Didn't get appointed. What are the next "best steps"

FlNewbattmom

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
6
My son did not receive an appointment. We are carefully considering his next steps forward as he now works towards earning appontment into the Class of 2017. The options as we see them are:

The University of Central Florida, with ROTC and engineering course load - practically free with current arrangements.

One of the military academy prep schools like New Mexico Military Institute - no current scholarship money, but it might be possible to find some.

Our question is which would provide the highest possibility of appointment?
 
Last edited:
For non-sponsored prep, the rigor of the courses (and of course, excelling in them) will help more than the institution.

Take similar courses to what a swab would take.

For example, a typical swab academic course load would look similar to this:

  • English Composition
  • Writing
  • Calculus I and Calculus II
  • Chemistry I and Chemistry II
  • Stats/Engineering Design
  • US History
  • Macroeconomics
Of course, maintaining peak physical fitness (aim for a 220+ PFE) as well as staying healthy and injury free should also be primary goals.

Good Luck!
 
My son did not get an appointment this year. He will be attending SUNY Maritime in their engineering program and in the regiment of cadets. He has expressed interest in applying again for the USCGA. My question is if he does eventually get an appointment, how will he be handled academically? He is an excellent student who will do very well with the tough course load at Maritime. If he were to start at the CGA as a 4th and he has already completed a year of college, will he have to repeat those courses? I know the academies are different as you travel with your class all the way through as opposed to a traditional college so I am just wondering.
Here's a separate question: When he graduates from SUNY Maritime and gets his direct commission into the Coast Guard, where is he placed on the billet list? I assume he will fall in behind all of the academy grads. Do non-academy grads get the leftovers or is there a separate list for them?
Again, just wondering. He wants flight school so he wants to be in the best position he can to get there.
THANKS
 
A couple related questions

Thank you for your help!

He has already taken both of the Freshman Composition courses our state university system requires (the second in an honors section) and an honors speech course.

Is the issue having a schedule just like the 4th class or showing that he can do well with the classes they are taking that he hasn't had yet while doing well on the PFE and in ROTC?

Assuming he could get a 220 on the PFE by fall and is involved in ROTC, would having a part time job or taking PE courses and/or intramural sports carry more weight in the leadership realm? He is interested in intramural sports, but we are considering both the family budget and the leadership issues.
 
Thank you for your help!

He has already taken both of the Freshman Composition courses our state university system requires (the second in an honors section) and an honors speech course.

Is the issue having a schedule just like the 4th class or showing that he can do well with the classes they are taking that he hasn't had yet while doing well on the PFE and in ROTC?

Assuming he could get a 220 on the PFE by fall and is involved in ROTC, would having a part time job or taking PE courses and/or intramural sports carry more weight in the leadership realm? He is interested in intramural sports, but we are considering both the family budget and the leadership issues.

Having "been there, done that" with DS, here are my thoughts. They may or may not be typical....just wanted to show you there is more than one way to skin cat.

Son applied out of high school, was waitlisted. He waited, and waited, and, well..you get the picture. June 6th he was told that there would be no last minute spot for him. For him, it was CGA or nothing....he did not want to go to the state u, or any other u, so he decided he would go a non-traditional route (from what we've seen here, it was highly non-traditional....) and go to the local JC, and mimic a 4/c courseload to the best of his ability. He also took up a new sport, one of the relatively minor ones that many start later in their young lives, did really well, and reapplied. He worked, kept bettering his EC resume, and even retook the SAT and improved by a hundred points. Yup...as a college freshman. He did everything within his power to show CGA that he was right for them. He did well in his classes (not perfect, but a 3.6, I believe) and was offered an appointment in March of his freshman year.

The rationale with the JC was two fold....first, it was inexpensive, close to home, and had a good reputation for transferring to good universities. Given that the units would NOT transfer at all to CGA, these reasons made sense to us. And secondly, if he didn't get in the second time around, his plan was to continue on, and transfer after his sophomore year. The team that he was on had a lot of success helping their players find "homes" at some pretty great universities on the West Coast.

I think the advice you've been given is good...it's not the school...it's the courses and the effort made by your son that matters far more. As for sports vs. leadership....our son's team fees cost us about 200.00 for the year. Hopefully the same is true for your son. Keep up the leadership as well...a balance of things that he is passionate about will "read well" on his reapplication.

Good luck! :thumb:
 
Commission from Maritime Academies

Good People:

What are the chances of getting a Direct Commission from a Maritime Academy such as SUNY or Maine...or any other? Does anyone have any recent numbers/stats? What are the assignment possibilities in our CG? This is a great thread started and should be pursued...

Thanks

corescue59
 
Good People:

What are the chances of getting a Direct Commission from a Maritime Academy such as SUNY or Maine...or any other? Does anyone have any recent numbers/stats? What are the assignment possibilities in our CG? This is a great thread started and should be pursued...

Thanks

corescue59

For year 2012, the O-1 commisioning is as follows:

ALCGOFF 030/12
SUBJ: OFFICER ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2012 (AY12) FINAL REPORT

CGA CLASS OF 2012: 232 (Last year = 226)
OCS: 119 (Last year = 78)
DCO (C4IT, AVIATORS, DCIO, DCL, MARGRAD): 37 (Last year = 73)
CWO-LT: 19 (Last Year = 22)

As you can see, last year the DCO appointments we slashed in half. Not sure what will happen over the next 4 years, but the USCG is notorious for having to "make do" with fewer resources (people and money).
 
Having a lot of Community Service hours looks really great too so I would definitely recommend that.

As for your DS, don't have him be too discouraged. Plenty of people have spent a year at college before coming here.

I really suggest having him take classes that are similar to the 4/c and 3/c schedule. All of the majors take similar courses the first two years so if he can take those at community college and do well he may be able to validate those courses. His credit won't transfer over, but it'll save him a LOT of time and give him more flexibility in his schedule.

I recommend him taking:

Calculus I/II
Chem I/II
Macroeconomics
Statics
 
Summarizing for clarity & a follow up question

1) PFE shoot for 220 healthy & uninjured

2) Take:
ROTC
Calculus 1 & 2
Chemistry 1 & 2
Macro economics
Statics/Engineering Design
US History

Do "lots" of community service (30-50 hours?)
Work this summer and maybe part time during the school year.
Possibly a sport that someone with lack of experience will be welcome to join and maybe even excel.

What types of sports are like that? We are having a hard time thinking of anything but rugby and that doesn't sound like it would leave him healthy and uninjured.
 
Possibly a sport that someone with lack of experience will be welcome to join and maybe even excel.

What types of sports are like that? We are having a hard time thinking of anything but rugby and that doesn't sound like it would leave him healthy and uninjured.

Most certainly crew and sailing. Boxing, rifle/pistol, and underwater hockey also come to mind.

:cool:
 
Thanks for your help!

It is going to be a fabulous gap year! So much is falling into place very quickly! He has decided to attend the local community college instead of the local university! Both are quality schools and have every course he needs, but the community college will help him meet savings goals. He has found an underwater hockey club and is psyched up about starting ASAP! A local marathon runner has taken interest in his PFE running score and is helping him!

Most importantly, he has taken this next year as a challenge to consider each area and find ways to get every detail of his life ship shape.
 
Back
Top