Naval Academy Appointment

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csmeeks

5-Year Member
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Oct 3, 2011
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I was just wondering if anyone could help me by telling me what I need to do if anything to decline my NROTC scholarship to Georgia Tech now that my BFE arrived in the mail from USNA. I thought I heard somewhere, maybe on the forums, that your scholarship automatically goes void if you accept the appointment which I plan to do this week. I was just wondering if anyone could fill me in on rather the academy really contacts the NROTC program and tells them or if I need to get into contact with Pensacola and tell them myself. I only ask this because I want to give another Naval Officer hopeful, that was unable to get into the academy, a chance to receive the scholarship instead as soon as possible.
 
csmeeks said:
I only ask this because I want to give another Naval Officer hopeful, that was unable to get into the academy, a chance to receive the scholarship instead as soon as possible.
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That's very generous of you, but even though you've got your appointment you still need to make sure you are covered with a solid plan B. What happens if you get hurt between now and I-day, or for some other reason you can't follow through with the Academy? It happens, and you are well within your right to hold onto that scholarship.
 
Thank you for the quick response hokiesfan I guess what you are saying does make a lot of sense.
 
Remember rotc is also dependent on Dodmerb so have read if it good to secure a plan c- non military in case you get hurt and can't do ROTC either... Not to be pessimistic but cover all possibilities. Any thoughts?
 
I have a thought. If you are going to go to the naval academy contact Navy ROTC and tell them you are declining their scholarship offer. If you get hurt to the extent that you can't attend the academy, you won't be able to use the scholarship anyways. I would guess Navy has a process similar to Army, where at the end of the process you verify you still intend to accept the scholarship. At that time you tell them you still intend to accept the scholarship, when you plan not to, that sounds to me like an integrity issue. It would be courteous to notify NROTC and the school you have a scholarship to, and let them know you don't plan to attend, and then start preparing for the academy.
 
Clarksonarmy, I'm going to respectfully disagree. I assume that the OP has a plan in place should something happen so that neither the Academy nor NROTC is a possibility. This issue is a less serious injury that would prevent the OP from being ready to start Plebe Summer but would not prevent him from starting NROTC in the fall. It does happen; there have already been several threads in the various forums here inquiring about Dodmerb deadlines because academy appointees have injuries that may not be fully healed before they have to report.
 
That's what we want from our future leaders, someone who is going to sit on the opportunity that someone else can take just to make sure he has all his bases covered. Still think the right thing to do is notify ROTC you do not plan to use their scholarship. But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Believe me, I know a thing or two about DODMERB.
 
Have to agree with Hokiesfan. OP earned both opportunities. They are his to use or decline. Waiting it out is not immoral or unethical. In my opinion, they are two unrelated opportunities.
 
I'm just a mom, but I agree with Clarkson that holding onto multiple opportunities is selfish. My DS gave up his NROTC scholarship to TAMU within a week of receiving his academy appointment. The cadre there was extremely grateful when he called because they got to accept someone who was on their waitlist. I know many will disagree, but DS decided it was the right thing to do because it might benefit someone else. My DD is starting the application process now and I would be sad to think she might miss an opportunity because someone else held onto options A-Z. Isn't being a good team player and being part of something larger than yourself what it's all about?
 
Just a thought...

Where there are many thoughts, I can fully respect CSMEEKS for raising the question.

CSMEEKS, I have been a coach for 15 years and a father for 17 years of three great kids. I have always found simple advise for kids that they all just get and that is this. In life you always need to take the tough right over the easy wrong.

I don't think it would be fair or equal for any one person to tell you what to do; however, I would agree that you should think about all the guidance, insight, and feedback you're getting. Then think about the journey and responsibility you're about to take. When your done go back and think about taking the tough right over the easy wrong. Clearly your a solid young adult or you would not have either offer.

Without knowing a thing about you I'm confident you will do the right thing...

Good luck and all the very best to you in college!
 
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Not to belabor the point...I agree with Blacklab that you'll make the right decision...but, those offers are indeed hiis to use or decline, and if he isn't going to use it he should decline it. By Hokies logic he should probably hold onto it as long as he can. What happens if he doesn't like the academy. Should he be allowed to hold onto that scholarship offer just in case? What most service academy admitted students do is let the school and the their ROTC know they have decided to attend the academy. That is what I always hope my applicants do.
 
Thank you everyone for your feedback. Actually my original plan, which still stands, was to tell both the Military Academy, the NROTC unit, and NROTC selection committee I am denying both their appointments and scholarships. I know some people may think it is an unsafe decision to make because of the possiblity of me not liking the academy, getting hurt, or flunking out. Also some people may think that it is not a matter of ethics but I agree that in a way it is a decision of ethics. In my opinon and based on my personal ethics I think it is only right to inform both the academy and the ROTC unit that I am no longer going to attend them. I do have a back up civilian school in the case that something does go wrong and I plan to take part in their nrotc program and reapply for the scholarship and the academy again before my sophmore year. Considering the case I am in if worst came to worst and I did have to do this I think the selection boards would be understanding most of the time and be willing to award me the scholarship again. However, with all of this being said I plan to be very careful in between now and I-day on June 28. I also like many candidates have wanted to go to the academy since I was very young (5-years old). I come from a military family and know a lot about the life of an officer in the Navy and as a midshipman and know it will be challenging. I am willing to accept this challenge and have no doubt in my mind that I will love the academy and military and will do great in both. I am not trying to be a jerk but I am the only one who can decide rather I am going to like the academy or not and I don't think you should say what if someone won't like the academy if you don't even know them or their circumstances. You would also have to take into account if they accepted me to the academy they probably think I am a competitve candidate and will do well at the academy and will like it. The military is the life I have always wanted and I plan on making it a career. I want to do my best to serve my country. With all this being said I know there are other hopefuls out there that want to be officers and serve their country and I know if I was them I would want the person in my position to let them have my second option since I already have my first option. I know this could be a big risk but it is a risk I am willing to take. Again, thank you everyone for your feedback and responses.
 
You earned your scholarships and appointments because you worked harder than the others. You are entitled to them. Situations change. I would not turn down anything until the absolute latest possible moment.
 
I'm a commodity trader by profession.

My professional opinion is to go with your first instincts.

I'll bet USNA works out just fine. If #2 son joins the class of 2017, you sound like the kind of Mid I'd like him to look up to.

Best of luck.
 
Out of Respect

Mongo, I respectfully disagree with "because you worked harder than the others. You are entitled to them". I could be very wrong; however, after reading the stats and posts from many of these, they have all workd hard. I think it would be unfair to say that one worked harder than another. Not not one of them are entitled to anything. Please note that I started with "respectfully". Tone in a post can at time sound poor.

I completely understand what your saying; however, the young adults that have applied and that have worked as hard or in some cases harder could get the impression that maybe they were not good enough and may not apply again. I'm certain there are a lot of very surprised kids out there that did and did not get the scholarship. I can tell you first hand that my DS recruiter was quite surprised at what he saw.

I'll say this, Csmeeks has recieved two wonderful offers and I have no doubt that he or she understands the value of the scholarship. Based on what Csmeeks has written this person fully understands that the hard work has yet to start and will do what ever it takes to get through. Csmeeks has the incentive to continue to work hard and achieve the goal of becoming a commissioned officer.

Keep charging hard Csmeeks, you will do quite well. I have a deep fond respect for what your doing. You have ethics, incentive outlooks, and optimism, these are three very powerful traits.
 
The OP has worked hard to develop both a primary and a backup plan commensurate with his abilities. I find it appalling that parents of other candidates attempt to dissuade him from taking full advantage of his efforts. If these other candidates do not have both primary and backup plans commensurate with their abilities, the OP has indeed worked harder than they.

The misconception seems to be that if he waits until the deadline to turn down his NROTC scholarship, he will be denying another individual of the ability to receive it. This is not true. The scholarship will be awarded. Later perhaps. In this age of instant gratification, perhaps not as desirable. But it will be utilized. Or there wouldn't be a deadline.
 
Hopefully the service academies and ROTC/NROTC scholarship programs figure this out and share who accepts/declines amongst themselves. Until then, their relying on the candidates to do it is defacto authorizing them to hold onto multiple opportunities.

Still, you should check your paperwork for your offers to ensure their isn't guidance about this. They might state that you should decline an offer if you accept another one.
 
I think I still have 2 cents in my pocket to share. First off, this is coming from an enrollment officer who has been dealing with this process for 7 years now, not a parent, so please try not to be appalled Mongo. We do get to see the QNS list sometimes, but in many cases those that don't get into the academy have already been working the ROTC side of things anyways. I don't think it would be prudent to have the processes linked fully. Don't you think an SA applicant may not be given full consideration for an ROTC scholarship, because if we offer her/him one "they are going to go to the academy anyways". I'm comfortable with a little bit of separation and think it works as well as this process can. Which goes back to the fact that once you have accepted the SA, you no longer plan to use the scholarship, therefore let the other stakeholders know. In the Army one of our 7 values is selfless service (along with integrity and honor). I think this is a case of clearly demonstrating those values, which we expect our cadets to demonstrate on a daily basis. CSMEEKS is going to be a Navy Officer some day, but he definitely is demonstrating the values that would also make him a successful Army Officer some day if he would come to his senses :).
 
Deadlines, in this case, exist primarily for two reasons, to allow the candidate sufficient time to make a decision, if necessary, and to allow the institution sufficient time to make alternate plans for candidates who choose not to take advantage of their offer. To somehow attempt to make this an ethical issue for those who do not immediately jump to a decision is, indeed, appalling. Some will feel comfortable in making an immediate decision. However, don't make those who feel the need to further weigh their decision that they are somehow lacking in their 7 core values. That is unethical.
 
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