Posted on 01/19/2007 6:17:18 AM PST by FLOutdoorsman
A Naval Academy midshipman who was expelled after he failed a running test will have to pay the Navy for the cost of his education.
Baltimore County resident Frank Shannon had asked that the 127-thousand dollar bill be waived. But a senior Navy official rejected his appeal this month, saying the academy provided Shannon with ample opportunity to meet its minimum fitness standards.
Shannon failed 12 of 18 fitness tests, and failed in a series of attempts to run a mile-and-a-half in 10 minutes and 30 seconds. In his final test, he was 20 seconds short. He was expelled just weeks before graduation.
Shannon is hoping a member of Congress will intervene. Aides to Senator Mikulski suggested he apply for readmission to the academy, but Shannon is currently married and would first have to divorce his wife before applying.
He has volunteered to do that. Nada.
Wanna bet he's a little "broad in the beam"?
So you want him to get a college education for free? From the beginning he KNEW he had an obligation. I think the Navy should give him the opportunity to switch services if anyone else will take him. The dude owes his country $127,000 for the fine education he received - or he owes his country 4 years - I don't care which service.
I think my son with the Airborne knees can run better than that.
I can't run for beans and hated every Navy semi-annual PRT test I had for 21 years but I never failed it. One year I received a commendation for being the only one over 40 in my squadron to score outstanding. This guy had four years to make the grade. He didn't want to badly enough.
I have much more energy and a better disposition since I started running. I'm hoping to run my next 5K race (end of Feb.) under 26 minutes, but the fastest ladies in my age group will probably be 22 min. or so.
It's unfortunate for this young man that he and his superiors let his physical fitness slide until the last minute.
"At designated points in your various years: ... gymspastics"
Hmm.
"hand-to-gland fighting"
Ouch!
OK, just a bit of Friday levity, not the grammar police here to crack heads.
That might be the case, it is not a fast pace on its own. However, I'd like to see the standard for an Officer posted.
As with all service, there is many differences.
Marines, being the one with the highest standards. Lastly, the Air Force.
My son was ROTC for four years of college. PT EVERY day. He was deployed to Germany for four years. PT EVERY day. No exemptions unless for something serious, really serious.
Waiving Frank Shannon's financial obligation "was not in the best interest of the United States," Navy Assistant Secretary William Navas wrote in a Jan. 4 letter.
"Based on the evidence, the U.S. Naval Academy provided you ample opportunity to meet the minimum physical fitness standards required of each midshipman," Navas wrote. "Your multiple physical fitness failures over your U.S. Naval Academy career, including the last one, justified your disenrollment."
He also denied Shannon's request to repay the government through service in the enlisted ranks, where Shannon served for two years to achieve his dream of attending the Annapolis military college.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.ar.shannon18jan18,0,969512.story?coll=bal-education-top
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Man...someone has it out for this guy...he even offered to go enlisted and they denied him.
Oh, well.
As you know, he didn't fail the Navy standard, but the Naval Academy standard.
bump ... sounds like he failed on purpose to get married.
This story surely does not pass the smell test.
YOU apparently don't know or understand the law. IF YOU OWE UNCLE SAM A DIME. If you refuse to pay. Whatever the reason for the money owed. Whether it is taxes, loans, what have you, THE IRS CAN GET INVOLVED AND START WITHHOLDING YOUR TAX REFUNDS AND TAKE THE MONEY AND REPAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Now, when you know what you are talking about, you can correct me. But, here, you are simply WRONG.
Is this the same standard they impose on the female grads?
Maybe he could get a job on the line for the Houston Texans or Detroit.
Finally they took away all the requirements and just told her to jump in. She did, SHE PASSED.
Sigh......these are not the people you want beside you in combat.
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