worddreams Blog Posts

• Happy Holidays!
  on Dec 15, 2016 in Building a Midshipman holiday
  I’ll be taking a week (or so) off–until after the New Year–to rework my website, work on writing projects with a deadline, and wish my military children could be with me, here. I may drop in on you-all as you enjoy your holidays, bu...
• Christmas Like a Soldier
  on Dec 13, 2016 in military lifestyle patriotism 2016 christmas soldiers
  Part of joining the military is placing yourself second to America. Her needs exceed yours. This Holiday Season, many of our own friends and family won’t be home in the warmth of family events. Watch these videos. Remember them… Jacqui Mu...
• A Soldier’s Christmas Poem
  on Dec 11, 2016 in military lifestyle patriotism christmas new year poetry
  This is one of the most popular military Christmas poems I’ve seen. Here’s it’s history, from “A Soldier’s Silent Night”: “The true story is that while a Lance Corporal serving as Battalion Counter Sniper at...
• Army vs. Navy: The Nation’s Game
  on Dec 9, 2016 in Army college navy warrior spirit army vs navy navy football
  December 10th is the annual Army-Navy Game, at noon in Bank Stadium, Baltimore MD. This is an American college football rivalry game between the teams of the Black Knights of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and the Mid...
• Remember Pearl Harbor
  on Dec 6, 2016 in history
  National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II. Many American service men and women lost their lives or were injured on December 7, 1941. National Pearl...
• Announcing: To Hunt a Sub now available
  on Dec 4, 2016 in Uncategorized
  I’ve written many tech books, the how-to Building a Midshipman, and now my debut thriller, To Hunt a Sub: A brilliant Ph.D. candidate, a cynical ex-SEAL, and a quirky experimental robot team up against terrorists intent on stealing America’s...
• Labor Day–Honor American Warriors
  on Sep 4, 2016 in leadership military lifestyle
  Labor Day is a US holiday dedicated to workers across the country. The public holiday always falls on the first Monday in September. The first federal observation of the holiday occurred in 1894 however the first Labor Day observed in a state was in...
• September To Do List for USNA Applicants
  on Aug 31, 2016 in Building a Midshipman candidate fitness assessment critical skills freshman year Junior Year senior year Sophomore Year To Do List for Academy Application USNA college high shcool
  Depending upon where you are in the process, you may have done some of the items on this list. Skip them. Be happy you’re done. Move on to the next: First Steps: If you’re serious about attending the USNA or any other military academy, buy a...
• Navy Colors Born Today–Over 200 Years Ago
  on Aug 26, 2016 in USNA
  This day in USNA history: Navy Colors Blue and Gold were born, 27 August 1802 Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, and To Hunt a Sub,...
• Five Popular Excuses for NOT Going to USNA–Still
  on Aug 23, 2016 in Building a Midshipman critical skills freshman year goals qualifications USNA plebe usna midshipman usna plebe usna qualifications usna--application
  Building a high school grad worthy of being anointed ‘USNA midshipman’ isn’t easy, but nothing worth your effort is. As President John F. Kennedy said, A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not l...
• USNA Midshipmen Sign 2-for-7 Contract
  on Aug 18, 2016 in Uncategorized
  What is 2-for-7? From the USNA Parent Network: The “Point of No Return,” is called Two for Seven, meaning two years down and seven more years to serve – two more at the Academy and 5 more in the fleet after graduation. This is a big...
• You Want to Be a USNA Midshipman? Start Today
  on Aug 16, 2016 in critical skills freshman year goals leadership mental preparation navy physical preparation qualifications Uncategorized USNA annapolis acceptance freshman in highschool high school goals naval academy USNA acceptance usna--application
  update You’ve had the summer off to reflect and plan and now it’s time to start the most seminal period in your lifetime to date, the years that will decide what happens After High School. Do you get accepted to the college of your choice...
• Give Me a Midshipman Parent and I’ll Give you a Navy Football Fan
  on Aug 16, 2016 in parents spirit USNA football schedule midhsipman march on navy football usna football
  update If you didn’t like football before your child became a Mid, you will after. Football games are an experience, with the Mid’s march on (through Annapolis if it’s a home game), the stadium with its free food for Navy fans, the...
• Headed for USNA? Prepare Yourself–Senior Year
  on Aug 16, 2016 in Building a Midshipman senior year USNA college prep high school
  update Here’s a summary of what your senior year in high school might resemble if your goal for college is USNA. This is based on the real experiences of a successful Naval Academy applicant, what she did for the four years of high school to ma...
• Plebe Parent Weekend is Past; Reform is Coming
  on Aug 15, 2016 in duty fears goals leadership patriotism plebe summer USNA west point beast cadet basic training plebe parent weekend USMC
  update The physicality of plebe summer is over. Now that exercise moves to the brain. Reform is coming and classes will begin. You probably saw lots of videos of USNA’s weekend, but did you see West Point’s? Zoe wouldn’t consider an...
• Navajo Code Talkers Day
  on Aug 15, 2016 in Uncategorized
  Originally posted on Pacific Paratrooper: During WWI, the Choctaw language had been used to transmit U.S. military messages. With this thought in mind, Philip Johnston, the son of a missionary grew up on a Navajo reservation and spoke the Diné tongu...
• Want to Attend USNA? Prepare Yourself Junior Year HS
  on Aug 9, 2016 in Building a Midshipman Junior Year service academy USNA career counseling college high school military academy
  Here’s a summary of what your junior year in high school might resemble if your goal for college is USNA. This is based on the real experiences of a successful Naval Academy applicant, what she did for  the four years of high school to make su...
• Plebe Parent Weekend–August 11-14
  on Aug 7, 2016 in plebe summer USNA plebe parent weekend plebes ppw usna midshipman usna plebe
  Plebe Parents’ Weekend is designed to offer parents, family members and guests an opportunity to visit with their Midshipman and experience a taste of the traditions, academics, and atmosphere unique to the Naval Academy prior to the start of t...
• August To Do List for USNA Applicants
  on Jul 31, 2016 in Building a Midshipman critical skills leadership military academies qualifications service academy To Do List for Academy Application midshipman USNA usna applicant USNA applications usna--application
  Depending upon where you are in the process, you may have done some of the items on this list. Skip them. Be happy you’re done. Move on to the next. First Steps: If you’re serious about attending the USNA or any other military academy, buy a...
• Headed for USNA? Prepare Yourself Sophomore Year HS
  on Jul 27, 2016 in Building a Midshipman college Sophomore Year USNA high school midshipman
  Here’s a summary of what your sophomore year in high school might resemble if your goal for college is USNA. This is based on the real experiences of a successful Naval Academy applicant, what she did for the four years of high school to make s...