Funny SA Misconceptions

I was HIGHLY considering just giving her the Naval Academy friend's name and saying, "Well, I'm going to West Point, as is Joe Shmoe. We would have no comment on "alternatives" to college, because USMA is a fine college. XXXX is going to USNA, however, and you could probably talk to him about giving up a college education...."

brilliant :thumb:
 
Several years ago my sister asked where my son wanted to go to college. When I told her USMA at West Point, she said, "No, not high school. Where does he want to go to college?" I had to resist an almost overwhelming urge to not bang my head against the wall. After being the butt of family jokes for awhile, she did some research and now understands what all the SAs are and was suitably impressed when my son received his appointment last year. :thumb:
 
This one probably sounds familiar. I told a co worker my daughter wanted to go to an SA. She said, "And will she go to a real college after a year?"
 
Makes me want to write an informational brochure about noms, SA's, enlisted, the qualifications, ROTC, the commitment to prepare for this, (you guys know what I mean), and pass it out to anyone who might need one or even enjoy learning about this stuff. I'm still learning! I would love to see all the stats and above details in black and white able to be handed over for somone to mull over. I'm probably going to do an informal version for my extended family and friends to be included in my son's graduation announcement. Even family don't really get it and need a little help. :wink: -officer

*****

Officer,

An informational brochure is a great idea! I know my colleagues at other state maritime academies and the senior military colleges of the US try to inform students, families and school counselors of the selectivity involved in the service academy nomination/appointment process.

Too many times - good high school students - get bad info/advice...and by the time they realize that the vast majority of students who would like to go to a service academy do not get an appointment - it is too late for them to either be considered for admission into a state maritime academy/senior military college - or - be in consideration for a scholarship at one of our institutions.

Fuji
 
I was featured in an article in my schools paper as having enlisted, a;though one up side is i come from a fairly intelligent part of California, and people here respond very positively and are well informed about the SA's
 
conversation online with a girl from my school some while back:

her:yeahh haha soo what have you been doingg??

me:i was up in new york for a while

her:luckkyy for what??

me:i went up to west point for my orientation-visit thing lol

her:ohh thaatss cool,soo your number 1 in your class right??

me:lol yeah

her:thatss really good. soo where do you wanna go to college??

:yllol:
 
Tonight I heard second-hand about a jibe directed towards me for being accepted to USNA.

The person said that USNA is the "woman's" academy. He went on to explain that the Marines are the men of the military.:yllol::shake:

Talk about well informed!
 
Now that is funny. Did you get a chance to tell him where Marine officers come from?
 
Now that is funny. Did you get a chance to tell him where Marine officers come from?

I didn't, but a friend who's dad and brother are Army explained it to him. It's sad when an Army family has to correct people on their knowledge of the Navy! The mistaken kid's dad was a Marine! He should have known better.:yllol:
 
For me, everyone around here knows what the service academies are - and everyone thinks I'm going to the Air Force Academy.
It's so hard explaining what ROTC is over and over again... :rolleyes:

In fact, I always have a business card from and admissions officer at Embry-Riddle in my wallet, so every time somewhere asks where I'm going to college, I slip that out (since no one has any idea what it is - the card does a nice job of name and location) and explain I'm going ROTC.

Of course then there's the questions on ER:
Q: So you're going to a flight school?
A: They do have flight training as a major, yes.
Q: So you get to fly in college?
A: Well actually I'm majoring in meteorology (tech major)
Q: ....
 
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A few days ago I went to the police station to get my background check for USNA. I was talking to one of the clerks and told her that I was going to the Naval Academy. She proceded to ask me "oh, which one?" I paused for a good 3 seconds while my brain processed the question. Finally I managed to stammer out, "the one in Annapolis".
 
A few days ago I went to the police station to get my background check for USNA. I was talking to one of the clerks and told her that I was going to the Naval Academy. She proceded to ask me "oh, which one?" I paused for a good 3 seconds while my brain processed the question. Finally I managed to stammer out, "the one in Annapolis".
Kind of reminds me of the time when my mom asked me which city Annapolis was in!
 
Ha when I say that I am going to go to the USMMA I always get, "oh cool so you're going to be a marine? Why would you want to be enlisted though?"

Not too mention that I have to explain it to pretty much everyone since it's lesser known. I generally say it's like the USNA and USMA but better :P
 
Ha when I say that I am going to go to the USMMA I always get, "oh cool so you're going to be a marine?

You will eventually get to the point that you will simply say Yes and nod your head. Believe me, it gets old pretty fast trying to explain it over and over. Once you have been there a little bit people seem to get the picture a little better.
 
Ha actually thats what I've started doing. JUst nodding and saying ya sure who knows seems to suffice. The fact the I will be receiving the award during our senior awards night from a retired USMC Col. won't help at all either lol.
 
Today, I went to my local police department to get my background check done. After explaining to the clerk what I needed, she got a confused look on her face and asked me where my recruitment station was. I explained that I wasn't enlisting and that USMA is a college...to which she said she had to go get her supervisor.

Supervisor showed up, looked over the form, and asked me again where my recruitment station was, to which I again explained that USMA is a military college. She tells me (A) that she had never heard of it and (B) that the "United States Military Academy" was probably just a fancy name for some kind of basic training or military program. We went back and forth over this for a while. She eventually understood that it was indeed a college, but then thought that it was ROTC.

It was kinda sad, even the name "West Point" didn't ring any bells...
 
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