If not appointed.....

BOBBY_J

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
119
If i dont get appointed i have a few options. Football scholarship to ENMU. Or enlist in the army.

What are my chances of being appointed as an enlisted soilder or a college student??
 
If you enlist, your chances of getting in improve. However don't enlist just for West Point, enlist if you want to serve and west point can be something you are shooting for. You can still improve your chances as a college student, but your college grades need to be good and doing ROTC can help, but I'm pretty sure that would conflict with playing football.
 
Here are my thoughts...

When I was still in high school, I landed myself in the sam predicament. Graduating senior with no appointment. Do I enlist or do I attend a regular college. To me it was a matter of how much do I want West Point. Is starting college and spending money only to receive an appointment later and have to start all over really worth it? For me, the answer was absolutely. There are two things I want in this world: to become an officer, and the second is to become an officer from West Point. I say this because what is important to me is serving this country. My commissioning source, be it Academy, ROTC, or OCS, is very important, but not as much so as the career that follows. To me, I believe if your ultimate goal is to be a West Point grad, your heart may slightly be skewed in the wrong direction. You should want to be an officer first and foremost.

Why did I tell this little story? Because you need to ask yourself what will happen if you join the Army. I don't know your situation grade-wise, sports history, medical, etc., however, I can tell you that this is your life at stake. Worst case scenario, say you never are appointed, would you be happy being an enlisted soldier? For me, the answer is absolutely. For you, well only you can answer that. I believe I was made to be a soldier. Also, ask yourself what happens if you accept this scholarship. I never received any scholarship other than one from a police department's officers association, but I would imagine that a big-time university would give out scholarships with stipulations. Sure, you can be a dirtbag and get out of any contract, but you don't want that.

If you want to graduate college already and move on to a commission as fast as possible, you may want to look at a community college and an ROTC program. If you want to be a soldier and be able to possibly attend and graduate from West Point, enlisted Army is possibly the best route.

I don't know you personally. Hell, you could be the most gung-ho badass on this side of the nut house, which you may very well could be. Just participating on this forums shows motivation to me.

If any part of this offended you, I am sincerely sorry. That truly was not my intent. I hope that you don't end up like I did. I hope you don't have to deal with this issue, and you will just receive an appointment to make your life a whole lot easier. Good luck in your decision and all of your futures endeavors.
 
Did you see President Obama's speech at WP several weeks ago? The TV showed a WP cadet with a CIB. I thought this was very cool. I have a buddy who did not get into to WP, he enlisted, was assigned to the 1st Rgr Bn at Hunter Army Air Field, and later received his appointment while serving on active duty. The WP Class of 2013 profile has 25 combat veterans listed.
 
whats a cib?? lol

Combat Infantry Badge

(1) There are basically three requirements for award of the CIB. The soldier must be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties, must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat, and must actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.
 
so lets say that i dont get appointed and i enlist. do soilders go through the same process as i have already done>> i.e. interview with senator to recieve nomination etc..
 
My buddy enlisted and started the process all over again. He reapplied to WP and submitted requests for nominations to his MOC. He got his nom and appointment and left the Rngr Bat for WP. Remember of course that your military service will play a role just like going to college for a year and reapplying. You must maintain that same high level of academics, athletics, leadership, etc. If you go to college, play football, get great grades, excel in football, etc. you have an good shot. Playing college football or entering the service will add risks to injury though.
 
Remember of course that your military service will play a role just like going to college for a year and reapplying. You must maintain that same high level of academics, athletics, leadership, etc. If you go to college, play football, get great grades, excel in football, etc. you have an good shot. Playing college football or entering the service will add risks to injury though.
Bingo!
There are lots of highly decorated prior service soldiers who are cadets.

You can legitimately pick either option -
Enlisting - talk to your Regional Commander. Each year West Point recruits from enlisted soldiers and they never fill their slots for enlisted (85 active duty each year). If you enlist and are qualified your chances a very great.
You would apply again and seek another MOC nomination but you will have a Sec Army nomination as well.
Most enlistee's I know never heard of WP until they had enlisted. One young woman enlisted to get money for college, went to basic and heard of West Point while in Monterey learning her language. She heard of WP and applied. A year after high school graduation she was back at basic, this time Beast.

Con's to enlisting - you could end up at USMAPS. Some enlisted soldiers become very attached to their units. If they are facing deployment they don't want to be left behind. There is an attrition rate among enlisted soldiers who leave WP and go back to their units. There is a tug there.
The same thing can happen to you at E Mich in football. You may get there a decide you are attached to your team, school and don't want to start over.

If I were you - I would sit tight. Take a visit to WP if possible and at least talk with you Regional Commander about your options.
 
Bobby J. If you want to be an officer look into ROTC as a backup to WP in addition to the football scholarship at Eastern New Mexico.
 
Back
Top