Sarah Brown and Rachel Cabacungan, both 2008 graduates from SKHS, were part of the 1,099 people who graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, on May 29th. Sarah will go on to training as a Navy Pilot and Rachel will receive training as a Surface Warfare Officer.
The graduating class included 222 women, according to official figures. Of this class, the largest draw was naval aviation: 324 selected as pilot or naval flight officer.
One in four grads, or 267, joined the Marine Corps, including 43 women. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Jim Amos led them in their oath of office. Similarly, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert, a 1975 Naval Academy graduate, inducted all ensigns into the Navy.
Surface warfare and submarines were also popular, with 221 and 139 ensigns respectively. In addition, 28 grads will enter the intensive SEAL training after graduation, and 16 were chosen for explosive ordnance disposal.
“You are men and women from every state in the union and 12 foreign nations — rich and poor; secular and religious; black, white, Latino, Native American, Asian; straight and gay,” Panetta said. “The diversity of this class is a tribute to the life and service of retired Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown, class of ‘49, the first African-American graduate of the Naval Academy.”
After the three-hour ceremony, crowds rushed onto the field at Navy-Marine Corps stadium in Annapolis to find their grad and be the first to put on their new insignia.
