Boys State or Leadership Academy?

cbasalt1

cbasalt1

USNA 27'
Joined
Mar 29, 2021
Messages
230
Hello,

I had a quick question regarding some opinions about my summer plans.

I have been planning for a while to during the summer attend SLE, NASS, Boys State, and my NJROTC Programs "Leadership Academy" at the Citadel. I have at this point, gotten into all of these except SLE.

I was hoping that although all in very close in their dates, that I would be able to find a way to attend all 4 without any conflicts. However, I just discovered that Leadership Academy will be a different week than usual causing it to be the same week as Boys State.

I know that Boys State typically looks great on an application due to its reputation and respected citizenship related training, and LA may not add anything to my application. Leadership Academy (most schools send their up and coming unit CO and XO) would provide me with training in actual leadership, drill, commanding and PT etc.

I think the skills acquired at Leadership Academy would more immediately be exercised in my roles in my ROTC unit, however I do note that Boys State also teaches valuable skills. In knowing this however, I would most likely prefer to go to Leadership Academy.

I do not with to game the system, but my distinction in which week would further benefit me is so slim that I am not 100% sure which to attend. As of now, I would consider choosing Boys State to attend if it truly would have a much greater impact on my application, but didn't know how much it actually added and if a week @ the Citadel would be close to comparable on an App.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Jump on the Admission livecasts (call admissions) and submit your question there. As I recall, Boys/Girls state is a "checkbox" on the USNA application as is JNROTC. I do not recall a box for the Leadership Academy.
 
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Our daughter did the week-long NJROTC Leadership Academy in early June of 2018. We live in NJROTC Area 5 (VA, MD, DC). The program is for developing NJROTC members to lead their respective HS units.

It was a week-long leadership program held at VA Beach Camp Pendleton. She said it was very mentally and physically demanding. She loved it.
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Boys state gives you actual points on your application (hence the box). LA doesn’t. I would do Boys State, if you were asking my opinion and you had to choose, under the parameters you provided in your post.

I also, however, feel strongly that a person should not do something just to do it. You need to feel passionate about it. No guarantee attending state will be the thing that makes or breaks an appointment offer. Neither of my Mids participated in Boys State. It’s the whole person.

Whichever you choose, go for a leadership role! Good luck and enjoy your summer!!
 
My DS has been XO of his NJROTC unit this past year. Last summer he had the same dilemma. Leadership Academy was the same week as Boy's State. DS chose Boy's State. It was not even a close decision. He got a lot out of Boy's State. I would have to say it was maybe the best experience in his entire life so far. Go for it!
 
Attend SLE, meet future classmates, and take/pass the CFA.
 
There are lots of older threads that discuss Boys State & NASS. NASS is largely a recruiting tool to get those not otherwise interested in USNA to become familiar with their program. Some attend and immediately realize this is NOT anywhere they would consider applying. Getting chosen or turned down for NASS likely isn't anything that will impact your application. In some parts of the country, Boys State has become yet another 'pay to play' type of leadership activity where anyone who applies and pays a fee gets to attend. It used to be there was a selection criteria using some of the same factors the SA's value, so that was part of the reason being SELECTED to attend could help your application. I don't know if the SA's might ask about your local selection criteria to determine who actually got chosen vs an area of the country where everyone can attend. Leadership you can 'buy' typically isn't something the SA's value.

Not familiar with JROTC Leadership Academy but if it an extension of being in JROTC, I don't think you want all of your accomplishments tied to a single activity. Some who are in Boy Scouts go on to become Eagle Scouts, but many other choose to get involved with sports, ECA's or various other h.s. related activities to expand their horizons. I agree as others have said you should do the things you enjoy and not simply make decisions on how a specific activity might enhance your SA application.

Anyone considering SA's which are highly selective should also have a plan B. Only you would know if any of your Plan B schools even consider any of the SA specific activities in their application process.
 
Boys State is a wonderful program sponsored by the American Legion. Veterans give their time year after year to instill patriotism and respect for the military into young men along with understanding of how State Government works. My DS really enjoyed the opportunity to come together with other boys from across our State and had a wonderful week. I, myself, went to both Girls State and Girls Nation sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. To this day, I cherish the memories made and what I learned along the way. Some states are more competitive than others but it is a program that continues to evolve and shouldn't be overlooked whether you apply to an SA or not.
 
CoMom26 said:
Boys State is a wonderful program sponsored by the American Legion. Veterans give their time year after year to instill patriotism and respect for the military into young men along with understanding of how State Government works.
Click to expand...
The majority of our staffers in my state are non-vets and most are former statesmen who come back year after year to try to "give back" to the program. Personally, I am a former statesman, parent of a former statesman and (or course) a veteran. I was not a legionnaire when I brought my son to his interview for Boys State and when he came out, the interviewer came out and asked why I was not in the Legion as he'd found from my son that I was a vet. Now, 15 yrs later, I am a state level elected official in the Legion, a staffer and a trustee of Boys State.
Our staff is well over 100 folks and probably no more than 25 are vets. We also get an additional 20 or so staffers form the National Guard and the services.
 
OldRetSWO said:
The majority of our staffers in my state are non-vets and most are former statesmen who come back year after year to try to "give back" to the program. Personally, I am a former statesman, parent of a former statesman and (or course) a veteran. I was not a legionnaire when I brought my son to his interview for Boys State and when he came out, the interviewer came out and asked why I was not in the Legion as he'd found from my son that I was a vet. Now, 15 yrs later, I am a state level elected official in the Legion, a staffer and a trustee of Boys State.
Our staff is well over 100 folks and probably no more than 25 are vets. We also get an additional 20 or so staffers form the National Guard and the services.
Click to expand...
I just became a Ladies Auxillary member in our tiny town in hopes of helping the next generation of Legionaires keep these programs going.
I do believe the programs the Legion has changed our son’s trajectory and impacted him for the better.
 
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