BGO contact

[G0navybeat@rmy]

I am a current junior in high school, and I have already applied to NASS. I've been told that I need to email my BGO asap, but I was wondering what kind of information about myself I should include in that email. Thank you for the help, and Go Navy Beat Army!

 

[Ramgoat18]

I think it would be better if you ask if he could talk over the phone. You don’t really need to email him information about yourself because he will hear that stuff in your interview. If you want to get ahead of the game, talk to him over the phone and discuss your game plan

 

[Jackflerp]

I might wait a bit before you reach out. They are still on the tail end of working with the class of 2023. You won't be able to do much on your application until you get access to the entire thing, and that is several months away. Your BGO could answer some questions you might have, but so can this forum.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

. I've been told that I need to email my BGO asap

There is no requirement to contact your BGO at this point, and there is certainly no ASAP sense of urgency. That said, it can't hurt to email your BGO, introduce yourself, tell a little about yourself, and ask any specific questions you may have, and perhaps ask if you could call and discuss the application process. Your BGO will appreciate the initiative, but its not like we are sitting by the phone (or computer) and waiting for your contact.

When you make contact ..be informed. The advice on this Forum about reading the USNA .Edu Admissions website, including all drop downs etc. is relevant. BGO's don't exist to hold your hand --I expect some level of due diligence before you call. First impressions count.

 

[usna1985]

Not sure who told you to contact your BGO asap . . . Your BGO is happy to talk with you but you aren't yet in his/her system. Thus, he/she has no info about you other than what you provide. If you don't have any questions or need info, you can certainly wait until May or June or even later.

 

[jn11n]

Totally depends where you live, but my BGO lives/goes to grad school ten minutes away from me. Sure a phone achieves the same thing, but I found that getting coffee with my BGO officer was helpful in terms of putting a face to a name and connecting. It’s honestly never too early to reach out. I met my BGO the summer before my junior year. Again, where you live compared to your BGO might make this more difficult.

 

[usna1985]

honestly never too early to reach out.

Actually . . . it can be. If you have questions about USNA or want to know more about USNA or the application/admissions process, the BGO can be a great resource. However, as others have cautioned, make some effort to do research on your own before reaching out to your BGO. Also, take advantage of college fairs (where USNA typically has a presence), MOC service academy days, etc. to learn about USNA.

In terms of just "getting to know" your BGO, some are happy to meet with you outside of the interview. Others have really busy lives. I honestly don't have time to sit down for hours with candidates and potential candidates just to get to know them. I do that during the interview. I am happy to answer questions from candidates and potential candidates (usually via email) and I do visit schools where I will meet in small groups or one-on-one with interested students.

Obviously, every BGO is a bit different. But don't be disappointed if your BGO isn't keen on being your BFF.

 

[justdoit19]

Ours is great. We have become friends since DS’s appointment last year. He would not enjoy a causal “get to know you”. He is a busy guy! IMO, sending an e-mail is fine (curious though who would say to do that ASAP even before an official candidate?) saying that you are reaching out to introduce yourself. Also if you have questions you cannot find the answer to on USNA’s website or here, inquire of those questions. But then don’t bother your BGO. Follow their lead. Maybe they would like to meet you. Then go from there. That is a good life skill!

 

[boatsfordays]

Don’t feel bad if you don’t get the warm and fuzzy relationship with your BGO that some people talk about. We’re in a very competitive district with hundreds of applicants. The bgo didn’t really respond to my mid until his application was nearly complete and really only took him seriously after he was nominated. The relationship was super supportive later in the process, but BGOs are volunteers and many work jobs and care for families. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from them until later in the process.

 

[Overwhelmed]

My DS met with his BGO once.
His FFR on the other hand was amazing. He met with the candidates multiple times. One on one and in a small group. During the meetings he had cadets from West Point, AROTC, and their parents come to answer any questions.
In addition, he held multiple CFA events.
This gentleman was so helpful that when my son was medically DQed from West Point he continued to help him with his USNA application.

 

[G0navybeat@rmy]

Ours is great. We have become friends since DS’s appointment last year. He would not enjoy a causal “get to know you”. He is a busy guy! IMO, sending an e-mail is fine (curious though who would say to do that ASAP even before an official candidate?) saying that you are reaching out to introduce yourself. Also if you have questions you cannot find the answer to on USNA’s website or here, inquire of those questions. But then don’t bother your BGO. Follow their lead. Maybe they would like to meet you. Then go from there. That is a good life skill!

Two people that I know irl told me to contact him ASAP, one a West Point Grad, the other is a USAFA grad.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Two people that I know irl told me to contact him ASAP, one a West Point Grad, the other is a USAFA grad.

Interesting. I know my local West Point counterpart, and he seems much more hands on and involved with his candidates than I am. I don't know if that's because of the nature of the individual, or because West Point encourages their Field Force Reps to be more "recruiter" oriented. (The last few years, his top candidates have chosen Navy over West Point--so I've had a little fun with that). I really don't understand the Air Force approach -even though USAFA is more popular in the Midwest, their Admissions rep presences has been very limited, even at Congressional Open Houses. (On the other hand, they flew in a team for the last one I attended).

 

[Overwhelmed]

I agree with your "recruiter" assessment.
My son's FFR also complained about losing his best candidates to USNA each year. Most of them told him they chose USNA over USMA because they wanted the option of fixed-wing aviation.

 

[usna1985]

My son's FFR also complained about losing his best candidates to USNA each year

Heard this before, mostly from the Army. IMHO, if a kid wants to serve, it's most important that he/she end up at the SA and in the service best for him/her. I don't consider it "losing" a candidate if he/she decides that another SA is a better fit. I've had quite a few candidates over the years go to other SAs -- and am happy for them. Much better to have a kid happy at USMA (or any other SA) than miserable at USNA. The converse is also true.

In the past, the Army equivalent of BGOs were active duty or reserve officers. That was their full-time job. Thus, I would certainly hope that they spent more time doing it than the volunteer BGOs. This changed some years ago and now USMA also uses volunteers. In my experience, the USMA liaisons have typically been more involved with candidates than BGOs. Not sure what drives this today -- maybe history of full-time work, maybe direction from USNA, maybe the personalities of the individuals involved. Not necessarily a good or bad thing . . . just one more example of how SAs do approach things somewhat differently.

Must confess I have little idea how the ALO program works -- like Old Navy, I've rarely had interactions with them.

In line with the above, I would not take advice from USMA or USAFA liaison officers, let alone grads, on how to proceed with USNA Admissions. Just as I would not try to advise a candidate regarding USMA/USAFA/USCGA/USMMA admissions or how/when to contact their liaison officers.