Rowing at the USAFA

nomo1316

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Jan 30, 2016
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I am a very competitive rower and I really am looking into going to the USAFA as a first choice and Naval as a second. I am aware that the USAFA does not have a rowing program or team and rowing is something I would really like to continue in college, while the Navy does have a great team (obviously). But is there any way that I could row and still go to the USAFA with maybe a different program or another option? Or is there just no way? I am pretty torn on this because rowing is something I am very passionate about and so is the USAFA so I didn't know if there was a way to do both. Thanks for your help!!
 
If your overall goal is USAF commission, and if crew is very important to you in an I-can't-face-life-without-rowing-and-killer-erg-sessions way, are you researching AFROTC units at colleges with crew programs? The Philadelphia and Boston area colleges are known for the sport, and schools either have a resident AFROTC unit or crosstown arrangement. Athletes can do both, but it takes top performance and good coordination to keep it all balanced.

If USAFA doesn't have a crew team (an impressive place, but I haven't seen the requisite water feature there), you will be playing another sport, varsity, club or intramural. I will defer to USAFA experts here.

You have to weigh short, mid and long-term goals, and choose what's right for you.

https://www.afrotc.com/locator
 
If your overall goal is USAF commission, and if crew is very important to you in an I-can't-face-life-without-rowing-and-killer-erg-sessions way, are you researching AFROTC units at colleges with crew programs? The Philadelphia and Boston area colleges are known for the sport, and schools either have a resident AFROTC unit or crosstown arrangement. Athletes can do both, but it takes top performance and good coordination to keep it all balanced.

If USAFA doesn't have a crew team (an impressive place, but I haven't seen the requisite water feature there), you will be playing another sport, varsity, club or intramural. I will defer to USAFA experts here.

You have to weigh short, mid and long-term goals, and choose what's right for you.

https://www.afrotc.com/locator
I am from the Philly area and have looked into it. I am looking into ROTC as well but obviously USAFA is my goal. I have some big decisions to make. Thank you!!
 
I was in the same boat (ha) as you coming out of high school. Capt MJ had some great advice. Randomly-I did a semester at Navy and was lucky enough to train and race with the team out there, even though it had been a few years since I had rowed. I've missed rowing A TON here, but I'm happy with my decision.

If you want to row and commission AF, do AFROTC somewhere. If you want to go to Navy, all three of their programs (heavyweight, lightweight, and women's) are some of the hardest working teams on the Yard and amazing people to train with. I had a blast out there and still keep up with my friends from the team.

Let me know if I can provide any other insight.
 
I have a good friend who rowed on Penn's varsity team, commissioning through NROTC there. He turned down USNA. He had a successful career in naval aviation and squadron command as a helo pilot. Used his GI Bill to get another Master's at Wharton and is now doing well in corporate world. He felt he fit better at ROTC than USNA, and Philly was his hometown area. He is still in Philly Metro, still rows.

Research your paths, choose one, and own it. Taking the long view, even if you do 20+ USAF career, you can settle in a place where you could return to the sport, and buy yourself a top-of-the line rower as a graduation present in the meantime. :)
 
I'm a current sophomore at USAFA who rowed for six years before coming to the academy. I really enjoyed rowing in high school, but I was dead set on going to USAFA. I had to put rowing on hold to come to the academy, but I hope that I can pick it back up some time down the road. You're going to have to weigh your options based on what is really important to you. Rowing might be the only activity not represented at USAFA, so like Capt MJ said, you will most definitely find a club or sport at USAFA that you enjoy.
 
Or you could "Med." moor the scull to the edge of the pool ( sort of like an exercise bike that doesn't go anywhere ) and create a whole new sport at USAFA. Churn up enough water and maybe even be able to develop a surfing club while you're at it. :director::eek2::eek3::frown::eek2::eek3::frown:

What they're lacking is a good ol' Schuylkill somewhere on campus.
 
My DD 2015, never rowed before, but is at grad school at Oxford and will be rowing for them against Cambridge on 4-2-17, televised live on BBC World News, coverage starts at 11AM EDT, women's race at 11:35. Cheer for a USAFA grad!
 
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