Does a Candidate's Parent's status matter?

[Just Dad]

CMDR Ernest Evans: Born into poverty and endemic alcoholism on the Pawnee Indian Reservation in 1908. He made his way to the USNA via enlisted competition, graduating in 1931. He earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Samar In 1944, and has a small plaque in the USNA Museum. If they ever finish the 'Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailor' movie, everybody will know his name. I also recall that one of the guys on the FB team was born to a single mother who was 14yrs old at the time. I think her DS is in the fleet now, but I remember being impressed by both mother and son when I heard their story. I think you could put together a pretty good book just by writing up a few of the stories of kids who found/fought their way into the USNA.

Midway through her plebe year, DD (who had little/no history of complementing her mom and dad), stop a phone conversation to say "Wow, I really didn't realize how what a great childhood you gave me; there are lots of Mids here who had it pretty tough"

Dito 85: It's clear to me from DD's comments that there are some rich kids at USNA, but the USNA makes no distinctions, so most Mids don't. Per.DD, Saturday evening's activity has been limited to whatever the Mid with the least cash can afford---unless he/she will let someone spot them a beer or a burger.

Your friends would be in good company.

 

[usna1985]

JustDad makes an excellent point. Mids know some of their classmates have famous parents, as it's kind of obvious. And you may (or may not) figure out that some of your classmates come from very well-to-do families. But I don't EVER recall any mid talking about the parent(s) of another mid based on who they were, how much money they made (or didn't), what they did for a living, etc. It's just not (or at least wasn't) a topic of conversation. We had a kid in our company whose father and grandfather were very famous in the USN (one had a ship named after him). We knew it but it really wasn't discussed and he certainly never talked about it.

IMHO, the SAs are different from civilian schools in that it's much, much more important what YOU do than what your parent(s) do.

 

[THParent]

We are popular in a small area of Bancroft Hall, because we send care packages meant for multiple Midshipmen, and because we are truly interested in their lives. I don't think that any of them know what we do for a living - but they know us - because we hug all of them when we see them.

We aren't special, though. Every parent of a Midshipman we have met so far, loves those prisoners just as much as us.

 

[AMac]

CMDR Ernest Evans: Born into poverty and endemic alcoholism on the Pawnee Indian Reservation in 1908. He made his way to the USNA via enlisted competition, graduating in 1931. He earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Samar In 1944, and has a small plaque in the USNA Museum. If they ever finish the 'Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailor' movie, everybody will know his name. I also recall that one of the guys on the FB team was born to a single mother who was 14yrs old at the time. I think her DS is in the fleet now, but I remember being impressed by both mother and son when I heard their story. I think you could put together a pretty good book just by writing up a few of the stories of kids who found/fought their way into the USNA.

Midway through her plebe year, DD (who had little/no history of complementing her mom and dad), stop a phone conversation to say "Wow, I really didn't realize how what a great childhood you gave me; there are lots of Mids here who had it pretty tough"

Dito 85: It's clear to me from DD's comments that there are some rich kids at USNA, but the USNA makes no distinctions, so most Mids don't. Per.DD, Saturday evening's activity has been limited to whatever the Mid with the least cash can afford---unless he/she will let someone spot them a beer or a burger.

Your friends would be in good company.

I appreciate the input, the information is great. I wish this kind of information was conveyed to the some of the high school students in my area. I see the emails that the USNA does informational events but they never did/do them in our area of the state. Most kids see officers or cadets and think that you have to be from a well-to-do family, have to be from a different demographic or even a General's child to be considered. If it weren't for my father always educating me on things I wouldn't have known anything about attending the academy and I'm so thankful he did. I applied at a handful of schools before he had what he calls his "Real Talk" with me. I started to believe him and then asked to see the SA. USNA was my first visit and I fell for the school right away. When I went back and told the other guys they didn't think it was possible and once I was in, they felt it was too late to apply. Some communities lack education on SAs.

 

[justdoit19]

I appreciate the input, the information is great. I wish this kind of information was conveyed to the some of the high school students in my area. I see the emails that the USNA does informational events but they never did/do them in our area of the state. Most kids see officers or cadets and think that you have to be from a well-to-do family, have to be from a different demographic or even a General's child to be considered. If it weren't for my father always educating me on things I wouldn't have known anything about attending the academy and I'm so thankful he did. I applied at a handful of schools before he had what he calls his "Real Talk" with me. I started to believe him and then asked to see the SA. USNA was my first visit and I fell for the school right away. When I went back and told the other guys they didn't think it was possible and once I was in, they felt it was too late to apply. Some communities lack education on SAs.

These are exactly the kinds of areas I think that the SA’s try and reach out to via their summer programs. Get kids to experience the place, and spread the word.

Something you could do to “pay it forward“ is to educate your career/college guidance counselor about what you have discovered. About summer programs. Even about this forum! Schools LOVE to have alumni attend. Looks great on their list
of credentials.

 

[Just Dad]

In her 2c and 1c years my DD came home early for Thanksgiving break to make presentations at local high schools, rowing clubs, Etc.. It's actually been kinda hard for her to set up presos in our area. The average guidance counselor here isn't exactly a fan of the armed services or SAs.

She's pretty much done now; nothing left to do but toss the cover with CL2020 in May. That said, I know she would have jumped at the chance to go to any school in any area of our city where she had a line up of Plebe Wanna Be's interested in learning about the USNA. She is not unique. Next year there will be another Mid in your area just as anxious to tell anybody who wants to know about the education and the life experience of the USNA.

Its called Operation Info at the USNA (I think). If you can get guidance counselors to ask about it, I'd bet that a Mid will show up at the local high school, sports club, Etc.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

In her 2c and 1c years my DD came home early for Thanksgiving break to make presentations at local high schools, rowing clubs, Etc.. It's actually been kinda hard for her to set up presos in our area. The average guidance counselor here isn't exactly a fan of the armed services or SAs.[/QUOTE}

Something you could do to “pay it forward“ is to educate your career/college guidance counselor about what you have discovered

JustDad is describing the OPINFO program...every year Admission selects a few hundred Midshipman to go home early for Thanksgiving, with the the commitment to attend local schools and spread the word. The program has varying levels of success--it often hard to get into schools the day or two before Thanksgiving.

JustDoIt is right....each USNA parent can be an unofficial Blue & Gold Officer, advocating and spreading awareness of the opportunities of USNA, especially in those underrepresented areas. If you want to go further...contact your DS/DD BGO or the Area Coordinator listed on the USNA.edu website, and ask about becoming a BGO yourself.

 

[Devil Doc]

I appreciate the input, the information is great. I wish this kind of information was conveyed to the some of the high school students in my area. I see the emails that the USNA does informational events but they never did/do them in our area of the state. Some communities lack education on SAs.

We have the opposite situation where I teach. My school is the closest in the district to the Pentagon. Our convocation every year has heavy presence of SA and ROTC recognition. I’ve had several students throughout the years with appointments and have one now headed to West Point. The one I brag about the most was both class president and first captain at WP a few years ago.

 

[Mom529]

I don’t know if there are points awarded for parental status’, but this would be fantastic essay material to show grit. Determination. Forward thinking. That they LOVE to see in a candidate. It’s an opportunity to show the skills and characteristics you possess that make you who you are. Combined with everything else this will add to a profile, imo!

One of the essays is about any hardships, so I would say they consider that. I’m just guessing.

 

[Heatherg21]

Our son is looking forward to the opportunity to come home and talk to his school and young students about Service Academies and the opportunities. He is an appointee for 2024 and we are from a very small, rural school. Large AF base and Army Base within a few miles, but no Navy presence.