smsd2024

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Sep 5, 2019
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Hello all,

I am currently a freshman and re-applicant to USNA attending a 4 year university in California and I am enrolled in our school's NROTC program. I have molded my schedule around what a plebe at USNA might take, including Calculus, Chemistry (with lab), and an English Comp. class and a handful of other classes including Introduction to Naval Science. However, as the title of the thread may make clear, I am currently in the middle of my application, anxiously waiting for the semester to end so I can send transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc..., and do not know how to let my ROTC Chain of Command know of my intentions of attending USNA. I feel like USNA is a taboo topic among NROTC units and I am not sure of the best ways of going about it. Thanks in advance!
 
my DS did the same thing you are currently doing, and he eventually got an appointment.

you have the right classes, and i'm sure you know that the college transcript is the single most important factor for a re-applicant.

regarding talking to your NROTC CoC, you don't need to make a big deal out of it, but you do want to tell them about it, mainly because you want to get an NROTC nomination. to do that, you'll need to get a recommendation from the CO, which usually means a sit down meeting with him/her. each unit does things their own way, but the typical way is for you to talk to your unit advisor (usually one of the 0-3s) and let him/her know what you are planning, and they will handle the process.

i'm pretty sure that most of the staff O-3's won't really care one way or the other if you want to pursue USNA, and they will help you if they can. as long as you are sincere in expressing your desire to commission as an officer in the Navy, the staff will most likely support you.

that may not be the case with some of the current NROTC mids. however, you have no reason to talk to them about it.

important point - it's still very early in the semester, and you don't need to start the process till later. you don't want to give the impression that you're only there to get into USNA. sometime after November 1 is a good time to raise the issue with the CoC

good luck
 
The best thing that you can do besides build a strong GPA is to excel within your NROTC unit. Work to get a top PRT and good attention to uniforms and other unit measures. As a Division Officer, Dept Head, XO and Co, I had the policy of "Good Things for Good People" which means that people who apply for things like officer programs will get my total support if and when they are great at their assigned duties.
 
Besides excellent performance, I would be cautious about talking about USNA too much. As much as you want it, to others, they may perceive it as you not being ‘all in’ or you are only here for the year. Let your CO know, keep quiet about it, crush NROTC and your grades. Good luck.
 
Keep it close. Let your advisor know. Once you get later into the semester it probably won't be that big of a deal.

If people know, it is what it is. Applying to USNA from NROTC isn't some foreign practice that will paint a target on your back per se, but it may make your colleagues wonder "why the hell you'd do that to yourself again?"
 
Agree with the comments above.

As a BGO and a MidDad of a 2/C at the Academy who, like you, was also a NROTC scholarship Mid who reapplied to USNA, I can tell you that you absolutely want to inform your CO that you are re-applying to USNA. First, this is a professional courtesy. Second, you need the CO's nomination to USNA. If you do not ask your CO for a nomination and you re-apply "under the radar," you are making a big mistake. (This was sound advice offered by my son's BGO on his second app - which turned out to be 100% correct). And don't wait to be "Selected" by the CO. Make your intentions known clearly and professionally.

In the meantime, you better make sure that you are truly worthy of the CO's nomination. You will need to be getting A's in all your first semester courses, especially Calculus and Chemistry, as well as all your Naval Science courses. You will need to get top PRT scores, and be a top performer among the other 4th Class Mids.

Finally, keep your intentions to yourself. Only your CO needs to know. And with your CO you need to be crystal clear that you are grateful to be selected for a NROTC Scholarship at the unit and regardless of the Academy's decision you are committed 110% to learning and improving your unit.

Don't give up the ship!
 
Hmm.... DS was college reapplicant from NROTC, and was completely above board about it the whole time. His BGO even took him down to meet people at the unit the first time he went to find out about being in unit as "walk on" college programmer. It probably helped that several of the unit staff were USNA graduates. (His class year advisor in the unit actually wrote him an extra recommendation letter to USNA; it was the 3rd year in a row she had done so for someone in the unit, and DS was 3rd mid in a row to be accepted to USNA. She took credit! LOL) He did also apply for an NROTC scholarship as well that year. Staff seemed supportive of whatever direction he thought best suited him. The other NROTC mids were always aware of DS applying to USNA; they weren't salty about it as much as they were bemused by the difference of lifestyle choice.
 
Any ramifications from applying to USNA from NROTC and NOT receiving an appointment? I wonder if that’s a thing or not?
 
Happens all the time. I had a candidate two years ago this happened to. He had put 100% into ROTC and I am sure is still doing well today. If someone enrolls in ROTC and shows up in shape, eyes and ears open to listen and learn, be respectful, give it 100% they will be fine. Mentioning USNA every other word will not help a candidate. It’s like a Mid talking about high school or NAPS non-stop... no one really cares. Acting like ROTC is a less program or just a pass through also won’t help. 99% of the Mids in a unit will be there cheering on someone reapplying who came in and was a great shipmate.
 
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The other NROTC mids were always aware of DS applying to USNA; they weren't salty about it as much as they were bemused by the difference of lifestyle choice.

Great point. Don't assume everyone's ultimate goal is USNA over NROTC.
There are plenty of ROTC scholarship winners who turn down SA appointments or never even apply to a SA.
 
The other NROTC mids were always aware of DS applying to USNA; they weren't salty about it as much as they were bemused by the difference of lifestyle choice.

Great point. Don't assume everyone's ultimate goal is USNA over NROTC.
There are plenty of ROTC scholarship winners who turn down SA appointments or never even apply to a SA.
Some didn't even know it existed.
 
The other NROTC mids were always aware of DS applying to USNA; they weren't salty about it as much as they were bemused by the difference of lifestyle choice.

Great point. Don't assume everyone's ultimate goal is USNA over NROTC.
There are plenty of ROTC scholarship winners who turn down SA appointments or never even apply to a SA.
Some didn't even know it existed.
I didn't know collegiate ROTC or service academies existed until I joined AFJROTC when it was first introduced in my high school. My SASI changed everything for me. I am (fingers crossed) on track to be unit commander here and have received a JROTC nom to USNA. I actually talk about this in my personal statement.
 
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