Incoming Class of 2015: I met somebody the other day who had been very competitive for an Air Force Academy appointment but another candidate was given the nomination by the MOC and received the appointment. The MOC called the young man and explained that it was a very difficult choice, but she felt that the other candidate was just slightly more competitive. Later in the summer after graduation, as the unsuccessful candidate was driving down the street in town, he saw the successful standing on the corner waiting to cross the street - he had dropped out of BEAST summer. Moral of the story: PLEASE, PLEASE make sure that it is your decision to go to USNA. Remember how elated you were to get the BFE and compare that to the level of disappointment for those who got the TWE.
Why is there always the ASSUMPTION that those who came up short in the admissions process for any of the service academies would, somehow, have been more committed and faired better than those who were able to gain admission, yet, ultimately quit?
Believe it or not, there are those at the service academies who actually graduate, yet, had they quit along the way, the military would have been better served. It's possible to lack commitment and
still graduate. I know this is going to sound odd, but there are some graduates who were just too lazy to quit when they should have.
I currently have a son at the Naval Academy who is just finishing his 2nd year. What he has LEARNED at the Naval Academy, so far, is that he would like to serve his country through medicine. He does not want to be a Marine, an aviator, or surface warfare officer, nor be on a submarine.
He has a 4.0 in all his technical courses and is even taking his MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) this summer - after only 2 years. He's doing great in all areas of the academy: academically, conduct, aptitude, physical fitness ... etc. He shadows doctors whenever he gets the chance and volunteers for just about everything from Special Olympics to working at the Annapolis Homeless Shelter. Yet, he is giving very serious consideration to leaving the academy.
I can't say I blame him. If the academy would commit to him (i.e. allowing him to pursue the Medical Corps) at this point time - he'd stay. But it doesn't work that way. He has to commit to the Naval Academy before the Naval Academy will commit to him. With his achievements, the chances of his getting admitted into some medical school is close to a certainty. Ironically, the only obstacle to his objective is the Naval Academy, itself.
What he does
not want to hear a year-and-a-half from now is ...
"We really need somebody like you in a submarine," or
"I'm sorry, for budgetary reasons, they have terminated the Medical Corps selection option," or "We know, in the past, we have taken 10 into the Medical Corps, but now we're only taking 5. We're sorry, but you just came up #6 - what's your second choice?"
Yes - yes - yes, I can predict what some of are thinking, "You should never go to the Naval Academy unless you are open-minded enough to serve your country in whatever capacity
they think is best. You must be willing to enter into
any of the available service selections."
And I would agree with that.
Yet, while at the Naval Academy, in addition to learning that the "Navy just isn't for me", one can also learn that a particular service selection is the
only option for you - both of these may be reason enough to quit.
It's very easy for somebody on the outside looking in to be critical with this dynamic. But how can they be so sure that it wouldn't be THEM with the same dilemma?
Entering the Naval Academy is a lot like entering into a marriage. Nobody ever gets married and thinks, "We'll probably get a divorce." Everybody thinks they'll be married forever. Yet, more than half of all marriages end in divorce.
Everybody competing for admission into the Naval Academy always thinks something along these lines, "I think I'd like to be a pilot but I'd be so grateful just to get an appointment, I'd be willing to do
anything they asked of me." Less than half the midshipmen will maintain that attitude. Make sure you repeat this mantra to your Blue & Gold Officer during your interview, however. They really love that sort of stuff.
Don't fool yourself - there are many embittered midshipmen who end up unhappy with their service selection. They mark time in the Navy, watching the calendar, just waiting for the day they can get out. The midshipmen have coined a term for this - "5 and dive". In other words, their only intent upon graduation is to serve the minimum time possible and make a hasty exit for the civilian world.
So - what point am I making?
Don't be too quick to judge those who leave the service academies. They leave for a wide variety of reasons - some of which may surprise you. And do not be so sanctimonious as to think that they should have selected YOU instead of that guy who quit because YOU would certainly have been more committed than he was.
It's easy to be critical while looking on from the "cheap seats."