What route to take?

service

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Help... need better understanding of options after graduation from USMMA for career obligations, job opportunities, and service opportunities. My child wants to go into the service, had nominations to USNA and that was his first choice but did not make final cut. He has ROTC or USMMA and is trying to figure out new pathway to his dream. (At this point would reapply for Navy if that is what it takes.)
 
route

Having gone the ROTC route and having retired from the Navy there just seem to be so many more options at USMMA. I also came from a time where the Navy daily, ate it's young.

There are just so many more options at USMMA....
 
Initially my first choice was USNA as well, but when I really found out about the opportunities USMMA offers my mind was instantly changed. Well what sold me was the fact that it is a great SA, like any of the others, but 1 out of the 4 years is spent serving at sea both on US Navy and US Merchant Marine ships. This is big for me because eventhough I don't plan on being a SWO in the Navy I get an oppurtunity to serve my country for a year before even graduating. USMMA is also the ONLY SA that is authorized to fly battle standard and constantly sends mids into battle zones. I just want to serve my country and this oppurtunity not only gives me a chance to do that while in attendance, but I also gain that year of real world experience so that when I do enter the fleet, I'm not as green as other ensigns will be.

You also graduate with a Coast Guard's Third Mates license so I will be able to pilot any ship of unlimited tonnage. Driving ships isn't my first choice but this license will be a foot in the door of a great back up career to the military, if for some reason i don't earn my pension from the USN. Down the road I'd like to have a family to support and this will ensure, more or less, I will have a great career opportunity to provide a well-off life for my family. And as a side-note, the last few months have all seemed to lead to USMMA and I believe that's where God wants me to be and it is where I'm supposed to be.

Another great aspect of KP is how you can choose a commission in ANY of the services. You may also stay in the Naval Reserve and become a merchant marine working for one of many great maritime companies. It is my understanding that by the time graduation rolls around the average firstie has 4-5 job opportunities from such companies. As an example, a girl I know graduated recently and is up in Alaska driving ferries for their maritime highway. She works 2 weeks on 2 weeks off and her starting salary is $90,000 a year. You will have a great career in the military regardless of the service you choose or a very profitable and successful career in civilian life if that is what you choose. USMMA is truly the best kept secret of the SA's.
 
As a first classman, and one that had a very similar situation (USNA first Choice and NROTC as a backup) that came to KP instead, i can honestly say that this place has afforded me opportunities and experiences that none of my friends from any other schools can even hold a candle to. before my 21st birthday i'd been around the world 3 times. and they really mean it when they say you can wind up pretty much anywhere.
for me, i was gung-ho about going active duty Navy upon graduation, but still did everything i could to be a great cadet out at sea and had a blast. now i've been given a billet as a Civil Engineering Officer with the US Air Force and the job sounds spectacular. you'll be given opportunities that you never knew existed and weren't even considering.
this place is very tough some times and rather frustrating, but it it entirely doable. if i can make it through in 4 years, so can you.
at the end of the day, it's worth the nonsense. KP is a great place to be from. :D
 
Help... need better understanding of options after graduation from USMMA for career obligations, job opportunities, and service opportunities. My child wants to go into the service, had nominations to USNA and that was his first choice but did not make final cut. He has ROTC or USMMA and is trying to figure out new pathway to his dream. (At this point would reapply for Navy if that is what it takes.)

I apologize in advance if this sounds overly blunt and harsh but I note you state: "My child wants to go into the service, had nominations to USNA and that was his first choice but did not make final cut. He has ROTC or USMMA and is trying to figure out new pathway to his dream."

To me the operative point here is it is his life and HE needs to do the research and make HIS decision on what to do.

As a parent I'd point out that right now it appears to me your child has two choices neither of which are bad ones - ROTC or USMMA. It is unclear to me whether or not the ROTC option involves a scholarship or not. As has been pointed out the USMMA route does give your son many options assuming he successfully completes the program. Further from my perspective, it seems the worst case is he receives the same commission as he would if he went ROTC. That said his resultant obligation will be longer - by one year (6 vs 5) then if he went to USNA and did not take a pilot slot or something similar and goes active duty. If he sails on his Merchant Mariners License or has other qualifying employment his Reserve Commitment is eight years.

However, as a USMMA Alum myself I would say if part of his dilemma is he doesn't want to go through USMMA because he has no intention of even considering a career in the Merchant Marine then I applaud his position. On the other hand if it's just that he had blinders on following his dream of USNA, then I'd suggest he consider the two available alternatives and consider both of his current options fully. Neither are bad choices and either can get him to the next step in his current desired journey - a commission to serve in the Navy. Of course, along the way at KP, he may find another one of the options and opportunities available to him upon graduation even more appealing between now and then.

In any case I'd also point out he should review those options with alacrity as there are others on the USMMA waiting list who would gladly take the spot currently being offered to him.

Again though, this has to be HIS decision, it's HIS life and HE should be the one asking for this sort of information, of course being a parent myself I can understand why you might want to do a little investigation on your own too.
 
I do understand, as does my son, that this is his decision. This is something he has worked for and desires. At this point, I happened to come across this forum and figured I might get some questions answered that I have and that have come up with discussions. (He has now been on himself and has found it insightful and helpful) Any information he can seek out or we can offer as parents for him to make that informed decision is helpful. He certainly is asking the questions and making the decisions. I know he appreciates information from interviews and conections he has made throughtout this process, as his father and I do from our experience in this too.
 
Usmma - the choice

]I remember the first time I went into the USMMA Website. I thought, there is nothing here for my daughter. She has planned to be an Astronaut since she was in 4th grade. Nothing about flight, nothing about air-dynamics.....

She is still planning on flying with the Navy upon Graduation 2011. That will be the next step in applying to the Astronaut Program. One of those well kept 'secrets' is there are pilot slots that are offered to USMMA graduates. They are a lot easier to obtain than at the 'other' Academy.

IN THE MEAN TIME, she is completing her 2nd Sea Year. She has worked on 2 Motor/Vehicle Transport Ships and a MSC Oil Tanker. She loves the work as a Deckie and is now doing her time in the Engine Room. She has had more experiences in different areas of the world and work places than I have had in my life time.

After flying, she will have the GREATEST job positiion that can be afforded to man or women....how about 6 months on, 6 months off and 6 digit salary??????...She knows a 2001 graduate of USMMA that has just completed her requirements for a CAPTAIN'S license and works for Exxon....How many 29year olds do you know that can say that?

OPPORTUNITIES???? Your son will have so many MORE at USMMA that he could ever imagine AND the opportunity to go Active Duty and serve his Country. Most of our lives and goals change as we go through our careers.

USMMA is NOT for the faint-hearted.....this experience has taken DD to the extremes and she can see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. I think this is great for a 'land lubber' from Colorado.
 
after graduation

One little unknown route is the Air National Guard, look into it. My husband retired from the Guard (not to be confused with the Army National Guard). He flew fighters in the Louisiana Air National Guard and that is the route my son wants to take.
 
One of those well kept 'secrets' is there are pilot slots that are offered to USMMA graduates. They are a lot easier to obtain than at the 'other' Academy.

How are you defining "easier"?

Can you provide some verifiable statistics to prove this statement?
 
i think what they're getting at is there is less competition for the pilot slots than at the other academies, not that the selection process is any easier, but if the school gets 10 pilot slots and only 15 people applied for them, your chances of flying are higher than at another academy where there are 1000 people fighting for 100 slots (i know my numbers are way off, but it was merely to compare the number of slots to the number of applicants)
 
How are you defining "easier"?

Can you provide some verifiable statistics to prove this statement?

This is a fairly common statement at USMMA and is pretty much anecdotal. I don't think there are any stat's kept on this.

With that being said, I have never heard of a KP'er who was qualified to go to flight school not getting a slot. Plus if you don't get it right at graduation just go sail for a couple months and then talk to an officer recruiter to look at transferring back from the Merchant Marine Reserve into a pilot/nfo slot. At that point you are no longer competing with everyone who graduated ROTC/SA.

Or you can do as mentioned above and sign on the line with the Air National Guard as early as junior year like one of my classmates did.
 
How are you defining "easier"?

Can you provide some verifiable statistics to prove this statement?

i think what they're getting at is there is less competition for the pilot slots than at the other academies, not that the selection process is any easier.....

This is a fairly common statement at USMMA and is pretty much anecdotal. I don't think there are any stat's kept on this.

Yeah, I've heard it mentioned before, I was just curious as to how she was quantifying "easier" and if she had any numbers to verify.

KP offers some fantastic opportunities, of that there is no doubt! :thumb:
 
"easier"

At another Academy you are identified for Flight as an incoming Canidate. You are then followed through your 1c year. The grade point required is a .05 or higher.

At USMMA, grade point is 3.0 or higher. Plus, there are not as many persuing a flight career.
 
At another Academy you are identified for Flight as an incoming Canidate. You are then followed through your 1c year. The grade point required is a .05 or higher.

What does this mean? "identified for flight as an incoming candidate." What Academy are you talking about?

I've never heard of anything like this, other than being PPQ (as a medical qual) for the USAFA.

The rest of your statement is equally confusing - "followed through your 1c year" - followed by whom? :confused:

And what "grade point average .05 higher" are you talking about? GPA where? At the USCGA? At the USMA?

I'm lost. :confused:
 
Clarifying - I hope

Canidate: Pre-Plebe, as in Plebe Canidate (freshman)
1c: First classman (Senior)
.05: Upper 1/2 of the top 1% of the class or 480 slots whichever comes first
3.0 out of a 4.0 GPA

:spacecraft: I hope that helps.....or I have been 'beamed up' unwillingly.
 
I must agree, those posts are a bit confusing.

Which Academy are you talking about? The only one I know who identifies potential pilots ahead of time is as Luigi mentioned USAFA and that is only a medical qualifier.
 
Canidate: Pre-Plebe, as in Plebe Canidate (freshman)
1c: First classman (Senior)
.05: Upper 1/2 of the top 1% of the class or 480 slots whichever comes first
3.0 out of a 4.0 GPA

:spacecraft: I hope that helps.....or I have been 'beamed up' unwillingly.

Yes, I understand what a candidate is (despite your constant misspelling of the word).

Yes, I know what a 1/c is. :rolleyes:

However, I still have no clue as to what you are talking about.

Let's try again:

At another Academy you are identified for Flight as an incoming Canidate.

1. What is the "other Academy" you are talking about?
2. What do you mean by "identified for flight"?

You are then followed through your 1c year.

1. Followed for "what" and by who? :confused:

The grade point required is a .05 or higher.

1. I have no idea what you are tallking about. Are you trying to say that there is some minimum GPA that must be attained at the other academies to gain a slot at flight school?

2. When you write ".05 or higher" what exactly are you referring to? Point oh five higher than what?

:bang:
 
Sea Faring Moose Mom said:
After flying, she will have the GREATEST job position that can be afforded to man or women....how about 6 months on, 6 months off and 6 digit salary??????...

Maybe you can share some details on your daughters plans for keeping her license active and then getting that high paying sailing job after spending roughly 9+ years as a Naval Aviator/Astronaut..?

Luigi59 said:
I have no idea what you are talking about.
After seeing these last couple of posts by Sea Faring Moose Mom I would say you’re not alone; she also has NO IDEA what she’s talking about..
 
No Further Comments

I will with draw all of my comments and will not reply to this subject any further. My statements were clear.

I am sure that my DD will be as successful in Flight, as an Astronaut, and on the Sea as you presume to be.

And YES, deepdraft1, I DO KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

Whatever your intent was, I will not be bullied by your comments and ridiculed. The 'voice' of your comments and words no longer interest me, spelling error and all.................

I choose NOT to be in any further conversations with either one of you. How UN professional!
 
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