Questions for those who are/were involved with Sea Cadets.

sturner11

5-Year Member
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Mar 9, 2010
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I have been interested in Sea Cadets lately because I think it will help prepare me for the SA's/ROTC and it should help strengthen my resume. The only problem is that it is late in my Junior year, and I wouldn't be able to attend my first drill until July (SAT the first of next month, USMA SLS and NASS during June).

Now my questions are:

1. Would taking part in Sea Cadets for such a short period of time be beneficial to me? (AKA Is it worth it?)

2. Would schools, nomination sources ROTC, etc. even look positively upon being in Sea Cadets for that short period of time and that late in my high school career? (Would it make that much of a difference when it comes to nominations/appointments?)

3. Last but not least, would I be able to rank up significantly in that short period of time (July 2010-May 2011)? I am in great shape, intelligent, and somewhat of a people person.

Thanks for your time.

Sean
 
Well of course you know it's not like the academies are looking for anything particular from applicants. As in, they're not specifically looking for JROTC kids, CAP, Sea Scouts, etc. But what's good about these programs is that there are built in leadership opportunities, which is one of the big things they look for. What looks good about these programs is the leadership. I mean it's not going to look so great if you were in (insert name of auxiliary program here) for two years and stayed at the first rank.

Also, I think your time is more like July 2010 - January 2011 in terms of applications. I don't know if you would be able to rank up that quick, but at least there are events and stuff that Sea Scouts do where you can develop your leadership abilities?
 
You should contact the unit you would be joining and ask them how much they think you'd be able to accomplish. My son has been in Sea Cadets since 9th grade (he's a senior now) and it's a great program. However, since you're finishing your junior year, it's probably too late for you to get much out of it.

Based on the calendar for the unit here (and your unit may be run differently), you'd attend Indoctrination at the end of August, then regular monthly drills in the following months. You'd enter as a Seaman Recruit and I'm fairly sure you can't advance until you complete NSCC Recruit Training (boot camp), which is usually offered during the summer.

Since your applications to the SA's/ROTC scholarships should be completed by late summer/early fall of this year, you'd be better off focusing on academics and activities you're already involved in. Most of the people going into SA/ROTC won't have participated in Sea Cadets or JROTC, so you won't be at any disadvantage.
 
My son has been a Sea Cadet for 4 years now and is a junior. I also think it's a fantastic program. I agree with Brass Strings, I am not sure how far you would get since you must complete the Recruit Training before you can even rank up. They do offer a boot camp over the christmas holiday break and not just during the summer. But by that time most of your applications for Nominations and the academy would need to be submitted in prior to that.

As much as I hate to say it, I don't think it's worth it for you at this time. I think those looking at your resume will realize you are joining just to be able to add something additional to your resume.

You are already doing the Summer Sessions so qbviously they must think you are compettative enough at this point.
 
i have a quick sort of off topic question. Im interested in joining sea cadets, but I'm also a serious soccer player, so i have practices every week and games every weekend (except for in the fall when the games are on the weekdays because it is high school soccer), so is it possible to do a serious sport and sea cadets, or do you think they would conflict to much.

thanks
 
i have a quick sort of off topic question. Im interested in joining sea cadets, but I'm also a serious soccer player, so i have practices every week and games every weekend (except for in the fall when the games are on the weekdays because it is high school soccer), so is it possible to do a serious sport and sea cadets, or do you think they would conflict to much.

thanks

Our son is a serious rower: practice 3hrs/day, 5 days/wk, regattas nearly every weekend during spring and fall. He has been a Sea Cadet for 4 years and was able to work it out to do both as well as do community service and work part-time. He reached the highest rank within Sea Cadets (Chief Petty Officer) while never missing a rowing practice or regatta.

It is important to discuss your athletic commitments with the commanding officer of the unit you are looking to join to see if you can work out a mutually agreeable solution. The unit our son is a part of encourages and supports the cadets in athletic and other extra curricular endeavors and I would expect you'd find the same reaction in most if not all Sea Cadet units.

It is an awesome program for any teen, not just those interested in Service Academies. I encourage you to check it out further.
 
As I posted earlier my son has been a Sea Cadet for 4 years and has also become Chief Petty Officer. He is a competative swimmer and has been able to work it out with his coach and commanding officer too. I highly recommend the program. If it's something you really want your son to do then it will work out.
 
sturner11, from my perspective..........

My DS was an active athlete (soccer, football, and now track) and joined CAP last year at the suggestion of one of his friends. He knew at that point he wanted to go to a SA after HS. Was it too late? He joined CAP not for the resume (is one year enough? is advancement possible?, etc.), he joined to find out more about the military way of life. He didn't advance very far (only one year after all). But he stuck with it, achieved some advancement along the way, met some great people there. I could go on.

It may have helped his resume, maybe. But it helped him. It gave him some confidence that he was following the right path for himself, it gave him some confidence that he could achieve what he set out to do.

And yes, he was VERY busy, practice all the time, games in between practice, CAP on Wednesday nights, then up for more practice. Oh, he also went to the gym every other day for special training to be ready for Summer Seminar. He was ready, he had a good idea of what to expect, and he did well. But it was never for the resume.......................

I'll be sending him off to NAPs this summer with great pride. Which, for him, will be preparation for USNA, not a line on the resume.

Good luck to you. Do what you think is right, not what others think is right.
 
I agree completely...do it if it will help you realize your potential and not just to enhance your resume. The Admissions Boards have a knack for seeing through all these...it is better to show them that you have a passion for whatever activity you are in and it should not matter that it was only for a short time. After all it wasn't your fault that you only recently learned about it.

My DD passed over a lot of opportunities because of all the work she put in during the previous years, then during her senior year she had some free time. She decided to pick up a sport which she couldn't do before because of school work and she loves it!

Did it help her resume, maybe, maybe not...was she sorry she did it? definitely not as she is having fun with it now. It would have been sad if she did not go for it and never found out if she would have enjoyed it as she may not have had a chance to play it when she gets to the YARD...

...just DO IT! :cool:

GO NAVY!
 
Your first thought should not be whether or not it enhances your resume but do you want to do it because you think you will have an awesome time doing it and learn a lot from it. If you are personnally driven to do something because it comes from a desire within you to want to excel in it and not just have it show up on a piece of paper that goes before a college admissions board you will do just that- excel. This in the long-run is really what you want because if you want to go and do that ECA or sport, etc. you will go up in rank, win awards, gain leadership positions, get better, etc. because of the shear fact that you want to do it for yourself, not because you think it will look good. Keep this in mind for everything! If you want to be a doctor and think that going to USXA or USXXA is going to look good on your application to medical school I do not advise attending a service academy. But good luck with your decision!
 
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