Hello all!

EagleFam

New Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2024
Messages
7
My DD decided several years ago to pursue a SA appointment. While she is most interesting in attending the USAFA, she is still considering all others. She has a few more years to prepare her application for the class of '31, but we also realize that time will go by very quickly. In our pursuit to learn more, we thankfully happened upon this site. I appreciate all of the guidance and wisdom offered on this forum and wanted to take the opportunity to officially say hello and thank you. We are all very much looking forward to learning as much as we can, while also supporting others through this journey.
 
Time will fly! Be sure and have her express interest in Girls State next summer with her school and also apply for Summer Seminar at USAFA next summer too.
 
Time will fly! Be sure and have her express interest in Girls State next summer with her school and also apply for Summer Seminar at USAFA next summer too.
Absolutely! We've been trying to learn more about Girls State and already have plans to apply to the Summer Seminar next year. We took a family Vacation to Colorado last summer and toured the Academy. My DD absolutely loved it! Really lit the fire.

Since then she's been seeking out even more leadership opportunities and ways in which to become more involved in extracurriculars. She currently has a 4.0 (UW) and is on track for the AP capstone degree. She's a varsity athlete in 2 sports and she even joined JROTC this year. With that, she feels like she is on the right track, yet she also feels a little anxious about needing more leadership experience and extracurriculars. So we appreciate the insight and guidance on that front. We will definitely look into Girls State.
 
@EagleFam

I copied and pasted in a chunk of advice I often use for those who are a cycle or two out from applying, especially if they have set their sights on just one SA. All 6 services, all 5 SAs, all 6 ROTC programs should be researched so that comparative analysis will produce an informed strategy for obtaining a commission as an officer in the armed services, which is the real goal. I can’t emphasize enough that going to the primary sources, the websites, and taking notes on requirements, action steps, etc., is critical to smartly planning the campaign - because it is one - trading every page, link and drop-down menu item. Alternative plans are prudent to have.

Notes for the Future Applicant - Initial Steps

I think you must be at the starting stages of your research. Your analysis should focus on what service you want to be in and what officer specialties interest you. Then reverse engineer to the commissioning programs that will get you there.

This means going to each of the 5 SA websites, the primary sources, and reading every page, link and drop down menu item. You will take notes of action items, timelines, requirements, etc., but also the career paths available. You should also research NROTC, AROTC, AFROTC, and now SFROTC. There are more options, but that is a place to start.

You will find things for USNA such as:

HS Roadmap

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General Advice for Grades 9-12 page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Mon Dec 09 04:25:09 EST 2024.

www.usna.edu

CFA
The Candidate Fitness Assessment

The Candidate Fitness Assessment page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Mon Dec 09 04:25:09 EST 2024.

www.usna.edu


DoDMERB Medical Qualification

Apply to USNA

Application for Class of 2023 Opens April 1st. Navigate your future with the top public college in the US

www.usna.edu


DoD Website Consent

Nominations

Nomination Sources

Nomination Sources page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Mon Dec 09 04:25:09 EST 2024.

www.usna.edu

And then, go to the service academy nomination pages at your 2 U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative for your District. Research their requirements. That starts happening your rising senior summer. They may also have service academy info sessions. Attend! Ask questions, introduce yourself.


Research the summer leadership and admissions outreach experiences at the SAs. You apply junior year, attend rising senior summer.

Summer Seminar

The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is the first step in navigating your future to becoming one of our nations next generation of leaders

www.usna.edu


And other opportunities to get to know the SA, which you could attend this summer:


Summer STEM

STEM is all about exploring, creating, building, and making things better, and at our Summer STEM Program, you will do just that

www.usna.edu



Navy Sports Camps

Navy Sports Camps

navysports.com


The application process is long, detailed and rigorous, a test in itself of determination and grit. The burden falls on the candidate to do the research, develop an application strategy, timeline, action steps, alternate plans, a tracking system. These are all traits desirable in a junior military officer: executive coordination, attention to detail, critical thinking, strategic planning, communications, drive, strong work ethic, self-discipline, a sense of humor, multi-tasking and many more.

——————————————————
I haven’t really cleaned this up link-wise, but it shows many good USNA sites. Other SAs will have similar.
 
The spirit and intent is there. All is well.
I am so sorry!! As the father of an incredibly strong young woman who wants nothing more than to pursue a similar path as yours, I couldn't be more embarrassed! Please accept my humblest apology and my appreciation for your grace. Ugh...
 
I am so sorry!! As the father of an incredibly strong young woman who wants nothing more than to pursue a similar path as yours, I couldn't be more embarrassed! Please accept my humblest apology and my appreciation for your grace. Ugh...
I appreciated your kind intent. I’ve had many a “SirMA’AM” in my day. And in my centuries. 🤣

I also have a deeper voice. I get called “sir” at drive-through intercoms regularly or on phone calls with people I don’t know.

The thought and intent were there, courteously meant.
 
Since then she's been seeking out even more leadership opportunities and ways in which to become more involved in extracurriculars. She currently has a 4.0 (UW) and is on track for the AP capstone degree. She's a varsity athlete in 2 sports and she even joined JROTC this year. With that, she feels like she is on the right track, yet she also feels a little anxious about needing more leadership experience and extracurriculars. So we appreciate the insight and guidance on that front. We will definitely look into Girls State.
Years ago, when my kid was just fantasizing about being at USAFA, we went to an aviation event where cadets were there representing the aviation program. My kid went up to a cadet and asked, "what do you think got you into the Academy?" meaning, what was your "it" factor? How did you stand out?

The cadet replied with, "I think it was my leadership. I wasn't a very strong athlete in high school, but I was good enough to be captain of my swim team for a few years. And I was good at being a captain. Find something you're passionate about, stick with it, and excel in it. If you're involved with too many things, you spread your time too thin, and won't have time to do one thing well enough."

There are a lot of options and opportunities out there and I think in our culture, parents often try to shove their kids into way too much, spreading them way too thin. It's far more impressive, and a better experience for your DD to be a Cadet Captain in JROTC than being average in 20 different clubs/activities. Remember she is still a child, a teen. It's a time she will never get back. Let her be a teenager also.

Best of luck to your DD! And a side note, seeing it written out..."class of '31" is just weird. Not necessarily in a bad way, but more like, wow...we're approaching 4 decades into the 2000s. I still remember Y2k. 😬 How did we get here?
 
Back
Top