Leaving USMMA

Leaving KP

My DS failed the 2 dreaded subjects of Physics and Calc and was offered a setback in 2008. He did not contest the setback as it seemed foolish to go forward to Calc 2 and Physics 2 with a poor foundation. But I think many setbacks do not come back due to the difficulty of finding Physics 1 at a local college. Many colleges only offer Physics 1 in the fall and not in the spring when the setback needs to take the course. Thankfully for my DS, we found SUNY Maritime. Not only was the admin at SUNY extremely helpful to my son, they knew he was from KP and they encouraged him to go back to KP. It was no small advantage to him that the professors knew and loved the maritime industry. SUNY even calls helping a mid get back "The KP get well program" (informally). DS was able to stay in the loop and stay focused. DS is now back at KP and happy with his decision, knowing full well what he was returning to. In addition, he was able to take several other maritime related courses at SUNY that will help him when he takes them again at KP. We were also able to look at "Rate My Professor.com" and pick the strongest teachers at SUNY. The ratings proved accurate and the teachers were excellent. I would encourage anyone facing a setback (and not just a NY resident) to look at SUNY Maritime.
 
GREAT post Kpbaseballmom.

NewGarnet, I have a very dear friend who's Mid departed a ship during the second part of Sea Year & is now nearing graduation from college as one of the top ranked Army ROTC young folks in the nation. It was a pretty hair raising time for the kid & family while it was going on but the decision made was the right one for them. I know of more cases that belong in the category of "all's well that ends well" but I am most knowledgeable of this one. She remains a huge fan of KP. She'd post about their experiences if she'd JUST UPDATE HER COMPUTER! (Hope she heard me).

They are all awesome kids & leaving KP is not considered a failure by 99.9% of people. That .1% is just some nutty opinion that doesn't actually count. I met one of those once & found that they ate cat food & never left the house without a foil hat. :smile:

Just a personal observation..... but I feel that certain types of support found here stems from not knowing the entire story of a soon to be Plebe's experiences in wanting to move on. Cheer leading as a group united is part of being in the KP "family". If we can pick ya up & dust you off when you're beat up, we will try. Especially very early on during the first year.

KP2001 will roll his eyes that I'm posting the following link (AGAIN). I think KP should include this in their handbook. Its spot on.
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=2910&highlight=hobbs
 
kpbaseballmom,

What a nice post! Thank you very much for the kind words about SUNY Maritime. I am glad they were able to assist your cadet.

We wish you and your cadet well through the rest of their enrollment at KP!

Fuji
 
Thanks everyone for all of your encouragement and advice! I'm cheering on the sidelines for my Plebe and praying constantly, sometimes that's all a parent can do...
 
Navy Reserve

So does anyone know what happens to the Naval Reaserve enlistment contract they signed on Acceptance Day if they leave as it seems many are doing? Are they still in the reserves?
 
So does anyone know what happens to the Naval Reaserve enlistment contract they signed on Acceptance Day if they leave as it seems many are doing? Are they still in the reserves?

No, 99.9% of the time they are released from any commitments unless they begin their junior year.

I don't have mine in front of me, but isn't that contract for "Midshipman, USNR"?
 
kp momofmany,

You will see an answer to your question on the first page of this string.

Fuji
 
I appreciate all this help.

The beginning of this thread talks about the active duty obligation which I understand they avoid until the beginning of the 2d class year.

What Flight Surgeon and now you Fuji are saying is that they can get 2 years of university training including, books, tuition, meals and lodging and walk away with no obligation for payback or for Reserve Service. Is this for real?

Hard to believe as just taking a single semester of AROTC Scholarship at a cheap state college got you a 6 year reserve obligation in my day.
 
What Flight Surgeon and now you Fuji are saying is that they can get 2 years of university training including, books, tuition, meals and lodging and walk away with no obligation for payback or for Reserve Service. Is this for real?

Yes, this is the same for all of the service academies. I can't speak to ROTC, but I would bet it is very similar.
 
kp momofmany - true that about walking away after two years at an SA.

As for AROTC scholarship - a cadet may walk away after the first year. They are committed at the start of the second year.
 
type of discharge

One more question. No final decision yet so maybe he will stay a bit longer as so many of you suggested. He is wondering what sort of discharge you receive when leaving USMMA from the Navy Reserve.

Do you actually get a "discharge paper" and if so is it general or honorable?? or is it as if you never existed to them??

thanks for all the help so far this forum has been a true blessing.
 
he would get a dd214. His discharge will be honorable. If he continue his education at a civilian college and applies for federal financial aid he should file the FAFSA and he would be eligible to file as an independent student being a veteran.
His dd214 also will state that he is eligible to return to military service.

{{hugs}}} to you all
 
he would get a dd214. His discharge will be honorable. If he continue his education at a civilian college and applies for federal financial aid he should file the FAFSA and he would be eligible to file as an independent student being a veteran.
His dd214 also will state that he is eligible to return to military service.

{{hugs}}} to you all

I would double check on this for USMMA, we are treated quite differently than those who are at the other service academies.
 
^
Not sure what part you are questioning.... the discharge papers or being eligible to file FAFSA as an independent student...
 
From the FAFSA Instructions:
50. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? You should answer “Yes” if

You have engaged in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard), or you were a member of the National Guard or Reserve who was called to active duty for purposes other than state or training purposes, or you were a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, and

You were released under a condition other than dishonorable. Box 24 of the DD214 indicates the “Character of Service.” If anything other than “dishonorable” appears in that box, you should answer “Yes” to this question, as long as you were called to active service. There is no minimum amount of time the student has to have served to be considered a veteran for federal student aid purposes, but the service does have to be considered “active service.” If “dishonorable” appears in box 24, you must answer “No” to Question 50.

I know USMMA mids are in the Naval Reserve but the instructions don't exclude them. If separated mids receive a DD214 then they would qualify - IMHO.
 
Where would you double check?

So flight surgeon, Any suggestions as to where to check. It is the DD214 honorable vs general he is concerned about. He continues to be unhappy at KP. Would like him to stay at least through first sea term but not sure he will.
friend of worried mom
 
So flight surgeon, Any suggestions as to where to check. It is the DD214 honorable vs general he is concerned about. He continues to be unhappy at KP. Would like him to stay at least through first sea term but not sure he will.
friend of worried mom

I would contact the Dept of Naval Science. They are the ones who handle all-things Navy at KP instead of relying on conjecture from this forum (myself included) who haven't had first-hand experiece with this process at USMMA.

The reason I question whether you will get a DD214 is because the official title of that form is "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" [bolds mine]

Since USMMA midshipmen are never on active duty, unlike the other service academies, they may not get one. Also I doubt whoever wrote FAFSA understands USMMA and I doubt midshipmen who leave USMMA are considered veterans if you read the actual law. (I have not taken the time to look it up, just a hunch)
 
It is the DD214 honorable vs general he is concerned about.

Forgot this part. 99% of officers will get honorable discharges unless they commit some offense for which they are convicted at a court martial. (BTW USMMA midshipmen don't fall under the UCMJ either)
 
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