Academy Questions

[Lynpar]

I don't. But it depends on what the topic is, I guess.

 

[USMA2016]

FutureMarine,

I don't get why you say it's too late to apply to the Naval Academy... because it's not. You can open a file, apply for a nomination, and do everything you need to do to get in. It is a much more fitting route to the Marine Corps. Do you feel that you can't get into the Naval Academy or that maybe you wouldn't be able to get a marine billet from USNA? Those are the only logical reasons that could imagine for you not going to USNA.


May I also ask, is the only reason you're applying to USMMA because it's "too late" for USNA?

 

[jasperdog]

aaooga15:

I would have just sent you a simple polite PM but since you've chosen not to let anyone do so here ...

RE:

Yet, speaking to a minor whom is going through the application process doesn't require "tough love" or a "wake up call" or even a "cyber slap". If and when Future Marine gets to the USMMA, I'm sure many DI's will happily give him tough love, a wake up call, and many other things! Then, and only then, is that appropriate.

I guess all I have to say is two things:

1) I wasn't trying to send a "wake-up call" or "cyber-slap" or send "tough love" to anyone. I was trying to say what I have said and point out that a) I think this can't be a real set of questions if the poster is a PC because by some point before they posted their 4th post here that was so filled with misunderstanding if they were serious they would have made a phone call and b) if they are serious about trying to attend ANY service academy in 2016 they should call and begin the application process and it's impossible for them to have properly done so and still be asking the questions they are asking. Like I've now said a couple of times I did answer the poster's questions directly and succinctly and frankly initially identically to KingsPointDiversity.

2) In keeping with your tone, tenor and points, speaking to an adult who has been trying to provide solid, useful information here for going on five years and who has been a trained, active admissions field representative for over 20 years since they graduated also doesn't require a "cyber slap". But hey thanks for the chuckle at the irony of your post. Be well and good luck to you and your son.

Also for the record and those who do not have children at USMMA, "DIs" only exist on the campus of the USMMA for a two week and half week period (aka "Indoc")and the reality is they have a minimal impact on the lives of most members of the Regiment since a successful graduate of KPEngineer and my Alma Mater has to spend at least four years enrolled of which three are in residence at Kings Point, so any PC need not get overly concerned that a DI might make their life miserable for any extended period regardless of what they post here.

With that I promise to not post any more on or off topic to this thread.

Acta Non Verba.

 

[aooga15]

in the future...

I only hope that in the future, adults on this sight understand who they are talking to. If you are explaining something to a parent, that's one thing. If you are speaking to a minor, that's another. Name calling like a few people did here "ie. cyber slap, troll, wake up calls, or even tough love" TO that minor is not necessary and is counterproductive. In my words, it's "rude". The tone and behavior of a few of the "old timers" has been very disappointing. Jasperdog can get his last slam on me.. not sure why that was necessary, I wasn't the one attacking a 17 year old kid. This was never a conversation between parents or alumni, it was a high school kid's ? that took of in a direction that was abusive and mean.

 

[jasperdog]

.... Jasperdog can get his last slam on me...

Thanks but I'll pass and we can leave it at your last comments that are ironic to me, of course now I broke my word that my prior post would be the last on this thread but so be it, so you can continue to slam away.

 

[Ddcga]

I only hope that in the future, adults on this sight understand who they are talking to. If you are explaining something to a parent, that's one thing. If you are speaking to a minor, that's another. Name calling like a few people did here "ie. cyber slap, troll, wake up calls, or even tough love" TO that minor is not necessary and is counterproductive. In my words, it's "rude". The tone and behavior of a few of the "old timers" has been very disappointing. Jasperdog can get his last slam on me.. not sure why that was necessary, I wasn't the one attacking a 17 year old kid. This was never a conversation between parents or alumni, it was a high school kid's ? that took of in a direction that was abusive and mean.

I'm in complete agreement with you, aooga15. The journey to an appointment to a U.S. Service Academy is extremely daunting and complicated. I commend any 17 year old who takes on this task independently. Please know that there are NO stupid questions and there will always be someone on these forums who will answer your questions as best as they can with the understanding that many are starting "from the ground up". Please excuse and ignore any biting and sarcastic responses and kudos to you for both asking questions and attempting this process on your own.

 

[Future Marine]

FutureMarine,

I don't get why you say it's too late to apply to the Naval Academy... because it's not. You can open a file, apply for a nomination, and do everything you need to do to get in. It is a much more fitting route to the Marine Corps. Do you feel that you can't get into the Naval Academy or that maybe you wouldn't be able to get a marine billet from USNA? Those are the only logical reasons that could imagine for you not going to USNA.


May I also ask, is the only reason you're applying to USMMA because it's "too late" for USNA?

Thankyou all again and no, that is definitely not my only reason for joining the USMMA. I wish to attend the USMMA more than the Naval Academy I was just saying that the application to USMMA has been lengthy and very time consuming and I assume the USNA would be close to the same and the deadline is March 1st for the USMMA. I think that if I were to start applying for the USNA now I would not have time to get everything completed for the application process.

I'm in complete agreement with you, aooga15. The journey to an appointment to a U.S. Service Academy is extremely daunting and complicated. I commend any 17 year old who takes on this task independently. Please know that there are NO stupid questions and there will always be someone on these forums who will answer your questions as best as they can with the understanding that many are starting "from the ground up". Please excuse and ignore any biting and sarcastic responses and kudos to you for both asking questions and attempting this process on your own.

Also Thank-you for the kudos Ddcga. I have went through the whole process on my own and I am still working towards my goal. I don't have a parent going through the whole thing with me or anyone else for that matter. All questions I ask are to further my knowledge and help me through the application process. Anyone who wants to rag on me, like i said, go for it. I know how to take criticism, it's fine by me. I listen to everything everyone of you say, I have not accused anyone here of being wrong or trying to steer me away from what I'm trying to do. I've just asked questions on what I needed help on and I have got it from many of the people here. Thank-you all.

 

[2013Parent]

I'm in complete agreement with you, aooga15. The journey to an appointment to a U.S. Service Academy is extremely daunting and complicated. I commend any 17 year old who takes on this task independently. Please know that there are NO stupid questions and there will always be someone on these forums who will answer your questions as best as they can with the understanding that many are starting "from the ground up". Please excuse and ignore any biting and sarcastic responses and kudos to you for both asking questions and attempting this process on your own.

Make that three of us. Looks like we are in the minority, but, we are not alone in our thoughts on this.

 

[USMA2016]

Thankyou all again and no, that is definitely not my only reason for joining the USMMA. I wish to attend the USMMA more than the Naval Academy

I respect your preference, but here's the big question: Why do you want to attend USMMA?

You'll be asked that by many important people and in great frequency since your career goals aren't the 'standard' career goals per se of USMMA.

 

[KPEngineer]

Make that three of us. Looks like we are in the minority, but, we are not alone in our thoughts on this.

I thought we were done with this? Since we apparently aren't I'll play my trump card. It is hanging on my wall and it's spelled D-I-P-L-O-M-A ... over and out.

 

[Lynpar]

Why one wants to go to KP or any other academy is a great answer to have in your back pocket, able to whip out an moments notice. Lol. With so many interviews surrounding nominations, plan B's etc. This is something a liaison officer we happened to meet ( for USCGA ) stressed and stressed again. Do not say it is because you like the ocean, he said! Know the missions, or in KP's case know what a Merchant Mariner is and what about that appeals to you.
After a year plus of working on this I knew DS's answer inside and out and NO I Did Not Write it For him, lol. Then at Parents Weekend someone asked DS why he wanted to come to KP and he started out,,,,,,,well, uh, I have always liked the water,,,
WTH? I kind of turned so I could fully enjoy my eye roll! Oh no he didn't just say that,,,,( finger waving here). Umf! Maybe I should get it printed on a wallet sized card. Kind of like a person mission statement!
"mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call". Lol

One other thing, you might think I embarrass the heck out of my kid but I actually heard him introduce me to more than one person as Lynpar!

Which brings me to one more story from Parents Weekend. I also introduced myself to a couple people of whom I know are on,,,ssshhhh,,, "the forum". While on the waterfront I spied a guy I was convinced was in charge of the operation there. So I sidled up beside him an kind of quiet like said " pssst, are you ( sideways glance, make sure no one over heard ) Deepsea? The guy looks at me rather confused and said "excuse me, Mam "?
Oh Damn! Am I embarrassed.
Oh, oh, he says, no I am not ( trying to hide his smirk).
After that I never mentioned it again! However I did look around at many people and tried to decide for myself if the were thread mates! So who all was there?

 

[KP2013dramamama]

If you want to be a Marine, join the Marines.

 

[KPaviator]

If you want to be a Marine, join the Marines.

This sort of attitude is so ridiculous. If you want to be a Marine, go to whatever school you want. Are you going to criticize CDR Mark Kelley for becoming a Naval Aviator and then an Navy Astronaut? What about Robert Kiyosaki, who graduated with a deck degree, was a USCM helicopter pilot and then became a successful investor and businessman. GET OVER IT! The point that KP should only be reserved for people solely interested in staying with the maritime industry is a joke. Also, the people might say what's the use of a maritime focused education in the military (directed torwards Army, USMC and Air Force). Do you know how many officers have degrees that are totally useless or do not correlate at all to their job?

I hate to break it to you, but if it wasn't for the active duty option, the argument to keep KP around is pretty weak. There are 5 other maritime schools in the country, and they charge for tuition. Some people really don't like the fact that our education is paid for, and in return we get jobs that pay up to 90K a year right out of college. With that being said, the 30% or so per year that go active duty in various branches play a pivotal role in legitimizing reasons to keep KP around.

The bottom line is the mission of the academy: "Educate and graduate merchant marine officers and leaders of honor and integrity who serve the maritime industry and armed forces and contribute to the economic, defense, and homeland security interests of the United States." You can't knock someone for wanting to come to KP and serve the mission of the academy, no matter what they do when they graduate.

And for anyone that's concerned, I sailed as a 3/M on foreign flag LNG ships before I became an Army helicopter pilot, so I feel that I can comment on both sides of the issue.

 

[MMAdad2015]

I was there, although I did nap off during the 2nd half of the football game.

 

[2012kpmam]

My own DD went to a large midwest college, did not do NROTC, graduated and then decided to become a Marine Corps officer. You can definitely go to KP and become a Marine Officer. There were people in her Officers Candidate School from all walks of life, from many different institutions like Yale, Columbia and the Citidel. People had majored in history, engineering, physics, english and religious studies. In other words, if you want to go to a wonderful service academy, go to Kings Point and keep your ambition alive to become a Marine Officer. But Kings Point's academics are extremely hard and you must be prepared to study more than you thought possible.

 

[USMA2016]

I don't care if he wants to join the Marine Corps from USMMA, honestly that's his choice. However, admissions reps and nomination boards are going to want to know why since it is not the standard route to USMC officership. They're going to question why not PLC, NROTC, or USNA. FutureMarine, do you have answer to this question: Why do you want to go the Merchant Marine Academy; especially since Naval Academy is a more common USMC officer commissioning source?

 

[jasperdog]

This sort of attitude is so ridiculous. ...

I hate to break it to you, but if it wasn't for the active duty option, the argument to keep KP around is pretty weak. There are 5 other maritime schools in the country, and they charge for tuition. Some people really don't like the fact that our education is paid for, and in return we get jobs that pay up to 90K a year right out of college.

... And for anyone that's concerned, I sailed as a 3/M on foreign flag LNG ships before I became an Army helicopter pilot, so I feel that I can comment on both sides of the issue.

KPAviator, I'll agree with you that:

The bottom line is the mission of the academy: "Educate and graduate merchant marine officers and leaders of honor and integrity who serve the maritime industry and armed forces and contribute to the economic, defense, and homeland security interests of the United States." You can't knock someone for wanting to come to KP and serve the mission of the academy, no matter what they do when they graduate.

But with regard to your statement that:

With that being said, the 30% or so per year that go active duty in various branches play a pivotal role in legitimizing reasons to keep KP around.

I beg to differ, at best the recent (last 10 years) of increasing # of grads going active duty which is on average over that period ~25% is at best a double edged sword. During Senate Staff budget Hearings relative to the GFY 2011 budget which followed the year that 33% of the Graduating Class of 2010 went active duty, several staffers openly questioned the continued funding and level of apropriatiation for USMMA precisely because of the large number of graduates going active duty. Seems the "numbers" of what it costs Uncle Sam to mint out O-1's is significantly cheaper just by giving them ROTC scholarships instead of paying for them to go to any Academy. Even though USMMA ischeaper than the USNA, USMA, USAFA and USCGA for producing O-1's they have a unique mission. If everyone from USMMA went active duty, it would not have or serve the unique part of its mission, which is serving the maritime industry. Personally, I believe the argument against goign solely with additional funding to State Maritime Academies from MARAD can be found in the generally increasing rates at which the Non-Liscenced track of attendees and graduates are filling those institutions, however my understanding of that is anecdotal, I don't have any hard data on that.

 

[WKSLP]

From what some KP alumni state on this forum, it seems as if wanting to get an active duty commission upon graduation from KP is frowned upon...Can someone please elaborate on my statement, because as a hopeful candidate for USMMA class of 2016, as well as an aspiring military aviator, my impressions of KP military grads are becoming slightly diluted with negativity from former KP grads. Thanks! Go Mariners!!

 

[Lynpar]

Wkslp, I suggest, If you haven't already, go to the Service Academy Forum main page and go to the search button. Type in active duty USMMA or something similar and you will find many many threads dealing with the subject. Also the further you go back in the history of the threads the more opinions and experience you will find. I have noticed some folks will post quite a bit and then sort of fade away. They get their life back after the " forum obsession " period has passed, kid graduates, etc. I am trying to ween myself now. Good luck!

 

[MMAdad2015]

My DS is currently a Plebe and has plans to go active duty. He has not run into any negative comments or issues.