USCGA vs NROTC marine option

pazzari

5-Year Member
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Oct 18, 2012
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I can't decide between the USCGA and taking a NROTC marine option scholarship to the average state U. (Not sure what college yet but rejected from cornell). I know the first thing I will hear is "do you wanna be a marine or a coastie?" I'm honestly not sure. Initially I wanted to go to USNA and didn't want to be either but now these two opportunities have landed in my lap.

I'm reapplying to navy next year but if I don't get in, it's gonna be either a coastie or a marine career. Just looking for some opinions and input. It would be greatly appreciated. The decision fast approaches. :frown:
 
I can't decide between the USCGA and taking a NROTC marine option scholarship to the average state U. (Not sure what college yet but rejected from cornell). I know the first thing I will hear is "do you wanna be a marine or a coastie?" I'm honestly not sure. Initially I wanted to go to USNA and didn't want to be either but now these two opportunities have landed in my lap.

I'm reapplying to navy next year but if I don't get in, it's gonna be either a coastie or a marine career. Just looking for some opinions and input. It would be greatly appreciated. The decision fast approaches. :frown:

Well, without knowing your finances, I would say USCGA (I'm assuming you have an appointment in hand) because free sounds good. However, I would plan on staying the full four years. I don't think applying to one academy while in another is looked on favorably.

Also, again assuming a NROTC marine option scholarship in hand (which is my son's position so I'm biased) and you can handle R&B financially, then it probably is looked on more favorably for a USNA re-apply, and is a good course to take if you really want some form of Navy. Also, if you meet the Navy academic requirements in college (acceptable grades in calc and calc based physics) then you might be able to change to Navy option beginning sophomore year if that's what you're really after. It becomes more difficult to change to Navy Option later than that because the Naval Science academic requirements diverge beginning sophomore year, but I suppose its not impossible if you keep up with both.

Meanwhile you have a chance to try Marine Option on for size freshman year.
You might decide it's the right place for you and that Navy is only there to provide you a ride anyway. :biggrin:

I'm assuming in all this that your real heart's desire at the moment is Navy (as opposed to Marine or Coast Guard which were your backup plans).

Good luck sorting through this. Not a bad problem to have. :thumb:
 
Yes I have both in hand. Sorry for not being more specific. And navy is what I really want. I've heard that switching academies isn't a good idea but reliable sources(my Blue and Gold officer) have told me otherwise as well.

If someone could confirm that it would be appreciated.

As far as switching after two years in college, does it really matter if you can't get specific courses such as naval science etc.? Your still a plebe at navy. Even if your 22 with a degree. That is my understanding anyway.
 
Yes I have both in hand. Sorry for not being more specific. And navy is what I really want. I've heard that switching academies isn't a good idea but reliable sources(my Blue and Gold officer) have told me otherwise as well.

If someone could confirm that it would be appreciated.

As far as switching after two years in college, does it really matter if you can't get specific courses such as naval science etc.? Your still a plebe at navy. Even if your 22 with a degree. That is my understanding anyway.
I think you are going to have a difficult time resigning from one academy and re-applying and joining another. I am sure it has been done at some point but I wouldn't bank on it.
 
Yes I have both in hand. Sorry for not being more specific. And navy is what I really want. I've heard that switching academies isn't a good idea but reliable sources(my Blue and Gold officer) have told me otherwise as well.

If someone could confirm that it would be appreciated.

As far as switching after two years in college, does it really matter if you can't get specific courses such as naval science etc.? Your still a plebe at navy. Even if your 22 with a degree. That is my understanding anyway.

If you're able to get into USNA then no problem. But if you're still in NROTC Marine Option and try to switch to Navy Option later than start of sophomore year it becomes difficult. As I said, the Naval Science requirements diverge starting sophomore year.

EDIT: The only part that's hard here is that you're still pursuing plan A rather than embracing a plan B. Nothing wrong with that but perhaps not the easiest approach.
 
Maximize Your Options

I’d take the NROTC MO scholarship. It will provide you more options. You might decide you like being a Marine. But if not, by taking the scholarship you could:
1) Keep the scholarship, but transfer it to another NROTC school down the road. See NSTCINST 1533.2A, Section 7-1 for the details.
2) Request a change of Option, from Marine to Navy down the road. See NSTCINST 1533.2A, Section 7-3 for the details.
3) Apply to USNA while you’re a NROTC Mid. I actually knew a Mid you did this. But why would you want to give up the NROTC good life for the rigors of Academy life? NSTCINST 1533.2A, Section 8-15 states “Any student may disenroll at their own request if appointed to another service academy or ROTC program.”

You can download NSTCINST 1533.2A from the net. Knowledge is an awesome thing. Use it wisely. Your Unit might not even know these options are available. You might have to show them the instruction. Units are manned by active duty Navy folks. There’s no magic wand to make them knowledgeable about the myriad options and rules out there. One day they’re flying a jet, the next day they’re a NROTC Instructor.

BTW, the Coast Guard has a height requirement of 6 feet in case the ship sinks. That way you can walk back to shore.
 
BTW, the Coast Guard has a height requirement of 6 feet in case the ship sinks. That way you can walk back to shore.


I'm sure the parents, friends, and families of the 23 men on the US Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn are laughing their heads off, wondering why their father, brother, or son didn't just walk back to Tampa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB7TVWRK7Ps - Watch the memorial service, maybe you can see them laughing! :rolleyes:

The USCGC Blackthorn (WLB-391) was a 180-foot (55 m) seagoing buoy tender (WLB) which sank in 1980 in a tragic collision near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge of Tampa Bay, resulting in 23 crew member fatalities.

wor-blackthorn.jpg


Can't wait to hear jokes about Army tanks being hit by artillery shells, or Air Force plane crashes!

:rolleyes:
 
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Luigi, you're correct that this is serious business and our hearts go out to all men lost at sea or otherwise. But come on, a little good-natured inter-service rivalry joke is in order from time to time.

Did you hear the one about the Marine with a 17 1/2 in neck and a size 2 cover? My son is turning into him!
 
If you are for sure going to reapply to USNA, I would go to the Marine option or I would go to a University as a civilian and concentrate on getting great grades in college level calculus and chemistry. Both the Marine option and USCGA are extremely difficult to get. The Marine option would give you a different college experience, you would probably have a little more time to study, and you would have more liberty time. The Marine Corp does not tolerate fence sitters well, so if you go Marine you need to give 110 percent and then if you reapply to USNA your OINC will give you a good endorsement. If you go to the USCGA, I don't think you will want to do Swab year, and turn around and do Plebe year all over again. The CG and USNA are similar, and free. The Marine option will cost some money for room, board, etc.. I would be reluctant to give up a bird in the hand. If you want an academy experience I would go to USCGA and forget Navy. Just my opinion.
 
USCGA and Marine Corps Scholarship are both the most competitive things to get. The fact that you got both, is a miracle. I would go with USCGA id you want to do some cool work. Get in while you can.
 
Thanks alot everyone. More advice then I thought I would get.

In the end, I can't turn down the academy experience and the opportunities it offers. Even if it's not recommended I'm going to reapply to navy. If they decline me so be it. You can't go wrong with any academy IMO.

Thanks again.
 
NROTC or USCGA

Just a heads up, congrats on being accepted to both, but if your dream is to be a NAVAL Officer, then i strongly recommend you doing NROTC. If your dream is to lead sailors in any way or form, then go to USCGA. You CAN NOT attend 1 federal paid Service Academy, and apply to transfer to another one or start over at another one. You can go to a private military school and apply and attend an academy, but no hopping from 1 academy to the other. Just so you know, once you go to Coast Guard, that's your final draw on Academies. Best of luck!
 
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