Can Enlisted/Guard/Reserve soldiers be appointed to any SA through their commanding Officer?

[Midwestern111]

For example:
Army reserve soldier gets appointed to USMA and USAFA
SMP cadet gets appointed to USMA, USCGA and USNA
An enlisted U.S. Army soldier gets appointed to USNA and USMA
Is it looked down upon if, for example, you are Guardsman that is interested in several service academies?
I'll greatly appreciate any insight you may provide.

 

[Capt MJ]

For example:
Army reserve soldier gets appointed to USMA and USAFA
SMP cadet gets appointed to USMA, USCGA and USNA
An enlisted U.S. Army soldier gets appointed to USNA and USMA
Is it looked down upon if, for example, you are Guardsman that is interested in several service academies?
I'll greatly appreciate any insight you may provide.

I’ll cut to the simplest answer - enlisted service members are welcome to apply to the 5 Federal academies. They must meet all the criteria and jump through a few more admin paperwork hoops than civilian applicants.

I recommend going to each service academy website, your primary source, and reading every page, drop down menu and link. There are sections that describe the requirements and action items for enlisted personnel. Your command career counselor and chain of command can help you understand what’s required for your Service.

Prior enlisted members are valued for their expertise and maturity. My OCS prior enlisted roommate got us through room inspections and uniform inspections and Navy slang and ranks and signal flags and marching commands, until I finally got the hang of things.

You shouldn’t be looked down on for exploring another service, though teasing might be expected.

Very broadly, you’ll submit an administrative request package of some kind through your chain of command, which will require your CO’s endorsement. You’ll have some running around to do as you pull various required items together. You’ll be applying online. You’ll have to research nominations, though you will be eligible for one as a prior service member. Part of the “test” for this entire process is you doing the legwork to organize your application and meet deadlines.

Be sure you meet the age restrictions, even if you are required to go to the military prep school the year before entry.

Here’s a sample link for USNA. Explore all the links.

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Tue Apr 09 05:23:10 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

 

[Midwestern111]

I’ll cut to the simplest answer - enlisted service members are welcome to apply to the 5 Federal academies. They must meet all the criteria and jump through a few more admin paperwork hoops than civilian applicants.

I recommend going to each service academy website, your primary source, and reading every page, drop down menu and link. There are sections that describe the requirements and action items for enlisted personnel. Your command career counselor and chain of command can help you understand what’s required for your Service.

Prior enlisted members are valued for their expertise and maturity. My OCS prior enlisted roommate got us through room inspections and uniform inspections and Navy slang and ranks and signal flags and marching commands, until I finally got the hang of things.

You shouldn’t be looked down on for exploring another service, though teasing might be expected.

Very broadly, you’ll submit an administrative request package of some kind through your chain of command, which will require your CO’s endorsement. You’ll have some running around to do as you pull various required items together. You’ll be applying online. You’ll have to research nominations, though you will be eligible for one as a prior service member. Part of the “test” for this entire process is you doing the legwork to organize your application and meet deadlines.

Be sure you meet the age restrictions, even if you are required to go to the military prep school the year before entry.

Here’s a sample link for USNA. Explore all the links.

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Tue Apr 09 05:23:10 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

Thanks for such a detailed response!

 

[shock-n-awe]

For example:
Army reserve soldier gets appointed to USMA and USAFA
SMP cadet gets appointed to USMA, USCGA and USNA
An enlisted U.S. Army soldier gets appointed to USNA and USMA
Is it looked down upon if, for example, you are Guardsman that is interested in several service academies?
I'll greatly appreciate any insight you may provide.

To be clear regarding your title question, Your Chain of Command may Nominate candidates , only the SA Appoints candidates.

 

[Schoolbuilder]

Reviving an old thread here: Is your SSMP Commander (at Mass Maritime Academy in this case) a nominating source to the Naval Academy? I’m only finding language that speaks to ROTC. SSMP is not mentioned, so perhaps it is an implied “no”. This is the language from USNA’s website.

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sun May 05 05:07:45 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

 

[Schoolbuilder]

Reviving an old thread here: Is your SSMP Commander (at Mass Maritime Academy in this case) a nominating source to the Naval Academy? I’m only finding language that speaks to ROTC. SSMP is not mentioned, so perhaps it is an implied “no”. This is the language from USNA’s website.

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sun May 05 05:07:45 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

To be clear; I’m referring to Strategic Sealift Mid Program, not Simultaneous Membership Program.

 

[Capt MJ]

Reviving an old thread here: Is your SSMP Commander (at Mass Maritime Academy in this case) a nominating source to the Naval Academy? I’m only finding language that speaks to ROTC. SSMP is not mentioned, so perhaps it is an implied “no”. This is the language from USNA’s website.

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units

Naval/Marine Corps Reserve Officers Training Corps Units page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Sun May 05 05:07:45 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

Your initial legwork using primary sources will show the SSMP is a unique type of NROTC program at state maritime academies, and listed with other college NROTC programs and administered by the same HQ command:

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps - Navy ROTC Schools

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps - SSMP

USNA Admissions is your next stop to ask the people who routinely work with noms from all sources about whether the laws regarding nomination sources include the SSMP type of NROTC as a nom source. Or, you can ask the SSMP staff - but USNA Admissions is the subject matter expert.

Here is some more reading on noms and their sources. I did not see SSMP specifically excluded, but I did not wade though all fine-print notes.

https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/20191218_RL33213_f3a4006314d3a115f3b527e698866af2075056c5.pdf

 

[time2]

Reviving an old thread.....

It is probably better to start a new thread instead of adding to one from 3 yrs ago where the OP is long gone and to avoid confusion on who is replying to what. IF the original question was about bypassing the regular application process to get 'appointed' by a commanding officer...............the answer is NO. Much like some ask about 'transferring' into an SA after 1-2 years of a civilian college. EVERYONE who attends an SA has to complete an application, be 3Q and have a NOM from one of the applicable sources and if appointed will start in the first year of that program. Since OP is long gone, it isn't clear if they were asking about the actual process to get an appointment or wanted subjective opinions regarding if following this path would be 'looked down upon'.

There are lots of articles/references you can find online that speak to the nuisances of getting a NOM from all of the applicable sources.

 

[Schoolbuilder]

It is probably better to start a new thread instead of adding to one from 3 yrs ago where the OP is long gone and to avoid confusion on who is replying to what. IF the original question was about bypassing the regular application process to get 'appointed' by a commanding officer...............the answer is NO. Much like some ask about 'transferring' into an SA after 1-2 years of a civilian college. EVERYONE who attends an SA has to complete an application, be 3Q and have a NOM from one of the applicable sources and if appointed will start in the first year of that program. Since OP is long gone, it isn't clear if they were asking about the actual process to get an appointment or wanted subjective opinions regarding if following this path would be 'looked down upon'.

There are lots of articles/references you can find online that speak to the nuisances of getting a NOM from all of the applicable sources.

Thanks for your input. I didn’t expect the OP would still be around. I did figure CaptMJ would have some valuable insights as the original and initial respondent and who seems to be everywhere on this forum. Clear on difference between Nom vs. Appointment. DD is currently sitting on waitlist (so 3Q with Nom) and trying to understand as much about SSMP as we can in prep for a meeting with her potential future CO at Mass Maritime. It will be a bonus if we learn this could be another potential Nom source for her next year. I continue my research, but this was helpful. Thanks.