Andres Jose
Future F-18 pilot
I need help on my essay for the Naval Academy. Please let me know what you think and what can I improve. The question is "Describe what led your initial interest in the naval service and how the Naval Academy will help you achieve your long range goals and descirbe a personal experience you have had which you feel has contributed to your own character development and integrity"
“When I was in the Air Force as an Intel officer I used to brief A-10 pilots. They were the craziest bunch of guys I had ever met!” As I listened to my father’s stories in the military I dreamed of being a fighter pilot. Aviation wasn’t the only thing, as I learned about the Navy’s history and its traditions I build up a dream within a dream. Watching movies like the Battle of Midway and Top Gun I realized I wanted to serve my country as a Naval Aviator.
I have always tried to be an overachiever, taking the most difficult paths to learn more and become as tough as I can be. I know that this is the only way to make it to the US Naval Academy and a future career in the Navy. To pursue my dream, I want to attend the finest institution of its kind and that will be the United States Naval Academy. I know that attending the Academy will make me a better officer.
As a cadet at Valley Forge I have already been part of a military education. I have learned what it takes to become a leader, and how to inspire others to attain excellence through personal motivation, and self-discipline. Valley Forge has given me the values I was not going to find in a regular high school. It has provided me with one of the best preparations that will help me succeed as a Naval Officer.
At Valley Forge I have learned that “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Being a leader at Valley Forge takes a lot of effort and it becomes an honor to be one. It is the institution’s mission to educate cadets, within an academic and military environment to be fully prepared for their responsibilities as citizen leaders who are mentally alert, sound in body, considerate of others and having the highest sense of duty, honor, loyalty and courage. I have adopted all those values within me and from them I have developed high moral standards and strong character traits.
In my junior year I had a platoon of thirty-two cadets and four squad leaders under my command made up of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. As a platoon sergeant it was my job to build character in them. I had read How Good Leaders Lead by Brian Tracy, and I learned that to achieve the Five Cornerstones of the school; Academic Excellence, Physical Development, Leadership, Character Development, and Personal Motivation, one first needs to fulfill Personal Motivation to reach every single one of them. So I taught them how to develop teamwork, loyalty, and pride through positive competition. As a result we were awarded best company of the year. If given the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy, I know I will succeed.
“When I was in the Air Force as an Intel officer I used to brief A-10 pilots. They were the craziest bunch of guys I had ever met!” As I listened to my father’s stories in the military I dreamed of being a fighter pilot. Aviation wasn’t the only thing, as I learned about the Navy’s history and its traditions I build up a dream within a dream. Watching movies like the Battle of Midway and Top Gun I realized I wanted to serve my country as a Naval Aviator.
I have always tried to be an overachiever, taking the most difficult paths to learn more and become as tough as I can be. I know that this is the only way to make it to the US Naval Academy and a future career in the Navy. To pursue my dream, I want to attend the finest institution of its kind and that will be the United States Naval Academy. I know that attending the Academy will make me a better officer.
As a cadet at Valley Forge I have already been part of a military education. I have learned what it takes to become a leader, and how to inspire others to attain excellence through personal motivation, and self-discipline. Valley Forge has given me the values I was not going to find in a regular high school. It has provided me with one of the best preparations that will help me succeed as a Naval Officer.
At Valley Forge I have learned that “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Being a leader at Valley Forge takes a lot of effort and it becomes an honor to be one. It is the institution’s mission to educate cadets, within an academic and military environment to be fully prepared for their responsibilities as citizen leaders who are mentally alert, sound in body, considerate of others and having the highest sense of duty, honor, loyalty and courage. I have adopted all those values within me and from them I have developed high moral standards and strong character traits.
In my junior year I had a platoon of thirty-two cadets and four squad leaders under my command made up of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. As a platoon sergeant it was my job to build character in them. I had read How Good Leaders Lead by Brian Tracy, and I learned that to achieve the Five Cornerstones of the school; Academic Excellence, Physical Development, Leadership, Character Development, and Personal Motivation, one first needs to fulfill Personal Motivation to reach every single one of them. So I taught them how to develop teamwork, loyalty, and pride through positive competition. As a result we were awarded best company of the year. If given the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy, I know I will succeed.