The+Decision

=The Decision﻿= Well, it wasn't easy getting Richard to complete all the application requirements. He had his heart set on the Air Force Academy, and Dad helped him immensely in getting that application together, and taking off work to drive him to Orlando three times for Congressional interviews. He finally got a nomination from Congressmen Alan Grayson's office, but it was not enough. The USAFA deemed him "qualified, no vacancy." In the meantime, Mom encouraged Richard to pursue an application to the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT as a back up. He started the application online and recieved a promotional DVD. We watched the DVD and Richard liked what he saw. Then in January 2011 Richard and his father were invited to visit the Academy as their guests in the Genesis program. A USCG Reserve Lt was on active duty to recruit young people from Florida for the program His name was Lt. Filgueras.This is diversity recruitment program, and Richard qualified because his mother is Korean. So they went, and froze their butts off. But they liked what they saw: the campus, the people, the mission. Richard was still hoping an acceptance to the USAFA at this time, he had finished his application packet to the Coast Guard Academy and was satisfied that that was a good Plan B.



None of this happened without a lot of prayer and soul searching--and help from Dad. Richard, like most boys his age, dragged his feet on the application process the enitre way. Dad printed forms, gathered paperwork, and filled in application sheets. Richard wrote the essays and answered the questions. It was a team effort from the beginning.

Marion Military Institute
In April 2011 Lt. Filgueras called and asked if Richard was interested in an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy's prep-school program at Marion Military Institute. Richard reluctantly said yes, but he was disappointed, thinking he would have to retake basic academic courses. He couldn't understand why he needed a "prep-school." His Dad explained that maybe the academy admissions thought he needed more leadership experience, as Richard had precious little leadership explerience through high school. Richard later received the official appointment letter to the prep-school with a phone number to call for questions. A week or so later, Dad called the number from school, to ask about the curriculum of the prep-school and to express his confusion about the need for basic academics, seeing that Richard was a valedictorian, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, and graduate of an IB program. Well, the admissions officer, Lt. Culpepper, didn't have much of an answer. He seemed caught off guard by the information of Richard's academic excellence.

A Full Appointment
The next day, Dad was again sitting in his 6th grade classroom before school, looking at the 1-800 number and Richard's ssn on a sticky note when he felt God telling him to give them one more call. The feeling was so strong that he could feel his palms sweating, and his heart began to race. Where was that coming from? So he called. The admissions clerk had good news. She told Richard's father that Richard's packet had been relooked just the prior day, and his status was upgraded to a full appointment to the academy. Needless to say, Dad was beside himself with excitement. Richard was going to be a part of the United States Coast Guard Academy's Class of 2015.