Toni Bartulovic, Croatia

I was born September 2 nd 1981 in Split, Croatia. I have finished Elementary school in Split with an excellent success. I have also attended Traffic and transport High school in Split, air traffic branch and graduated in top 5 % of the class in 1999. I have entered Traffic and transport College in Zagreb, Croatia same year, also air traffic branch, and I was on my second year before coming to the United States Naval Academy. I played handball in 2nd Croatian league during two years of High school, and Club soccer after that. During elementary school I participated in a swimming team, 50 m freestyle. My father is a Liutenant in Croatian Navy, he is a Croatian Homeland war veteran, has 4 Service medals from the war. My grandfather and grand grandfather fought in World War 2 , and my younger brother is a police officer. My mother works as an accountant in local Beverage company. In 1999 I applied for the selection program for US Service Academies, successfully finished Basic training boot camp, did good on the SAT but I was not selected for the Class of 2004 on any service academy because of my bad PRT performance. I applied next year and went through the whole program again, including boot camp, did PRT very well, got selected to the US Naval Academy Class of 2005, but my government decided not to send anyone that year to US Academies for the reasons unfamiliar to me. I was put on the standby for the whole year, participated in extensive training program, and also English and leadership seminars, did well on PRT and got accepted to both Air Force and Naval Academy, and I have chosen Naval Academy. During that time I attended College in Zagreb. I would like to select Marine infantry upon graduation, I cannot imagine the better way to serve my country and repay back gift of freedom it gave me, and do my best to preserve peace and protect it from inside and outside enemies. All Croatians owe a lot to all the brave men who died not so far away, and my biggest motive is to live their dream the best way possible.