NAPS

[MaritimeGirl11]

Anyone have info abouts NAPS?

[USNA69]

What do you want to know?

http://www.naps.edu/

The parent's website has a lot of useful information.

[Zaphod]

Great place. If Navy doesn't give you an appointment direct to USNA, but offers you one to NAPS, GRAB IT.

I did! Never looked back! :thumb:

[MaritimeGirl11]

I'm talking about CGA with NAPS not USNA...

[USNA69]

Same NAPS, different source. As Zap says, grab it if offered.

[The Commissioner]

Is there such a thing as 'credit hours' for classes completed at NAPS? If so, are they transferable to the academies or civilian colleges? If not, is NAPS class work like an additional year of high school?

Thanks for any and all replies!

[MaritimeGirl11]

I don't believe they can be transfered to the Acadmy because everyone is eaqual when they enter the academy. maybe in some special sircumstances.

[Just_A_Mom]

While classes can't be "transferred" - all USNA plebes are offered the chance to take exams to "validate" classes. It is possible that doing well in say Calculus, Chemistry and/or physics you can validate some or all of those first year classes at the academy.
This is beneficial because it opens the door for more electives later on. So you can concievably come away with about 5 years of school - not just regurgitating your NAPS year over again as a plebe.

As for civilian school - NAPS is a post-grad year. Your may not be granted "college" credit but again if you did well in classes you could probably take CLEP exams and validate classes that way. In any case even if they aren't transferable- so many kids take 5 years to graduate the extra year is no big deal anymore.

Hopefully, a Napster or parent of a recent Napster can comment more on the educational experience of it.

[USNA69]

Hopefully, a Napster or parent of a recent Napster can comment more on the educational experience of it.

This is a very good synopsis of NAPS coursework written by the parent of a NAPSter:

http://www.usna.com/NAPS/academics/academics.html

Everything J_A_M says is absolutely correct. All incoming USNA plebes take validation tests in English and Mathematics. They may also choose to take them in chemistry, economics, history, physics, political science, and foreign languages.

The "double-edged" sword here is the possibility of more rigorous coursework combined with the challenges of plebe year. The rewards are many: take less courses during the semester, double majors, the ability to take easier electives later on when the major coursework is becoming extremely challenging, or, even possibly VGEP. The Volunteer Graduate Education Program allows selected midshipmen to commence their graduate degree during their senior year at the Academy. They do this at one of the DC area universitites and are allowed a semester after graduation to remain in the area to complete the program. Really a very good deal.

[Dukota]

My son said he and the other napsters considered themselves to be super-seniors or in 13th grade. It did give him a great foundation for the academy. He said plebe summer was a breeze compaired to indoc at Naps.

[MaritimeGirl11]

Yes! thats the advantage. yea they say when ur a plebe or swab or all equal during the summer part but thats an understatement because you know what the cadre is saying to you unlike someone who its their first time exposed to a military environment.The cadre can prob pick out the NAPsters and the ones who went to a military seminar like AIM or even FLC at Norwich which is what I went to. Personally I think FLC was better then the service academy ones because its longer and it included skills that all the branches of the military uses not just the Navy or Army...

[USNA69]

He said plebe summer was a breeze compaired to indoc at Naps.
I would argue that the two weeks of NAPS indoc is not as intense as the six weeks of plebe summer. However, for NAPSters who have experienced NAPS indoc, a year of organized physical fitness with others who will be experiencing the same challenges, and even just sitting around the barracks discussing "sea stories" and rumors of plebe summer, will be, as Lesya25 surmises, much better prepared for the Academy than those coming straight from high school.

[Zaphod]

I would argue that the two weeks of NAPS indoc is not as intense as the six weeks of plebe summer.

I would disagree. When I went through, NAPS Indoc made Plebe Summer look like a joke. Don't know if that's still true, of course.

Still, the rest of what you said is spot-on. NAPSters have a distinct edge during Plebe Year that non-NAPSters don't. It diminishes over time, but it's there when you need it.

[USNA69]

I would disagree. When I went through, NAPS Indoc made Plebe Summer look like a joke.
You have been there. I haven't. So I reluctantly have to agree.

My argument was that Indoc is mostly physical and plebe summer encompasses more of the "whole person", especially mental. The fact that a higher percentage of midshipmen resign during plebe summer than NAPSters during Indoc could also possibly be used to support my position.

[DMeix]

Indoc may have been physically tougher during those two or three weeks, but plebe summer's got that endurance factor workin' for it. It was only seven weeks, but I swear, that was the longest seven weeks of my life.

I think any kind of experience between high school and this place is beneficial. NAPs or otherwise. I spent a year at civilian college and NROTC before coming here, and my dad said he could easily pick me out in a crowd on I-Day because I didn't have that 'deer in the headlights' look. I was just excited to finally be here and trying to absorb everything around me.

The plebe I dragged with last year must have had shell-shock for most of the summer, as he told me it was all just a blur. I didn't really experience that. Maybe that's why it seemed so long.

[Zaphod]

The fact that a higher percentage of midshipmen resign during plebe summer than NAPSters during Indoc could also possibly be used to support my position.

Perhaps, but one must remember that the makeup of NAPS is very different than the makeup of a Plebe Summer class. There is a much higher concentration of prior-enlisted folks (meaning older, more experienced, more mature, and tougher) than during Plebe Summer.

My NAPS Indoc was so intense mentally and physically that I went through Plebe Summer pretty easily. How much of that had to do with the remaining 9 months at NAPS getting ready for it can be debated, but on the whole, NAPSters have found Plebe Summer to be much easier than NAPS Indoc.

The most interesting statistic would be to see how many NAPSters drop out during Plebe Summer. I don't think my class lost any. Granted, NAPSters are under a contract, which skews the numbers the other way. My NAPS class DID get slaughtered academically, though, as well as due to other occurrances. NAPS '87 had fewer than 50 graduate from USNA out of an original NAPS class of around 300.

[MaritimeGirl11]

That's Very Interesting!

[USNA69]

NAPS '87 had fewer than 50 graduate from USNA out of an original NAPS class of around 300.

I think now NAPS graduation rate is about the same, or maybe slightly lower than the Academy graduation rate of 79% +/-. However, from the Academy, NAPSters graduate at a slightly higher rate than that of the rest of the brigade. Only a percent or two, but, nevertheless, higher.

[MaritimeGirl11]

Yep I went to a open housem at USCGA and the admissions told us that and some NAPsters told that to us too. I guess it's really true!

[USNA69]

My NAPS Indoc was so intense mentally and physically that I went through Plebe Summer pretty easily. How much of that had to do with the remaining 9 months at NAPS getting ready for it can be debated, but on the whole, NAPSters have found Plebe Summer to be much easier than NAPS Indoc.

Good discussion even though for me it is hypothical and based half on hearsay with the other half being nearly a half century old.:shake:

Disregard academics. Two candidates of exact equal physical conditioning,mental toughness, and desire for a military career. One goes to NAPS and one goes directly to Plebe Summer. Who will have the most difficult overall experience?

My vote is for the plebe.

[Zaphod]

Overall? The NAPSter, of course. He has to go through both.

[MaritimeGirl11]

I second that Vote! :w00t:

[MaritimeGirl11]

Does NAPS have overnight visit program?

[MaritimeGirl11]

I was wondering do you know if canidates that get accepted to NAPS onlly find out during rolling admission or can they find out during Early Action?.

[USNA69]

At USNA, NAPS appointments are made throughout the total admissions period. Since candidates do not actually apply to NAPS and can only attend NAPS soley on the approval of the admissions board, there is no formal visitation weekends. Perhaps you can contact them via their website and ask for an informal visit. Good luck.

[Zaphod]

Back in the days before maniacs flying planes into buildings, you could go up to NETC and get a visitor's pass. My mom took me up one day, and I walked onto the quarterdeck at NAPS and proceeded to spend the next 3 hours chatting with the guy on watch. All kinds of good info was received.

Sadly, since 9/11 no one can visit NETC without a sponsor who is stationed there. Even I, as a NAPS alumni, was not allowed on.

If you want to visit, the best bet is to contact NAPS and ask to speak to the Platoon Commander of the platoon which will have the duty the day you visit and request an escort. Whether you get one will depend on the person you call and how you ask. Aside from calling and asking for the CDO, I don't think you have many alternatives.

[burningice109]

After going through NAPS do you have to apply or get nominated in order to move on and go to the Naval Academy? Also does the same policy applie for the USMAPs in order to get into the USMA?

[Whistle Pig]

69 ... do you have any idea how many annually are in position to do the VGEP? Does the USN pay for that also? Does it add to minimal service requirement?

[Zaphod]

After going through NAPS do you have to apply or get nominated in order to move on and go to the Naval Academy?

Unless things have changed, the answer is "no" since you will receive a SECNAV nomination by virtue of being in the Navy already. In my case, I applied to my Congresscritters anyway (didn't know about SECNAV) and got my Representative's.

Also does the same policy applie for the USMAPs in order to get into the USMA?

Don't know for sure, but I would assume so.

[USNA69]

After going through NAPS do you have to apply or get nominated in order to move on and go to the Naval Academy? Also does the same policy applie for the USMAPs in order to get into the USMA?

Like zap said, you are eligible for a SecNav. However, they will insist that you reapply for the congressional noms from your district and for the VP nomination. Again, the Academy will utilize whichever is necessary to maximize the quality of the entering class.

Not sure about MAPS, but, like zap, assume it is the same.

[USNA69]

69 ... do you have any idea how many annually are in position to do the VGEP? Does the USN pay for that also? Does it add to minimal service requirement?

It is limited to approximately 20 midshipmen per year, usually the top midshipman in each of selected departments. The Academy pays tuition only equivalent to that for UMd. Any additional tuition, books, transportation, fees, etc. are out of pocket for the midshipman.

I am not sure about additional commitment since the purpose of the Academy is to train career Naval officers. Aviation commitment, and perhaps submarine, I am not sure, does not commence until after training is completed.

The positive to this program is, of course, an immediate graduate degree with very minimal cost, both in time and money. The downside is the placement in career path training. Ensigns and 2nd Lieutenants going directly into training have the opportunity to get ahead of the inevitable waiting "pools" that build up annually. In some communities, TAD billets will actually be assigned to those awaiting later classes. My son, initially totally dejected that he barely missed VJEP, was winged the same day as several Aviators from the previous class who had simply been caught up in delays. For two consecutive years, at the annual fighter community soiree, he was recognized as the youngest fighter pilot in the Navy. This is very beneficial when he is being compared to others in his year group.

[Whistle Pig]

Very interesting and informative. Thanks as always!

[burningice109]

Thanks Zap and USNA!