Alan Shepard achieved many things throughout his life during his life with NASA. He went to the U.S Naval Academy and Naval Test pilot school soon after graduation and he graduated the academy with a B.S. He received a pilot's license and spent time on aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean. After that, he was assigned as an aircraft readiness officer on the Atlantic Fleet. He even served on the Destroyer in the Pacific during World War 2. He was only 37 years old when NASA recruited him in the program. He was selected by them to become a mercury astronaut on the Freedom 7 on May 5, 1961. Unfortunately, he was grounded after a flight on the Gemini 3 because of an ear infection. That had him on rest during 1963-1969. When he was clear to fly