First draft, I am applying for aviation but I didn't mention it because I wanted to stress the importance of service in the navy over one specific job. If you think I should be focusing more on aviation or have any other advice, any opinions are greatly appreciated.
My interest in joining the United States Navy stems from a family tradition of pride in and service to
the United States of America.
My father, Staff Sergeant James Phillips, and mother, Captain Leslie Snow, served in the United
States Air Force, and they both believe their service to be one of the proudest achievements of their lives. My
maternal grandfather, Seaman Richard Snow, served during the Korean War. His father, Lieutenant JG
Rutherford Snow, lied about his age in order to join the military at 15 to serve his country, was present during
the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and is one of the few recorded survivors of the USS Arizona, which was
destroyed during the battle. Sergeant James M. Phillips, my paternal great grandfather, fought his way across
the Ardennes forest and Normandy in France during World War I, and later died from complications due to
mustard gas poisoning. Pride of our country and service in the U.S. armed forces is in my blood, and therefore
I will perform any job or rating the Navy deems I am best suited for in order to proudly do my duty.
So far, I have spent my adult life improving myself in ways I believe will best serve today's Navy. I
have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the College of Engineering at the
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), while also taking coursework in Hong Kong, at the Hong
Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). At HKUST I studied Artificial Intelligence, and used
what I learned there to join the UCSB Robotics Team and compete against other major California universities.
In addition to excelling in academics, I have strived to grow as an athlete and compete on as high a
level as I can. During my senior year of high school, I lettered in both wrestling and tennis, was the captain of
the tennis varsity team, and at UCSB I took up both cycling and intramural basketball. While studying in
Hong Kong, I started and captained my own rowing team, joined a club rugby team, and helped lead the
HKUST rugby team to 2nd place in national tournament.
Moreover, I am fairly well traveled outside of the U.S. and Hong Kong, having spent many months in
Thailand, China, Japan, the Philippines, and Nepal, which I believe has increased my global awareness,
cultural sensitivity, and prepared me for the "military lifestyle" which many times necessitates travel to
foreign countries.
In order to grow further as a person, I have spent much of my adult life doing volunteer work,
including personally mentoring two separate "little brothers" from single parent homes through the nationwide
"Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America" program. I have assisted providing disaster relief through the
international charity organization "All Hands Volunteers," in the form of rebuilding schools and homes in both
Nepal and the Philippines. I was designated a Team Leader and personally in charge of the construction of
ramps and staircases for the school structures, as well as building camp extensions for the All Hands Project
Nepal base camp.
Finally, to further develop my leadership abilities, I worked as an intern at Disney World in Orlando,
Florida, where I took Disney management and leadership classes, and competed in Imagineering competitions
as a Project Manager.
Should I be granted the honor of a commission as a United States Navy Officer, I would proudly
become a fourth generation military man, and I believe my talent and passion would undoubtedly help the
United States Navy achieve its goals of defending our country.
