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Navy Student Fails Test, Must Pay Full Tuition[$127K]
WJZ ^ | 18 Jan 2007 | AP

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.


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: academy; fatbody; naval; navy; tuition
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To: RetiredArmy
It is a FACT that the IRS acts as the Government's collection agency.

The government actually has lots of collection agencies, but you stick with your 'facts', pal.

161 posted on 01/19/2007 7:56:09 AM PST by Lunatic Fringe (Say "NO" to the Trans-Texas Corridor)
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To: Lunatic Fringe

The "stick" word applies pal. Heed it.


162 posted on 01/19/2007 7:57:29 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Marxis-Dimocrats stand for everything I hate and wish to see destroyed, including them!)
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To: DesertSapper
Why not let him go enlisted? He failed the running test, but passed the other portions. He completed a rigorous academic course. He was prior enlisted, and was qualified to teach at the Navy's nuc school.

Sometimes the standards are bent...and I'm sure I could dig up examples right from USNA itself.

163 posted on 01/19/2007 7:59:37 AM PST by ContemptofCourt
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
Questions from a curious Freeper about the Navy PRT standards:

What strokes can you use to meet the Navy PRT standards? Is freestyle allowed? If not, why not?

By "curl ups", does the Navy mean what most folks call "sit ups"?

Any former military with knowledge, please advise!

164 posted on 01/19/2007 8:03:18 AM PST by d-back
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To: RetiredArmy

Aww, don't cry just because you tried to act like a know-it-all and got bitch-slapped.


165 posted on 01/19/2007 8:12:03 AM PST by Lunatic Fringe (Say "NO" to the Trans-Texas Corridor)
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To: d-back


http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Smith_081805,00.html

Minimum scores on PT tests by service branch at the present time.


166 posted on 01/19/2007 8:14:36 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: Lunatic Fringe

Hahahahahaha. So funny. 10,000 comedians out of work and you think you are funny. Actually, your wrong and a fool, but do not seem to get it. I'm bored arguing with a loser. As AOL says, goodbye.


167 posted on 01/19/2007 8:14:43 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Marxis-Dimocrats stand for everything I hate and wish to see destroyed, including them!)
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To: NOLA_homebrewer

"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."

We did that but had to play "air raid" first. We had a rubber boat and had to turn it over and hide under it then after the "air raid" was over we had to right it and climb back in. This went on for a looong time and a lot of people had trouble staying afloat. Then of course we got "shot down" and had to escape from a cockpit underwater. Big fun.


168 posted on 01/19/2007 8:38:28 AM PST by dljordan
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To: BigDaddyTX
"Shannon is hoping a member of Congress will intervene. "

Sounds like a good little Liberal "in training".

169 posted on 01/19/2007 8:41:27 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (I can't complain...but sometimes I still do.)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

>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.<

We now know what was important to you!


170 posted on 01/19/2007 8:46:55 AM PST by B4Ranch (Press "1" for English, or Press "2" and you will be disconnected until you learn to speak English.)
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To: T.Smith
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.

I can't help thinking there's more to this than we're being told.

171 posted on 01/19/2007 8:48:46 AM PST by Tax-chick ("I don't know you, but I love who you seem to be.")
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To: ContemptofCourt
Holy crap. Give this kid props. He's got quite a resumé.

Something is fishy about this. On paper, he sure looks like officer material.

172 posted on 01/19/2007 8:48:47 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (I can't complain...but sometimes I still do.)
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To: RetiredArmy
Hahahahahaha. So funny. 10,000 comedians out of work and you think you are funny. Actually, your wrong and a fool, but do not seem to get it.

It's "you're", not "your". If you are going to call someone a fool, at least use the correct homonym.

I'm bored arguing with a loser.

Since you are going to cry like a baby after being proven wrong (the article indicated who was going to collect the debt, and it's not the IRS), I'll leave you alone. I mean, it's really not fair for someone of my superior intellect and status to argue with someone who is 'RetiredArmy' and obviously unarmed in a battle of wits.

As AOL says, goodbye.

I should have known you were an AOL user.

173 posted on 01/19/2007 8:50:10 AM PST by Lunatic Fringe (Say "NO" to the Trans-Texas Corridor)
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To: FLOutdoorsman
Hey a$$ wipe don't complain cause you couldn't make it.
174 posted on 01/19/2007 8:55:32 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
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To: mad_as_he$$

I never said I didn't join the Jedi's. :)

But, the standards you mentioned are wrong.


175 posted on 01/19/2007 8:56:52 AM PST by FLOutdoorsman (The Man who says it can't be done should not interrupt the man doing it!)
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To: FLOutdoorsman

A co-worker's son just got kicked out of the Navy for failing the run portion of the PT test 3 times. Guy was a medic with a year to go on a 4 year hitch, alerted for overseas duty with a Marine unit. Don't know if he couldn't cut it or just didn't want to go.

The mother is torn, didn't want her only child going to a combat zone, but...kid loses all bennies (didn't fulfill contract) and gets a less than honorable discharge.
Them's the rules, so be it.

Seen this a few times, people sign up then don't want to carry through, answer is always along the lines of, "But, but, there was no war on when he enlisted, it's not FAIR!"

My answer, depending on the nature of the relationship with the parent/friend/family member is usually along the lines of "Well, they don't give 'em rifles to keep 'em putting their hands in their pockets."


176 posted on 01/19/2007 9:29:52 AM PST by skepsel
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To: d-back

"What strokes can you use to meet the Navy PRT standards? Is freestyle allowed? If not, why not?

By "curl ups", does the Navy mean what most folks call "sit ups"?

For the standard Navy PRT (not academy swimming tests), any stroke no matter how poorly executed is allowed. It been awhile since I actually swam a PRT, the way the points are scored, the run is much better for most people. I think the only rule is you can't stop and tread water.

For dive school, freestyle isn't (or wasn't back in the early 90s when I was more in the know) allowed because it wasn't considered a "combat stroke" not sure why that is. I guess you can't do freestyle with tanks on. They preferred the sidestroke.

curl-ups are a bastardized version of situps and curls. For the navy you lie down, knees bent, arms across your chest and you curl yourself up and touch your elbows to mid thigh. I think they did this because it was something that could be easily monitored without overstressing your lower back like from a regular situp


177 posted on 01/19/2007 10:00:33 AM PST by NOLA_homebrewer
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To: justshutupandtakeit
Read #28 before furthering your embarrassment

I read 28 and it didn't change my mind at all. My impression is that this guy is a jock who had been given special privileges throughout his academic career. I worked with a few officers in the AF who were in similar situations. They went through the academy and didn't have to meet the same weight standards as everyone else, got special chow, and were exempt from many of the additional duties. When they finally graduated and had to meet the same standards as the rest of the officers they couldn't hack it.

If this guy can't pass a PT test when he's 24 years old, what's going to happen when he's 35 and has to meet the same standards? I'm an old fat SOB and still managed to pass the weight and PT standards throughout my 22 year career. This guy is supposed to set the standards for dress, appearance and physical fitness and he can't even meet the minimum.

178 posted on 01/19/2007 10:15:52 AM PST by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: RetiredArmy

You are absolutely correct. My brother was discharged under other than honorable conditions and the IRS garnished his tax refunds for several years to pay back money he owed Uncle Sam.


179 posted on 01/19/2007 10:18:35 AM PST by mbynack (Retired USAF SMSgt)
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To: mbynack

Whats funny, not haha, is that he passes the navy test if he was at his unit but not the academy. If he was an ROTC cadet, he would be an officer and this wouldn't be an issue. The academy appears to want a higher standard than what is accepted in the navy.

They should give him his degree but not a commission.


180 posted on 01/19/2007 10:18:47 AM PST by art_rocks
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