Suspensions??

Usna1212

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Apr 27, 2015
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Do applications or BGO specifically ask about previous suspensions you received in high school? If the suspension is not officially on your record or transcripts is it required to report it?
 
Sounds like a character issue to me. To report a misdoing or not to?
 
Sounds like a character issue to me. To report a misdoing or not to?
It's not a character issue... The OP is simply asking if it is required for him to report his suspension. If it's not required for him to do so there would be no purpose in doing so. If you are never specifically asked if you have ever used a curse word would you just write on your applications/tell your BGO that you have used a curse word?
 
It's not a character issue... The OP is simply asking if it is required for him to report his suspension. If it's not required for him to do so there would be no purpose in doing so. If you are never specifically asked if you have ever used a curse word would you just write on your applications/tell your BGO that you have used a curse word?
Using a curse word and getting suspended I think are two different fields. A suspension is usually due to wrong doing especially in high school in an era, at least in my area where a school would much rather give ISS to look better on their annual reports.
 
I didn't know whether or not my suspension was on my record or not so I reported it. A month later I got an email directly from an admissions councilor from the academy requesting I write a more in-depth statement about what happened and how I felt about it now, plus a letter from my principle about the incident and about my character. I got both of them back to her within 24 hours and she said the board would review it. One month later in November, I received my LOA.

So yes they might inquire about it, and looking back I think I could of gotten away with not reporting it, but I think the board appreciated the straight forward, honest approach and it and it paid off for me.

Hope this helped - Class of '17
 
Using a curse word and getting suspended I think are two different fields. A suspension is usually due to wrong doing especially in high school in an era, at least in my area where a school would much rather give ISS to look better on their annual reports.
A curse word was just an example. The point is, pretty everyone has committed wrong doings at one point or another in their life and there's no sense in reporting a wrong doing if it isn't required.

On the DODMERB if someone has a condition but they aren't asked about it I would guess that most people would not go out of their way tell them that they have it. Is that a character issue too? No, but it would be a character issue if someone were asked about the condition and they lied and said that they didn't have it. It would be a character issue if the OP were asking he should lie and say that he was never suspended, but that's not what the OP asked.
 
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I didn't know whether or not my suspension was on my record or not so I reported it. A month later I got an email directly from an admissions councilor from the academy requesting I write a more in-depth statement about what happened and how I felt about it now, plus a letter from my principle about the incident and about my character. I got both of them back to her within 24 hours and she said the board would review it. One month later in November, I received my LOA.

So yes they might inquire about it, and looking back I think I could of gotten away with not reporting it, but I think the board appreciated the straight forward, honest approach and it and it paid off for me.

Hope this helped - Class of '17
This approach might work for the OP as well depending on what he was suspended for. If you were suspended for having you phone out in class and the OP was suspended for beating someone up, I'm not sure if they would treat it the same way.
 
I believe on the form the Academy sends to the dean's office at the high school to request transcripts there is a specific question that asks if the student has been subject to any disciplinary action including probations and suspensions as well as reasons for same. The question does not ask if the probation or suspension is on their record.

Best to get ahead of it if you'll be applying and I'd have to agree with GoNavyPro and report, explain and tell how you've grown from the experience. If you don't and your school dean does, well that will raise some red flags.
 
Tell the truth and ensure the whole truth is known.

If it comes up later, using "well, you never specifically asked" as an excuse will do nothing for you.

Ethics preaching aside, I believe it is asked on the SF-86.
 
I didn't know whether or not my suspension was on my record or not so I reported it. A month later I got an email directly from an admissions councilor from the academy requesting I write a more in-depth statement about what happened and how I felt about it now, plus a letter from my principle about the incident and about my character. I got both of them back to her within 24 hours and she said the board would review it. One month later in November, I received my LOA.

So yes they might inquire about it, and looking back I think I could of gotten away with not reporting it, but I think the board appreciated the straight forward, honest approach and it and it paid off for me.

Hope this helped - Class of '17
May I ask what the suspension was for?
 
PM me, I'll explain it too to.
For some reason, it will not allow me to PM you. Sorry for the difficulties, I would also appreciate if I can inform you of my situation and ask for your opinion. Thank you for your time.
 
As a BGO, I don't ask the question. Some BGOs may. In my view, this is an issue between the school and USNA. If USNA wants the information, they will request it from the school or will ask the candidate. It could also come up on your teacher recs -- you never know what they might mention. If you are asked whether you have ever been suspended -- and you have -- you should report it regardless of whether it is on your official record. If you are not asked -- either by USNA or your BGO -- there is no need no raise it affirmatively.

And as the above poster said, you will likely be asked to write about it for the Character Board. I agree that what you were suspended for would be important as would when it happened (junior year viewed less favorably than freshman year), whether the incident repeated, how you learned from it, etc.
 
As a BGO, I don't ask the question. Some BGOs may. In my view, this is an issue between the school and USNA. If USNA wants the information, they will request it from the school or will ask the candidate. It could also come up on your teacher recs -- you never know what they might mention. If you are asked whether you have ever been suspended -- and you have -- you should report it regardless of whether it is on your official record. If you are not asked -- either by USNA or your BGO -- there is no need no raise it affirmatively.

And as the above poster said, you will likely be asked to write about it for the Character Board. I agree that what you were suspended for would be important as would when it happened (junior year viewed less favorably than freshman year), whether the incident repeated, how you learned from it, etc.
The incident happened a couple weeks ago based on prom night (you can fill in the blanks) and I received a 3 day suspension, but nothing legal. It was a stupid mistake that I have made and I am hoping it will not ruin my chances. I have been a straight A student my entire life, involved in sports and triathlons, and very involved with my community and school. My nights have been sleepless thinking of all the ways my future can go from now. I have fully grown and learned from my stupid mistake and the teachers and staff understand that it is unlike my character. What would your opinion be for me to do and will this ruin my chances of admission?
 
First of all, a suspension in of itself does not necessarily mean you will be disqualified from receiving an appointment. It will be determined on the specific facts of your case.
The best answer is to email your Admissions Counselor once you receive application instructions (there is no point of doing it right now) and give them a brief explanation of the situation and ask if they need full disclosure of the incident or if it is moot. It is okay to state you were not sure whether to report this or not, but erring on the side of being upfront/honest.
I wouldn't lose sleep, as many individuals do "bad" things in their life --- sometimes you learn from the wrong mistakes. I am pretty certain many MIDN have done bad things in the past, but they were appointed.

I think you will also feel good that you did the right thing.
 
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