While I don't hope to affect old timers' predispositions re: NAPS, I do hope any current applicants selected for NAPS won't think they'll be second class citizens, doomed to life in a clique, @ USNA. Outside his own NAPS classmates, my 1/C tells me he has no idea who came from Foundation or NAPS.
My observations were meant to be neither lauditory or derogatory. NAPSters, in general, have always stood out, just as Memphis stated, first for helping others during Plebe Summer and then secondly dropping back into the pack once academics commences. The fact remains that both NAPS and Foundation now have a higher graduation rate than the Brigade as a whole.
The point which I was making to Memphis is that in our time, there was a draft. Many individuals joined the Navy to avoid the draft. One step removed from the actual draft, they were nevertheless, 'draftees'. More self serving, more parochial in their ambitions. Had you rather spend the last three years of your 'enlistment' in the boiler room of a destroyer or in a classroom? And back then the day you walked out the door of Bancroft Hall for the last time, you were eligible for the full GI Bill. As you may well imagine, overall, this did not increase the NAPSter retention rate. And also back then, NAPS was predominently ex-enlisted. Comparing retention now to then means absolutely nothing.
As for Maverick, I am sure that those who are being super critical have been in his shoes. The literature sent out by the Foundation does state that the signed Agreement will stipulate the terms of a payback should the student fail to complete Foundation, fail to accept an appointment, or RESIGN FROM THE ACADEMY DURING THE FIRST YEAR. The answer is in his contract. I hope we have not scared him off because, as a supporting Alumni, I would be very upset if they did not accept a payment plan. As a previus poster pointed out, Foundation assistance is definitely needs based, and the 100% support iin this case does indicate need and the subsequent ability to pay.
