I was Marines and two of my sons had planned for years to go to USNA. They have done Summer STEM and Summer Leadership, and my youngest in trying to be recruited for lacrosse at one of those two academies now. My 18 year old was lucky enough to secure multiple SA appointments and is now a Plebe at West Point and just finished BEAST. We began to see several differences between West Point and USNA. Some can be best felt by spending some time at each and the overnight visits tilted the scale for West Point. But, so much depends on what one’s wants to do in the military and career options in the services. some of that involves looking ahead at what the needs of the service might be in 8-10 years and what she would like to do in the service.
Both USNA and West Point and just finishing their Plebe Summers and both academies have numerous videos of their plebe’s experiences over the last couple months. You will note that, although both are hard in their own ways - they are each very different experiences. In summary, I don‘t think that you could go wrong with either and much will be in the hands of the Nomination sources and the academy’s admissions process but my son felt a great attraction to the teamwork approach at West Point and three-legged scoring for cadets (academic, physical, and leadership.) He did get the feeling from his multiple visits to USNA that, whether planned or not, there was a greater emphasis on individual academic progress that the other areas than West Point.
The final deciding factor for my son was the fact that out of three service academy overnight visits he did (after securing appointments) the plebes at West Point were the only ones that offered up their racks (beds) to show him a better night’s sleep - which they did not have to do. At other academies he slept on a mattress on the floor. He felt that the Cadets really bent over backwards to make him comfortable and spend more of their precious little time answering questions and taking him around. he said, “if they treat me like this as plebes now, I know as officers they will do the same for their troops and this is where I want to be!”
‘Good luck with the process and she can’t go wrong with either academy. Each is truly a tremendous opportunity and privilege. And, don’t give up the process! It can be long and keep your DD hanging right up to the last day -but worth the process and the wait.
