One of my son’s best friends at the Academy was a prior-enlisted Marine who came directly from an Iraq deployment to spend a few days at home and then reported to Induction Day at USNA.
After having experienced Parris Island and having been in in the Fleet, he found much of the Academy experience to be chickensh!t, especially taking orders from upper class Mids who were younger than he! But he toughed it out, made great friends, and selected Marine Air, as did my son.
My wife and I remain friends with his parents, and he (with wife and kids) often visits our tailgaters at Navy football games.
Our lives have been immeasurably enriched by getting to know the Mids, as well as West Point and Air Force Cadets over the years. They represent one of our greatest national treasures.