Enlisting Before USNA

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EvanB

Prospective-2029
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Apr 6, 2022
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Hello, I am currently a Freshmen in High School and I am wondering 2 things: is enlisting before USNA a good option(will it look good on the application) and second if I don't get admitted to USNA in that gap year could I enlist and then reapply next year?
 
I would not advise enlisting solely to gain appointment to USNA. There are some threads on here that address this, but my advise is to enlist only if you can live with serving out your enlisted commitment. Once you commit to the military, your prime function will be to carry out that job and anything aside from that, including gaining appointment to a service academy, will come second (or third, fourth, etc). While there are paths for enlisted to officer (I am living proof of that), I would say it is more rare than preparing in high school and putting a great package together for direct entry (or without enlisting).
 
EvanB said:
Hello, I am currently a Freshmen in High School and I am wondering 2 things: is enlisting before USNA a good option(will it look good on the application) and second if I don't get admitted to USNA in that gap year could I enlist and then reapply next year?
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Greetings and welcome to the forum. Use the search function and type 'enlisting before USNA' into it, you will find tons of prior threads with very wise and sage advice. In general, (this is listed on the USNA website, under 'class portrait') they typically only have 60-75 in a class from the enlisted ranks.

Great job finding this forum as a resource. You are smart to pursue gleaning information about applying and strengthening your resume early in the process.
 
As previously mentioned, I would advise caution enlisting as a means of obtaining an appointment. I don't know the odds- but they may not be in your favor at all depending on the mission of your unit. If your goal is to serve as an enlisted sailor/marine/airman/soldier then that is very honorable and go for it.
 
What is your ultimate / primary desire? To serve in the military (any capacity)? To serve as a USN or USMC officer? To attend USNA?

There are various paths to achieve each. As a general rule (there are some exceptions), if you are on the college track in h.s., and want to serve in the military, your best bet is to apply to the SAs, apply to ROTC and, if neither of those works out, apply to Officer Candidate School upon completion of college. Any one of those will lead to a commission as an officer.

Most folks who enlist don't see themselves as attending college right after h.s. for all sorts of reasons (e.g., not good at school, don't like to study, want to work before more school, etc.). [Note: many who enlist ultimately earn their AA or bachelor's degree while in the military]. Most folks who enlist also want to be more of a "doer" and less of a manager (though senior enlisted have a lot of management responsibility). It's a different lifestyle that generally appeals to different people than those who seek to become an officer.

There are paths in the USN and the USMC to move from enlisted to officer; however, it's the exception not the rule and involves a lot of things outside of your control.

If your primary desire is to attend USNA, you have 3 more years to make that happen. Read the USNA.edu site in detail. Peruse these forums. Go to SA events held by your school, local congressperson, local USNA chapter, etc.
 
EvanB said:
if I don't get admitted to USNA in that gap year could I enlist and then reapply next year?
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First, as a Freshman, you have most of your HS career ahead of you... use the time wisely to develop the record necessary to get in straight from HS. Second, if you don't get in ...don't take a Gap Year....there is a great sticky at the top of the page about reapplying. Every Candidate should have a Plan B ,C, etc. and the recommendations rarely (if ever) include either a Gap Year or enlisting as a path to appointment to USNA.
 
All the above is good advise. You do have a few years to sort it out.
There is a tendency to push teens to college right away. I’ve seen many who could use a few years off before jumping in to “bake” a little more. Sometimes enlisting is a good way to take some years off. My DW went that route.
Another possibility is to go split training in the Army Guard or Reserves. Go to basic training between your junior and senior year of high school. You then drill with your unit your senior year one weekend a month. Most units will let you do drill on different days if you have sports commitments the day of drill to make it up.
If your unit is called up you can NOT be mobilized until you complete high school and advanced training.
You then attend advanced training between your senior year of high school and college.
If you are selected to a service academy or get an ROTC scholarship that trumps your enlistment contract.
Even if you do not get a service related nomination being enlisted generally helps your application and you count for the SAs “prior service” numbers.
Being enlisted Army does not mean you have to go to USMA. I’ve known prior enlisted in the Coast Guard who went to USMA, Army and Air Force who have gone to USNA.
 
I was enlisted Army a few months after high school and was released after serving for 19 months (including deployed for Desert Shield/Storm) from my 6-year contract early to attend NAPS (where I had to enlist Navy). Finished there and received my appointment to the Academy.

I joined the Army as an aircraft mechanic with the intent of applying to warrant school to fly helicopters. One of our pilots was a West Point grad and ribbed the crap out of me when I told everyone I was getting released to go to the Navy. Interestingly enough, it never crossed my mind to request West Point, or West Point prep, even though I was in the Army. My father and grandfather were both Naval officers, so that was where my heart lay at the time. I had no desire to become an Army commissioned officer.

However, instead of focusing on the warrant flight application, I was in the process of actually applying to go to Spec Ops "Q-School" when I found out I was accepted to NAPS.
 
Concur with all other comments emphasizing it isn’t a smart choice. I’ll add that it isn’t a super simple process applying to USNA from the fleet. There are a number of things you must complete before your leadership will back you in the process, some of which may take over a year to get done. You need to be proficient at/qualified in your job and be a top performer at your command, something that doesn’t just happen right away.

If your only goal is to serve, enlisting is certainly an option, but if you are considering USNA, I would encourage you to explore ROTC programs while you apply to USNA.

You still have plenty of time to excel in high school, take advantage of it!

Best of luck!
 
I would not say it’s not a smart choice. It’s a different choice with challenges and no guarantees.
There is this push for people to attend college immediately after high school. For some college/service academy right away is not the best path. Not all teens are the same.
I found this with DD. After one semester of college she dropped out, walking away from ROTC and athletic scholarships and enlisted. But after some enlisted time she matured and was ready for college. Applied to a SA from the ranks and did well.
Was it the path I would have chosen for her? No. But I would not say it wasn’t a smart path. Maybe not an easy path, it was a path that gave me more gray hairs, but it was also a path that molded and shaped her into who she is today. It was the path she had to take.
 
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Enlisting is not an “easier” way or “back door” way to get into USNA. Those who enlist for that reason are most likely doomed to disappointment, though a few obviously succeed. I know someone who enlisted in the USMC never even knowing what USNA was. He’s now at NAPS. That’s because he was stellar and his leadership suggested USNA, not because that was ever his goal in enlisting.

Enlisting can be the perfect option for those who aren’t ready for college now - or ever. It’s also a great option for those who can’t afford college, want to develop work skills and independence, save money and then attend college under the GI bill or using other military / veteran benefits.
 
Enlisting in the military is an honorable and great thing to do. However, anyone telling you should enlist so you become a better officer or gives you more opportunities with the academy is talking from their backside. Yes, there are people who enlisted and wound up being officers but that was a path they decided to take for their own personal reasons. If you want to be an officer, either go to the academy, Rotc or OTS. Lets be honest, if you are Einstein or General Patton reincarnated, I am sure you can start at any level and rise to the top. For most of us, a direct path works best
 
MidCakePa said:
Aside from the very sage advice from @Humey, I’m trying hard to picture “General Albert Einstein.” 🤔😉🥴
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Image result for Albert Einstein Army. Size: 120 x 170. Source: funnyfacebookstatus-funnyjokes.blogspot.com
 
My DS enlisted as a plan B. He has a Jul ship date, but also has an LOA from USNA. I would echo the others that say, as a Freshman work to make yourself to get a USNA appt. But also be realistic and have other plans. For my son, Plan B was a USMC enlistment.

Edit: I forgot to mention that there are various options for enlistment to officer ("Mustangs" they are called). One is to get an undergrad degree while enlisted, then OCS to commission. For some people this may make you a better officer. Is it worth 4 years as enlisted, then OCS, etc.? Depends on you really.
 
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