User:Rcollins892/sandbox

= Ross Collins (United States Navy) = Ross William Collins (born June 22, 1992) is a United States Naval Officer and Student Naval Aviator, as well as an American business entrepreneur. Originally born just outside of Indianapolis, IN, he enlisted into the United States Navy October 4, 2016 and immediately shipped off to Navy boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes. After graduating boot camp December 2, 2016, he was sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS to attend Aerographer's Mate (AG) "A" School. Upon successful completion, he reported to Fleet Weather Center Norfolk where he practiced Navy and Marine Corps meteorology and oceanography for nearly three and a half years. Upon earning orders to Officer Candidate School to earn his commission in the United States Navy, he left for Officer Training Command Newport in Newport, RI, commissioning an Ensign in the United States Navy September 11, 2020. He's currently and actively making his way through Navy flight school in pursuit of becoming a Naval Aviator.

Early life
Collins was born in Beech Grove, Indiana just outside of Indianapolis. He is the son of Gerald and Terri Collins, and brother to Lorraine. At just four years old, he began playing t-ball and quickly took to the game of baseball. Collins would play baseball for the next nineteen years, competing at both the high school and college levels respectively.

High School (2007-2011)
After completing kindergarten through eighth grade at Saint Barnabas on the southside of Indianapolis, Collins attended the Catholic high school, Roncalli, for his freshman year. At Roncalli, he participated in freshman football and played baseball on both the freshman and junior varsity teams. Once his freshman year was over, he transferred to Perry Meridian High School to be closer to home and play for head coach John Carpenter. At Perry Meridian, he stuck solely to baseball, competing at the varsity level all three years as their starting second baseman, occasionally playing shortstop while their usual starting shortstop pitched. Collins received two all-state honorable mentions in high school ball and eventually committed to Kankakee Community College in northeast Illinois to play at the collegiate level.

College Career (2011-2015)
After visiting several universities, Collins signed on with Kankakee Community College in Kankakee, IL to play for winning head coach, Todd Post. After just one year as a Kankakee Cavalier, he signed a scholarship with Robert Morris University-Chicago in downtown Chicago, IL. At Robert Morris University, he competed all three years at the varsity level before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in November 2015.

Personal Life Before the Navy
Following his collegiate baseball career at Robert Morris University, Collins elected to enlist into the United States military. Since both his grandfathers served in the United States Navy during World War II, as well as his father having been a naval aircrewman, Collins finally decided to enlist into the Navy. After swearing in on January 12, 2016, he immediately began participating in bi-weekly workouts at the University of Indianapolis while trying to earn a special operations contract. In April 2016, he was informed he had earned a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) contract, and would be shipping off to boot camp October 4, 2016. In those months, Collins continued to train and remain in excellent physical condition while preparing to leave for boot camp. On October 3, 2016, he officially swore into the United States Navy, and flew to Naval Station Great Lakes the following day.

Enlisted Service
Collins left for Navy boot camp October 4, 2016. He was assigned to division 803 at RTC Great Lakes, and participated in the two month course attached to an 800 division. "800 divisions are comprised of SEAL, SWCC, EOD, Navy Diver, and Air Rescue Candidates. The purpose of these divisions is to hold candidates to a higher physical standard and to begin grooming them for the tough training they are soon to endure." 

Becoming an Officer
While attached to Fleet Weather Center Norfolk, Collins began working on his application for Officer Candidate School in 2018.

Navy Flight School
Upon the completion of Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, Collins was sent to Norfolk, VA for temporary OHARP duty at a local officer recruiting station. After nearly three months, he received orders to Navy Flight School and reported to NAS Pensacola in Pensacola, FL. He attended Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE) from January 2021 till August 2021, where he took several academic tests, attended the Navy's water survival course, and finished up with a month flying the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Upon successful completion, he drew orders to Corpus Christi, TX to attend Primary flight training attached to Training Wing Four. While there, he was officially sent to participate in flight training at VT-27 as a Boomer, where he flew the T6B Texan II from January 2022 to June 2022. His last flight in Primary flight training was on June 24, 2022, just two days after his thirtieth birthday. He waits to attend follow on Advanced training in Milton, FL at NAS Whiting Field, defining the final six months of a rigorous pipeline in pursuit of his "Wings of Gold".

Personal life
Collins has been once married before participating in a mutual separation. He currently resides in Corpus Christi, TX. He has one nephew and one niece, whom both reside in Franklin, IN. His parents are retired and live in Martinsville, IN. He remains on active duty in the United States Navy, and continues to advance his own brand, The High Life, which aims to provide both entertainment and motivation for people of all backgrounds.