Portrait of a (Swimming) Patriot

It happens every year, just before the fourth of July. While their friends from high school and swimming are enjoying a last summer before heading off to college, about 100 swimmers -young men and women- from all over the United States have begun the process that will transform them from civilian student-athletes into future officers of our nation’s armed forces. This year, someone who has had a special place in my heart for the last six years is one of them.

Called “Plebe Summer” at the Naval Academy, “Swab Summer” at the Coast Guard Academy, Cadet Basic Training at both the Military and Air Force Academies, and “Indoctrination” at the Merchant Marine Academy, this six-week training program is where the candidates will take an oath of office and go through grueling physical training to prepare them for the next four years at their respective Academies. They will receive their first uniform and a regulation haircut; they will learn to salute, to march, to dress; they will learn honor, respect, ethics and military code. They won’t see their families until it’s over. They won’t have access to cell phones, iPods, or the internet. They are allowed 3 phone calls home.

If they make it through the summer they will be sworn in to their respective branches of service during a special ceremony, and will begin their adventure as one of the nation’s elite cadet-athletes or plebe-athletes. After four years at the Academies they will graduate as officers of their respective armed forces and spend the next five years in service to the country.

A Sendoff

Swim Pasadena family portrait, June 26, 2014. Courtesy of Terry Stoddard/Swim Pasadena.

Seven years ago Young Tae Seo came to train with Coach Terry Stoddard at Swim Pasadena. Seven years of hard work, butting heads, creating bonds. Under Stoddard’s tutelage Seo rose to the top of his age group. At 16 he finished fourth in overall points at Winter Juniors, finaling in all seven events he entered (500 free, 100/200 breast, 100/200 fly, 200/400 IM). He was a top-ten recruit during his senior year in high school. But somewhere along the way he decided what he really wanted to do was to serve his country in the US Navy.

Stoddard knew Plebe Summer started on July 1 and was steeling himself for the separation in a couple days’ time. So he was caught by surprise when Seo stopped by the pool deck on Thursday, June 26 to say goodbye. “I hadn’t planned anything because I wasn’t expecting him that day,” said Stoddard. “I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to say goodbye to Young Tae. We’ve always referred to ourselves as the ‘Swim Pasadena Family’ and I felt it was important to send him off properly.

“I can count on one hand the number of times I have stopped practice in my 40 years of coaching. As I looked around at the kids it occurred to me that not everyone has the opportunity to go an Academy, and that not everyone would want to. Of all the people in our family, he’s the one who made those choices and made that commitment. Young Tae was able to make the choice to go into the armed forces but he didn’t have to. I wanted to honor the moment, that commitment. So we gathered everyone together and took a family portrait.”

Best and Brightest

Young Tae Seo, before and after, on Induction Day at Naval Academy. July 1, 2014

I’ve known Young Tae Seo for many years but he’s just one of the 100 or so swimmers across the country in the incoming class of 2018 who have made the same commitment. They all deserve our admiration. Casey Converse, head coach of women’s swimming and diving at the Air Force Academy, said, “We had ten women swimmers from clubs all over the country begin their Air Force careers on June 26. In a culture that seems to value the easy route, it is always amazing to me that some of America’s best and brightest still choose to serve their country in the armed forces. One of our new girls said upon signing her acceptance that she wanted to be part of something larger than herself. That is an incredible perspective for an 18 year old to express. I think we are in pretty good hands.”

Indeed we are.

United States Military Academy, West Point, New York: 1217 cadet candidates came to Reception Day on July 2 to begin their six-week Cadet Basic Training.

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland: 1200+ reported for Induction Day on July 1. Plebe Summer lasts seven weeks.

United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado: Over 1000 basic cadets went through inprocessing on June 26 to kick off their nearly six-week Basic Cadet Training.

United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut: 250 were expected for Reporting-In Day on June 30, beginning their seven-week Swab Summer.

United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York: 252 plebe candidates began their 20-day training program, known as Indoctrination, on July 2.

Army and Navy, both members of the Patriot League, have fielded men’s teams since the 1921-22 season and women’s since 1978-79. The Air Force Falcons, in the Mountain West conference, had a men’s swim program from its inception (1955) and added their women’s team in 1976. The Coast Guard Bears men’s and women’s teams have competed in NEWMAC since 1999, and the Merchant Marine Academy’s teams have been dominant in the Landmark Conference for many years.