How Important is Captain of A Team

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fifi5

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Jul 26, 2015
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On the "chance me" posts it is pretty consitant, you should try to be captain of a team. What if a candidate isn't, is all hope lost? There are leadership opportunties that can be just as valuable if not more valuable than a team captain. Does USNA give lets say 700 points for a team captain and 50 points for non-sports so you have to have 12 times more leadership spots to make up the deficit? Thank you for explaining? DS has played football for 4 years, but the same 4 kids have been captain since freshman year.
 
I made it in without being one. It definitely helps, but it's not a deal breaker.
 
Good question. I recall reading about the topic over the years, but can't quite remember the definitive answer. I know candidates get in without it since the class profile shows the percentage with being team captain, but from a number of points on the section of the whole person score that would be interesting. Looking forward to the BGOs responding.
 
DS not getting his shot till later this year (as a senior) for a Capt slot. Already has his Appointment. PM me, we have chatted before.
 
Leadership can be demonstrated across a wide array of activities, not just limited to team sports/captains. Don't worry about whole person points, you can't control it. In many instances, you can control the activities you join and what you do in them.

I'll also add that the BGO interview will determine the extent to which you were a captain or a leader within your activity...if it was simply for the title and nothing more than that, that can be noted in your interview report and the Admissions Board could take away points.

Back to my point...don't focus on the points...focus on quality leadership within your activity...whether the captain of a sports team or not.
 
I agree with bgo08. For some reason people fixate on points to accumulate and that is running down the wrong path. The point system is a type of screening device or ranking system to bump a candidate up to the point that a pair of human eyes wants to see more. If it were all just a matter of checking boxes and racking up points, the Academy could just rack and stack the numbers, hit the "enter" key on Feb 1st and out comes the new class. In spite of all my gripes with the Navy, the Admissions process of going beyond numbers and reading essays, teacher's opinions, BGO interviews and getting an up-or-down thumb from an outside panel (the MOC nomination committee) gives a much more honest profile of a young candidate than any point system. This same personal attention from people around and above an officer is reflected in the way promotions are done on active duty. I'd rather get screwed by a human than a computer any day.
 
Excellent responses. "Point" well taken. ;)

I didn't realize that the BGO's report would evaluate the true nature of being a leader in a role and that the report could add or detract from the candidates's overall profile. However, when a moment's thought is applied to the concept of what the BGO interview is suppose to be about - it does make total sense.
 
Agree with all of the above...A title is a title...Can you articulate it into what you accomplished as a leader. Leadership will show in the LOR's and BGO interview. Try not to obsess about a particular position. A good leader will exhibit certain qualities in everything they do.
 
OK now I get it!!! Damn, I have lost my sense of humor through this. Thank you for the laugh!
 
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