Transferring?

blackhawks20019

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Jan 16, 2015
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This is a topic probably never heard of, transferring service academies. I am currently a plebe at USMA, and I'm getting more and more thoughts that I want to serve in the Navy. I know it sounds like very bad planning, but the past is in the past. Does anyone know if you can transfer, or if not, would congressman allow to give a new nomination to USNA? I know that there is cross-commissioning, but that is very hard to get and I'm not sure how I would feel about risking that. Any insight would be great. Thank you.
 
This is a topic probably never heard of, transferring service academies. I am currently a plebe at USMA, and I'm getting more and more thoughts that I want to serve in the Navy. I know it sounds like very bad planning, but the past is in the past. Does anyone know if you can transfer, or if not, would congressman allow to give a new nomination to USNA? I know that there is cross-commissioning, but that is very hard to get and I'm not sure how I would feel about risking that. Any insight would be great. Thank you
 
You would have to re-apply to USNA and for a Nom. I am guessing there would be a lot of why questions and looking for detailed answers that be scrutinized. There is no 'transferring.' This topic has come up here before. I think the only one anyone came up with was a football player who did it a decade or more ago. You can always try and if you don't get it, stay put and apply for a cross commission. Also can apply for an exchange semester too. Applying, exchange semester, even applying for an NROTC scholarship would all show commitment to a future Naval Career and could only help you make your case for a possible cross commission.
 
The academies discourage poaching - so they make it tough to change academies.

You must resign/quit from one academy and apply as a former cadet at another. In addition to starting all over again, your file doesn't go through the normal approval process. It goes in a special packet that is voted on and placed before the superintendent to specifically decide if that candidate will be "readmitted".

If you happen to have left favorably AND are reapplying to the same academy, it usually is not an issue (going on a LDS mission for example). However, any and all other cases (misconduct, transferring without a really compelling reason, etc) usually are recommended NOT to readmit with the Supe following that recommendation.
 
"Buyer's remorse" is not unheard-of. One of my PS roomies really really wanted USAFA and the Air Force, and another guy in my plebe year company really wanted USMA. They both graduated and commissioned in the USN. One five-and-dived, one retired after 20 years in service.

As 845something described, it's damn near impossible to leave one academy and gain appointment to another, so really: best put that out of your mind as an option. Try to identify which jobs most interest you, and then see about pursuing those MOSs through USMA. Please please please also keep in mind that you are very, very early in your process of becoming an officer. You have four years of education and training yet to come! It is quite likely that you will change your interest at least once. There is research on how often college freshmen change majors, and it is a very high frequency: north of 75%, or 3 out of 4. Since people are pretty much the same everywhere, and develop in a lot of the same ways everywhere, it cannot be that different for service academy plebes/doolies/swabs. Even those plebes who have done their homework, so to speak, really have no idea what the all the different opportunities are, and what warfare communities are like (what their goals, culture, workdays, perks etc. are). Frankly, you also have so much to discover about yourself: the strengths and weaknesses you already know about, and those yet to be discovered. You will find your fit.
 
blackhawks20019, see response in your other thread under USMA. Also, identical cross-posting is against forum rules.
 
If USNA is off the table (as 845 suggests) then why don't you stay for 2 years..... if by that time you still feel the same then leave w/ 2 years of free college and do NROTC somewhere for the last 2 years? I am sure that wouldn't be an easy transition, but could be done. You might be surprised that after some "real Army" experience over the summers you might actually like the Army.
 
You are asking about this back in January. Others suggested you do NROTC at a civilian college and try again for USNA.

Thanks for the advice. I know I have to do what's best for me, but I just feel as though it would incredibly hard to turn down West Point after I worked for so long. I am highly considering doing NROTC, but it is very hard for my parents and extended family to comprehend declining West Point.
 
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