Really? A Service Academy?

Son surprised us with his interest in service academies (class of 2013) a couple months ago, so we have had a steep learning curve and have felt behind from the beginning! These boards are a great help - thank you all! He has started the app process at USMA and USNA.

Have him look at all of them if he hasn't already. I'm not saying apply to all of them.


I didn't know much about any of them, but after looking at them for awhile that changed....


GOOD LUCK!

LineInTheSand said:

Have him look at all of them if he hasn't already. I'm not saying apply to all of them.


I didn't know much about any of them, but after looking at them for awhile that changed....


GOOD LUCK!

Click to expand...

A solid piece of advice

Thanks - should probably look closely at AFA, but thinks his eyes would preclude him from flying. At Army or Navy he is interested in Infantry or Marines at this point.

Throw KP in the mix too. He can do any of them as a KP grad. Any service, active or reserves. Plus there is that whole running all over 17 countries with Sea Year thing. Its pretty awesome.

luv2swim -
good luck to your son.
I would actually do it a little differently - have him check out the different services - AF (yes even with bad eyes), Army (hooah!), Navy, Marines (part of the Navy) and Coast Guard.

They all have very good websites that detail careers available to officers. THEN have him look at the academy for which service he is most interested. My daughter looked at CGA and USNA but decided she just couldn't see herself aboard a ship for days - even though she loves the beach.

Don't forget to have him apply for ROTC scholarships as well - Army, Navy and AF can all be completed now. Aside from USNA, the Marines have their own officer assession programs through NROTC- MC option and the PLC program.

Infantry vs Marines - West Point is required by law to commission 80% of male grads to a Combat branch - Infantry is the most popular.
Mids commission to Marines from USNA at a higher rate than the past because of the war. I don't know what % do commission Marines - it could be a bout 20% or so now.

Jamzmom is correct.

I have trained 3 pilots in the AF so far that were KP's. After a LOT of ribbing from the rest of us...we had a lot of fun comparing notes about an academy that MOST of us have no clue about!

And the option to enter ANY service...that's pretty excellent!

If you’ve got a kid with the main objective of serving this country as an Officer in what ever branch they deem to suit them best, help them find all opportunities to reach their goals. It’s a great learning experience for the entire family. ROTC should never never be overlooked. A humble opinion about what I’ve learned about KP thus far. USMMA produces Officers who go on to become involved as pilots, Intel, Homeland Security, NOAA, Marines through the Marine Ops program with kids at Quantico training while I’m writing this, ect. Heck even the Commander of recent space shuttle missions is a KP grad. I’d need a whole page of forum use to include the many options. Sea is only one small part of KP & the leadership skills learned from that year away are incredible. Just realize that you’ll want your young man/lady to have options across the board. In speaking with many kids & parents either at Academies or in ROTC programs over the last few years, I have come to the conclusion that if they get in to any of these elite programs & are achieving what they set out to do, then door #1, door #2 & door #3 are all win-win situations. Research them all well & you’ll never regret a lost opportunity.

Good advice! Thank you