Recent content by Full Steam

It's not correct to say that one candidate took a spot at an academy away from another candidate. This is a competitive process and spots don't belong to candidates until they are offered an appointment. If this condition is as obvious as you suggest, then it was likely apparent during the...

Yes, it seems that many senators use a centralized online system for their nomination application processing. They aren't necessarily looking for hard copy letters of recommendation. If your student does do a physical letter, it's typical to get it sealed in an envelope, sometimes with a...

I'll add one other thought. A couple years ago, an officer we know held a getting out of the Navy party to celebrate the end of their time as an active duty officer and the transition to the next phase in their life. They'd worked in a community they enjoyed and were successful in. I very much...

I think it's important to remember that the purpose of USAFA and Air Force ROTC is to train and prepare Air Force officers. If you aren't as interested in becoming an Air Force officer as you were at the beginning of the process, that's ample reason to decline an appointment. You will be able...

In my opinion if you would prefer to serve in the Air Force, you should choose a commissioning program that is associated with the Air Force. Picking an option because it's a service academy (possibly because of higher prestige) might be less rewarding when you are serving 5+ years as an...

The aid is often funded by Alumni Association chapters, so it may vary depending on where the student lives.

I found this guidance on boots at the USAFA website. It's on a page full of parent info, so you may not have seen it. https://www.usafa.edu/parents/faq/ Should an appointee purchase specific combat boots prior to arriving? While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that appointees...

The list of colleges with NROTC affiliations isn't that long. If you use the College Search tab in the Common App, you can click on the button for "Application Requirements" and see deadlines for many colleges at a glance. Florida A&M University has an April 1 deadline for Fall 2024 and shares...

What happened in the past was Stanford had a ZipCar account and paid for the car that midshipmen used each week. But the mids did their own driving. I don't remember there being a room and board discount, but Stanford is generous with need based aid.

As a Naval Academy grad and mom to a Stanford grad (and NROTC midshipman), I will say that both institutions offer excellent, though different opportunities. Both can produce good officers who are fully capable. Graduates of both will have areas where they need work. Your friends can probably...

Nah, I'm a curmudgeon who lost their rose colored glasses sometime during 2/c year, back when Noah was a mid. It is nice to see you back.

My sons collectively Studied several months in another country at its national university to improve language skills Flew in an F/A-18 at Fallon Did 4 week CORTRAMID cruises that included surface, submarine, aviation, and USMC weeks Lobbied Congress in person Took a "Face of Battle" class that...

It's worth remembering that you aren't comparing a Naval Academy mid, who has a smorgasbord of opportunities and limitless time against a Navy ROTC mid who only goes to Naval Science classes and then doesn't nothing else of value. Naval Academy mids are limited in what they can do by academic...

The vast majority of academy cadets/midshipmen did varsity sports in high school. You can find exact numbers on the class profile sheets, but it's generally >91%. While he might not be able to maintain three sports at the new school, is there a reason he can't continue with one? I like the...

I don't seem to be able to edit the above, but have more info regarding financial aid. This is an info sheet from studentaid.gov, which is the official site for FAFSA. https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/fafsa-dependency.pdf In the footnotes it has more specifics about how to mark the...