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Seaver · 01-14-2005, 12:43 PM

Well, as many of you know I was in the NROTC here in Texas.

I have wanted to be a pilot since I was 3 years old. My father was an F-18 pilot, and the second I was put into the seat of that fighter it was THE ONLY thing for me. While kids were dreaming of being an astronaught I was learning flight controls. While other kids were idolizing athletes I was memorizing aircraft names and roles (living on an airbase I learned to tell the type of plane just from the sound of the engines).

I say I was in the NROTC, because I've just been kicked out due to medical reasons. I have 2 semesters left to graduate, 3 years of busting my ass in the program to end suddenly. Grades were in the C range, but I was one of the best leaders in the Unit, leading my Platoon to sweeping all but one event on the Captains Cup (for those non-military, Captains Cup is a competition which tests platoons from everything between Drilling, to Inspection, to physical endurance tests, to written knowledge tests).

About a year and a half ago I injured my back doing squats, and herniated a disk. It was so bad I couldnt walk because of the pain (the cartilage was pressing my nerves against the bone), I had surgery on it and now it hasnt given me any trouble for almost a year now. Six months before that I tore my hamstring when running with the Platoon, and just 4 months ago I blew out my knee (no surgery required though). Well they're cutting back the Navy and because of my back and string of injuries, I was on the list.

So suddenly, a year to graduate, I'm finding myself in a race to find a future in which everyone else has already crossed the finish line. I've never faced anything so uncertain, never felt the sting of defeat so strongly, and while surrounded by friends never have felt so alone. I'm staring into the void of a dream and a future that no longer exists. As I'm typing this I'm taking off the uniform I'll never wear again, and I'm going to stop typing this because I desperately need to get out of this house.

01-14-2005, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Seaver Junkie Location: Fort Worth, TX	Worst day of my life. Well, as many of you know I was in the NROTC here in Texas. I have wanted to be a pilot since I was 3 years old. My father was an F-18 pilot, and the second I was put into the seat of that fighter it was THE ONLY thing for me. While kids were dreaming of being an astronaught I was learning flight controls. While other kids were idolizing athletes I was memorizing aircraft names and roles (living on an airbase I learned to tell the type of plane just from the sound of the engines). I say I was in the NROTC, because I've just been kicked out due to medical reasons. I have 2 semesters left to graduate, 3 years of busting my ass in the program to end suddenly. Grades were in the C range, but I was one of the best leaders in the Unit, leading my Platoon to sweeping all but one event on the Captains Cup (for those non-military, Captains Cup is a competition which tests platoons from everything between Drilling, to Inspection, to physical endurance tests, to written knowledge tests). About a year and a half ago I injured my back doing squats, and herniated a disk. It was so bad I couldnt walk because of the pain (the cartilage was pressing my nerves against the bone), I had surgery on it and now it hasnt given me any trouble for almost a year now. Six months before that I tore my hamstring when running with the Platoon, and just 4 months ago I blew out my knee (no surgery required though). Well they're cutting back the Navy and because of my back and string of injuries, I was on the list. So suddenly, a year to graduate, I'm finding myself in a race to find a future in which everyone else has already crossed the finish line. I've never faced anything so uncertain, never felt the sting of defeat so strongly, and while surrounded by friends never have felt so alone. I'm staring into the void of a dream and a future that no longer exists. As I'm typing this I'm taking off the uniform I'll never wear again, and I'm going to stop typing this because I desperately need to get out of this house.