AROTC to USNA

[JJaeger]

I'm a previous candidate for USNA. I got my congressional nomination and everythinbg, but was turned down at the last step. I suspect my medical had something to do with, but I'm really not to sure. Either way, I've enrolled at Michigan State University. We don't have an NROTC unit, though, so I'm currently an Army cadet/political science major. For purposes of nomination, does anyone know if MSU is an Honor School and thus able to nominate it's cadets to the academies?
I've recieved word (far too late for any admissions) that I got my IB diploma. Will this have any bearing on my next application?
As a polisci major, I don't have a lot of science and math courses. I've also waived my university requirement for writing and English courses. Any advice?

 

[newhampshirecandidate]

I'm a previous candidate for USNA. I got my congressional nomination and everythinbg, but was turned down at the last step. I suspect my medical had something to do with, but I'm really not to sure. Either way, I've enrolled at Michigan State University. We don't have an NROTC unit, though, so I'm currently an Army cadet/political science major. For purposes of nomination, does anyone know if MSU is an Honor School and thus able to nominate it's cadets to the academies?
I've recieved word (far too late for any admissions) that I got my IB diploma. Will this have any bearing on my next application?
As a polisci major, I don't have a lot of science and math courses. I've also waived my university requirement for writing and English courses. Any advice?

I'm in the same boat as you, I was a USNA applicant a year ago, all three noms and no appointment, now enrolled in AROTC. I called the officer in charge of my region a few weeks after I was denied to fine out why, so I would recommend that for you as well. I started my application this year and was originally a Political Science major at UNH, where they would not let me take Calculus, Physics, or Chemistry. I talked to my new officer and her response was, "I can't tell you to change majors, but the Academy strongly recommends reapplicants take these courses and have a technical major. So I switched to Mechanical Engineering for the time being...

 

[Pima]

JJaeger,

ALL ROTC units at any college can nom. ROTC is not like JROTC where JROTC must be an honor unit.

Talk to your det and inform them that this is your intention. They will be the ones to put you up for the nom. You still need to go after your MOC nom as well.

Be mindful that ROTC is sim. to Presidential. They have limitless amounts of noms, but limited amounts of charges. It is national, not geo-centric like your MOC.

I am not sure why you believe your medical issue was the reason, unless you were medically DQ'd, in which case, most likely you will still be in the same boat (no pun).

The system for an SA is pretty clear cut...WCS awards points to certain areas, DoDMERB is not one of those areas. It is a or No points awarded to the WCS.

Just something to remember if you do not get an appointment, stay in ROTC that exam may not be valid when it comes time to contracting next fall. DoDMERB is valid for 2 yrs. If you took the exam in Aug. LY (rising SR yr) it will not be valid in Sept (rising Soph yr). They will not contract you without a current exam taken in the past 24 months...notice months. If you miss that date by just a day, the exam is invalid, and you will need to repeat the entire exam process again.

Good luck

 

[AJM7680]

ALL ROTC units at any college can nom. ROTC is not like JROTC where JROTC must be an honor unit.

My understanding is that only NROTC units may nominate to USNA. US Code:

(4)20 nominated by the Secretary of the Navy, under regulations prescribed by him, from the honor graduates of schools designated as honor schools by the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, or the Department of the Air Force, and from members of the Naval Reserve Officer’s Training corps.

As an aside, the USNA catalog also states that all NJROTC units, both regular and honors, may nominate to USNA.

 

[dunninla]

even if AROTC cannot officially nominate to USNA, it just means you need to go back to your MOC to repeat what you did last year. Often MOCs are sympathetic to the candidate who is reapplying, and participating in ROTC as well.

Have you considered enrolling in a University that DOES have NROTC... that is, is either a Host or a Cross-Town Affiliate? That way, you really could grab a NROTC nomination. For example the University of San Diego is a Host NROTC Battalion, along with San Diego State. Part of the same Battalion is a cross-town affiliate that is a very inexpensive state school called Cal State San Marcos... with very low tuition. Is that something you can do in Michigan?

 

[Packer]

even if AROTC cannot officially nominate to USNA, it just means you need to go back to your MOC to repeat what you did last year. Often MOCs are sympathetic to the candidate who is reapplying, and participating in ROTC as well.

Have you considered enrolling in a University that DOES have NROTC... that is, is either a Host or a Cross-Town Affiliate? That way, you really could grab a NROTC nomination. For example the University of San Diego is a Host NROTC Battalion, along with San Diego State. Part of the same Battalion is across-town affiliate that is a very inexpensive state school called Cal State San Marcos... with very low tuition. Is that something you can do in Michigan?

In our district, it was a re-applicant that received our Representative's principal nomination to USAFA this year.

 

[dunninla]

Part of the same Battalion is a cross-town affiliate that is a very inexpensive state school called Cal State San Marcos... with very low tuition. Is that something you can do in Michigan?

I just looked up, and see that Eastern Michigan University, just eight miles east of University of Michigan, is part of the UMich NROTC Battalion. Is it too late to enroll in Eastern Michigan and participate in NROTC instead of Michigan State and AROTC? Does it really matter which school you attend this year if your true goal is to be at USNA next Fall?

 

[JJaeger]

"even if AROTC cannot officially nominate to USNA, it just means you need to go back to your MOC to repeat what you did last year. Often MOCs are sympathetic to the candidate who is reapplying, and participating in ROTC as well.

Have you considered enrolling in a University that DOES have NROTC... that is, is either a Host or a Cross-Town Affiliate? That way, you really could grab a NROTC nomination. For example the University of San Diego is a Host NROTC Battalion, along with San Diego State. Part of the same Battalion is a cross-town affiliate that is a very inexpensive state school called Cal State San Marcos... with very low tuition. Is that something you can do in Michigan?"

I know exactly what you're talking about; I live just north of the San Diego area. MSU has no Navy unit and no university that does isn't close enough for us Spartans to participate in- besides obvious logistical problems, Navy won't let you into a unit unless it's an official affiliate. Only options were Army/AF, picked Army because I felt I would get better/more hands-on leadership opportunity in FTX's, etc.- more time in woods leading and working with people, not as much classroom time (which I gather AFROTC does plenty of).

 

[dunninla]

why did you pick MSU? Would Eastern Michigan not fill the bill, and you could enroll in NROTC there?

 

[JJaeger]

it was always one of my favorite civilian universities, and at the time i accepted the admission i had intended not to reapply to NA. i had the choice to go to pitt, which is affiliated to CMU NROTC, but I felt that MSU was better if i got another TWE in the eventuality I did reapply

 

[cpkousky]

I will be going into my sophomore year at West Virginia University. I am a civil engineering and air force ROTC student on scholarship. When I was in high school I applied to USNA, and it was my first choice. I unfortunately didn't get in. I still decided that it was something that I wanted to pursue, so I applied during my freshman year at WVU. That time around, I got waitlisted - but eventually didn't get a spot. I'll be re-applying again this year, and hopefully the third time will be the charm. Considering what you have told us already, and reflecting on what I've been through and what has resulted, I have some advice/questions for you. Perhaps we can bounce ideas off of each other...

1) It seems like you like Michigan, so I would just stay there and do AROTC. The school has a lot to do with how well you perform academically. Sure, NROTC would probably be better for USNA, but overall not that much. Even though they can't give you a nom, you can still get a letter of rec from the cadre there - which is valuable. I was able to do that at WVU with AFROTC.

2) I would stick with political science - or just do something like "general studies". Engineering is a lot of work, and unless its something you really want to do - it will be a huge pain in the but. I am pretty sure you can still take calc and chemistry as a polysci major, because every university is going to have math and science requirements (regardless of major) and I am more than positive those two classes will cover those requirements.

3) I know my congressional district automatically nominates me just because I received a nom in the past. Literally all I had to do was e-mail the secretary, and it was done. IDK if your reps do it the same way, but I would suggest asking

4) Whatever you do, make sure it is what YOU want to do. Because if you don't get in the 2nd time, you'll be stuck with that plan. In my case, I got wait listed and then a month later found out I didn't get in. Despite that, I have a GREAT plan that is already going for me, and I really had nothing to lose. Don't put all your eggs in the academy basket, because you'll be devastated if you dont get in

Hope this helps man, if you have any questions contact me. I'll be starting my USNA app for the third time later this month probably. Good luck