Go back and read your essays about why you want to go to USNA, serve as an officer, face the challenge of military life. Has anything essential changed there?
Are you hearing HS classmates excitedly talk about their last summer before college, cool dorms, pledging Greek life, etc., but you’re thinking about Plebe Summer? Feeling a little isolated because you can’t really describe what it is you’re going to be doing? Parents anxious? Getting hit with well-meaning but ignorant remarks about going into military service?
I would bet EVERYONE who has gone into the military has at some point said “oh s***, what have I done? I do NOT want to do this.” I certainly did, at several points, most especially after I had signed my OCS contract, had orders in hand and a report date circled on a calendar. It was real, at last.
Take the time you need to reflect and sort things out. Determine whether this is just a transient bit of stage fright, or you got so wrapped up in the journey of applying and the thrill of the competition to get an appointment, you forgot to stay in touch with yourself about what it really means.
Ask yourself a series of questions, working backwards. Build a reverse flow chart.
- Do you want to serve in the military and understand you will owe some years of obligated service? Yes? Then keep going, that means an officer or enlisted program.
- Do you want your college degree? Yes? Then that’s the officer path, via SA, ROTC, OCS or NUPOC.
- Do you see yourself serving as a Navy or Marine Officer? Serving as an aviator, surface officer, submariner, ground officer, etc.?Yes? Then you know where to go.
- Do you know yourself well enough that you will do better in an immersion military environment side-by-side with people a lot like you? Or are you thinking a more hybrid path such as ROTC will suit you better?
- And, the big one - 10 years down the road, will you regret walking away from this?
Be very honest with yourself. Block out the expectations of others and don’t worry about letting people down. It is your path, your life. Every year, at all the SAs, there are people who report in who felt they could not say “stop this rollercoaster, I want off.” They are not happy and often leave.
It is NORMAL to have some jitters and doubts. You are facing one of the biggest uprootings of your life. You know everything is going to change, and you don’t really know who you will be, or how you will do. In HS, you’ve got the place wired, you know who you are, and you are good at it. As a plebe, you will be clueless, at least for a while. Be cool with that.
I respect you for taking the time to express doubt. It shows a lack of hubris, which is something that gets people in trouble in every walk of life.
Worry is like a rocking chair. You can keep doing it, but you won’t get anywhere. Focus on what you can control, get plenty of PT and rest in, talk with people you trust.
Once you get to PS, you are so busy and overwhelmed with new stuff, you don’t have time to think. You just do. It’s the waiting for the unknown before you report that grabs at your imagination.
As noted by other posters, the system is designed to let people out if it is truly not their path. It would not be the end of the world if you went, gave it 100% and decided at some point, even after 2 years, it wasn’t for you.
Edit:
This got me thinking about why I joined the Navy, and why I stayed for a full career. It was the honor and privilege of serving, and being trusted to lead people.
How you start at USNA (USNA 2017, I-Day, sweaty and apprehensive):
How you end (USNA 2017 enormously proud and confident) (skip to 58 minute mark):
You get to lead people like this:
And do really cool stuff:
(See endless videos of Navy and Marine Corps folks and stuff in action)
And actually have some fun at USNA - 4000+ bright minds embracing the suck along with you and finding outlets for the stress:
(Because I can’t resist)
