WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA - Former St. Johns Country Day School soccer standout Megan Rogers was known for her blazing speed up and down the soccer pitch for coach Mike Pickett during three state title runs up to her 2014 graduation.

As a senior U.S. Naval Academy pilot candidate presently in Washington hoping for a seat inside one of many very, very fast jets in the Navy arsenal, Rogers is giddy about those very, very fast jets as she continues with her dream to earn a pilot seat.

“I love everything about it (jets going very, very fast), said Rogers, now a senior at the Naval Academy. “From going 400 knots to tactical maneuvers to pulling 6Gs.”

Rogers, a standout defender on the Navy womens soccer team with Patriot League accolades as a third team defender last year, has one final year of eligibility for soccer, but is more intent on the upcoming 2.5 years of pilot preparation.

“I’m on an aviation cruise for summer training to help me solidify what I want to do when I commission,” said Rogers, who will graduate in May 2018 with a bachelor of science degree with some political science. “I want to be a Naval Flight Officer, which is the back-seater working all the sensors and shooting missiles, or a Navy Pilot, who flies the planes.”

Rogers, attached to the VAQ134 “Garudas” Squadron in Washington is learning the basics of jamming radars and communications in enemy territory. Rogers has been training in an EA-18G Growler jet which is similar to an F-18 but has a mission purpose of electronic attack versus strike warfare.

“Good timing on the article and what I am doing after the Navy recently shot down a Syrian jet in a confirmed air-to-air kill in Syria,” said Rogers. “This is absolutely a brotherhood and we are training to take the place of the officers now on the front lines so there’s respect all around as we watch and hear the news.”

Rogers’ introduction to the jet flying part of her Navy curriculum did not come with some physical surprises.

“Jet guys have to wear extra gear; one being a G-suit,” said Rogers. “This is for when you pull a lot of Gs, you don’t pass out. We also have to do certain breathing techniques to keep the blood in your head. After my first flight, I felt like I had run 10 miles and did a strength workout.”

Rogers noted, as relative to the jets’ 6Gs, that the best rollercoasters in American can deliver a 1-1.5 G force on riders.

Rogers’ mom, Donna, commented that the whole Naval Academy and now jet flying decision began a little before Megan’s senior year, but was somewhat of a surprise.

“We are not a military family and no one is a pilot, but she was all intent on the challenge of the Academy and then the jet pilot,” said Donna Rogers. “I try to not think of the further aspects of the job, but support her for chasing down her dream.”

As for the Naval Academy ride, Rogers could not recall a single biggest event yet.

“I’ve been given a lot of leadership positions and been able to do a lot of cool things,” said Rogers. “Flying an EA-18 would be one of them.”

Rogers’ next step would be after graduation in May when, if chose, she would deploy to Pensacola to start the 2-2.5 year pilot training process. Rogers did do a boat-related training block, on what is called a YP boat.

“I was on the YP (Yard patrol) boat a couple of years ago,” said Rogers. “Not nearly fast enough.”

Rogers will return to Annapolis in the fall to complete her final academics and soccer years and also be a “detailer” for incoming plebes.

“That’s all the yelling and stuff with new Academy students,” said Rogers. “I’ll be doing that for the second time. We go through interviews for that as the Navy wants model midshipmen to indoctrinate the plebes.”

Rogers’ typical day includes a soccer-specific workout, some ground job tasks for when not airborne and little down time.

“We go in about 1 p.m. and don’t get done until 3 a.m.,” said Rogers. “It’s been a long process, but so rewarding. I couldn’t have done it without my family and friends supporting me.”

2016 (Junior Season, defender) - 22 starts in 22 games...4 assists...9 shots on goal..

2015 (Sophomore Season)-- |Game-By-Game Statistics

Started all 22 matches as a defender ... tallied eight points on two goals and four assists ... recorded her first career assist against UMBC (8/21) in Navy’s 3-2 season-opening win ... scored the eventual game-winning goal against Howard (9/22) ... logged 1738 minutes played with a season-high 110 minutes versus Army West Point (9/18) and Loyola (Md.) (9/26).

2014 (Freshman Season)-- |Game-By-Game Statistics

Played 19 games as a forward ... scored her first collegiate goal against Loyola (Md.) in the Patriot League quarterfinals (11/4) ... recorded 15 shots, seven on net ... tallied 611 minutes on the field with a season-high 50 against Stetson (8/31)