Best Course of Action

[hova]

So recently my grandfather has brought up the possibility of me going to the USNA since I do plan on enlisting in the Navy in the upcoming months. The idea of it is something interesting as I plan on pursuing IT and such in the Navy as computers and technology in general has always been my strongsuit and others come to me for issues with technology. I like the idea of potentially going on the path towards the USNA, but high school was a complete bust for me. It's one of the reasons I finalized on joining the armed forces and specifically the Navy. I'm genuinely gaining interest in it and over the course of a 4 year contract I want to know if there's a possibility of me working towards attending the USNA. Even if I have to take college courses during active duty. I just want to see what options are on the table and if I even have a chance to ever be admitted in the USNA with how my experience in high school turned out to be with struggles in my personal life. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is also my first post and I have done some reading here before creating an account. There is some great information here and I'm looking forward to reading more!

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Hova,
USNA has a program, the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) which was intended to help enlisted sailors establish the academic background they need to succeed at the Naval Academy, even if High School was a bust. I suspect its hard to get in from the Fleet without a good background education, but your first step is to hit Boot Camp running, be the Honor Grad, and get noticed. Then go to whatever MOS training you want to attend...be #1. Keep your nose clean (i.e. No discipline issues) and be a model sailor. Get noticed as a leader among your peers. Good Luck !

 

[hova]

Hova,
USNA has a program, the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) which was intended to help enlisted sailors establish the academic background they need to succeed at the Naval Academy, even if High School was a bust. I suspect its hard to get in from the Fleet without a good background education, but your first step is to hit Boot Camp running, be the Honor Grad, and get noticed. Then go to whatever MOS training you want to attend...be #1. Keep your nose clean (i.e. No discipline issues) and be a model sailor. Get noticed as a leader among your peers. Good Luck !

Thank you. Very reassuring to hear that! I will surely be doing some more research on that.

 

[kinnem]

NROTC as part of the Navy's Seaman to Admiral program (I think that's what they call it) might also be an option to pursue.

 

[usna1985]

It certainly is possible to become an officer -- including attending USNA -- from the enlisted ranks. However, it's not an easy path and some of the process may be beyond your control. I'll let someone like NavyHoops who has more recent military experience than I to weigh in.

Bottom line . . . if your desire is to become an officer, there are paths much more likely to achieve that goal than via enlistment. If you want to serve and are open to becoming an officer/willing to try for it, then go that route. Just understand that it's a hill to climb -- but hills can be successfully conquered.

 

[hova]

NROTC as part of the Navy's Seaman to Admiral program (I think that's what they call it) might also be an option to pursue.

It certainly is possible to become an officer -- including attending USNA -- from the enlisted ranks. However, it's not an easy path and some of the process may be beyond your control. I'll let someone like NavyHoops who has more recent military experience than I to weigh in.

Bottom line . . . if your desire is to become an officer, there are paths much more likely to achieve that goal than via enlistment. If you want to serve and are open to becoming an officer/willing to try for it, then go that route. Just understand that it's a hill to climb -- but hills can be successfully conquered.

Thank you both. I'll be considering those other options.