Navy Student Fails Test, Must Pay Full Tuition[$127K]

WJZ ^ | 18 Jan 2007 | AP

[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.

[pepperdog]

"with shoulders that span almost 3 feet"

Well there's the problem. It's a miracle the guy can walk without falling over. They should cut him some slack, they knew he was a lineman not a running back. :^)

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Did you graduate USNA in '92?

Why yes, I am a member of the last class to have a real plebe year, and a class crest featuring a broad with a nice set of whoots.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Think the Army run time min was 13:54 for 2 miles at 18 yo.

Cake walk....

[Antoninus]

A 7-min mile isn't all that hard to achieve - you got to be in good shape, but it isn't all that.

I was a terrible runner but even I could do a 7-minute mile easily. This guy must be a real tub-o-guts.

[NOLA_homebrewer]

We just did the jump in our bathing suits, but in other classes we had to jump in from the side in khakis and strip off the trousers and make a flotation device out of them -> that actually does work!

Other swimming tests was treading water for 40 minutes (one full class minus the locker room time) Which leads to teh fleet wide joke Q: How can you tell an Academy grad? A: He's the guy that treads water for 40 minutes and then drowns.

[ElectricStrawberry]

Make that 15:54 for 2 miles for youngsters

[OldFriend]

Held up out of the water. Splashes didn't count. But you surely would not want the weapon to go under.

[T.Smith]

In the interest of full disclosure; I'm former Air Force. The only reason I don't picture the Air Force guys as fat with long hair is because I can never seem to find enough AF guys to to develop a good mental picture. They never seem to be around!

I practice boxing at a gym here in Atlanta that is in the same strip mall as recruiters for all four services. I sat in my car the other night listening to MP3s before going in for my class. The recruiters broke down like this:

Air Force: One recruiter in the office. He left before I got out of my car.

Army: Two recruiters in the office. They were outside smoking and BSing.

Navy: Four recruiters in the office. They were taking turns dancing (yes, dancing) in the office.

Marines: 6 Recruiters in the office. Over the course of 20 minutes only one left his desk, and that was to get something out of a filing cabinet.

Each night when I leave my class all of the recruiters offices are closed, except for the Marines. They are all still in there seated at their desks.

[ContemptofCourt]

I was a Sea Cadet through high school (youngest ever to make CPO in the Cadets), and wanted to go to Annapolis but dicked around too much in HS and it was too late before I got my butt in gear. Went to Penn State and joined ROTC, and tried to get a scholarship but this was 88-89 when they were really cutting the ranks. They told me I could stay in ROTC but would not guarantee me a commission (in fact, I had friends that graduated that had to defer their commissions). Needless to say, I chose a different path in life. Would have been in your class, though.

Sea Cadets is a great organization, one that the Navy ought to publicize more. I got to do great things...mostly work with the F-14s with VF-101, F-18's at JAX and P-3's in Iceland.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Now, when you know what you are talking about, you can correct me.

I suggest you not be so rude...

Last month, the Shannons bought a house in Nottingham, and they worry about losing it because the Defense Finance and Accounting Service - the military office that collects such debts - has threatened to garnish his wages.

I await your apology.

[ishabibble]

Please see post #28 by ContemptofCourt, addressed to you.
One of the snips contains the information that Mr. Shannon DID NOT play football at the Naval Academy. It states that he was captain of his HS football and wrestling teams, and that he turned down scholarships to other schools to pursue his dream of attending the Academy. I'd would say, based only on the information provided here, that this man worked very hard to attain his goal.

Also, since my own son attended a military academy, I am very well aware of the seemingly impossibly high standards for the cadets. Those standards are absolutely necessary.
Perhaps I am biased in this man's favor, but anyone who remembers the disgraceful case of Shannon Faulkner and the damage it caused , might feel the same.

What am I supposed to be enjoying?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Would have been in your class, though.

Sounds like you would've been a great addition to it, too.

The Navy was a weird place in the early '90s---I think most of my class is in CivLand now because of all the jobs that went away during the drawdown years.

[ContemptofCourt]

Part of the problem was that I was 16 when I graduated HS...still had some growing up to do. I know how hard it is to even get into Annapolis, let alone graduate, so I have alot of respect for you guys.

[FLOutdoorsman]

I was pointing out the double standard of having football players on the team that did steroids and retaining them on the team but not allowing some room for this guy.

Thats all. Enjoy; was implying how crazy it was.

[DesertSapper]

Good grief. Stop coddling this guy. He's a quitter who now wants multiple exceptions to existing rules extended just for him. I, for one, don't want this liberal mentality in my Navy.

He's obviously book-smart but he obviously didn't apply some of that intelligence into a workout/training program to improve his run time. The most telling part is that he had failed many times (and even passed a few times) yet still didn't have the focus or willpower to address his shortcoming when it mattered the most.

If he did NOT have some medical condition prohibiting him from running the test in the required time, he FAILED. These were the same requirements imposed on all his classmates.

STANDARDS! Learn 'em, Love 'em, Live 'em. Otherwise, get out of the way of the others who CAN.

[Dr Snide]

Funny story, my oldest son is an eleven year old little athlete who is active in wrestling, football, soccer, and baseball (in that order). I have a friend in the National Guard who I was visiting at the local Armory with my son and he had some new potential recurits trying to run a mile. Many were struggling and even walking to complete one mile. So the next group out we had my son run with them (he runs about a six minute mile). Should have seen the look of despair as this 85lb. 6th grader was lapping them. But, the times did go up. Amazing what a little shame will do.

[RetiredArmy]

No apology forthcoming. It is a FACT that the IRS acts as the Government's collection agency. If you get by one office, you will not get by the IRS. Period. I KNOW of someone who owed the government money through a military paid education, and the IRS GOT INVOLVED and garnished out his tax refunds!!!

[PeteB570]

It's really cheep considering the classes, full room & board, the military training, uniforms, etc. And with all the PT and training the young people can pack away the food.

Most of that stuff at a regular collage is charged extra.

[takenoprisoner]

Back in my days in the corps, the minimum standard was 3 miles in 20 minutes. No extra seconds. When the clock clicked 20 you better be there.

[Lunatic Fringe]

So even though you have been proven wrong through a source, you are going stick by what you heard.

I would figure someone who was 'RetiredArmy' would know about the DFAS... oh well.