A bit of trivia about the service academies. It costs the government about $100,000 for their educations, four years worth. If a cadet fails to graduate, they have to pay the government back for the cost of their education. So if the goat had gotten kicked out in his junior year instead of going on to graduate, he would have owed a lot. They give them the opportunity to drop out at some point in their first year, because of the payback, if the cadet thinks they won't be able to make it. I know someone who graduated from Annapolis two years ago.
Thanks, hoosierpearl. Interesting info. I give the "goat" a great deal of credit for sticking it out. High academic achievement is not necessarily the sign of a future great officer.