Difficulty deciding between USMA and USNA

C

cryptic7

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Feb 5, 2020
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I've recently been appointed to both USMA and USNA, and have been struggling to determine which school I should to attend. Are there any current cadets or anybody who knows about the difficulty of branching Aviation. Also, what is the International Affairs major like?
 
Pick the service, not the school. What if you don't branch aviation? Are there other jobs in that service you would be happy doing? Also research who does most of the flying in that service - officers? Warrant Officers? School is only 4 years. If you branch aviation you're probably doing twice that on active duty
 
I know that USNA has a higher amount of aviation slots and a higher percentage of the graduating class branching aviation because of both Marine Aviation and Navy Aviation. I'm mostly positive that Army officers don't really fly as much (Warrant officers fly in the army), while only officers are allowed to fly in the Marine and Navy.
 
RM78 said:
I know that USNA has a higher amount of aviation slots and a higher percentage of the graduating class branching aviation because of both Marine Aviation and Navy Aviation. I'm mostly positive that Army officers don't really fly as much (Warrant officers fly in the army), while only officers are allowed to fly in the Marine and Navy.
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I agree with RM78, if your heart is aviation then USNA is where you want to be. Our HS has a grad that wanted aviation, went USNA, few F35s, now TACAMO.
 
As an Army Aviation officer, you'll fly comparably as much as a WO as a company grade officer (LT/CPT). After you command (6-8 years down the road of your career), unless you have tracked certain specific specialties, your WOs counterparts will out fly you. Just the nature of our roles within the branch for better or for worse.
 
@cryptic7

My usual thoughts:

- Many of the Navy’s warfare communities (= Army branch) operate under the water, on the water, over the water, for long periods of time out of sight of land. Be sure that feels right to you. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

- If you do not get your first choice of warfare community or branch, which school offers the most appealing second choices? Which school offers a path you never, ever want to even have a remote chance of going down?

- If you have visited, which “tribe” feels like your people? Gut feel and cultural fit are important intangibles.

- The Coin Toss. If you are well and truly stuck, then it becomes a matter of realizing you are having trouble closing the door on one path. Swear to yourself you will commit to the outcome of one and only one coin toss. Then toss the coin. If the result makes you say, well, let’s go again or best two out of three, or this was stupid, you have your answer. You are incrementally more willing to let one choice go than the other.
 
cryptic7 said:
I've recently been appointed to both USMA and USNA, and have been struggling to determine which school I should to attend. Are there any current cadets or anybody who knows about the difficulty of branching Aviation. Also, what is the International Affairs major like?
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Regarding the International Affairs Major, my DS that graduated in 2017 was an IA major. He liked it very much and was able to minor in Counter Terrorism Studies. You cannot major in Counter Terrorism only minor, additionally you must take a certain major to be eligible for that minor and IA is one of them. The CTC is world renowned and the professors and fellows have amazing experience. One of the memorable lectures that my DS told me about was FDNY Chief Pfeiffer and recollections from September 11, 2001. Go to the West Point website and investigate the Counter Terrorism Center, many intern opportunities and these are classes that no other school in the country can offer.
 
BobSanderz said:
How do you know if you are on the national wait list, doesn't eveyone go on it until they get an appointment from thief nomination slate?
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Everyone who is 3Q with a nom ... but that's probably what you meant.
 
BobSanderz said:
If eveyone goes on the national wait list, why does it benefit Roadking DS if the op goes to usna?
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Well I was joking but if OP goes to USNA, then since OP has an appointment from USMA, USMA will select someone from the NWL to replace OP if required to reach class goal of 1200
 
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