NASS Session 1-WHAT A BLAST!!!!!!

[pilotmom15]

Heard from my son as well who's also having a blast in Bravo company. He passed his CFA as well and ran his best mile ever (which is what he runs in track)!! Managed 6 pullups which is double what he had ever done at once before and was happy to be first in his squad in the mile and situps! He got up early today but skipped church and said he fell back asleep for 2 hours and now feels like he's on day 3 instead of two!

I will have to find out what company my son is in. Mine skipped church as well. Congrats on him passing the CFA. Mine passed but was unsure since he just got cleared by the doctor. He had his appendix out less then 3 weeks ago and wasn't able to do much working out. He was on some restriction while at USAFA SS last week.

 

[marciemi]

I will have to find out what company my son is in. Mine skipped church as well. Congrats on him passing the CFA. Mine passed but was unsure since he just got cleared by the doctor. He had his appendix out less then 3 weeks ago and wasn't able to do much working out. He was on some restriction while at USAFA SS last week.

Hm - that's pretty incredible! My husband had his out a few years ago and I think was finally out of pain at that point but certainly not running or doing pushups! Although maybe it's different at 40 than 16! Let me know if you find out the company - my youngest leaves for STEM tomorrow so I gave him his brother's room number as well so maybe they can say hi!

 

[Drillgasm]

NASS session 1

session 1 was incredible (Alpha 4-2) Midshipman 3rd class MCclelan and Midshipman 1st class Taffer are awesome...
People going to session 3....i guess...u guys should bring.....money to eat at the airport, extra old pair of shoes for sea trials, a camara to record all the crazy and awesome stuff that goes on, compression shorts.....and.....maybe a couple bucks to buy things at the Mid store...Take a lock so you can have your personal things secure...DONT FORGET TO TAKE BED SHEETS!!!!
Just your freakin best over there...seriously....

MORE ADVICE
dont get in a fight during your spirit misions, DO NOT volunteer to start off Blue and Gold, Come up with a good shove off, dont eat a lot before sea trials, leave your room nice, dont give up, dont give up, and ask all the questions you want to any Mid...

KTHXBAI!!!
Cris

 

[sarahbow91]

-How badly do the sweatpants get ruined...?

That last one is purely curiosity based

I went last year to session 3, my sweatpants no longer have the 'Y' of 'NAVY' from so many washes trying to get stains out.

My best advice is to be enthusiastic about everything...especially sea trials, and to encourage your other squad members. Some of my favorite people are from USNA SS.

Good luck!

 

[FUTUREMID2015]

can anyone tell me wht we should bring for NASS? i've been reading some of these threads and they're a bit confusing. btw i'm gong to session 3.

 

[marciemi]

Son just back this evening said he didn't need khaki pants (never even unfolded them) or really any of his civilian clothes other than a pair of shorts he slept in. He brought sheets (which he used) and a small blanket - like airlines size, that he never needed.

His sweatpants are pretty bad still after the first washing. Threw them in again (along with both his towels which were kind of "frozen" stiff even after a washing) but will try the tips for salvaging them on the other thread tomorrow. They're just coated in a sand colored stain nearly over all of them. He just threw out his Sea Trial tennis shoes (nice so I didn't have to deal with them, and he needed the space in the duffle) since he'd brought an old pair.

If you have any specific questions about what you need or don't, just let me know and I can ask him tomorrow.

Incidentally - he absolutely LOVED Navy and is now set on applying. Which is more than a bit strange from a kid who was convinced going in that he had NO interest in an academy!

 

[jtoye]

NASS Session 2 was amazing! I only expected to do 4 pullups on the CFA and instead did 9. Those 5 days flew by. My advice is to not over pack because there is never really a need to wear anything we were not issued. For the most part Just bring socks/underwear and toiletries and extra shoes for sea trials and garbage bags for your wet and sandy clothes. Memorize your rates, make your squad members memorize their rates and sound off during mock indoc. I am now 100% sure that the Naval Academy is the right place for me.

 

[wannabe2013]

your wet and sandy clothes.

You didn't get a ride in an ambulance from this did you?!?

I'd just like to point out that my best friends run this stationn and I'm pretty proud of their motivational training.

 

[jtoye]

You didn't get a ride in an ambulance from this did you?!?

I'd just like to point out that my best friends run this stationn and I'm pretty proud of their motivational training.

No, I made it through wet and sandy but when Bravo went over to hill training they said they were stopping it and just having us stretch out. A bit anti-climatic but sea trials were amazing none the less.

 

[AcademyFriend1]

Incidentally - he absolutely LOVED Navy and is now set on applying. Which is more than a bit strange from a kid who was convinced going in that he had NO interest in an academy!

Do you ever worry that NASS and the other other summer seminars offer a sort of "Disney-ized" version of the academies? ("New at the Magic Kingdom! With Mock Indoc you'll be a plebe for a night!") Part summer camp, part sports camp, part pep rally? I know that some kids find it "too military" for them and it helps shape their decision-making process, and others get a chance to meet and be led by mids and meet the wonderful cohort of kids who would be future classmates. Is it important to encourage candidates to also go on a candidate visit during the academic year so they can round out the picture?

 

[marciemi]

Do you ever worry that NASS and the other other summer seminars offer a sort of "Disney-ized" version of the academies? ("New at the Magic Kingdom! With Mock Indoc you'll be a plebe for a night!") Part summer camp, part sports camp, part pep rally? I know that some kids find it "too military" for them and it helps shape their decision-making process, and others get a chance to meet and be led by mids and meet the wonderful cohort of kids who would be future classmates. Is it important to encourage candidates to also go on a candidate visit during the academic year so they can round out the picture?

I do think so - absolutely! You give a great description of what it's like at NASS! I think an academy visit is always a great idea if you can swing it - and I like how Navy has their CVW's throughout the year so a candidate can see what it's like during the gloom of winter, etc. At USAFA, really only allowing an overnight at Orientation, in April, after Recognition (!!) I think gives them a far less accurate picture of what a time like January will be like!

I think my son is in a slightly different situation than most in my description above of someone not interested before who suddenly is. Dad & I are WP grads, his brother leaves for USAFA in 5 days - he's had SA's beat into his brain since he was little. I think a lot of his disinterest was the whole "sibling rivalry" thing - he and his brother are a year apart and have been opposites since day 1. If his brother said the sky was blue, he'd insist it was pink!

So I think a lot of it was just not wanting to follow his brother or acknowledge anything he was interested in could possibly be "cool". That's why we insisted he try a summer seminar - so he could form his own opinion about it, without parents or brother's views impeding on it. And get a chance to meet, as you so elegantly put it, the "wonderful cohort of kids who would be future classmates".

Took until day 2 for me to get the first text that said "I hate to admit it, but I am LOVING this place!" My immediate texts pointed out what your concern seems to be - that plebe year and NASS are two VERY different things! But if nothing else, it's opened his eyes to the possibility that he actually could want to do this. Now I can have him look into military careers and see what he'd like to do and if it would fit his life/goals. We can look into ROTC and see if that would be a different or better option. And if in the long run, he either changes his mind, or doesn't get accepted, at least he'll have had a great experience and learned a lot about himself, his interests, and the military in the meantime!

 

[marciemi]

No, I made it through wet and sandy but when Bravo went over to hill training they said they were stopping it and just having us stretch out. A bit anti-climatic but sea trials were amazing none the less.

My son was in Bravo as well (2-3)! He also said they thought it was a trick when they got to the hill training and were told they weren't doing it and just stretch instead. Said everyone just kind of stood there waiting for them to tell them they were kidding!

 

[AcademyFriend1]

Thanks for the thoughtful response, Marciemi, and I chuckled as I read your description of a younger brother's determination to carve out his own path, no matter what! He is lucky to have such supportive and encouraging parents and I am sure he will choose a rewarding and exciting road. And good luck to you as your older son leaves for USAFA!

 

[navymidshipman2015]

what percentage of NASS attendees go on to attend the Naval Academy??

Because I didnt make it into NASS and ive had to sit here and read stories about how great it was etc....and my friend who went to West Point SLS

its pretty depressing.

BUT, the good news is that ive been doing quite well in school and also will be attending Boys State which should help.

But I would like to know if anyone has numbers or a percentage of those who attend NASS actually go to the Academy

Percentage they told us was around 40% or so

 

[tarbe]

Percentage they told us was around 40% or so

I don't think that could possibly be a good number. 40% of 2,250 is 900........over 70% of the entire class!

I would believe that 40% of the NASS attendees go on to complete their applications for nominations....but I doubt that 40% attend the Academy.


Tim

 

[sdhitt]

I don't think that could possibly be a good number. 40% of 2,250 is 900........over 70% of the entire class!

I would believe that 40% of the NASS attendees go on to complete their applications for nominations....but I doubt that 40% attend the Academy.


Tim

From my squad last year: 2 of us received appointments, 1 got into NAPS, 1 is going to a foundation school for a year, 3 were rejected, and 1 is unknown.

So about 40% of my squad is guaranteed a spot.

 

[hawk]

I would believe that 40% of the NASS attendees go on to complete their applications for nominations....but I doubt that 40% attend the Academy.

My son mentioned that the admissions briefing at West Point SLS this summer made the statement that about 40-50% of each SLS session would "receive offers". My guess is they are referring to LOA's or similar, not actual appointments.

This does not automatically translate into filling the class, as there will many receiving multiple offers. Especially recruited athletes.

That's not because they went to SS/SLS, it's just appears that way due to selection bias. Core academic stats (and maybe EC's depending on who you believe) have to be pretty good to get picked for SS/SLS unless a recruited athlete. So it's not surprising that the success rate is a bit higher, as there are very few there that are not well qualified. And recruited athlete's also have higher odds of receiving an offer.

So it sounds like the stats could be valid if applied to "offer" percentage, not a plebe class percentage.

Factor in that there is an opportunity to pass the CFA early and the numbers skew even more. And you have to have medical clearance to attend. Not anything like DODMERB, but there are probably some screened even in that process.

As many have stated, it appears the converse is not true: Not attending SS/SLS does not reduce the odds of making it into the class if you look at the total applicant pool.

It's just tough in competitive states. EX: My son was initially declined for one of the seminars even with reading+math SAT in the mid 1400's, 3.9 unweighted GPA, several AP/Honors classes, etc. Was added late for two of the seminars.

So like everyone says.... if you don't get picked just get ready for when the apps open. you are in control of completing that!

 

[Zaphod]

I wish they'd had NASS in my day....

 

[marciemi]

I wish they'd had NASS in my day....

It wasn't called that but it did exist. I went in 1983 and it was a very similar program, without as much of the physical stuff. No Sea Trials or actual PT, but we still did the drill and all the classes. Went to an Orioles game and to DC. I went to West Point's the previous week (then called Invitational Academic Workshop). I still have my pics and the t-shirt I got from Navy somewhere in the attic!