USNA Negative Stigma

[LineInTheSand]

We used to call OCS "Summer Camp." Maybe it's a different OCS. Get a bunch of prior enlisted and college graduates, put them in uniforms, wake them up early, yell at them awhile.... boom you've got yourself an officer in 13 weeks. I had to have seen 10 OCS classes pass through in my time as a cadet. They start out sloppy, like us all, and by the end, they pretty much have it together.

The thing that got us, was every now and then an OC did something that, as a cadet, would have had him out on his butt in the middle of the street, at OCS.... not so.

For those who don't know, Coast Guard OCS (and now NOAA's OCS or whatever they call it) are located at the Coast Guard Academy. OCS has a small wing, on the first floor, in a corner of Chase Hall. It's closed off from the rest of Chase Hall. OCs don't venture in the cadet areas and cadets don't venture into the OCS area. For awhile the academy leadership tried to mix the two. They had Monday night football viewing for 1/c cadets and OCs, they had softball games, etc. Eventually I think it dawned on them that 25-30 year old OCs don't want to hang out with 19-21 year old cadets, and cadets feel no connection with OCs, after seeing countless OCS classes roll through.

In the fleet, it didn't really matter. Yes CGA officers knew eachother (keep in mind, there are only 6,000 Coast Guard officers and 40% are from CGA) and yes many of us were friends. There weere still some great OCS trained officers that were good to work with (and some who weren't).

 

[NavyHoops]

LITS, I have actually never realized NOAA had an OCS or whatever they call. My lesson learned for the day. I think I have found my next google topic when I get bored in my next meeting.

 

[LineInTheSand]

LITS, I have actually never realized NOAA had an OCS or whatever they call. My lesson learned for the day. I think I have found my next google topic when I get bored in my next meeting.

I didn't know much about NOAA. My old landlord from a few years ago was a NOAA officer. I guess they have something like ROTC, but maybe at only one location. Their OCS programs (or whatever it's called) just moved from USMMA to USCGA.

I always thought the Coast Guard officer corps was small, until I learned about the U.S. Public Health Service.... but the NOAA officer corps is TINY. Go out and buy a lottery ticket when you actually see a NOAA officer.

 

[NavyHoops]

I have actually seen some. We ran into some while working MacDill in Tampa. They I think had a hanger there and I was surprised then saw some of them at the PX and was really baffled. I know some Public Health guys as they were classmates of my buddies husband at Bethesda.

 

[SDMom2019]

It seems to me that when talking with men throughout the Marines, can't talk for the Navy, but there seems to be a negative attitude towards Naval Academy grads. Especially among the enlisted ranks... Just curious, don't need any hate mail, but I'd like to hear from some people on if this seems to be true.

Thanks!

I'm glad you brought up the subject because I formerly had concerns about USNA grads. myself due to some things a respected friend (and Marine) told me. So much so, that at one point, I was trying to sway my son to just do NROTC and not attend the Academy. A member of the Search and Rescue Team I serve on is a retired FBI agent who served in the Marines after going through the NROTC program. (I think he was involved with explosives in some way). I have great respect for him because he is very knowledgeable and also very humble. I didn't even realize for a long time that he had been in the FBI or the Marines. He's not the type of guy who brings things up to impress people.

When he heard my son was applying for a couple of academies and ROTC programs, he mentioned several times that I really should try to persuade him to go the ROTC route. He said he had worked with officers with various backgrounds and had never worked with a USNA graduate that he trusted and respected. He felt very strongly about this and talked like they were brainwashed or something after attending the Academy and that he didn't like working with them. He actually told me the academy would "ruin him."

His opinion of USNA graduates seemed so different from what I had read was valued at USNA ...the honor code, the teamwork, etc... In his opinion, officers who had been through USNA would stab you in the back and make decisions which made them look good with no regard for the folks they lead. He felt they acted like they were better than officers with other backgrounds, and they would let you know it. I was really concerned about this since I respected my teammate so much. For a while, I tried to encourage my son to just do NROTC.

Once I started lurking on the forums here, I felt better about USNA and decided it did seem like a place that respected hard work, honesty, humility, teamwork, etc... I hope that is the case. Regardless of the atmosphere there, I just have to trust that my son will stay true to his values and won't get too big for his britches. (In my opinion, there's nothing uglier than conceit.) It's comforting to read posts from BGOs, NavyHoops, other future Plebes, etc... and realize there are quality folks with their heads screwed on right going into and coming out of the Naval Academy.

I'll admit that comments made by some of those aspiring to various academies, sometimes cause me concern. Comments along the lines of... I'm sick of the stupid people at my school and... I take hard classes so I can be around people who can actually make conversation with me...smack of elitism in my opinion. I'm guessing those admitted to the SAs have experienced a lot of success and have a fairly high opinion of themselves. Perhaps the Plebe Year will knock a lot of that superior attitude out of them.

I don't want to be crucified for this post. I'm just sharing a story. I am excited for my son and his opportunity to attend USNA. I consider myself a very tolerant person regarding many personality traits. But, I've never enjoyed being around conceited people who act like they are better and more important than everyone else. There's just something about certain attitudes that makes me have to bite my tongue in order to not say something I will later regret.

 

[NavyHoops]

SDMom2019 great post and perspective. USNA is not perfect, nor is any institution. The military isn't perfect. The USNA grads I am friends with are fiercely protective of one another and to this day are my closest friends. Years ago, I was once in VA Beach and didn't see a parking sign and had my car towed (I was there less than 5 minutes). I unfortunately had lost my ATM card the day before going TAD and they would only accept cash to get a car out of the impound lot. I had credit cards and my check book. I didn't have a PIN to get cash on my credit card as I never use them for that. So I stood in line buying packs of gum and writing checks for $25 over costs as that is what the store allowed. Some how a guy about my age walked up in line and had a USNA shirt on. I did too. He asked me if I was okay and I told him my problem. He went to the ATM and got me the money and gave me a ride to the impound lot and stayed until he knew I had gotten my car and was okay. I tried to pay him back, but he refused. I treated him and his room mate to dinner... at least they let me do that. To me that is what USNA is all about. I can also tell you I have never felt so under qualified and humbled than the time I spent at USNA. It is true you will be a little fish in a big ocean there and the accomplishments of Mids is crazy. To this day the things my friends are doing are humbling and sometimes make me feel very under accomplished.

 

[LineInTheSand]

I can also tell you I have never felt so under qualified and humbled than the time I spent at USNA. It is true you will be a little fish in a big ocean there and the accomplishments of Mids is crazy. To this day the things my friends are doing are humbling and sometimes make me feel very under accomplished.

I was actually thinking the same thing (for USCGA) before I read this in your post. Hard to toot your own horn when everybody around you are far better musicians.