My cousin attended HS in northern VA. His father was a navy captain. He received a nomination to the naval academy in 1976 but from a WV congressman. His nomination was even listed in the local WV newspaper among other local WV kids. Were the rules different in 1976 or for children of officers...
I'll say this about getting into any service academy...there is no secret formula. This year and the next few years will be some of the toughest. I attribute three key factors that set in motion a major shift in application volume.
1) The Economy, 2) Forbes article, 3) End of War within sight...
I know two people who did not get into USMA following high school. Both enlisted, began serving, reapplied, got their noms, and were appointed after a couple years. Just another way to skin a cat.
Adam Vinatieri was originally recruited to kick for Army and attended West Point for two weeks in 1991 before deciding to return home to South Dakota. Adam has four Super Bowl rings.
Chesty Puller enrolled at VMI in 1917. He left school after his first year and enlisted in the Marine Corps to fight in WWI but never saw action. Puller spent almost 40 years in the USMC where he would see action in numerous engagements throughout his career. He retired with a rank of Lieutenant...
My former Bn Cmdr has been in touch throughout this process. He is a '66 USMA grad and Infantry Viet Nam vet. He served 20+ years and retired with the full bird. He told us during his career he saw just as many duds come out of the academy as he did come from other sources. He says it's not the...
Slots at Service Academy's and ROTC scholarships are budgeted based on laws created by Congress. West Point gets a finite amount of money to fund x number of cadets each year. ROTC gets the same. To my knowledge there are no contingency or supplemental funds allocated for this use.
Let's...
The DoDMERB process for my son was initiated by USMA in August 2009. Since all of that was taken care of in advance the medical approval came shortly after the awarded scholarship letter was returned. The medical was approved on 8FEB10. The Army website hasn't updated. It still refers to check...
If you received an offer and had to make your selection by January 17, 2010 does ROTC make any further contact with you? Is there any way you know they received your acceptance?