The Navy is a serious commitment, especially when your life could be in danger most of the time. Mr. Neal, a Chemistry teacher here at East and a former Navy, explains how life was when he was in the Navy.
“I started my application when I was 16 but didn't get accepted until I was 18,” said Mr. Neal, who was a student at the University of Rochester when applying to join the Navy. “I had to pay the tuition for college so I joined right after the Vietnam War,” he said. Mr. Neal started his training in college but it wasn't as tough as the real training. He said that college was a more laidback experience but the real Navy was more overpowering and had to deal with the real world. Switching up environments and learning new skills like that is not an easy task to do in life. Nobody took the training easy and that is what made it harder for people to get accepted. “There were a lot of very competitive people,” says Neal. “We participated in physical tests like swimming with all the equipment on, obstacle courses and many others.” Life seems hard in the Navy but it can help you with many things in life and that is the best part about it. The Navy can prepare you for the real world and experience things you thought you would never have to experience. “There was no access to the media back then so we had to communicate by writing letters,” said Mr. Neal. When in the Navy you don't have time to go home every day to go see your family, you don't have time to go play with your friends. How would you feel if you were in that situation? How would you feel if you spent weeks and months without seeing your family? It might be very depressing. So on a day like November 11 we thank Mr. Neal and all the veterans who fought and served for our country a very big thank you and those who are fighting for our country now thank you for your service and keep fighting. John Segarra
2 Comments
P. Northrup
11/22/2016 07:01:44 am
I enjoyed your story about Mr. Neal and what the military taught him. Great job connecting a staff member to Veterans Day.
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Rebecca Laske
11/22/2016 12:56:01 pm
What a great article, John! It's so nice to read about an inside perspective on the Navy and highlight our very own Mr. Neal.
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