I shared a crashpad in MEM with a number of other FedEx pilots from Jan’08-Jan’21 and shared a room with a guy that played football at the USNA - he started as an OL all 4 yrs. Big dude, we call him Mongo. He is also one of the hardest working/studying people I know, and he’ll tell you, it’s because he has to. He also finished last in his class (which is also weird kind of honor - Google it).

He tells a great story about when he goes to his mother’s home town (village) in the Yucatán. He played HS football in Miami and he was treated as a celebrity in the Yucatán village everyone he visited, then he was elevated - accepted to the Naval Academy, then elevated after starting 4 yrs. Then again elevated when he graduated and commissioned as an Ensign - then again when he got his Wings, and again checked out in the F-14, (getting caught up in Tailhook and then later the Fighter Follies/Patsy Schroeder controversy didn’t throw any shade on him in the Yucatán). When he got hired at FedEx his hero status climbed again, then again when he made Capt, and now finally as a B777 Capt and check airman/instructor, like myself. Networking got him into FedEx and his work ethic and study habits he learned at the USNA and later as a Naval Aviator have served him well.

I know a number of guys with very humble upbringings that with similar service academy stories - USAFA, USMA and USNA. He will have to want to be there though.

When I played on the VT soccer team, we had a couple guys that had previously been at the USNA on the team - they were 2 of the biggest dope smokers on the team - great guys, but obviously didn’t want to be at the USNA. 🤣👍🏻