Is this lying?

M

metsycats

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Jan 3, 2016
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Good afternoon USCGA forum,
I am currently applying for USCGA's AIM program.
I also applied for USNA's NASS program.
I'm working on my essays for the AIM program and on one of the essays I thought about writing "I want to be an officer in the United States Coast Guard" .... but that was my mindset when I applied for USNA's NASS: "I want to be an officer in the United States Navy"....
I want to go to USNA or USCGA, but is it lying if I say I want to be an officer in the USCG when I want to be also be an officer in the USN? I will become either depending on which SA I get accepted to (if any), my plan C is NROTC.
Any advice would be appreciated.
MC
 
I suggest to write about your personal goals your feelings and emotions. I have never applied for AIM program or NASS program since i am a international but in past i have applied for Service Academys several times and i gained really big experience on essay writing. Navy, Coast Guard, army or any other branch serves for your countrys freedom, for global welfare and every person in every branch is a patriot and puts service before themselves. Write that you want to serve your country in any ways needed
 
You can say you want to serve as an officer in the military and then explain what draws you to the Coast Guard.
 
+1 Falcon

It is a good thing that you are concerned but I think that most of the SAs understand that you might want both. The most important thing you must demonstrate is why you want it. I wish that I had come across this forum 2 years ago when DS was beginning this process. Almost every applicant makes the mistake of starting off with I want to be an officer. Well, really? No kidding you and 7000 of your buddies! You want to stand out! I'm no expert but if DS could do it over again (and believe me he's already planning to even though he's still in the game) I would advise him to do the following. Draw on how you came to this conclusion through some leadership experience that you can draw upon. i.e. through my work with X I found that my peers continuously relied upon me for my decision making, organizational, management skills etc.....I enjoy leading and I am good at it. However, looking to the future I can't see myself taking a leadership role for money, or power, or fame. I want to serve. Good luck!
 
You want to be in officer in either. That's not a mutually exclusive statement.

It's not a lie. If you said "I only want to be..." I'd say you're certainly nearing an attempt to deceive.
 
Row2020 said:
+1 Falcon

It is a good thing that you are concerned but I think that most of the SAs understand that you might want both. The most important thing you must demonstrate is why you want it. I wish that I had come across this forum 2 years ago when DS was beginning this process. Almost every applicant makes the mistake of starting off with I want to be an officer. Well, really? No kidding you and 7000 of your buddies! You want to stand out! I'm no expert but if DS could do it over again (and believe me he's already planning to even though he's still in the game) I would advise him to do the following. Draw on how you came to this conclusion through some leadership experience that you can draw upon. i.e. through my work with X I found that my peers continuously relied upon me for my decision making, organizational, management skills etc.....I enjoy leading and I am good at it. However, looking to the future I can't see myself taking a leadership role for money, or power, or fame. I want to serve. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Yikes, the sentence 'I want to be an officer..." is definitely in there more than once! Thanks.
Thanks everyone else in your replies, I guess it is a little scrupulous to think of it as a lie when there are so many other kids out there applying to more than one SA
 
My son applied to AIM last year and was accepted. His essay was more wanting to be a"member of the Coast Guard" vs an officer specifically. It is not a lie if you are interested in either one. You want to be a member of the Coast Guard but you also want Navy. Not a lie at all and there are several people who apply to more than one academy program. Be honest and sincere and make sure you emphasize your motivation.
 
I want to be an officer in USCG because ...
I want to be an Navy officer because...
Neither would be a lie. You could want to be both, it may not be practical, but it could be what you want.
Either way you are not lying,
 
This forum is a great place to get tips that will help you in your essay and later the whole application but think about first what it means for you to become USCGA officer and then write about it. Write about what motivates you to become an officer and what are your goals after you become one. Every person is different and of course every essay and application will be different but i think Academys are looking for young people who despite the difference share same code of honor, dedication, love for the homeland
 
My son's subject for the essay for AIM was actually given to him....what does cga*s core values mean to him? Maybe it's changed. If so, I agree with rowe2020...
 
No, it isn't lying. You are only in h.s. and just starting the application process. You might word the NASS or AIM essays so that the appropriate organization is referenced. There is nothing dishonest about applying to both. You may eventually get accepted to both, neither or just one of them. At this point you are looking into both programs to understand more about them and which you might prefer.
 
time2 said:
No, it isn't lying. You are only in h.s. and just starting the application process. You might word the NASS or AIM essays so that the appropriate organization is referenced. There is nothing dishonest about applying to both. You may eventually get accepted to both, neither or just one of them. At this point you are looking into both programs to understand more about them and which you might prefer.
Click to expand...
I must agree with time2. As a someone being only in high school, a Junior none the less, you should not be expected to know for sure which branch you want to apply to. Having it narrowed down to only two branches is a good thing.
 
I thought I'd weigh in here, even though you already got your question answered, so I won't address that part. I think Row2020 is exactly right. You might be writing "I want to be an officer because" but really what the AO needs to read is "You want ME to be an officer because..." Writing about how much you want to go to the Academy is kind of a soft pitch; it's pretty obvious from the fact that you are applying in the first place. You can still say it, but the full force of your selling points shouldn't be predicated on that.

From what I remember of my original essays, I think I wrote something like "I know I'm prepared as I can be/any other applicant/I have a good background for this because..." and then I listed my work/athletic experience for categories that CGA finds important. How I balanced work, school and athletics (time management), how I became a captain of a sports team (leadership), and some rescues I did as an ocean lifeguard (to explain my motivation and experience with helping people).

I tried to treat it like a job interview. Telling them how much you want the job is great, but you're better off telling them what you can do for them. I remember I researched what the Coast Guard found important, or how they viewed themselves, and then tried to explain how I had the characteristics and experience that matched what the organization sees or wants to see in itself.

Although this doesn't address your original point, I thought you might find it helpful in your writings. Keep in mind, it's also just one person's perspective. Good luck!
 
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