Enlisted to USNA

Nomak54

Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Messages
187
Hello all,

After being extremely dissatisfied with the university I have to attend, I've been putting more time enlisting (most likely usmc) and reapplying to USNA the next application cycle.

My main questions are these:

Academics were probably the weakest point of my application. So I'm worried that not going to a school to improve that part would be detrimental. Is there anyway on the enlisted side that I can show strength academically?

Secondly, am I wasting my time and/or acting like a gigantic idiot? My overall hopes is to be an officer, however, there was only one barely affordable university that I can attend, and I don't know man, I'm just so dissatisfied with this university for numerous reasons.

Which route should I take? Many thanks,
 
If your overall hope is to be an officer then I would say don’t do it. Before you sign a contract you really need to sit back and think “Am I okay with serving my entire enlisted contract if USNA doesn’t work out?” If the answer is no, don’t do it. I’m currently in DEP for the Navy after my own TWE, but I am completely comfortable serving my contract. If you want to be an officer, put in another application or go to OCS. Best of luck.
 
The chances you can apply next cycle might not be plausible also. You will have boot camp, SOI, MOS school. These schools don’t always happen one after the other without delays. Then you go to your command to gain some credibility. A commanding officer isn’t going to endorse a brand new LCpl who has been in their unit after 2 weeks. They would need to see you demonstrate maturity, leadership, physical fitness first. If academics were a weak point how do plan to improve that with all that on your plate. As a junior enlisted you can use tuition assistance (not sure on current rules) to take night courses, many bases offer this, but there aren’t guarantees with deployments and exercises this works in your schedule. Have you been studying to retake your SAT? At your current university are you taking a Plebe like schedule? How well are you doing? What happens if you get an MOS you don’t enjoy? You can’t just leave the USMC, you will have 4-5 years left? If you enlist, be prepared to finish the contract. What about attending your local community college and really focusing on a Plebe like schedule and reapplying this next year? Maybe take some summer school classes and knock out Calc.
 
I'd be completely content staying in the contract if USNA doesn't work, then go to to college and try to become an officer that way.

I'm not at a university now, just graduated high school.

What about attending your local community college and really focusing on a Plebe like schedule and reapplying this next year?

Well, I can, but there's something about it that I just don't like. I'm not comfortable staying in this state with the little opportunities that my local community college can offer. Plus, it's a long story but due to DoDMERB issues I'm told I have to wait for two years (Jan 2021) until I can get a waiver for a certain issue, so I definitely don't like the idea about staying two years where I am.
 
After being extremely dissatisfied with the university I have to attend,
I'm not at a university now, just graduated high school.

Maybe you have good reasons to be dissatisfied, but it is hard as an outsider reading your post to understand how you can be so dissatisfied with something you haven't actually experienced yet. If this is the only university you can afford it may make sense to try to figure out if you can overcome your dissatisfaction somehow and attend this university and put everything you have into getting great grades and demonstrating your ability to succeed academically. Does your university have ROTC? If so, join as a college programmer and that opens up another possible avenue to a commission.

As you know, getting into USNA is tough, even with a great academic record. If you really want USNA and your academics are your weak point, this seems like your best chance. I'd suggest really committing wholeheartedly to one year at the university. It won't do you any good to attend without going all in and committing to doing whatever it takes to do well (study, find tutors, etc.). If you do well academically this may be your best shot at getting into USNA. If you don't get into USNA at that point you've given it your best shot and can reevaluate your options.

Be honest with yourself. If you can't get over your dissatisfaction with the university and have no other affordable college options, there is nothing at all wrong with enlisting if you decide in your heart that this is the right path for you and you are prepared to finish your contract.

Good luck.
 
Agree with Dadof2. Either commit 100% to the university and give USNA another shot in two years or don’t. If you don’t then don’t waste your time and money. It sounds like your goal is to get the heck out of dodge. Remember that your attitude is going to determine your happiness and success more than anything. As an adult you learn it’s about the people more than anything. You can find great people to surround yourself with at school, if you choose to seek out those opportunities. Will you even be eligible to enlist medically? Standards aren’t the same between the two, but if you have a DQ than only time can solve, you might have the same issue with MEPS. It appears you have lots of unknowns still, but your attitude is the only thing you can control. Honestly your view on the school’s mentioned and lack of opportunities are in your head. You haven’t been there and it’s what you make of it, like everything in life.
 
@Nomak54, hard to understand your situation without all the facts. But learning to deal with dissatisfaction and disappointment is a vital life skill. Not just in the long run, but even in the short term. Even at halcyon-like places like USNA. Mid life is highly demanding, and there are moments and pockets of dissatisfaction and disappointment. Just ask the Mids themselves. As they say about SAs: They’re a great place to be from, but a bad place to be.

Not trying to burst your bubble about USNA. Just trying to give you a realistic sense of what’s out there.
 
My read on your post is this: no matter where you are, your whole life you will have to deal with ‘dissatisfaction ’. What’s important is HOW you deal with it.

A successful SA student is one who figures out how to embrace the suck. Get through (under, around) hurdles. Deal with disappointment....it’s all in the attitude and desire to get through it no matter what. That’s one trait I see in my Mid that I greatly admire. He doesn’t worry. Or complain. Or wish things were different. He just gets on to the next part of the task to get to the goal. improvising as necessary along the way.

I’m the mom of 4 adult (one ALMOST adult) children. The feeling of wanting to “get out of dodge” after high school is very, very normal and common. Especially in these days of social media, when kids/parents share all the “amazing” things they (or little Johnny) are doing. All my kids wanted to get out of dodge. But guess what? They all also figured out Dodge isn’t so bad (except my senior...he isn’t there yet).

What about getting an apartment with some people, and doing community college? More affordable and sometimes better schedules for working adults. You could also work. It would get you out on you own, working towards your goal.

Or enlist if that’s desirable. But as mentioned, the timing at the very least, may not work the way you think it will. No matter what the recruiter tells you. My oldest took last semester off from school, certain he would be sent and back already for next semester. Guess what? He is tied up waiting for a waiver. Had to enroll in summer school to avoid having student loans kick in. So it happens.

Good luck. Great advice here!
 
I'm in agreement with the above posts. It sounds like you may want to depart Dodge. I was in the same boat long ago. Not only was a service academy out of the question for me but so was any kind of college. I joined the USN and stayed so long they had to kick me out.

Join the Marines. Just make sure you know what you're getting into. The big sign leading into MCRD says, "We Make Marines" That means you can't quit. They won't let you quit, but, you just might like it.
 
Some good advice above. My $.02, FWIW - If you join the Marine Corps, be sure you want to be a Marine first and don't lo0k at it as pathway to USNA.

I've said it here before -- don't start your enlisted career looking for a route to USNA. Sure, it can be done...there are a lot of threads on this Forum addressing the path from the fleet to USNA, but a common factor for everyone I know who made it from the Fleet is that they were first squared away, top performing Sailors and Marines and were recognized for their leadership potential.
 
Well, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan, here we go again.
I agree with the above that you should understand that going enlisted is not necessarily a path to a service academy. But I don’t agree that you should give up such a goal if you go enlisted.
As I’ve written numerous times on this website, sometimes people just need a break from academics and there is nothing wrong with that. Going enlisted you may just stay that route. Or you may do as I did and go ROTC or as my DD did and be accepted to a service academy.
There is no shame in wanting to “get away”. My DW literally grew up with dirt floors and needed to get away. She had few options. She had no desire to follow the family track and be a pregnant teen. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school.
But enlistment in her case lead to ROTC. Which led to being the first in her family to go to college. To flight school. To medical school. And, most importantly to me as we never would have met had she not gone that route. Lucky her.
If you don’t feel college is the right path for you at this time don’t let others pound you into that round hole if you are a square peg at this time. Explore your options.
Good luck to you:
 
Back
Top