Bob Bates of Ardmore recently completed certification training at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. as a Naval Academy Information Blue and Gold Officer.
As one of 2,200 nationwide Blue and Gold Officers, his role is to assist young men and women interested in the academy through the extensive application process and counsel prospective midshipmen on all aspects of the naval academy.
Bates’ son, Matthew, is a 2007 graduate of the naval academy and is currently serving in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. During his week at the academy, Bates had the opportunity to tour classroom facilities, be briefed on naval academy entrance requirements, ride on a yard patrol cruiser, drive a boat simulator and see the engineering facilities available to midshipmen. One of the added benefits according to Bates, was participating in morning physical fitness training with the year’s newest class of plebes.
Students interested in the naval academy can visit www.usna.edu online, or call Bob Bates at (580) 221-1114. The admissions office can be reached at (410) 293-4361.
