Is it possible to switch Blue and Gold Officers

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rayrotc

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Apr 22, 2018
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I am applying to USNA but I'm just curious because I know a BGO that mentored my brother that got in
 
Anything is possible I suppose. Your brother didn't get in because of the BGO, however. He should know that, and so should you.
Stick with the BGO to whom you were assigned.
 
Agree with @THParent. Probably not good form to switch BGOs. Don’t be that guy. If you end up at USNA, you can’t change Plebe Summer platoons because your brother’s friend commmands the other one, or switch Calculus 1 sections because your brother’s favorite professor teaches the other one.
 
Got it thanks! And I'm actually the one not willing to switch....my parents are. I simply asked like that to get people to respond haha
 
rayrotc said:
I am applying to USNA but I'm just curious because I know a BGO that mentored my brother that got in
Click to expand...
You are free to reach out for mentoring from this BGO without having him/her become your "official" BGO for the candidate interview. I have mentored/assisted
candidates that were from outside my assigned schools and in most cases out of state. Generally they were children of classmates, coworkers or other friends of friends
but in general, if a potential midshipman asks me for advice or looks for answers to questions, I will assist even if they are not "my" (BGO) candidates.
 
After you decide to apply to the USNA, you are taking charge of where you want to go in life. My advice is to do that in all matters, going forward.
It is also entirely possible to be nice about telling your parents to stay out of the decision making process, unless asked to do so.
 
Echo what OldRetSWO said. I've frequently talked to candidates or even potential candidates who aren't "my" BGO responsibility. However, I've never actually become their BGO (they've never asked and neither have I). The only time I've asked have a candidate reassigned is when the candidate no longer lived in my jurisdiction (at college or boarding school) and it made more sense for him/her to have a BGO that was closer geographically. So suggest you stick with your current BGO and, if you want the additional advice/mentoring, reach out to the other BGO.

Also, while BGOs may provide guidance and helpful advice, that is extremely unlikely to be a determining factor in whether someone receives an appointment. It may make the candidate (and parents) feel better, but the candidate will rise or fall on the merits.
 
Concur with all.....a BGO does not make or break an application. Feel free to work with both...sometimes its nice to have two perspectives. I've mentored candidates without being the "official" BGO several times. Because of my job, I know a lot of people in community, and I try to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest (and preserve relationships) by having the sons and daughters of friends and clients assigned to another BGO.

If you do "consult" with multiple BGO's, I would recommend being open with both, and let them know that you have been talking to the other. I've never heard of any problems among BGO's, but its human nature to be territorial, and while I hope it wouldn't happen, its possible that the "official" BGO might take offense, or think he /she is being circumvented. As a BGO, I avoid this by getting in touch with my counterpart and telling him/her about my relationship with the candidates family.
 
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