Contacting Admissions

While is it fine to talk with retired/currently military people to learn about USNA and understand what types of career opportunities there are, getting an appointment isn't about who you know or having someone put in a good word for you. Similar questions also get asked about getting a MOC NOM and those too are not about who you know or how much your parents might have donated to someone's campaign.
 
There are many examples of children of grad O-6s and Admirals who are turned down. I'm not naive enough to think that a qualified candidate who happens to be the SecDef's kid won't be admitted. That's life. But, in my more than 25 years as a BGO, I've yet to see any evidence (beyond examples such as I cited) that favoritism, nepotism, or influence matters.

There are hundreds successful appointees every year who know absolutely no one in the USN or USMC. I didn't nor did my family when I applied. No friends in high places. Turned out okay for me. ;)
 
usna1985 said:
There are many examples of children of grad O-6s and Admirals who are turned down. I'm not naive enough to think that a qualified candidate who happens to be the SecDef's kid won't be admitted. That's life. But, in my more than 25 years as a BGO, I've yet to see any evidence (beyond examples such as I cited) that favoritism, nepotism, or influence matters.
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A few years ago, the congressional panel that I was on was interviewing a very highly qualified candidate who had clearly had been to several different schools in different places. We asked why and the candidate said that dad was retired military. We pushed/pulled more info as the kid was not very forthcoming about this and it turned out that dad was a USNA grad and retired flag officer. As I already said, this was a highly qualified kid and we rated them accordingly. As the year went on, he ended up on the Wait List and finally got an appointment rather late in the cycle.
Not only didn't want to exploit his father's rank and connections, he didn't even want us to know that his father was a grad/flag
 
OldRetSWO said:
A few years ago, the congressional panel that I was on was interviewing a very highly qualified candidate who had clearly had been to several different schools in different places. We asked why and the candidate said that dad was retired military. We pushed/pulled more info as the kid was not very forthcoming about this and it turned out that dad was a USNA grad and retired flag officer. As I already said, this was a highly qualified kid and we rated them accordingly. As the year went on, he ended up on the Wait List and finally got an appointment rather late in the cycle.
Not only didn't want to exploit his father's rank and connections, he didn't even want us to know that his father was a grad/flag
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That is a class act who wanted to earn their spot on their own merits.
 
Anecdotally, not everyone who has a relationship or tie to USNA is a good thing. Long story, cocktails required.

While my family has deep ties to USNA, not all records are stellar.

DS wanted to apply and be evaluated on his merits and his metrics. He never mentioned the family history. He chose to be evaluated on his merits or failures. Which in my opinion is how it should be.

Nobody should be given favor or be discounted based on a familial relationship.

Each applicant and future sailor or Marine deserves to be evaluated based on their merit.
 
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ProudDad2022 said:
I know that in the documentary "Top Gun: Maverick", that Maverick (not exactly sure of his rank at the time) was able to "pull" Rooster's USNA papers. So clearly there is some meddling going on with admissions ;)
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My friends and I saw the movie on the Yard at the screening in Mahan—On our way out this was by far our biggest nitpick!
 
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