Stefano Ritondale

Yeah.

So how I found out is, because I think all the academies but the Coast Guard, if I'm not mistaken, you need a congressional or senator's recommendation.

So how I found out is, because I think all the academies but the Coast Guard, if I'm not mistaken, you need a congressional or senator's recommendation.

So how I found out is, because I think all the academies but the Coast Guard, if I'm not mistaken, you need a congressional or senator's recommendation.

Right. So the Merchant Marine is one of them. So I did the interview back then with my congressman, you know, did the whole thing. And then, you know, they recommended that I go to the Merchant Marine Academy. I didn't even know about it. No idea. No clue. When I looked into it, I was like, oh, my God, this is actually a really good deal.

Right. So the Merchant Marine is one of them. So I did the interview back then with my congressman, you know, did the whole thing. And then, you know, they recommended that I go to the Merchant Marine Academy. I didn't even know about it. No idea. No clue. When I looked into it, I was like, oh, my God, this is actually a really good deal.

Right. So the Merchant Marine is one of them. So I did the interview back then with my congressman, you know, did the whole thing. And then, you know, they recommended that I go to the Merchant Marine Academy. I didn't even know about it. No idea. No clue. When I looked into it, I was like, oh, my God, this is actually a really good deal.

Because you can either sail or when you commission, pick any branch you want. You want to go Air Force, Navy, Marine, whatever. Army, Coast Guard.

Because you can either sail or when you commission, pick any branch you want. You want to go Air Force, Navy, Marine, whatever. Army, Coast Guard.

Because you can either sail or when you commission, pick any branch you want. You want to go Air Force, Navy, Marine, whatever. Army, Coast Guard.

Exactly. And so generally, I think on average, you have about a third of the graduating class commission active duty. I picked Army. We were about, I think we were 13. Obviously, the number one is generally either the Navy or the Coast Guard. The career path. A lot of people go flight. It's a, you know, you have a very good chance of picking flight and aviation from our academy.

Exactly. And so generally, I think on average, you have about a third of the graduating class commission active duty. I picked Army. We were about, I think we were 13. Obviously, the number one is generally either the Navy or the Coast Guard. The career path. A lot of people go flight. It's a, you know, you have a very good chance of picking flight and aviation from our academy.

Exactly. And so generally, I think on average, you have about a third of the graduating class commission active duty. I picked Army. We were about, I think we were 13. Obviously, the number one is generally either the Navy or the Coast Guard. The career path. A lot of people go flight. It's a, you know, you have a very good chance of picking flight and aviation from our academy.

And, you know, I chose Army, did that, was an armor officer. What does that even mean?

And, you know, I chose Army, did that, was an armor officer. What does that even mean?

And, you know, I chose Army, did that, was an armor officer. What does that even mean?

But no, that was not, you know, you know, my first duty, I mean, my first duty station was El Paso, um, Cav squadron, the, the platoon leader. And then I have spurs. No, I don't. Funny enough. Funny enough. Uh, I, the requirement to get a spur, uh, Was there was a certain exercise I had to do. And so by the time I did it and I was eligible to do my spur ride, I got picked to be an aide-de-camp.

But no, that was not, you know, you know, my first duty, I mean, my first duty station was El Paso, um, Cav squadron, the, the platoon leader. And then I have spurs. No, I don't. Funny enough. Funny enough. Uh, I, the requirement to get a spur, uh, Was there was a certain exercise I had to do. And so by the time I did it and I was eligible to do my spur ride, I got picked to be an aide-de-camp.

But no, that was not, you know, you know, my first duty, I mean, my first duty station was El Paso, um, Cav squadron, the, the platoon leader. And then I have spurs. No, I don't. Funny enough. Funny enough. Uh, I, the requirement to get a spur, uh, Was there was a certain exercise I had to do. And so by the time I did it and I was eligible to do my spur ride, I got picked to be an aide-de-camp.

Okay. And so I became an aide-de-camp, deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, did that for a year.