NROTC to USNA Uncertainties

[USNAColApp]

Hey all,

A little background on me: This is my third time applying to the Academy, and I am currently a sophomore in an NROTC unit. I had just picked up the NROTC scholarship this year. I'm not the most academically competitive person, nor am I an athlete of any kind.

I'm a bit conflicted about whether or not I should continue with my Academy application. As I approach the back half of my sophomore year, it's dawned on me that I am almost halfway done with my commissioning process and if I were to stay at the NROTC unit, I could be done in 2 years. Although I would very much like to attend the Academy, the fact that I've been rejected twice already isn't exactly encouraging. In addition, many of my friends, family members, mentors, and even the staff here at the unit have encouraged me to just stay at my current school.

Their reasoning is pretty simple: Stay and have a relatively easy-going and calm two years and commission to be the same rank as all the Academy grads anyway. The staff here knows me on a personal level (as we are a fairly small unit) and are better able to cater to my needs. In contrast, if I were to go to the Academy (assuming I get accepted), I would have to go through 4 more years rather than 2 and be treated like trash as a plebe. I would have minimal freedom compared to life at an NROTC unit, face more rigorous academic challenges, and play a sport of some kind (something that is more or less alien to me). In addition, the application process is long and draining, and there's no guarantee that I'll be accepted - in fact, historically, I'm likely to be rejected again; they don't want me to waste my time.

I do have my reasons for wanting to go to the academy despite all the cons, though:
1) I want to pursue a career in politics after the Navy, and being an Academy grad will give me at least a slight advantage.
2) I feel that there will be more opportunities for me at the academy (from the parachute team to exclusive summer training programs to more robust academic support options and more)
3) I see myself being more successful in the Academy environment, where I would be more controlled and would be surrounded by more motivated people.
4) Money is kind of an issue for me and my family. Although I picked up NROTC scholarship this year, it still only pays for my tuition. Going to the Academy would take a lot of stress off of my parents and myself since everything will be paid for.
5) I want to be an aviator in the Navy. I may be wrong here, but I'm under the assumption that I will have a higher chance of becoming an aviator at the Academy rather than in NROTC.

Are there any pros and cons of USNA vs NROTC that you all think I should know about? Do you all have an opinion on whether or not I should continue with my application or drop it?

 

[Swimmergirl2029]

This is my personal opinion but like you said you only have 2 years left of NROTC and you have been rejected 3 times. I think you should stay with NROTC because you will still be able to commission as an officer just faster with that direction than going to the academy. While USNA is a prestigious school and you can get a lot of experience from there, NROTC also teaches you a lot. I am only in 8th grade and hoping to apply for the class of 2029, but I have done literally countless hours of research so I know quite a bit. Also go with what your gut tells you. If you want to apply again than apply again but if you get rejected know that you are getting to have a great opportunity to be in NROTC. Good luck if you decide to apply!

 

[justdoit19]

I would 100 pct advIse my own to stay the course, and commission 2 years sooner and start earning that paycheck. If finances are a concern, once you start earning your paycheck, you could pay your own student loans. Our own kiddos paid their own debt....

RE: #3, what do you mean more successful? The end goal is a commission. And I would argue that you could measure success as commissioning 2 yrs sooner than later.

There are no guarantees you would make the highly competitive parachute team. Or any other club/sport. How about take up parachuting as a hobby 2 years sooner, after graduating?

Congrats to you on making it this far. And if you stay the course, you will be a Naval Officer, commissioning 2023 along with your fellow commissioning USNA shipmates.

That’s how I would advise my own. Good luck!!

 

[Skipper07]

I'm a sophomore at USNA. Feel free to pm me specific questions.

 

[Capt MJ]

Since you have already invested time in your USNA application, consider putting in your best effort to finish it. College re-applicants won’t hear anything until after first semester grades are in, maybe not until 1 May. That gives you time to continue thinking this through, growing and learning as a NROTC midshipman. You’ll either be offered an appointment or not. If you are not, then you know you are already on an excellent path to a commission and a career as a Navy officer. If you do, you weigh the pros and cons, tangible and intangible, from every perspective, and make your decision, and live with it. You will have taken your best shot, and regardless of the outcome, you can be proud of your perseverance.

As to the pros and cons you listed, the posters above have made good points.

You have another 60-70 years on the planet. There are ways to work in some version of things you want to try or do.

As someone who worked for, with, and served as the commanding officer of officers from various commissioning sources, I have always thought USNA officers were the most professionally prepared at the start of their careers, but that equally smart and motivated NROTC and OCS officers quickly overcome that steep learning curve within a year or two. After that, it’s performance, performance, performance, and no one cares where you put on your butter bars. I do think service academy graduates develop a closer classmate bond that is very useful and valuable, as well as very special, that contributes to post-military networking success. But - there is the general bond that unites all veterans, in terms of career networking, and I, an OCS grad, was mentored and helped by USNA grads and other SA grads without any sense of being “left out” because I did not attend USNA. If you have a desire to go into any field, including politics, if you have served honorably and developed leadership skills as an officer, you will find mentors and career networking powerhouses from every service, both officer and enlisted. I got one of my civilian career promotions because a former Sergeant Major of the Army told the hiring executive I would be the right leader for the job. I will treasure that for the rest of my life.

You have no idea of the twists and turns awaiting you on your life path. You make the best decision you can with the facts you have, but also think about what feels right to your heart, gut and spirit. This will not be the first time you have to let something go to move forward, which could apply to either of your choices.

 

[Navy09mom]

I think you should continue and re-apply or you will always wonder “what if”. You really have nothing to lose by applying. But if you have been turned down 3 times, you need to do something different. Sports may be foreign to you, but pick one up. Sports are as varied as any activity. From powerlifting to rowing to basketball to judo. Couldn’t be more different. Find something reasonably interesting and dive in. Get tutors if need be to tweak the grades and tests. Make your application as strong as can be and then set it free. If you don’t get accepted, embrace your opportunity you have now and be the best in your unit.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

I agree to the above, especially what MJ wrote.
The only thing I have to add is that one of the most well adjusted, best performing cadets I know walked away from AFROTC at the end of his junior year to attend West Point. He knows what he gave up and doesn’t have any regrets. As MJ wrote, statically you will be on this earth a long time.

 

[USNAColApp]

I would 100 pct advIse my own to stay the course, and commission 2 years sooner and start earning that paycheck. If finances are a concern, once you start earning your paycheck, you could pay your own student loans. Our own kiddos paid their own debt....

It's not about the debt; I actually don't have any debt right now. I just want to make it easier on my parents.

RE: #3, what do you mean more successful? The end goal is a commission. And I would argue that you could measure success as commissioning 2 yrs sooner than later.

Although I foresee the Navy as being a large part of my life, I have ambitions beyond just the Navy i.e. grad school and a career in politics. For both of those goals, going to the Academy would be beneficial in reaching them.

There are no guarantees you would make the highly competitive parachute team. Or any other club/sport. How about take up parachuting as a hobby 2 years sooner, after graduating?

That is true, but parachuting is only something I want to do while in college, not afterward. I have my own reasons that I'd rather not discuss on a public forum. Joining a team/ taking it up as a hobby while at my current university is just not feasible.

 

[kinnem]

My NROTC commissioned DS hopes to get into politics at some point in time. Although the academy education might give some small advantage in terms of opportunities, I don't think it's much help otherwise IMHO. In any case, wherever you end up you should consider applying to the Congressional Fellowship program.

 

[justdoit19]

I think you have to do you. I *feel* like you have made up your mind, but others are not convinced...at some point you have to decide, and move forward.

Of course, this whole thing may be a non-issue if you don’t receive an appointment.

There is a thread from last year, from an AROTC junior....for reasons of his own, started his 4-yr journey to commission from West Point. He had one year left. Didn’t make sense to me. But it did to him. And God Bless!!

At some point you have to make your own decision and move forward. Best wishes and let us know how it plays out for you!

 

[Old Navy BGO]

1) I want to pursue a career in politics after the Navy, and being an Academy grad will give me at least a slight advantage.

I have ambitions beyond just the Navy i.e. grad school and a career in politics. For both of those goals, going to the Academy would be beneficial in reaching them.

Personally, I don't think that wanting to beef up a resume for a future political career is a good reason to attend a Service Academy, and frankly I don't even think it would help much. For every voter that is impressed that you attended a Service Academy, there are others that don't care or may even resent it. You are better off focusing your attention on being successful in your service as a Naval Officer through ROTC than focusing on collecting scalps for the resume. Be a good Naval Officer, and nobody cares what your commissioning source is.

 

[bopper]

I agree with above posters...your choice right now is not "go to ROTC or go to the Academy"...it is "Continue ROTC and apply to the Academy or not".
In what you right it seems like you know ROTC is the most efficient way to get to a commission even though there MAY be some perks from the Academy....if you really want to make sure you have no "what ifs" apply to the Academy again....and still you can make a decision...you may even decide you don't want to attend after you have even more of ROTC under your belt.
You may also ask yourself if this is an effective use of TaxPayer money...we have to pay for a year of ROTC and then possibly 4 years of the Academy? Just so you maybe could get on a parachute team?

 

[justdoit19]

I would add, I bet many Mids would argue there aren’t “many perks” presently at USNA (AND they took *5* plebes as their new jumpers. 3 on the Tri-team...point being, those *opportunities* are very competitive...not a given you will do anything other than sports period things like dodgeball...).

 

[ekb1398]

I've done both NROTC and an Academy (though not USNA). My advice would be to stick it out where you are. I don't believe you'll have a better chance of flight through USNA, and the result is the same between USNA and NROTC - a commission as an Ensign. Even if you were to take on debt right now, 2 years of officer pay extra would make up for that and then some.

I did not have a scholarship and decided a different service would be for me, which is largely why I decided to switch, but I can tell you without a doubt that if all things were equal, I would have much preferred to stay ROTC. The quality of life is better, you can leave when you want to go shopping or get dinner or partake in some type of hobby, etc. I do believe that Academies produce more technically proficient officers, but as mentioned above, I have to imagine that gap closes quickly. ROTC allows more opportunities to develop maturity, though - many Academy-commissioned Junior Officers seem to fall into disciplinary traps early on, and I strongly believe it's because it's the first time in their lives they've really experienced the freedom.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is don't get caught up in the grandeur of the Academies - they're great, and I wouldn't trade my experiences here for anything, but ROTC is very much skilled at producing high quality officers as well with what I would argue is a much higher quality of life.

Feel free to reach out if you would like any "compare-contrast" type of things.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

ROTC allows more opportunities to develop maturity, though - many Academy-commissioned Junior Officers seem to fall into disciplinary traps early on, and I strongly believe it's because it's the first time in their lives they've really experienced the freedom

I truly hope that it is not "many" falling into disciplinary traps after the Academy, but I get the point. Realistically, those getting caught in the "trap" are usually the ones that played the cat and mouse game at the Service Academy, but then they get caught in the real world and it bites them in the a$$. Yes folks.... . America's best and brightest USNA Midshipmen often push the limits and try to get away with all sorts of nefarious activities-- a thread of Midshipman exploits would compete with the Bacon thread. (If you search for Black N here, you might find some).

One of the advantages of ROTC is less of a disciplinary thing, but rather real life experience. Midshipmen have sort of a sheltered life, everything they need is provided --food, room, haircuts, tailoring, shoe repair, gym, etc. For some , its a culture shock to be let out in the real world and have to arrange all that yourself.

 

[ekb1398]

@Old Navy BGO post is exactly what I was trying to get at, but I certainly should not have said many. I meant comparatively, but will acknowledge that it is anecdotal.

Thank you for helping to clarify my point!