Basic Questions About NAPS

[VRSCDX]

Our son was notified today he has been accepted into NAPS 2014. The envelope came while is was and still is at HS Lacrosse practice, so we took it to the field for him to open. We are all excited, but have several questions. We have a son who is a senior at USMMA, but expect this place to be so totally different we might as well forget about anything we've learned about being USMMA parents other than just being there for support.

1. Are the students (or whatever they are called) paid as E-1s in the Navy? He is an Eagle Scout, will they make him an E-3 like they would if he enlisted?
2. Are expenses covered (books, uniforms, meals, medical, etc.)?
3. When do they report? I notice from the forms in the packet these forms all need to be turned in by July 15th. I do not see when their report day is (I know the date may not be announced but is it the same week every year)? I think we read they reported 7/23 in 2012.
4. Is Boston the best airport to travel to? He is coming from the West Coast. I suppose parents are allowed to take him to his induction day?
5. Do they provide or do we buy him a computer?

When he comes home, I will ask him to find a FaceBook Group for others who are 2014 NAPS selectees, so he can meet his potential future classmates.

Any answers/advice/tips appreciated. I'm sure I (and maybe others) will have more questions.

 

[VRSCDX]

We found the Facebook link at the USNA website. That Facebook page is very helpful.

 

[pilot2b]

I wouldn't count on being paid as an E-3. I was in Civil Air Patrol, which I was told at MEPS would get me E-2 pay at NAPS. That never happened though, even though it was on my enlistment forms. It doesn't hurt for your son to mention to the recruiter when he enlists that he is an Eagle Scout though.

Everything is paid for at NAPS. When I look at my LES (Leave and Earnings Statement) online, I'm getting paid over $1000.00 per month. However, I typically see only $350 to $375 a month. The other $750 or so is deducted for books, food at the galley, battalion activities (such as a trip to NYC, a trip to USNA, etc.), uniform expenses, and any other miscellaneous debt. All is paid off by the end of the year. That sounds like a lot to some, but I'm from the West Coast as well, and I ended up paying $751.00 for the cheapest ticket I could find back home for Christmas, even though I bought it months in advance. Most NAPSters still try and save as much as possible in order to have a little slush fund for plebe year at USNA.

I don't know what date/time next year's class reports. My class technically reported on the morning of July 24, 2012. Many, including me, showed up on the 23rd however. They will put you in a room in Ripley Hall (the living quarters) for the night if you show up a day early. I definitely recommend this.

If you as parents are accompanying your son to I-day, Boston could be fine. It usually has the cheapest tickets. However, if he's alone, I'd recommend the Providence, RI airport (PVD) since the afternoon and evening of the day before I-day (assuming you show up the evening before), NAPS will have a shuttle running back and forth to Naval Station Newport. That's how I got to NAPS. If you can only afford one trip as parents out to Rhode Island during the summer/fall, come during the parents weekend in early October. During I-day, you'll get a short tour of the base and a few reassurances by military staff, but only one or two sightings of your son, along with 5 minutes to say goodbye after swearing in. Parent's weekend you'll get to meet professors, spend several full days with your son, get pointed out all the spots he did certain stuff during Indoc, etc.

A desktop is provided for the duration of the year. Unlike at USNA, the computer is returned at the end of the year since it is only on loan from the DOD. I'm guessing that about 40% of NAPSters (including prior enlisted) have a laptop with them here. Use is somewhat limited if you don't have a wireless hotspot though, since you aren't allowed to plug into the NAPS LAN. For weekends however, the Liberty Center and a cafe on base have free wifi.

Someone will no doubt create an unofficial facebook page for NAPS class of 2014. The official page has some good info and especially photos for parents. There is an official website, however, the information is rarely, if ever, updated and very out of date.

Feel free to ask more questions here or to PM me. Congrats to you son!

 

[VRSCDX]

pilot2b,

Very informative. Thanks. We are figuring it all out, and it is nice to have your perspective as a current NAPSTER. We will reach out if we have questions. I'm sure there will be more. Best of luck to you as you finish up the year, graduate in May and then report for USNA class of 2017.

 

[navypilot]

Pay

According to US Code Title 37 Pay, Midshipman are paid at 35 percent of a an 0-1 with less than 2 years of service. It further states that direct entries to service academy prep schools receive the same amount or, if currently enlisted, the higher of their current pay and the 35 percent.
It can make a fairly big difference. For example, an E-1 with less than four months of service has a basic pay of $1403. An O-1 with less than two years of service has a basic pay of $2876. 35% of that would be $1006.60 which according to DD is what direct entries to NAPS are getting.
Pilot2b does bring up some good points as the Midshipman Candidates have to pay for their uniforms, battalion activities, etc, but they don't pay for food as that is provided. Take home pay is low for the first few months, but after the uniforms are paid off increases slightly.

 

[pilot2b]

According to US Code Title 37 Pay, Midshipman are paid at 35 percent of a an 0-1 with less than 2 years of service. It further states that direct entries to service academy prep schools receive the same amount or, if currently enlisted, the higher of their current pay and the 35 percent.
It can make a fairly big difference. For example, an E-1 with less than four months of service has a basic pay of $1403. An O-1 with less than two years of service has a basic pay of $2876. 35% of that would be $1006.60 which according to DD is what direct entries to NAPS are getting.
Pilot2b does bring up some good points as the Midshipman Candidates have to pay for their uniforms, battalion activities, etc, but they don't pay for food as that is provided. Take home pay is low for the first few months, but after the uniforms are paid off increases slightly.

We were originally told our uniforms would be paid off by Christmas and total debt (including battalion activities fund and others payments) would be finished in February. Our pay, though generous in my opinion, is still at only roughly half what it would be if we weren't still paying off stuff. So really, our pay hasn't increased at all since the beginning of the year.