Not interested in academy but want to attend summer seminar?

bosoxnation33

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I no longer want to pursue a career as an officer, as it got in the way of my passion for teaching. I am considering enlisting in the Marine Reserves to follow both of my dreams. I want to attend the summer seminar to get an idea of what military life is like. Is this a bad way to go about it, and would I get a realistic sense of what it will be like?
 
Don't recommend going to Summer Seminar. Academy wants those slots for high school students interested in the Academy. It's also an evaluation opportunity for the Academy to put a face with a name and gauge desire. If it's enlistment in the Corps you are wanting then go to your local recruiting office and talk to them. Ask them if you can attend some of their pool functions. I had an older friend that enlisted while I was a Junior and he invited me to some of their pool functions and I thought it was a really neat experience, especially to gain that enlisted perspective.

On a side note(and this is from personal experience). Know exactly what you want and how you're going to do it before you go in there. The enlisted recruiters are smooth talkers and will throw a large amount of information at you and try to convince you to do this over that, and you should do it this way rather than that way, etc. Don't fall into that trap. You're not old enough to sign anything I assume so you shouldn't worry about that.


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On top of that, Summer Seminar will not give you a good idea of what military life is like at all.
 
I no longer want to pursue a career as an officer, as it got in the way of my passion for teaching. I am considering enlisting in the Marine Reserves to follow both of my dreams. I want to attend the summer seminar to get an idea of what military life is like. Is this a bad way to go about it, and would I get a realistic sense of what it will be like?

Can you even go directly into the USMC Reserves? I didn't think so but don't know for certain. Have you considered NROTC Marine Option? Marines don't care what your major is and you don't need to take all the Math and Physics courses required of Navy Options. You should be able to get your degree/qualifications as a teacher and pursue your teaching after 4 years Active Duty.
 
I no longer want to pursue a career as an officer, as it got in the way of my passion for teaching. I am considering enlisting in the Marine Reserves to follow both of my dreams. I want to attend the summer seminar to get an idea of what military life is like. Is this a bad way to go about it, and would I get a realistic sense of what it will be like?

bosoxnation33: one dream is to become a teacher? what is the other?

I can assure you that you will get first-hand experience as a "teacher" as a Marine Officer. You will have classes to teach book knowledge and experiential learning. You will have to test your Marines (verbal, written, hands on). You will be taught a lot about public speaking and instructional learning in Basic School. You will learn classroom/ group management techniques. You will not have to deal with half the academic and administrative issues that public school teachers deal with (students with learning disabilities, parents, etc) but you will have to learn how to teach to various educational levels, skill sets and, on occasion, deal with disciplinary issues.

I mean no disrespect to any teachers who may be reading this - in fact, I have a daughter that is a high school educator. But I just urge you to consider the fact that you will get a whole lot of education and real life experiences as a military officer that will help in your future role as a teacher.
 
I suggest applying to the summer seminar. The whole point is to show high school students if academy life may be a good fit for them. For all you know you may come to love it, much like i did. There's no harm in applying and discovering yourself!!!
 
My DS got into NASS but had no desire to go to USNA and said he wasn't going to go. We told him he got in and he's going! lol He fell in love with it and is now thriving as a 2/C!
 
if you go to NASS with no desire to attend the academy. Basically you're taking someone who has the complete desire to attend the academy seat away. NASS is strictly for those who plan on attending the USNA either after high school or after their first years of college, but specifically NASS only takes High school Juniors. I would attend that Marine Corps Summer leadership if you plan on enlisting...You must remember the military and the academy are two different animals...the academy is a college first and foremost.

IMO: Apply, Just give it a try, who knows you might have a sudden love for academy life and forget about enlisting completely, but take a look at that Marine program above, looks like something that probably fits more towards your situation.
 
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