Not Yet An Officer But Already A Gentleman

Anywhere John Tanalega goes, he is recognized easily by his upright posture, starched clothes and meticulously shined black shoes.

Particularly punctilious and dressed to impress, Tanalega practices formality every day. His deep, confident voice, sometimes betrayed by a stutter, reflects a structured attitude. He speaks with precision, with the air and aura of a sea captain.

How appropriate, then, that Tanalega's lifelong dream is to become a U.S. Navy officer. Now the senior at Advanced Technologies Academy grasps his dream with the force of reality: Tanalega has been accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

While Tanalega already has stepped onto his career path, he continues to do his best as a student, keeping his actions in line with his long-term goal.

When he passes friends or teachers in the hallways, his nod already is reminiscent of the armed services. He addresses teachers as "madam" or "sir." Considered a gentleman by his peers and "chivalrous" by the female population, Tanalega has accumulated a reputation at his school for his gentle formality, naval dreams and conservative ideology.

"One of the most impressive things about him, ever since I met him, is his dream to go to the Naval Academy has been obvious, even down to the dress code," said Mary Ziegler, Tanalega's advance placement literature teacher at A-TECH.

Tanalega, who applied in June 2006 to the U.S. Naval Academy, anxiously waited six months before receiving his letter of acceptance on Jan. 20. "I was very happy," he said with a wide grin. "Basically, it was a dream come true. I always wanted to be in the military."

His parents, both retired from the Navy, expressed pride and happiness that the revered academy had accepted their son. The influence of his Navy family, in addition to the frequent relocation of his parents during his childhood, gave Tanalega a deep appreciation for the military.

"When I was 3 or 4, my mom, who had just come home, picked me up in her khaki Navy uniform. As she hugged me, my head could feel the ribbons on her chest," Tanalega said. "It was at that point I realized I wanted to be in the military."

After doing some research, Tanalega decided the Navy was the branch for him.

"The Navy has a certain culture that I understood, that I enjoyed pretty well," he said. "I decided if I was ever going to make a mark on the world, it would be through the Navy."

Tanalega will graduate from the Annapolis academy in four years with a bachelor of science degree in whatever major he chooses during his freshman (also known as plebe) second semester. Though he is a business and finance major at A-TECH, Tanalega is considering electrical engineering or systems engineering. After graduating from the academy, Tanalega said, he hopes to be assigned to a ship or enter the field of submarine warfare.

Tanalega also applied to Virginia Tech University, the University of Virginia, and West Point, the U.S. Army academy located in New York. His backup was the Navy ROTC, an option he no longer has to consider. By attending the Annapolis academy, Tanalega not only fulfills a lifelong goal, he also can forget any concern about financing his tuition, as his education, board, books and meals are paid for by the U.S. government.

Among the requirements for acceptance to the academy were a high grade-point average (a minimum of 3.75 unweighted), high SAT scores, leadership experience, extracurricular activities, athletics and passing a physical examination. The armed forces uses physical examinations to detect health problems, such as color blindness, deafness or birth defects, that could interfere with service.

"I passed, minus the third nipple," Tanalega said, grinning.

Senior Keith Pimm, a classmate, said he admires Tanalega's success.

"It's just amazing that he got into both West Point and Annapolis," Pimm said. "I may not agree with his political views, but I really do respect him."

Tanalega also had to acquire recommendations from Nevada's senators and representatives, writing a letter to each requesting a nomination. He interviewed with both of Nevada's senators in mid-November and met the committee members who would decide whether to approve his Navy application.

Ironically, Tanalega -- a self-professed moderate Republican -- received nominations from Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and House Majority Leader Harry Reid. As an officer in the U.S. armed forces, his ideology would be "put aside," he said. "I would be an effective instrument of foreign policy, no matter under what party or president."

Tanalega's leadership experience comes from serving in A-TECH's student council, first as junior class treasurer and currently as student body treasurer. To Tanalega, student council is another way to stay informed. "And it makes school a little more fun," he added.

Tanalega is also a member of the National Honor Society, for which he volunteers at a Navy-based youth group, and Varsity Quiz, a club which affords him the opportunity to test his knowledge. "I have this compulsion to study a certain field for a period of time, and it really comes in handy," he said.

Classmate Pimm said Tanalega will make a superb naval officer.

"He's been in student council for two or three years, so he's obviously got leadership abilities," Pimm said.

Tanalega's leadership adviser agrees.

"He's a great kid. He's smart. He's funny. He is a backbone for (student council)," said Gina Vallari. "He has all the qualities that a leader has. He knows when to lead and when to follow. He'll be great for the Navy."

Ziegler added, "In my opinion, he was born to go there."