DS turned down direct appointment for USNA Foundation

A

academyorbust2020

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May 28, 2015
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Is anyone else in my shoes? Son turned down his appointment to USCGA for a Foundation offer for USNA. It always been his first choice but he did seem to struggle with signing the decline paper. Will be mailed tomorrow. His 9 year commitment is now 10 with the foundation school year. I can't imagine having to make that decision
 
Many kids will select a prep option for their desired school. If serving as a Navy or Marine Corps Officer was his goal, he made the right decision. Foundation kids do very well at USNA. It will set him up for success. It's a great year in terms of maturity, academics and learning to be an adult away from home. In the scheme the extra year isn't that big an issue. 1/3 of each class comes from somewhere other than high school, so he will be among many who were at prep, fleet or college. We always say there are many paths to a commision, the goal is a commision, not the path. Your DS obviously thought this out and wants to be in the Navy/Marine Corps! That is the great news.

For many kids selecting between the school, ROTC, SA, etc is really the first time they are making a major adult life decision. For many parents it's the first time they have watched their child ponder the options and how they came to that conclusion can be interesting to say the least. It's so important for kids to own this decision as they have to live it day in and day out not just while in college, but the fleet.
 
Academyorbust, DS is now a plebe but was in a similar situation - had a USNA foundation offer and an appointment to USMMA. He was 100% committed to USNA, but did not decline his USMMA appointment until a couple days before the deadline. His foundation year went by quickly and I believe helped him learn to become independent and accountable to himself. He's thriving at USNA. Accepting the Foundation offer was the best decision for him.
 
If USNA was his first choice, it was the right decision. 10 yrs seems like forever now, but it will go by very, very quickly. And, for almost everyone (maybe everyone), Foundation provides a year of maturity, living away from home, really solid academic prep, etc. It's time well spent.

And, as CAPT Wallace will tell you, Foundation students have the highest graduation rate of any accession source.

And, as an aside, he wouldn't have gone wrong with USCGA. Great school, great service. But he needs to do what he thinks is best/right for him and it sounds like he's done that.
 
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