Last Year – Sr in HS / This Year – Lacrosse at Army
** Because this is such a unique experience in light of our current activities overseas and his deep connection with lacrosse in Oregon, we’ve asked Brad Heim, a 2006 graduate and attackman at Lake Oswego HS, to make periodic reports to the Bigfoot blog on his experiences at the USMA. So stay with us and follow his journey through this prestigious service academy on and off the lacrosse field.
I spent the last ten months attending the United States Military Academy Preparatory School located on Fort Monmouth in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Life at Army prep was a unique experience and was very different from what I was used to when I lived in Portland. It was not only a challenge for me individually but it was also an adjustment and transition into a completely new way of life and set of standards. I no longer could follow my own game plan at my own pace. I had to become accustomed to following a regimented military life style whether it was in the classroom, the barracks, or on the lacrosse playing field. Throughout the ten long months at Army prep, I experienced challenges and transformations academically, militarily and of course athletically while playing lacrosse.
An average day consisted of waking up at 5:30 AM, cleaning my room so that it was prepared for inspection by one of our tactical officers. After accomplishing this, I would head to the mess hall to grab a quick breakfast before heading to formation at 7:15 AM. Following formation, we would march to class which began at 7:45 AM. Classes ran from 7:45 AM until 2:05 PM (lunch was at 11:30). Immediately following my last class, I would head to the locker room to prepare for practice which occurred from 3:15 PM until about 5:30 or 6:00PM depending on the mood our coaches were in. After practice, we would shower and head over to the mess hall for the final meal of the day. Following dinner, everyone would head back to the barracks for a two hour study session (7:30-9:30 PM) which was called “study barracksâ€. At the conclusion of study barracks, we were finally given our first free time period of the day from 9:30-10:30 PM. Our day ended with TAPS at 10:30PM and if you were caught up following lights out, you would pay the consequences.
Overall, the academics were hard, but not impossible. As long as we kept up with our work and asked the teachers for help then most of us would earn decent grades. Every night I spent approximately three hours on homework and studying to ensure that everything was completed and that I was prepared for class the next day. The academic aspect and approach was extremely helpful and definitely prepared me for success at West Point and in the years beyond.
Lacrosse has always been a huge part of my life and one of my main passions. However, when I arrived back east in July it remained a passion, but I quickly learned that it also became my job. We played and had practice or lacrosse workouts at least 5 days a week from July 17, 2006 to May 1, 2007 (10 straight months of lacrosse with no time off). We were pushed every single day whether it was on the field, in the weight room, or in the locker room watching film. My coaches and even teammates made me into a much better player. I gained more knowledge about the game and developed a better overall sense of what was going on around me throughout the games and practices. The style of lacrosse on the east coast is without a doubt a definite step up from lacrosse in Oregon. The speed of the game, along with the natural skills of every single player on the field does not compare to what I experienced in Oregon. Also, on a side note, the east coast referees were really capable of doing a better job when calling the games.
The military side of things was tough but I feel that I have really adjusted to it quite well. I sincerely appreciate gaining more discipline in my life from everything that I went through at the USMA Prep School. I took on a strictly controlled lifestyle that was the complete opposite from what I used to consider normal or appropriate. As I said before, I no longer was able to call the shots or do what I wanted when I wanted. Instead, I found myself constantly following orders and carrying them out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The entire experience of lacrosse, the bonds that were formed with my fellow Cadet Candidates and the military knowledge that I gained have really been amazing. The bonds of friendship that I formed over the past year will last the rest of my life and the lessons that I have learned will play a key role in my future success.
This past year was without a doubt an integral part in my own personal growth. It will be remembered as a time in which I not only learned from my mistakes but also developed as a student, player, and member of the U.S. Army. On June 27th, I will head back to the United States Military Academy where I will begin 6 weeks of “Beast Barracks†and hope to become a member of the Corps of Cadets.
