"transfer" between service academies

gsvtwo

5-Year Member
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Aug 28, 2011
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I am wondering if there is ever the potential of gaining an appointment at a service academy after having attended a different academy? Specifically, if the potential candidate accepted and appointment and started at an academy (and finished the summer traning and a semester of academics) and realized that the mission of a different academy was more in line with their goals and ambitions.

It is understood that the candidate would have to start at the beginning of the process with the summer training, and that no course work from the first academy would be transferable.
 
I've never heard of it happening. There are, of course, exchange programs for a single semester 2/C year. But a permanent transfer??? Not that I'm aware of.

There is a very remote possibility of inter-service transfer upon graduation. However, the program has been VERY limited in recent years (1 or 2 mids total who transfer) so I wouldn't count on that.
 
Have you heard of any direct application from a student currently attending one service academy to another service academy similar to a student reapplying while attending their plan B school after a TWE. Thank you for your guidance on this.
 
Have you heard of any direct application from a student currently attending one service academy to another service academy similar to a student reapplying while attending their plan B school after a TWE. Thank you for your guidance on this.

I have not. However, maybe someone else has.
 
I have not. However, maybe someone else has.

Talk about navel gazing! If 1985 has not heard of a single case, take it to the bank. I've never heard of USNA allowing platform shoes or mini-skirts either.:spacecraft::welcome::diespam:

Talk about majoring in the minors. Make that mythology.:shake:Until now, I'd always thought there was no dumb question.
 
OK, OK Is this really such a dumb a question? Seriously, I am just looking for information. Is it totally out of the realm of possibility that as a person gains maturity and knowledge that they realize there is a different direction for their life? I am just wondering how best to pursue that direction. Applying directly to said SA, attending civilian college and then applying from there, or possibly ROTC at civilian college hoping for commission to desired service.

Sorry if I am offending your knowledge-base. That is why I am asking the question, I do not have the knowledge or experience.
 
It's not a dumb question, although an unusual one. I think it's rare that someone decides after the fact that he/she is at the "wrong" SA. If he/she does, the person usually quits and pursues another career (or service) via ROTC, OCS, etc.

The SAs aren't all that different. If you're unhappy with one, it's unlikely you'll be happy at another. Just being honest.
 
Well yes, I can appreciate that it is an unusual situation. And it is not that the service academy environment is wrong. As a matter of fact, that is really great. It is the career after this particular SA that is "wrong" and that was something that has become clear over time in the environment. But I guess you have answered the larger question: it seems that ROTC or OCS after a civilian college may be the right next step. 1985, Thank you for your serious consideration of this question.
 
If the "career" is wrong, you can always try for an inter-service transfer. It is a tough road. Usually, you need to demonstrate some or all of the following:

You applied to the original SA/service you wanted and were turned down

You have a family tie to the service you are seeking to enter

You did an exchange at the SA of the service you seek to enter and did very well

You have a very high class order of merit

And, MOST IMPORTANTLY,

The service you seek to enter offers a career field that you want and that is not available to you in the USN or USMC.

As noted, inter-service transfers are very rare. 2 yrs ago there was one (it was a candidate I sent to USNA who transferred to the USA). Last year, I think there were 2 or 3 who made the transfer.
 
There was a girl in the class of 2011 who had spent a year at USMMA before coming to CGA, but I expect that that's pretty rare.
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/sports/ncaafootball/06army.html

This is the only example that I know of for what you are talking about. Jared Hassin (2013) started at USAFA his plebe year and then transferred to West Point last year.
I don't think that Hassin "transferred"- he literally started over again (he ran up and down over VMI last season). Even though it is I suppose technically possible (witness Jared Hassin 's case as well as the girl Sam references at USCGA) to get a "re-do" if you decide you don't want to be at the Academy/Service that you start off in, It's definitely not an option that you ought to plan on when you are considering whether to accept an appointment to a Service Academy as the odds against you successfully following this path are pretty daunting.
There are however, as USNA1985 pointed out, other ways to accomplish this- you can transfer to another college ( and that is legitimately transferring - with your credits intact) and get commissioned thru ROTC, or thru OCS. Alternatively if you really want to go to college in a regimented military environment- think about attending one of the Senior Military colleges. VMI for example offers ROTC/ commissioning options for all the services (they have a direct commissioning program with USCG) and a fair number of kids move from one service to another during the time of their cadetship- (though typically those are not Cadets who have a scholarship as they have to commit by the beginning of 3Class (Sophomore) year).
 
Also, understand that there are no guarantees that you will get the "new" career field that you want even if you do get in and successfully complete the new SA program.

There are all sorts of tales of people entering USNA to be a pilot and being medically DQ'ed. Some don't have the Order of Merit to get their desired service selection. Needs of the Navy can interfere (there is frequently talk of "drafting" submariners, although I don't believe this has happened for many years).

So, if your heart is set on a particular type of career and that's all you want to do, you may be better off with a different commissioning program (e.g., AOCS) where your odds of achieving that goal may actually be better. I realize that doesn't get you the SA environment but the SA doesn't guarantee a particular career field.

Also, as Bruno notes, VMI and Citadel are options as is USMMA as, in certain respects, you have a bit more "choice" upon graduation.
 
Yes. She's now in flight school. :thumb:

That sounds more like starting over than transfering. I've heard of that two, kids with multiple "swab summer" experiences because they were accepted to a new school, so left one and headed to the other.
 
For some reason, in my dreams, I keep ending back at the Naval Academy although I had already graduated. It's always some kind of very stressful dream like, I have a term paper due tomorrow that I completely forgot about -or- I have Main Office watch in 5 minutes and I'm missing a critical uniform item -or- some other Naval Academy related calamity that would certainly get you into big trouble as a midshipman. I've talked with other grads and they are also haunted with similar dreams well after they've graduated.

So, although it may be true you cannot transfer from one academy to another - in your dream world, you will be going back to become a midshipman over and over and over again. And they will NOT be pleasant dreams, by the way.
 
For some reason, in my dreams, I keep ending back at the Naval Academy although I had already graduated.

Not only do I also have this dream, I also have one in which I'm reapplying NOW and redoing my entire 4 yrs. I guess that somehow they manage to waive the age requirement.:confused:

It's never clear to me in my dreams why I want to go through USNA for a second time -- it probably has something to do with the fact that most grads upon later reflection believe that they could have and should have worked harder/done better while at USNA. In my dreams, I'm getting that chance.
 
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