Leave WP and transfer after Plebe Year

J

jebdad

10-Year Member
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Aug 19, 2013
Messages
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Looking to get some insight in the process and talk to any parents who have experienced this process. Plebe is likely to leave at end of Plebe Year and is applying to a civilian school and ROTC program.

Just looking to get feedback from others who have done this. What are the steps, when to initiate, transcripts for the transfer application.... Lots of questions. Please PM me. Thanks.
 
Has your plebe given you any indication why he/she wants to quit and transfer? Are you certain it is a done deal?
 
This must really be a once-in-a-lifetime special opportunity for him to give up a free WP education!
 
A WP education is not free. Far from it. We all walk our own paths. I've learned a lot on these boards that last several years and it has really shaped my approach to the possibility of him leaving. Leaving WP is going to be one of the hardest things this 18 could ever do. It will not be done lightly.
 
When our son sat down to fill out life insurance papers and designate next of kin prior to reporting to IDay at USNA, it got very real, very fast.

No SA education/training is free. Far from it.

To the OP, I can’t help you directly but would say that this must be a difficult transition and I am sure emotions are all over the map. Those first two years are for the applicant then plebe/cadet to try on the military life. It is isn’t for them, it’s their merry go round/hellacious roller coaster to get off of. No judgement should be made by anyone. It is an incredibly personal commitment, either way.

Use the resources available to you and to your cadet. Best wishes moving forward.
 
jebdad said:
Looking to get some insight in the process and talk to any parents who have experienced this process. Plebe is likely to leave at end of Plebe Year and is applying to a civilian school and ROTC program.

Just looking to get feedback from others who have done this. What are the steps, when to initiate, transcripts for the transfer application.... Lots of questions. Please PM me. Thanks.
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If he hasn’t already done so, I encourage your son to have a candid, detailed discussion with his target AROTC unit and future coach on how it works for athletes and ROTC requirements and commitments for both programs. Sometimes it works well, with mutual support and coordination; sometimes hard choices have to be made. At USMA, if’s an integrated approach. Conversations with other cadets in his target unit who are doing that would be invaluable.

As someone who saw many USNA midshipmen on their way out the door, evidence they were running to something, vice away, was the critical piece I looked for. Taking active steps to pursue another path usually demonstrated they were thinking intentionally and not reactively. An attrition factor is baked into all new accession sources; USMA plans for voluntary and involuntary separations.

Your cadet wil figure out all the admin. If he wants to finish the spring semester and get some academic credits, he will have to time his request to voluntarily separate carefully. My gut feel is definitely after spring break sometime, but I am not sure how close to semester end. I’ll hope others will OM you about that. At any rate, it is his decision, his path to work the steps to get out.
 
jebdad said:
Looking to get some insight in the process and talk to any parents who have experienced this process. Plebe is likely to leave at end of Plebe Year and is applying to a civilian school and ROTC program.

Just looking to get feedback from others who have done this. What are the steps, when to initiate, transcripts for the transfer application.... Lots of questions. Please PM me. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Will your DS have enough transferable credits to transition straight into sophomore year at civilian school?
Will he also be an MS 2 in the ROTC unit?
I can imagine there are many thoughts and emotions right now.
It must be a pretty amazing sports offer/opportunity to walk away from WP.
Fortunately this new opportunity exists and will help him continue his desire to commission and serve, and this new path seems to be a better fit for him. Playing his sport included. 👍
 
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