Memphis9489
15-Year Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2008
- Messages
- 1,389
One thing I always tell candidates who are weighing the pro's and con's between multiple service academies:
1. They are all good choices. You really can't go wrong either way.
2. The Naval Academy offers more diversified and viable career options. For instance, in the Air Force, you're either a pilot or you're not. If you're not a pilot, the long term career opportunities are more challenging to rise through the ranks because of the notion that non-pilots are second class citizens in the Air Force. It's a bias that certainly does exist although I'm sure somebody will chime in and deny it. But it's true.
If you want to get dirty like a grunt, you can do that through the Naval Academy. Become a Marine!
If you want to fly, you can do that through the Naval Academy, as well.
You can easily rise through the ranks and have a great career in the Navy whether you opt to go into the Marine Corps, aviation, the surface Navy or submarines.
Are special forces your thing? There's SEALs and EOD.
Personally, I think the Navy has more to offer with a wider range of communities than is offered at the other academies.
Does that lead to happiness? I'm not sure. Perhaps it does because there is almost always something available that "fits".
1. They are all good choices. You really can't go wrong either way.
2. The Naval Academy offers more diversified and viable career options. For instance, in the Air Force, you're either a pilot or you're not. If you're not a pilot, the long term career opportunities are more challenging to rise through the ranks because of the notion that non-pilots are second class citizens in the Air Force. It's a bias that certainly does exist although I'm sure somebody will chime in and deny it. But it's true.
If you want to get dirty like a grunt, you can do that through the Naval Academy. Become a Marine!
If you want to fly, you can do that through the Naval Academy, as well.
You can easily rise through the ranks and have a great career in the Navy whether you opt to go into the Marine Corps, aviation, the surface Navy or submarines.
Are special forces your thing? There's SEALs and EOD.
Personally, I think the Navy has more to offer with a wider range of communities than is offered at the other academies.
Does that lead to happiness? I'm not sure. Perhaps it does because there is almost always something available that "fits".