West Point Prep

1861-65

5-Year Member
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Sep 18, 2010
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8
I'm a soon to be enlisted soldier in the Army. I will be going 11x airborne ranger, and I am heading out to basic training October 29th. I am currently 18 years old and tried to get into USMA last year but was not accepted. If I do decided to attend USMA in a few years would I have to redo ranger and airborne school? I have also been looking into American Military University to get in the future my bachelors in military history for Officer Candidate School. I could then be active duty while I pursued my degree to become an officer. Would OCS be the better option for me? Thank you.
 
If you earn your Airborne wings and Ranger tab and make it to West Point they don't take them away. You will wear them on your uniform.

Path to officership -
You have options besides West Point. If West Point proves not to be an option - here is another option: ROTC. Serve 3 years Active Duty. After your enlistment is up, get out. Use your GI Bill and join ROTC. Once you contract with ROTC you get the GI bill plus your ROTC stipend. If you pick a military friendly school you may be granted college credit for your military service. You can also make up some credits in summer school and probably graduate in three years. I know a couple of kids doing this and it's a pretty sweet deal.
 
Would I be able to go back to my airborne/ranger unit? Or would I have to go a normal infantry unit after my graduation from West Point. Do you know if I'd take a refresher course with a 5 year break from airborne school training? Thank you for the help.
 
I'm a soon to be enlisted soldier in the Army. I will be going 11x airborne ranger, and I am heading out to basic training October 29th. I am currently 18 years old and tried to get into USMA last year but was not accepted. If I do decided to attend USMA in a few years would I have to redo ranger and airborne school? I have also been looking into American Military University to get in the future my bachelors in military history for Officer Candidate School. I could then be active duty while I pursued my degree to become an officer. Would OCS be the better option for me? Thank you.

All skill tabs and badges are retained for wear and the qualification transfers to your ORB from your ERB. If you complete RASP and are accepted into Regiment you will likely become regimentally affiliated with the 75th, and IIRC you may display your regimental affiliation as well. The only skill badge that doesn't fully transfer is the Special Forces tab. If earned as an enlisted soldier you may wear it as an officer, however, the "skill" is not transferable and thus to become an SF branch officer, you would have to redo SFAS.

If you can get into West Point, do it. Keep all your options open. If you're a good ranger, expect them to discourage you from leaving the enlisted ranks.
 
Would I be able to go back to my airborne/ranger unit? Or would I have to go a normal infantry unit after my graduation from West Point. Do you know if I'd take a refresher course with a 5 year break from airborne school training? Thank you for the help.

No, she doesn't know.

You cannot go straight back to regiment as a newly commissioned officer. Three of my classmates at USMA were tabbed "batt boys." Two ended up back in Regiment eventually. You have to go to a regular unit first, and then assess as an officer for Regiment. They're two different skill sets (officer vs. soldier) and thus they look for different things in RASP.

As for airborne training, Basic Airborne Refresher (BAR) would be conducted. It's mandatory if you haven't jumped in 180 days. It takes one day and is done at your unit.
 
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If I do reapply what will West Point put in consideration? Does my high school achievements no longer apply? Also, how do age waivers work because I want as much enlisted experience as possible? Thank you.
 
If I do reapply what will West Point put in consideration? Does my high school achievements no longer apply? Also, how do age waivers work because I want as much enlisted experience as possible? Thank you.

Things you did in high school can still count. There are no, I repeat NO age waivers for West Point. You must be no older than 22 on R-day.
 
Enlisted have a temporary chance for an age waiver if they served in Iraq/Afghanistan and that kept them from originally meeting "younger than 23" limit...
-CITE-
10 USC Sec. 4346 01/03/2012 (112-90)

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle B - Army
PART III - TRAINING
CHAPTER 403 - UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

-HEAD-
Sec. 4346. Cadets: requirements for admission
TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO WAIVE MAXIMUM AGE LIMITATION ON ADMISSION TO
THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES
(Warning, link is long text document)
Pub. L. 112-81, div. A, title V, Sec. 553, Dec. 31, 2011, 125
Stat. 1413, provided that:
"(a) Waiver for Certain Enlisted Members. - The Secretary of the
military department concerned may waive the maximum age limitation
specified in section 4346(a), 6958(a)(1), or 9346(a) of title 10,
United States Code, for the admission of an enlisted member of the
Armed Forces to the United States Military Academy, the United
States Naval Academy, or the United States Air Force Academy if the
member -
"(1) satisfies the eligibility requirements for admission to
that academy (other than the maximum age limitation); and
"(2) was or is prevented from being admitted to a military
service academy before the member reached the maximum age
specified in such sections as a result of service on active duty
in a theater of operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
"(b) Maximum Age for Receipt of Waiver. - A waiver may not be
granted under this section if the candidate would pass the
candidate's twenty-sixth birthday by July 1 of the year in which
the candidate would enter the military service academy pursuant to
the waiver.
"(c) Limitation on Number Admitted Using Waiver. - Not more than
five candidates may be admitted to each of the military service
academies for an academic year pursuant to a waiver granted under
this section.

(edited to provide link to text.)
 
Enlisted have a temporary chance for an age waiver if they served in Iraq/Afghanistan and that kept them from originally meeting "younger than 23" limit...
-CITE-
10 USC Sec. 4346 01/03/2012 (112-90)

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle B - Army
PART III - TRAINING
CHAPTER 403 - UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

-HEAD-
Sec. 4346. Cadets: requirements for admission
TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO WAIVE MAXIMUM AGE LIMITATION ON ADMISSION TO
THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES
(Warning, link is long text document)
Pub. L. 112-81, div. A, title V, Sec. 553, Dec. 31, 2011, 125
Stat. 1413, provided that:
"(a) Waiver for Certain Enlisted Members. - The Secretary of the
military department concerned may waive the maximum age limitation
specified in section 4346(a), 6958(a)(1), or 9346(a) of title 10,
United States Code, for the admission of an enlisted member of the
Armed Forces to the United States Military Academy, the United
States Naval Academy, or the United States Air Force Academy if the
member -
"(1) satisfies the eligibility requirements for admission to
that academy (other than the maximum age limitation); and
"(2) was or is prevented from being admitted to a military
service academy before the member reached the maximum age
specified in such sections as a result of service on active duty
in a theater of operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation
Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
"(b) Maximum Age for Receipt of Waiver. - A waiver may not be
granted under this section if the candidate would pass the
candidate's twenty-sixth birthday by July 1 of the year in which
the candidate would enter the military service academy pursuant to
the waiver.
"(c) Limitation on Number Admitted Using Waiver. - Not more than
five candidates may be admitted to each of the military service
academies for an academic year pursuant to a waiver granted under
this section.

(edited to provide link to text.)

Awesome info. Thanks, man. I should check MILPER messages more often. I'm sure that was buried in one.
 
Awesome info. Thanks, man. I should check MILPER messages more often. I'm sure that was buried in one.

CONCUR! :thumb:

I hadn't seen this one; trust me to distribute it to the ALO force!!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
Enlisted have a temporary chance for an age waiver if they served in Iraq/Afghanistan and that kept them from originally meeting "younger than 23" limit...

Interesting as to if the Sec Army will grant waivers easily.

It is "may," not "must."

I am trying to think of a timeline and situation where a wavier make sense.

The only scenario that comes to my mind right is that a 22 year old deploys in June/July/August and serve in a very forward location until February.
 
Interesting as to if the Sec Army will grant waivers easily.

It is "may," not "must."

I am trying to think of a timeline and situation where a wavier make sense.

The only scenario that comes to my mind right is that a 22 year old deploys in June/July/August and serve in a very forward location until February.

It will almost certainly not apply to him if he's in Ranger batt, given their deployment lengths.
 
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