David Robinson watches the final seconds tick off the clock of the 2003 NBA Finals. It was his second championship and his last as he retired the following summer. He had a stellar career, putting up huge numbers and making a few appearances at the Olympics. Despite all the fame he received as a basketball star, he remained humble, donating millions of dollars to charity. His arsenal of dunks and post moves is certainly missed on the basketball court, but nowhere near as much as his leadership ability. After all, it wasn't the jump shot he taught all of his teammates, nor was it the crossover he shared with his wife, and it certainly wasn't the proper rebounding form that he felt would be most important to pass on. his son, David Jr. Of course not. Beyond the championships and double-doubles was his leadership, and that is what would define him as a father, a basketball player and a United States Navy veteran. This is correct. Robinson is a veteran and graduate of the United States Naval Academy – a total institution. He is just one of many who graduated from a total institution and contributed greatly to both the military and society. Often these places are labeled as wild, offensive and harmful only to students. This couldn't be further from the truth. If Robinson had been a character in Pat Conroy's book The Lords of Discipline, he would have been a great example of a "whole man". The values ​​that are distilled in the members of these institutions are vital to society and are difficult to replicate in another context. Such values ​​are outlined in films such as A Few Good Men and Annapolis. Although total institutions have harsh tactics that can be interpreted as... middle of paper... w. That death of Santiago, while tragic, likely saved lives. And my existence, however grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down, in the places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. (A Few Good Men) Colonel Jessep was a power-hungry madman, but that doesn't take away from the legitimacy of his words. The reality is that the decisions made by these authority figures, while sometimes callous and arbitrary, are made only with the intent of strengthening the military. At the same time, Jessep and Cole's responsibility was the same. The goal of the Marine Corps and the Naval Academy is the same. All total institutions are vital in preparing soldiers for war.