Attended NAPS but was not able to get an appointment

[Danny_Von_TechTips]

I read the Reapplying to USNA page, and it was all good advice. I attended NAPS (Naval Academy Prep School) but was unable to get an appointment due to honor offenses. Are my chances lower since I was not able to get an appointment due to honor offenses? Last week, I met with my NSI from high school, and we talked about my plans for the future. I told him that I plan to attend a university, as the page said and I also intend to enroll in my university's NROTC classes/program. How would I go about improving myself and my package to increase my chances of being offered an appointment?

 

[Capt MJ]

I read the Reapplying to USNA page, and it was all good advice. I attended NAPS (Naval Academy Prep School) but was unable to get an appointment due to honor offenses. Are my chances lower since I was not able to get an appointment due to honor offenses? Last week, I met with my NSI from high school, and we talked about my plans for the future. I told him that I plan to attend a university, as the page said and I also intend to enroll in my university's NROTC classes/program. How would I go about improving myself and my package to increase my chances of being offered an appointment?

Since you were in enlisted status at NAPS, and were presumably separated from military status, you probably have a form in your NAPS paperwork with a code on it that indicates whether you are recommended for further military service, either at all or completely or with reservations. It’s usually called an “RE code.” Start there to determine if you are eligible to start down a military commissioning path again. That will determine if you can be accepted into a NROTC program.

This is not an official source but is usually reliable:

Military Reenlistment (RE) Codes

RE codes, found on military discharge documents like the DD-214 define a service member's future eligibility to enlist or reenlist.

veteran.com

In addition to excelling in all the usual ways, you will have to believably demonstrate in word and action how you have changed and learned from your bad choices at NAPS. The Navy invested a big chunk of taxpayer money in you, and you bit the hand that fed you. Conduct issues are one thing, but honor brings along the tinge of lack of trustworthiness. That is a large rock to overcome.

I will say that it did bother me that I didn’t see in your post how you have taken ownership of your choices, are truly remorseful for your honor offenses and have committed to better choices - but perhaps that is the challenge of reading a post in an anonymous forum without benefit of eye contact, body language and intonation.

 

[NavyHoops]

Agree with Capt MJ. You are going to have to knock it out of the park in college in every which way. This is more than taking a Plebe like schedule and passing the CFA. This is you finding a mentor (this could be your NSI, a grad, your PMS in ROTC or someone they recommend) and seeking opportunities to demonstrate you have integrity. Its about reading books with your mentor, talking about character, etc. Its essentially honor remediation on your own to show you have the drive to want to do this. Its showing your day to day actions you have learned and matured and understand what integrity is. Its showing ownership and accountability of your mistakes. You had a golden ticket with clear outlines to what was needed to graduate NAPS and earn an appt. You threw that opportunity away and you will need to demonstrate to USNA in your essays, BGO interview, LORs, that you have learned from this mistake (s). In your post you stated offenses, that means you didn't learn from the first one. Wish you the best of luck on your journey.

 

[Danny_Von_TechTips]

Since you were in enlisted status at NAPS, and were presumably separated from military status, you probably have a form in your NAPS paperwork with a code on it that indicates whether you are recommended for further military service, either at all or completely or with reservations. It’s usually called an “RE code.” Start there to determine if you are eligible to start down a military commissioning path again. That will determine if you can be accepted into a NROTC program.

This is not an official source but is usually reliable:

Military Reenlistment (RE) Codes

RE codes, found on military discharge documents like the DD-214 define a service member's future eligibility to enlist or reenlist.

veteran.com

In addition to excelling in all the usual ways, you will have to believably demonstrate in word and action how you have changed and learned from your bad choices at NAPS. The Navy invested a big chunk of taxpayer money in you, and you bit the hand that fed you. Conduct issues are one thing, but honor brings along the twin of lack of trustworthiness. That is a large rock to overcome.

I will say that it did bother me that I didn’t see in your post how you have taken ownership of your choices, are truly remorseful for your honor offenses and have committed to better choices - but perhaps that is the challenge of reading a post in an anonymous forum without benefit of eye contact, body language and intonation.

Good evening sir,

I understand that I have put myself on a bad start in reapplying for USNA. When the faculty at NAPS addressed this to me, I admitted to what I had done, which was plagiarism. Initially, I was reluctant to make this post because I am too ashamed to relive my actions. When I realized that I had lost my honor, it felt like I had lost an arm. While at NAPS, I had me undergo honor remediation. I learned a lot from the remediation, the severity of my actions, the implications of my actions in the fleet, and that my honor is never worth sacrificing. I don't know how else I can express my remorse other than by saying how regretful and shameful my actions were. Even though I didn't get an appointment, I stayed with my shipmates until their final moments. And even though I had to watch them graduate from the bleachers, at least I can say I was there for them until the very end. Finally, the CO allowed me to write an appeal. In doing so, I hoped it showed that I was not willing to give up. If you would like, I can email you a copy?

 

[Capt MJ]

Good evening sir,

I understand that I have put myself on a bad start in reapplying for USNA. When the faculty at NAPS addressed this to me, I admitted to what I had done, which was plagiarism. Initially, I was reluctant to make this post because I am too ashamed to relive my actions. When I realized that I had lost my honor, it felt like I had lost an arm. While at NAPS, I had me undergo honor remediation. I learned a lot from the remediation, the severity of my actions, the implications of my actions in the fleet, and that my honor is never worth sacrificing. I don't know how else I can express my remorse other than by saying how regretful and shameful my actions were. Even though I didn't get an appointment, I stayed with my shipmates until their final moments. And even though I had to watch them graduate from the bleachers, at least I can say I was there for them until the very end. Finally, the CO allowed me to write an appeal. In doing so, I hoped it showed that I was not willing to give up. If you would like, I can email you a copy?

I appreciate your candor - lots of good “I-ownership” language there - and have no doubt this has been very painful for you. Use that remorse and disappointment and self-bashing energy to channel toward new goals. I don’t need to see what you have written, thank you, you have shared quite a bit here.

Finding out what recommendation is on your discharge papers is critical. Then you will know the mountain you will have to climb to claim back trust.

If you apply to NROTC and are accepted, you will have to be that midshipman leaning forward to help others, volunteering for tasks everyone avoids, and of course, excelling in college academics, NROTC requirements, performing well on the PRT and being relentlessly sharp in military uniforms and grooming.

The recommendation of the Professor or Naval Science (PNS) of that unit will be one of your most powerful supporting elements in any re-application to USNA.

If you make it into NROTC, focus on that as your goal, with 100% effort and commitment, as an excellent path to a commission. Don’t look at it as a waystation. Be present and engaged. While you are doing all that, quietly do the analysis on USNA re-application, pro’s and cons, syncing up head, heart and gut.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

FYI, Capt MJ is a Ma'am .....

 

[THParent]

...Are my chances lower since I was not able to get an appointment due to honor offenses?...

We truly have some top notch people here who give great advice. @NavyHoops is a a graduate of USNA and @Capt MJ was a former Battalion Officer there.

The answer to your question above is yes, of course your chances are lower. You probably already knew that or you wouldn't have asked the question. My advice would be to try another way. You could get a degree through NROTC (if you can get in) or get a degree and go through OCS. The end result of becoming an officer in The Navy is the same. If that's the goal, the how doesn't matter.

 

[F14Weeds83]

The Naval Academy and ROTC applications have a section that asks if you have been suspended, expelled or been accused of an academic infraction from any high school, prep school etc., and to fully explain that offense. In the case of the naval academy, it is obviously not good, but it may be sent to a "character review committee" that will fully review the event and circumstances and then make a recommendation as to whether or not to allow the candidate to continue with the process. ROTC has no such committee, but simply reviews the application as written.
Best of luck on your future path.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Good advice and comments above, but one more thought -- the NAPS/ USNA connection doesn't occur in a vacumn. I am sure there is a lot of communication between NAPS and USNA Admissions, and USNA Admissiosn is fully aware of your situation. Did you sit down with someone at NAPS (perhaps the CO) and talk about your goals and objectives, and express your continuing desire to attend USNA ? A strong endorsement from NAPS, after having observed you closely for a year, would go a long way in increasing your chances. On the other hand, if the NAPS CO is telling USNA Admissions no, I would suspect that is a very high obstacle to overcome.

The description above about staying on at NAPS, undergoing honor remediation, but not graduating or getting an Appointment is unclear. Also, how did you approach your appeal -- did you own the issue and accept responsibility, or try to excuse the action ? No need to send a copy or even answer publicly if you don't want, but I would expect that will be read by USNA Admissions and Supe at some point. (It's been a long, long time since I memorized the Chain of Command at NAPS, but my recollection is that CO NAPS reports to the Supe ..maybe a more recent NAPS grad can confirm).

 

[Dr. Strange Love]

.
Hmmm … the NAPS Honor offense(s) were egregious enough to bar you from the early May USNA appointment … but not so egregious that you were allowed to finish out the 2021/2022 Prep year with your classmates in Newport.

I think perhaps whatever you said and owned-up to in the Board adjudication process saved your chances of a Navy career down the road. I think Navy believes that you can be repaired.

The cancer is self inflicted. You have to cut it out and live with the scar. If you chose not to cut it out, the cancer will kill you.

Let us know where you are in the next phase of your journey, and tell us how you are progressing. Use this thread to keep us informed. We really like “Hit-Bottom-Success” stories.

 

[usna1985]

It is very rare for someone who completes NAPS to be turned down for USNA. There are people who commit honor offenses at USNA and still graduate. I suspect there is something about your situation that really gave USNA pause.

Please DO NOT elaborate here. This is a public forum.

I agree with checking your discharge first. If USNA is still a possibility from that standpoint, I suggest contacting USNA Admissions directly some time next month to understand if there is anything you can do to "rehabilitate" yourself in USNA's eyes. If yes, then you can pursue college and do your best to stand out. You might think creatively about ways to demonstrate you have learned from your mistake and are now a "changed person." If the answer is no, best to find out now and then look for other paths to a commission.