Enlisting before entering an academy

Wrong, the first commander that can nominate a soldier is the basic training commander. He or she is not required to nominate anyone, but can nominate a soldier if he or she wishes to.

Was going to comment as well... I know of two current cadets who were nominated right out of basic. And a recent grad who was an enlisted18x in the Q course who was a medical washout and nominated.

So it happens for sure, none of these ever served in their MOS prior to their USMA nomination.
 
This is true most I think inmost cases it will be at a first unit 1-2 years down the the road. I wouldn't want to rely on my BCT CO nominating me with so many variables in play if my goal was WP and I wasn't prepared to give a full term enlistment.

I said CAN, not must or will. To restate, don't have to wait one to two years to get your commander's nomination. Talk about variables, what if your commander switches out? I worked to commanders about nominating soldiers and what I tell them is they are just making a judgment call as their nominations do not equal appointments. Don't overthink the process, when eligible apply, don't wait. If the Basic company commander says no, ask the advanced individual training commander, if he or she says no, ask your unit commander. The reality is more than like the commander will rely on your record and the chain of command's input, not likely that your future company commander will know you personally.
 
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Also, I think the 85 slots for USMAPS reserved for enlisted soldiers are only for active duty and not National Guard/reserves, I could be wrong though. If you really want to enlist in the NG/reserves and become an officer, you could be in the national guard/reserves and do ROTC in a normal college (or a SMC if you wish). A lot of people in Norwich are in the Vermont National Guard.

There is no official number given out for USMAPS slots. Typically, according to a briefing given by the USMAPS, about 1/3 soldiers, to include National Guard/Reserves, 1/3 recruited athletes, and 1/3 under represented minorities.

Up to 85 active duty soldiers can be appointed per year.
Up to 85 National Guar/Reserve soldiers can be appointed per year.
 
I agree. It is best not to take any chances and be lazy. However, enlisting is likely too extreme if it is true that at least two years of service are required before you are eligible to transfer to USMA.
 
Consider applying to all service academies and if you aren't accepted to West Point try to transfer later. If you were to be accepted by none of the academies, go to preparatory school. If that didn't work out, enlist.
 
Also, I think the 85 slots for USMAPS reserved for enlisted soldiers are only for active duty and not National Guard/reserves, I could be wrong though. If you really want to enlist in the NG/reserves and become an officer, you could be in the national guard/reserves and do ROTC in a normal college (or a SMC if you wish). A lot of people in Norwich are in the Vermont National Guard.

As another user already stated, there are 85 slots for Active Duty soldiers, and another 85 slots for Reserve and National Guard soldiers.

Furthermore, any (yes, AD, AR, or NG) soldier who is physically qualified, but not academically/leadership qualified, still has a chance of being accepted to the Preparatory School. See this soldier: gxonline.com/careers/west-point-way

If you get Basic Combat Training done before senior year and Advanced Individual Training immediately after graduation, you might be at West Point just one year after graduating from high school.

Becoming an enlisted soldier first might give you a bit of a mental/physical advantage. You will have been broken down and rebuilt into a soldier already, and you'll at least have some real idea of what you're getting yourself into before you apply to West Point. Enlisting before doing ROTC is quite common, and probably for good reasons.

Plus, if you end up feeling like the Army just isn't your thing, it's only a weekend per month and two weeks each summer. If you do like it, though, you can find fulltime military work, too. The downside is if you're always busy with school or work during the week, losing a weekend each month really sucks.

There's no actual minimum amount of time you have to be with a unit before they're allowed to recommend you for West Point. If you're a good soldier and make a good impression with everyone, they should be glad to help you. Just a month after meeting my unit, my NCO was thrilled to hear about the possibility of me going to West Point. If your company commander doesn't know you well enough, he or she can have an interview with you then. Not every officer and NCO will be supportive of your decision, but if they're good leaders, they should be doing their best to help their soldiers succeed - no matter what.

Does enlisting make it easier to get appointed? Sort of, but it also kind of balances out with the extra time spent training/drilling/working until you get there. I didn't plan on West Point or ROTC when I enlisted. I already wanted to be a soldier, and I already made a commitment. Then, I got an email that piqued my interest. If my sergeant hadn't been so supportive, I might not have applied. Now, I'm a month away from starting at West Point.

If you want to enlist in the National Guard, I encourage it. Should you listen to me?

lel, i dunno

I'm just some random Guard soldier, throwing my two cents at you.
 
Consider applying to all service academies and if you aren't accepted to West Point try to transfer later. If you were to be accepted by none of the academies, go to preparatory school. If that didn't work out, enlist.

Your advice is sincere, but it is completely inaccurate. Stick to what you know:


You cannot transfer from one Service Academy to another. There is a long and difficult process if you resign from on and apply to another, but you are better sitting out a year and trying again.

You can not just go to USMAPS if you are not accepted by an academy.

If you wait until the end of the application cycle to decide to enlist, you will find your options very limited both in terms of getting an MOS you would want and getting a training date that would also fit going off to college in the fall.
 
Although connected, enlisting (either Active or National Guard/Reserves) and West Point should be considered separately.

One must enlist based on desire to serve in the military foremost. There are many benefits to enlisting to include possibly getting a soldier nomination to West Point.

So a good case scenario is to enlist and get an appointment to West Point.

A bad case scenario is to enlist only to get into West Point than not get into West Point and hating your enlisted time.

Facts are
- must be 22 before you start West Point
- there are up to 85 appointments for active duty soldiers and 85 appointments for National Guard/Reserve soldiers
- around 60 to 80 of soldiers applicants (both active and National Guard/Reserve) are accepted into USMAPS each year. Typically around 90% of USMAPS cadets are offered appointment to West Point.
- the minimum requirement for a soldier nomination is starting from the basic training company commander. The commander has the absolute discretion.
- typically, not all, soldier appointees have weaker academic credential than a typical high school senior appointees.
- West Point/USMAPS appointment trumps all other military obligation.
- Some recruiters/NCOs/officers/ROTC instructors are not supportive of West Point applicants.

I worked with three National Guard soldiers in various stages of their military career that were appointed to West Point - one attending advance individual training, one that complete his trainings and drilling with the unit, and one mobilized in Afghanistan.

So don't enlist to increase your chance of getting an appointment to West Point, but if you are enlisting to serve first apply to West Point also if you want to. An analogy I made before is what would you do if you saw a $20 bill on the street and no one else was around?
 
There is no official number given out for USMAPS slots. Typically, according to a briefing given by the USMAPS, about 1/3 soldiers, to include National Guard/Reserves, 1/3 recruited athletes, and 1/3 under represented minorities.

Up to 85 active duty soldiers can be appointed per year.
Up to 85 National Guard/Reserve soldiers can be appointed per year.

Thank you for the clarification.
 
I was also worried that I would not be admitted to the Academy and considered enlisting the day I turned 18. I spoke to the admissions officer at WP and he said that you would have to wait at least two years before your CO would even consider giving you a nomination to the Academy. You can't just apply immediately after Basic. Don't do it unless you want to enlist anyways.
I was in for a year and received a commanders endorsement. I agree as you shouldn't enlist to apply, but if you leave a good impression, and prove your worth as a soldier, theres no reason they cant endorse you...unless you haven't been to basic.


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You can always enlist after you hear from WP and ROTC in your Senior year. Don't sell yourself sort.
 
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