapon and place his body in a body bag, which ended up being placed only a few feet next to where he was pulling security duty.

“I monitored and changed out a few IVs that were low and if anybody looked like they were not doing too well I let the medics know. About that time we heard reports that the enemy was in the wire … and basically I was waiting for someone to come through the door at that point. It was pretty hairy the whole time,” Sergeant McMurtrey said.

A short time later Air Force aircraft were on scene and engaging the enemy, said Army 1st Lt. Cason Shrode, COP Keating’s fires support officer.

“We received a heavy volley of fire,” the lieutenant said referring to the initial wave of enemies. However, “we had so many different assets up in the air … they were stacked on so many different levels … we had everything we needed.”

From his perspective on the ground, Sergeant McMurtrey said he believes the close-air support was what turned the tide of battle.

“Once air support showed up, they started bombing everything. The blasts through the door from the bombs being dropped almost knocked me over,” Sergeant McMurtrey said.

After more than 10 hours of bombing and strafing from a B-1B Lancer and F-15E Strike Eagles, nearly 100 militants were killed by the combined response that included Afghan soldiers as well as U.S. air and ground units. Eight Americans and three Afghans were killed, while nine Americans and 11 Afghans were wounded, according to CJTF-82 officials.

“There is no doubt that without the incredible air support we received, it would have been a much worse day,” said Army Lt. Col. Robert Brown, the 3-61 Cavalry commander from the 4th ID. “Your ability to keep a steady flow of aircraft and ordnance on the enemy turned what could have been a terrible defeat into a hard fought victory.”

Despite claims from the Taliban, COP Keating was in the process of a scheduled repositioning as part of a security strategy to focus more on populated areas, according to Combined Joint Task Force-82 officials.

(Capt. David Faggard from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Office contributed to this story.)

What’s a Candidate Weekend Visit?

Please accept my personal invitation to spend a weekend visiting the U. S. Naval Academy and historic Annapolis. This visit program is offered only to a select group of candidates.”

One day, you get home from school, rush to the mailbox to see if your USNA acceptance letter is there–and find this instead. You are fully qualified to be a Midshipman, just waiting to see if you’re competitive among the pool of applicants. This should be your acceptance, but instead is an offer to spend a weekend as a Mid–two days with a Plebe, observing academic classes, physical exercise, and all daily activities. Can you survive Calculus and Chemistry (the Plebe killer)? Are Mids friendly? Will they give you the low-down on Academy life?. Mentally, you’re already at USNA. You’ve committed yourself to four years, and then five more years serving your country. Why do you need this?

When you look into it more, you realize it’s a good idea–for you and them. You get to find out first hand if the Mid life is right for you, and they get the same. With the price of educating a Midshipman approaching a quarter million dollars, they don’t want to make mistakes.

It’s departure day, and you’re ready, bags packed, ticket in hand. You’ll miss three days of school right before January finals, but the Academy doesn’t look at senior grades (although several of your alternative choices do), so you’re not worried. As usual, your Dad accompanies you. Yes, you could travel alone, but you don’t want to.

When you arrive at the Academy, you show the guard your valid picture ID and the letter accepting you for the Candidate Weekend. There’s a general meeting at 9:15 at Chauvenet Hall, Room 216, an introduction to parents and visitors. Some of the candidates have already received appointments, and take part in the Weekend to confirm their choice. Despite yourself, you are jealous—what do they have that garnered an early appointment? But most attendees seem just like you—trying one more time to convince the Academy they would make a good Mid.

You meet your Plebe guide—Ruth. All weekend, pre-Plebes go by the nom de plume ‘Drag’ because they ‘drag’ along behind their Mid. You like Ruth right away—she’s affable, intelligent, and doesn’t treat you like you’re a burden. Classes turn out to be what you hoped—small, personal, with friendly students who buckle down ready to work when the Professor begins his lecture. No fooling around, which makes it fun. You end up in a Calculus class with your friend Jason from high school—now a Plebe. He begs for help with a tricky vector concept (you are so thankful you are taking Calculus this year).

Meals turn out to be huge—so much food! And everyone eats a lot, much more than your customary allotment. Friday evening involves a mix of fun and studying. You observe the Honor Concept in action: Some students must take an online quiz. Although a number of them have finished, they don’t advise the others, nor do they share answers. They won’t even admit whether the quiz is easy or difficult! The Honor Concept rules at the USNA.

You sleep on a cot by a drafty Bancroft Hall window. You’d prefer the hallway floor, but that’s not an option. Anyway, comfort never was the goal of this visit. When your roommates rise at 5:30 am for a crew workout, you’re ready. Annapolis in winter can’t be confused with California, but you knew that. No matter how many layers you wear, you’re still cold. The team encourages you to do crew when appointed—but you think Martial Arts sounds better (it practices inside, and not at 5:30 in the morning!). Or basketball.

As the two days progress, your Plebe and her friends share opinions about the Academy openly and honestly. They tell you about daily life, the traumas of Plebe summer, classes, male vs. female. Some worry about passing their PRT (Physical Readiness Test), and a few worry about flunking. While everyone intellectually can succeed, some aren’t used to working so hard academically, nor the top-notch level of competition faced at the Academy. Every student here ranked high in their graduating class, backed by an intimidating resume of well-rounded scholastics, sports, and extra-curricular activities. Here they rank average—because everyone excels. And nothing can prepare them for the shortage of study time. Between physical demands and military requirements, evening study hours quickly dissipate. Nevertheless, every student feels the weight of succeeding. USNA models a design-build architecture firm—professors train you well because their boss hires you upon graduation, and the skills you get become the same ones that will solve world problems for as long as you serve in the Armed Forces.

By the time you leave, you have bonded with girls your intellectual and physical counterpart, reinforcing the veracity of this biggest of all decisions. They like you—their last Drag didn’t stay with them (although Drags must follow their Plebe everywhere s/he goes, no one enforces the rule—once again, the Honor Concept. But the Plebe does write up a FitRep on your two days at USNA). Your positive attitude and eagerness to participate in everything have made your two days an event for everyone.

When it’s over, you meet up with your dad, not quite the person he left two days ago. Mostly the same, but a tiny bit more mature, a touch wiser, and clearer than ever on what the carrot at the end of the high school stick should be. You leave knowing that attending any other school will be settling for second best. There can be no place like the United States Naval Academy.

When you return home, the first thing you do is check the CIS. No change.

Second, you IM your friends about your great weekend.

Then, you wait…

–From Building a Midshipman

USNA Mids Aren’t Selecting Subs

The Silent Service has always been very competitive among USNA Mids. What a surprise when I read this:

Academy falls short of sub volunteers

By Philip Ewing – Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 27, 2009 13:39:40 EDT

Too few Naval Academy seniors opted to become nuclear-qualified submarine officers this fall, so the school’s administration has asked more students to make that their career path and, if necessary, will force them.

In a message to the Brigade of Midshipmen on Tuesday, the academy’s director of professional development, Capt. Stephen Evans, wrote that the academy this year was required to send 125 officers into the nuclear submarine training pipeline, but that only 92 had been accepted by Naval Reactors. That meant 33 midshipmen would be asked to volunteer or told to become sub nukes.

“If you are subsequently identified for a submarine interview, understand that you were released from your preferred community after serious consideration,” Evans wrote. “Be professional and focus on the positive aspects of serving your country in the submarine force.”

Naval Academy spokesman Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said it wasn’t uncommon for academy officials to move midshipmen from preferred warfare areas to areas where they were needed, although he said there weren’t records showing when or for which disciplines. The academy’s mission to provide the officers the Navy requires means the school must sometimes supercede mids’ wishes, he said.

Evans wrote to the midshipmen: “Although your personal desires are strongly and tirelessly considered, community assignments are ultimately grounded in Navy and Marine Corps requirements.”

In last year’s graduating class, 78 percent of midshipmen entered the warfare area they selected as their first choice, and 92 percent got their first or second choice, Carpenter said. The first midshipmen this year who will be urged to choose submarines are those who picked it as their second choice, he said. They are required to serve at least five years after commissioning.

Although the Navy’s top leaders have said they want women to serve on subs, female midshipmen aren’t yet permitted to choose the submarine career path.

Demand for nuclear-qualified submarine junior officers has grown over the past few years as more young officers leave the fleet to pursue civilian careers, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson told Congress in March.

Although he did not provide statistics, Ferguson said the Navy needed plenty of junior officers to grow into control-grade officers.

Naval Reactors’ total yearly requirement from all three sources of officers — the academy, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and Officer Candidate School — was unavailable by Friday.

Growing numbers

The Naval Academy has provided more submarine ensigns with each recent graduating class:

• 88 in 2006

• 115 in 2007

• 117 in 2008

• 119 in 2009

23 Common Sense Rules to Thrive in the Military

From my friends at StrategyPage, a few common sense rules for military folk:

A lot of life’s problems can be explained by the U.S. Military and its applications of common sense …

1. “Sometimes I think war is God’s way of teaching us geography.”
   (Paul Rodriguez)
2. “A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what’s left of your unit.”
   (Army’s magazine of preventive maintenance ).
3. “Aim towards the Enemy.”
   (Instruction printed on US M79 Rocket Launcher)
4. When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend.
   (U.S. Marine Corps)
5. Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs always hit the ground.
   (U.S. Air Force)
6. If the enemy is in range, so are you.
   (Infantry Journal)
7. It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.
   (US Air Force Manual)
8. Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.
   (Gen. MacArthur)
9. Try to look unimportant; they may be low on ammo.
   (Infantry Journal)
10. You, you, and you . . . Panic. The rest of you, come with me.
    (Marine Gunnery Sergeant)
11. Tracers work both ways.
    (US Army Ordnance)
12. Five second fuses only last three seconds.
    (Infantry Journal)
13. Don’t ever be the first, don’t ever be the last, and don’t ever volunteer to do anything.
    (US Navy Seaman)
14. Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.
    (David Hackworth)
15. If your attack is going too well, you have walked into an ambush.
    (Infantry Journal)
16. No combat ready unit has ever passed inspection.
    (Joe Gay)
17. Any ship can be a minesweeper… once.
    (Admiral Hornblower)
18. Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.
    (Unknown Marine Recruit)
19. Don’t draw fire; it irritates the people around you.
    (Your Buddies)
20. Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
    (Army Platoon Sergeant)
21. If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn’t plan your mission properly.
    (David Hackworth)
22. Your job is to kill the other person before they kill you so that your national leaders can negotiate a peace that will last as long as it takes the ink to dry.
    (Drill Instructor)
23. In the Navy, the Chief is always right.
    (Written on the door into the Chiefs quarters)

Shout Out to All USNA Grads

I’ve added a blog roll to my website for your blogs. If you’d like to be added to this list, please leave a comment here with your website and I’ll add the first ten I hear from.

Thanks to all of you for what you do!

PS BTW–I’d like to cover the full spectrum–West Point, Coast Guard, USAFA. Any grads of service academies, let me know what your blog address is and I’ll include the first ten.

 

Military Academies Have a Sense of Humor

I ran across these at Strategy Page. They’re great.

Q: Why do West Point graduates hang their diplomas from the rear view mirror?
A: To justify their handicap parking.

Q: Do you know why the Army football team should change its name to the “Opposums”?
A: Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.

Q: Why doesn’t Army have ice on the sidelines during games?
A: The guy with the recipe graduated.

Q. What do you get when you drive slowly by the Military Academy campus?
A. A degree.

Q: What do a Navy Midshipman and a West Point Cadet have in common?
A: They both got accepted to West Point.

Q: What do you get when you breed a groundhog and a West Point Cadet?
A: Six more weeks of bad football.

Navy is playing Army, which has a first down with three minutes left in the half. An Army fan sets off a firecracker, and Navy, thinking it’s the end of the half, runs off the field. Three plays later, Army punts.

The Army football coach gave his team a few days off. Several decided to go down to Panama City Beach for fun and relaxation. Coach Sutton saw the players the first day back at practice and asked about their vacation.
“Not good coach,” said the players. “We never made it to the beach.”
“Why not,” the coach asked, “car trouble?”
“No,” they replied, “every few miles down the interstate we saw signs that said, ‘Exit, Clean Restrooms’. You have no idea how many restrooms we cleaned between West Point and Panama City.”

The Annapolis grad walked into the bar, sat down and said, “Hey barkeep, you hear the joke about the four West Point players in a farmhouse?” Chairs scraped behind him, and four of the biggest, meanest guys in the bar stood up.
“We played for Army. You sure you wanna tell that joke?” The Navy grad smirked in disbelief and said, “What, and have to explain it four times?”

Q: How many West Point plebes does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None, it’s a second year course.

Did you hear that Army just bought twenty new septic tanks? Yeah, and Army coach Bob Sutton says as soon as they learn to drive them, they’re gonna invade Annapolis.

Q: How many Air Force Cadets does it take to change a flat tire?
A: Three, two to go for beer and one to call daddy.

Q: How many Navy Midshipmen does it take to change a flat tire?
A: Five, one to change the tire and four to lament how wonderful the old tire was.

Q: How many Army Cadets does it take to change a tire?
A: Just one, but he gets four hours credit and it counts as a lab science!

Q: What are the best four years of a West Pointer’s life?
A: Third grade

An Army football player was almost killed in a tragic horseback riding accident. He fell from the horse and was nearly trampled to death. Thank God the manager of the K-Mart came out and unplugged it.

Q: How come the Army football team doesn’t have a website?
A: They can‘t string three “W’s” together.