Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 13, 2023

Give him a snorkel and he’s all set.

“Why do you have to be so negative?”

Even if Jeff’s grades had been better, I doubt he has the physical stamina for the rigorous training he’d have to endure.

Face it: “GI Jane”, he’s not!!

How many other people have had nieces and nephews or other child acquaintances come to them in a fit of pique after mom or dad have either laid down the law or otherwise splashed a dose of reality on their dreams and then heard words to the effect of “I am going to join the Marines/Navy Seal/Rangers/etc… so nobody can tell me what to do!”

The standard reaction is (after gagging on whatever brew you were drinking) to think to yourself “Good luck with that kid”

“some people get their kicks stomping’ on a dream” Old Blue eyes

The Seals have the same enlisted/officer ratio as the regular Navy, so most Seals are enlisted. What may prevent him from even enlisting in the Navy/Marines is the tattoo which depending on where it is would have been disqualifying for enlisting.

Annapolis is indeed a VERY selective school.

And who does the selecting? United States Congressmen and Senators.

And who are they?

Well, if you’re from Kentucky we’re talking about Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell and five Republican congressmen out of six. Hopefully you know who represents your own state.

So, the selective quality we’re looking at here in Kentucky, Rick, is not grades. It is about professed loyalty to modern neoconservative ideals. As long as the boy can sell those ideals, he’s in.

And once he’s in he just has to spend his career making sure to cultivate those same Congressmen currying favors for promotion.

Think I’m wrong? Take a look at Mr. Brett Guthrie, from Kentucky. West Point Graduate and current member of the House of Representatives. Oh yeah, and Sen. Tom Cotton, from Arkansas. Same thing.

Both took the “dedicate themselves to gaining the attention of a Congressional patron, get into the Academy, serve just a few years and then get out and work your way into Congress to continue the process” route to the hallowed halls of Congress.

The selection process to our military academies is NOT to pick the best and the brightest. It is to pick the best and the brightest of those who believe the same as I do politically.

Has George Santos lied about being a Navy SEAL yet?

There’s always politics, but he might be over-overqualified….wait! there’s always Florida, Tejas, MS, AL, etc.

Jeff will have a super alter ego who will be heck on bad guys.

I’m not saying you can’t do it. I’m saying don’t get your hopes up.

I went through U.S. Army basic training with a guy whose lifelong dream was to be in the Marine Corps. As soon as he was old enough, he got a U.S.M.C. Bulldog tattooed on his forearm. Then the Marine Corps wouldn’t take him because his tattoo was visible in short sleeves.

Some dreams don’t even deserve to meet the bottom of a shoe. They should be burned quickly and thoroughly.

Ah, you don’t have to go to Annapolis to be a SEAL. I have three cousins who were SEALs and none went to The Naval Academy.

If he doesn’t get in, he can always form an alternative navy seal group and challenge real navy seals on twitter

This is why tattoos are so over.

He’s already stomped on his own dream

Hmm… A C+ average would have put him in the second quartile of my (1963) high school graduating class. A 3.01 average would have put him in the top 10%. Over half the kids in my class went to college. Things were different then. There weren’t even SAT prep classes or strip mall math tutoring shops.

I got an Insane Clown Posse tattoo with a similar aspiration. Unfortunately, the Juggalos rejected me because my GPA was too high…

Anybody remember a REALLY early strip where BD first enlisted in the service?

“Sargeant,most of our men are uninspired but willing to do what they are ordered.But,Sargeant,this man worries me”.

BD—-“AIEEEEE!KILL!!”.

Don’t stomp on his dream; let the Navy do that, they’ll be happy to.

I don’t understand ‘900 College Boards’, can someone please explain that?

“And then, once you’re accepted at the Academy, we’ll teach you how to hold your eating utensils like a grown-up! Won’t be fun?” eerrrggghh

just let him be laughed at after he gets to boot camp. guaranteed the snatch won’t give it away before he’s screwed for 4 years.

Best to lower your expectations to “slacker” level.

You don’t have to go to Annapolis to be a seal.

Actually, Annapolis might be Anti-Tattoo.

The Navy, in general, was once anti-tattoo enough that they would Remove One for free.

After that One, they made you pay cash for your “Regrets”.