Enlisted to USNA

G0navybeat@rmy

G0navybeat@rmy

The Eternal Candidate
5-Year Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2018
Messages
148
I’m a 3rd time applicant and weighing my options if I don’t get accepted this time around. Even though I made a 34 on the ACT this year, I feel as though my chances are low since I’ve had to retake calc 2 twice and my college GPA is a 2.9. A big factor is after this year I won’t be able to afford any more school (and I don’t want to take a loan and go into debt). I am looking at enlistment and using that as a pathway to Navy. Any advice is greatly appreciated :)
 
G0navybeat@rmy said:
I’m a 3rd time applicant and weighing my options if I don’t get accepted this time around. Even though I made a 34 on the ACT this year, I feel as though my chances are low since I’ve had to retake calc 2 twice and my college GPA is a 2.9. A big factor is after this year I won’t be able to afford any more school (and I don’t want to take a loan and go into debt). I am looking at enlistment and using that as a pathway to Navy. Any advice is greatly appreciated :)
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Are you at 4 year college or at a community college?
 
How many more tries do you have before you age out for USNA admission? Plan for a year of NAPS, which is where USNA sends most enlisted applicants for an academic buff-up year before USNA.

If your goal is a commission as a Navy officer, there are paths that do not lead through USNA.

STA-21 is a path from enlisted ranks to officer commission.

I assume going to an in-state college with NROTC was not an option for you.

OCS after college degree gained, given your current academic standing and financial challenge of finishing college, does not seem at this point like a good fit.

Do your research, especially before you go talk to any Navy recruiter.
 
The STA-21 program has been something I’ve considered, but I’ve been told that it’s not guaranteed. Granted I know that USNA isn’t guaranteed when I’m enlisted, but I favor USNA much more since it’s been what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. NAPS is something I’d be perfectly fine with doing, considering my academic background.
 
How do you feel about the money you have already invested? Yet not completed a degree??

One way to look at this, is that for the investment of xx to complete your degree, get a job and earn money > not graduating and not receiving a benefit from what you have already spent.

IOW, you say you don’t want to go into debt, but what is the cost of completing your degree and opening some doors related to that?

Of course none of that includes a desire to serve in the military. But consider what you already have spent, being so close to finishing, and not doing so. What was that money spent really worth in that case?

Maybe I’m not understanding your post correctly.

Are you in NRTOC??
 
Being brutally honest here - taking Calc II three times at a small LA college to get a passing grade is not a good indicator for potential success at a rigorous STEM school like USNA.
 
Depending on how many credits you have already completed, you could serve 3 years (get qualified in-rate and in warfare specialty), finish the bachelor's with a combination of DANTES, NCPACE and/or TA, and apply for OCS.

STA-21 is incredibly competitive, especially if you are not looking to go nuke. 60% of selections this year were for nuke, from nuke ratings.

Specific communities may be closed entirely depending on year, for example, for this year, Human Resources, Intelligence, Cryptologic Warfare, Medical, Supply, SWO-IP, and SWO-OCEAN had zero opportunity for selection.

You might very well have enough time to complete a degree while you wait to select for STA-21. I would look into both routes.

https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Officer/Program-Authorizations/ (CTRL-F "Seaman to Admiral" for different community requirements)

Definitely check out the public Navy website for more information on the various programs, both for civilians and enlisted personnel. OPNAVINST 1420.1B is a good start if you want to dig through the policies.

 
justdoit19 said:
How do you feel about the money you have already invested? Yet not completed a degree??

One way to look at this, is that for the investment of xx to complete your degree, get a job and earn money > not graduating and not receiving a benefit from what you have already spent.

IOW, you say you don’t want to go into debt, but what is the cost of completing your degree and opening some doors related to that?

Of course none of that includes a desire to serve in the military. But consider what you already have spent, being so close to finishing, and not doing so. What was that money spent really worth in that case?

Maybe I’m not understanding your post correctly.

Are you in NRTOC??
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I am not enrolled in NROTC, there are only 2 units in my state and both are out of reach economically for me. Because of my grades/COVID/other factors, I already feel as if the money invested has gone to waste. Realistically I'll graduate after 3 more years, and even then theres no guaruntee I can get to OCS with my performance. I still have hope in that I scored so highly on the ACT. All I want to do is commission in the Navy, but I feel that the deeper into college I get, the further away commissioning seems.
 
8th Wing Refugee said:
Being brutally honest here - taking Calc II three times at a small LA college to get a passing grade is not a good indicator for potential success at a rigorous STEM school like USNA.
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Thank you for your honesty, and that is something I've come to terms with. It's always been my weakness and is something I have tried to overcome. This year I feel like I have shown improvement through ACT and what my grades in math will be at the end of the year, but I know how the past looks on paper.
 
G0navybeat@rmy said:
Thank you for your honesty, and that is something I've come to terms with. It's always been my weakness and is something I have tried to overcome. This year I feel like I have shown improvement through ACT and what my grades in math will be at the end of the year, but I know how the past looks on paper.
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Despite what the past may look like apply until you cannot anymore, one of my classmates got in after her junior year at Fresno State. Like everyone has mentioned already trying to get to USNA by enlisting could be challenging and not always guaranteed (STA-21 is just as competitive, not everyone will want to go to USNA), so it is very much rolling the dice. You mentioned that the longer you stay in college the further away commissioning seems, one way or another you will have to get that degree to commission anyway. So the way I see it, you're delaying the inevitable requirement or you put your best foot forward NOW by getting a degree and letting the chips fall where they may knowing you gave it your all.
 
I see two major issues here. Maybe 3.
Not a lot of money for college, rough time with Calculus (at a liberal arts college), and youth.

Maybe the reason you're having a rough time with the math is as much your instructor as you?

Here's a path that may work.
- Enlist in a specialty that flows into the commissioned specialty you eventually want to pursue.
- Take as much college as you can while on active duty.
- Keep your nose clean, weight down, and pants zipped/knees together (as applicable).
- Get out, maybe staying in the reserves, and use your G.I. bill like a rented mule. It will cover your tuition and living expenses at a state school.
- Get your B.S., or maybe even Masters, then apply for commissioning.

Time is relative - it passes faster the older you get. When I as 18, the weekend was forever away. Today, it seems like I just turned 50 not so long ago, but no, in fact I've been 60 for a while now. Where did my 50s go?
 
OldAFRet said:
I see two major issues here. Maybe 3.
Not a lot of money for college, rough time with Calculus (at a liberal arts college), and youth.

Maybe the reason you're having a rough time with the math is as much your instructor as you?

Here's a path that may work.
- Enlist in a specialty that flows into the commissioned specialty you eventually want to pursue.
- Take as much college as you can while on active duty.
- Keep your nose clean, weight down, and pants zipped/knees together (as applicable).
- Get out, maybe staying in the reserves, and use your G.I. bill like a rented mule. It will cover your tuition and living expenses at a state school.
- Get your B.S., or maybe even Masters, then apply for commissioning.

Time is relative - it passes faster the older you get. When I as 18, the weekend was forever away. Today, it seems like I just turned 50 not so long ago, but no, in fact I've been 60 for a while now. Where did my 50s go?
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I love this plan and couldn't agree more. The GI Bill is a great deal if you want to serve. Also once you are in you can explore options like limited duty officer. Keep moving forward and don't loose sight of your goals.
 
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