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.
It's nice to know that the Asst. Secretary of the Navy feels we can spare this fine young man even though we are at war. They'll keep a war protesting loser in the service, but they can this guy and charge him $127,000? It's just wrong.
I think I see this here. The navy physical test is not that demanding in comparison to the army or marines. Furthermore, if you are to be an officer, you had better set and example and be in shape. There are 3 parts to the test; situps, pushups, and running. The tests are done 2x a year. So my guess is that this guy failed more than just running.
"it is the regular navy standards but the 10m30s is the cutoff for an excellent/low grade in the 20-29 male category. i would assume (i know thats dangerous) that the academy is implementing anything lower than an excellent/low as a failure. i would talk to a JAG and see if i was being railroaded."
USNA switched from a mile to the mile and a half either in my junior or senior year, the passing cutoff has always been 10:30 regardless of age (I was a two-time memebr of the 10:20+ club). USNA sets its own requirements and standards above the regular Navy's. I'd definitely talk to a JAG if I were this guy and try to make the argument about his time being acceptable in the regular Navy, but not sure how much good that will do. If the academy has the autonomy to set its own standards, he may be out of luck.
He had free tuition, room board, and a complete understanding of the requirements.
SEALS: 1.5 miles in 11:30 (w/boots)
AF ParaJumper: 1.5 miles in 10:30
Here's what I don't understand: Shannon has offered to serve in the Navy for years to pay back the tuition money, yet the Navy has refused his offer of service. What's up with that? At first glance you'd say that for some reason the Navy doesn't want the guy and he must be a screwup, but when you look at his sterling personal history, his academic accomplishments and obvious patriotism, that can't be it. I've heard of the Navy trashing loyal people before--is it possible that this is one of those cases?
Since he was clearly able to meet the high physical standards for gaining entrance to the Academy, is it possible also that he developed some health problem after admission?
This story may have the effect of chilling applications to the Academy.
I wonder if there's some underlying undiagnosed medical condition lurking here.
"If memory serves, McCallum spent his time in the Civil Engineering corps."
okay, not sure, but whatever, he only served two years (instead of the required 5) in an assignment close to the NFL team (Raiders) that drafted him.
The run time required by the USNA is on par with AF PJs and SEALS. It is a quick time. That said, it is obvious that it is quite doable, given the fact that only about 4% of each class fails the test.
>>>A former offensive lineman with shoulders that span almost 3 feet...<<< Mr. Shannon did not play football for the Academy. There are lots of great big football players who probably would fail this test. Both my sons played football all their lives. The older one is a great big guy and he's got two bricks for feet. Mostly, he was just in there to be part of a wall of bodies. So, that is one idea.
Goose Creek SC
Saratoga Springs NY
Newport RI
This seems like the the resume of a dedicated man. His major is another very significant factor. The fact that he pursued it to the very bitter end is another, and the fact that a man with this much education and training is presently working as a store clerk is yet another. We are at war, couldn't the Navy use a guy like this?
My younger son is a graduate of The Citadel. There were different standards for the male cadets and the female cadets, and not just in the PT area. How that galled my son and his buddies!
I can understand the need to maintain a very high standard,
but on the face of this story, it just seems like a terrible waste.
Sounds to me like this guy is a dedicated patriot who wanted to serve his country and went through an incredible effort to do so. No one who attended Nuke school is a slug or bum.
If he were interested in a free education he would have accepted the free rides offered him out of high school rather than undertake a desperate attempt to graduate from Annapolis.
It is impossible to believe that a man with such dedication would not make a fine officer in the Navy. I have a Navy Nuke son so I am hugely Pro-Navy.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
When I was on the track team in high school, I once walked a mile in about 6:50. A seven minute mile -- running -- is a piece of cake even at my age. I suspect this has to do with a lot more than just the running given the fact that he failed 12 of 18 physical fitness tests. Perhaps he should look for a job as townie cop. (Most of the local cops I know couldn't walk 50 feet from their patrol car to the counter at the Dunkin Donuts in seven minutes or less.)
Considering the fact that the Naval Football team has people on it that did steroids. Enjoy.
With eight kids you are fortunate to be able to crawl. My mom had seven sons and worked daylight to midnight. If we were Catholic she should be a saint.
Thanks for the AM laugh.
No kidding. Our Marine joined the Air National Guard last year after 9 years with the Corps. They all think he is a fitness nut because he works out everyday and still tries to maintain the same fitness level that he had before.
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