Recent content by Bash On

DD was a theater kid and did not play any HS sports. She did play an outside club sport for about a year before applying. Her PFE was over the informal cutoff (mentioned by the AO but I've since forgotten what it was in the intervening years) but not outstanding by any stretch. That said, she...

I seem to recall that some SMCs and ROTC programs have a "cadet for a day" program. Also, for a longer-term taste, there are programs like Sea Cadets that require some sustained hard work, and thus would be a good tryout for your son while in high school. DD was a Sea Cadet for years then went...

There's so much clothing and equipment, it's not just for the initial issue. DD was always sending us pics of new uniform items she received, throughout the year not to mention multiple sets of competition and non-competition and workout team gear. I'm surprised there's room to store it all...

Last summer, DD requested and got an 11-week assignment on a NSC, or WMSL (pronounced whim-sel). She wanted a cutter assignment because she didn't want to wait until the 1c summer to try out what she would likely be doing upon graduation. She loved it. IIRC, she worked on deck watch and...

They are all fortunate, no matter the summer assignment, to be at the Academy. :)

Hard to figure out how the assignments are done. My cadet requested and got a west coast cutter assignment. She absolutely loved it and now wants to go cutters at graduation.

That page refers to "transfer credit." CGA was obviously using the term in a non-technical sense and so was I. Semantics, folks.

DD did exactly that--reapplied to CGA while in NROTC. She completely rewrote her essays with the benefit of at least a semester of college. My advice to her is the same I offer to you--take advantage of every opportunity in college and NROTC that's available to you, even if you don't think...

An admissions partner (AP) told DD that the AP was tasked by Admissions with asking DD about her grades but was not told anything else.

I recall being told at an admissions briefing that the Academy is being very strict on weight now and that they will send indocs/Swabs home if overweight. Please check with you AO to verify my memory and to ensure the policy hasn't changed.

It was the dead of winter when we visited. DD got an appointment despite wearing jeans and a warm sweater. :) We didn't have a meeting scheduled with DD's AO but ran into her at the welcome briefing and she graciously spent a good amount of time with DD after. Nobody cared what I wore and...

Similar risk calculation here. DD will spend Thanksgiving with BF's family rather than try to fly to NM and back.

Just had an admissions partner briefing earlier this week: -DoDMERB is triggered when a student submits their application AND an applicant provides their unofficial transcript. -The application doesn't need to be considered complete and while the interview process may coincide with the DoDMERB...

As always, the best source of the latest information is your cadet--even if it takes some prodding.

DD is taking her own laptop to school this year--it's more powerful than the issued one. She also uses an iPad to take notes in class and raves about how it helps her studying (something about taking her handwritten notes and making them into organized documents to study from) and how it's...