Letter of Assurance Received/NAPS 2016

Ellerman

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2015
Messages
18
Hello, everybody.

I just wanted to start this thread to have an area for the USNA class of 2020 or in my case; the upcoming NAPS class (USNA 2021) that will be convening in July to converse and ask questions amongst each other. I also wanted to have a place for enlisted applicants to ask questions. The enlisted process can be overwhelming and a lot of the info that you are given is outdated (Especially if you are in the Marine Corps)

My background as for my application goes as follows:

I’ve lost count but this is my 3rd or 4th time applying. I didn’t have the best GPA in high school, only a 3.42 but I excelled in math and science. I was also a 4 year/3 sport varsity athlete for XC, wrestling and track. I Joined the Marine Corps in November of 2013 (best decision I’ve ever made) and I currently run a 300/300 PFT and CFT. I was the Marine of The Quarter for last quarter and was meritoriously promoted to Corporal/E4 on September 2nd. Shortly following on September 15th, I received my SECNAV nomination and on Oct 28th 0400 Japan Standard Time (Today) I received my LOA to attend NAPS much earlier than I had expected it. Throughout the months of July-September I took online Calculus and Physics at the same time and passed them both which I think improved my chances for the Academy.

I hope that current and future applicants will be able to find this thread of use and I hope to hear from the future NAPS guys that I’ll have the pleasure of meeting in July!
 
Congratulations on your promotion and NAPS! Just out of curiosity, how many years on active do you have? If you have 3 and counting the 1 year at NAPS, your pay should jump to O/E1. I may be wrong if the NAPS year is credit as an enlisted year..
 
The NAPS year counts as a year of active service for everyone who attends. So even kids from high school will get O-1 pay over 2 years 1 year ahead of their direct and college admit peers at USNA. So if between fleet time and NAPS you reach 4 years and 1 day prior to swearing in as a Mid, you should graduate at O-1E pay.
 
I'm not going to hijack the thread....but if there are other enlisted applying or thinking about applying....take notice of Ellerman's credentials (and there are many other enlisted applicants who have similar credentials):

(1) Marine of the Quarter
(2) Perfect 300 PFT
(3) Meritorious promotion
(4) Took additional Calc/Physics classes

These are some of the things (not necessarily exactly) you need to be shooting for. There are certainly others that strengthen your credentials!
 
Congratulations on your promotion and NAPS! Just out of curiosity, how many years on active do you have? If you have 3 and counting the 1 year at NAPS, your pay should jump to O/E1. I may be wrong if the NAPS year is credit as an enlisted year..

I will miss the 4 year mark for O-1E by a couple months after NAPS. I know it's a lot of monetary difference but it's not that big of a deal to me personally. I will have around 3.5 years of service by then so if I can read the pay chart correctly, I will still get pretty close to O1-E pay. O1 pay with >3 years (Someone correct me if I'm wrong). Either way, the checks will come regardless.

I'm not going to hijack the thread....but if there are other enlisted applying or thinking about applying....take notice of Ellerman's credentials (and there are many other enlisted applicants who have similar credentials):

(1) Marine of the Quarter
(2) Perfect 300 PFT
(3) Meritorious promotion
(4) Took additional Calc/Physics classes

These are some of the things (not necessarily exactly) you need to be shooting for. There are certainly others that strengthen your credentials!

usnabgo08, thank you for highlighting this for other applicants to see. If you weren't a valedictorian in high school, you can still do a large number of things to strengthen your application. Everyone (myself included for a while) gets too caught up in just the academic portion which is very important but they should be working on the whole person concept.
 
And you will pick up O-1 over 4 a few months in the fleet... So another pay jump pretty quickly which is nice. Make sure to save money at NAPS. You get more there than your first year or two at USNA.

BGO08 is spot on for a great application. This even goes for the MECEP route. You excelled in all aspects of the military side and showed through classes you can not only take, but excel at college level work. I think sometimes on this forum it can be a little overwhelming seeing some of these stats. Remember this is just a small sampling of all those applying. Each applicant who ends up being 3Q has their own unique story and strengths. For those who are enlisted, it's a different road. You bring maturity and experience to the mix. I think the year at NAPS to adjust to back to the classroom is a great year.
 
Thank you for the response, NavyHoops. My understanding is that at NAPS I will still be paid in my current pay grade. Can anyone confirm? I know I will be taking a huge pay cut at USNA and I have been saving accordingly (I've been in Japan the past year, great place to save money).

I agree with you on how some people's stats here can be overwhelming. Over the past 3-4 year of applying, I would look at posts where an applicant was talking about how they have a 4.0GPA or even up to around a 5.5GPA with AP classes and just be taken back like "wow there's no way I can compete with this" but like you said, everybody has their own story and strengths that they can bring to the table.
 
If I remember correctly you will be paid at your current rank while at NAPS, but not 100% on that. Might want PM afpraso on the USAFA as I believe he was a preppie first.

Also ask around to your officers for a USNA grad. They should be more than happy to mentor and prep you (and if they don't, send them my away!). If you don't have one in your unit a Lt will know one and find one for you.
 
Yes that is correct . You will be paid your current rank . You will also still be eligible for advancement . Your enlisted O pay starts after your commissioned and you would've had to of been enlisted for 4 years. The O pay lasts till O4.
 
Congratulations! My 3/C Mid is a NAPster and was very Happy he had that opportunity to go. You will make some of your life long friends there. Newport is a Beautiful place. Enjoy
 
Hello, I am using this thread for an related question.
My DS has completed his application lately except for getting the nomination. How long it usually takes to receive the LOA if he is qualified?
Does he need to contact anyone in USNA to inform his application completion?

Thanks for any information.
 
Hello, I am using this thread for an related question.
My DS has completed his application lately except for getting the nomination. How long it usually takes to receive the LOA if he is qualified?
Does he need to contact anyone in USNA to inform his application completion?

Thanks for any information.

I am not 100% sure about the LOA question so I don't feel comfortable telling you what might be false information. As for who to contact, any time I submitted anything, I contacted my BGO every single time to ensure it was received. He can find his BGO contact information at the bottom of his CIS.
 
I am not 100% sure about the LOA question so I don't feel comfortable telling you what might be false information. As for who to contact, any time I submitted anything, I contacted my BGO every single time to ensure it was received. He can find his BGO contact information at the bottom of his CIS.

Thanks for the advise. My DS can check his application status from the application portal. I thought the BGO is for interview only.
 
You do not need to inform anyone when the application is completed....as long as that is accurately reflected on CIS. The answer to the LOA question is unknown...if the candidate is not given an LOA, they go into the queue to be reviewed by the Admissions Board and there is no notification that the candidate was ever considered for an LOA. As with previous posts, each candidate needs to make the assumption that they will not be getting an LOA. If they end up getting one---great! If not, it isn't the end of the game.
 
The answer to the LOA question is unknown. No one privy to the answer has ever answered it. Get one, Great! Do not get one you are still very qualified as number is said to be very low. I-Day NAPSTERS are a great bunch, tend to stick together on Stribling after Oath Of Office as they have spent a year together and I think reported the day before. We tried to feed the ones that had no parents since we had probably seen them on Thames Street in Newport. Daughter had a bunch in her Company and they were a great help Plebe Year. One of my Daughter's roommates was prior Marine with deployments and direct to USNA. Room care and inspection was a lot easier as she knew the drill. They both did TBS together and are now Captains USMC other went SWO. Good Luck to you
 
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