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Going to try to kill two birds with one thread post: what does a former enlisted get paid at naps and then the academy? Also, if I have a few months until going to naps how should I be preparing?

More details: I graduated nuclear power school finding out the last week I had been offered an appointment to NAPS. Now I'm on hold here, with a relatively easy job leaving me some free time that's rare at nuke school. Most days I get back to my barracks after lunch, with no requirements until the next morning. So, what should I be reading up on and studying with this time?
Also, I need to know if I'm going to need to sell my car for the upcoming years, so long story short do I keep my E-4 pay through the whole process, or just at NAPS?
Thanks in advance
 
First, congratulations!

At USNA, you will be paid roughly 1/3 of O-1 pay, but you will see very little of it, as there will be amounts taken out for various things. You might net about $50 a month the first year. You get a little bit more each year after that. After graduation and commissioning, your pay would include any enlisted time - if it is enough. Your first two years at USNA, you may not drive or have a car at USNA. I think most priors sell their cars and cut out those expenses.

As for NAPS, I am a bit hazy at this point WRT pay and car. Other current or recent NAPSters will comment, or you can trot out the 20th C. technology and call NAPS yourself. They will be used to these questions from priors.
http://www.usna.edu/NAPS/

As for prep for prep, you've got marching, bed-making, uniforms, lingo, etc., down. Academically, not much you can do - that's the point of prep school. Physically, if you have kept up regular workouts after boot camp, you should be fine.

I recommend getting your financial house in order, especially if you have any consumer debt that you might have trouble meeting payments on once at USNA. Your expenses there will be very little, but so will the cash flow. Keep good track of important paperwork as you transition from enlisted schoolhouse to NAPS.

Again, congratulations and best wishes. Come back to this forum over the years and share your insights and advice.

Edit: Since you have the time, and reading for class will be a huge part of your life the next 5 years, read about USNA and leadership. Somewhere here on the forum, within the last year, there was a recommended reading book thread, with suggestions for appointees heading to USNA. I don't have time to search for it now, but take a look, and I and others will search for it too. Try searching on "recommended books."

And, browse Khan Academy and expand your mind while you have time. There may even be Navy online courses to take, all in the interest of pure learning.
 
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Going to try to kill two birds with one thread post: what does a former enlisted get paid at naps and then the academy? Also, if I have a few months until going to naps how should I be preparing?

More details: I graduated nuclear power school finding out the last week I had been offered an appointment to NAPS. Now I'm on hold here, with a relatively easy job leaving me some free time that's rare at nuke school. Most days I get back to my barracks after lunch, with no requirements until the next morning. So, what should I be reading up on and studying with this time?
Also, I need to know if I'm going to need to sell my car for the upcoming years, so long story short do I keep my E-4 pay through the whole process, or just at NAPS?
Thanks in advance
Congrats man! Did you have some crazy stats ? I'm an enlisted applicant as well .
 
I re-read your posts a few times. Graduating from nuke and then off to NAPS! I would have thought they would have given you an appointment to USNA as your just finishing up. Are they going to send you onto prototype or A school until I-Day for NAPS? BTW, what is your rate? Congratulations on NAPS and NUKE graduation.
 
I am an E-4 (Marine Corps) as well and I have been told that we keep our pay while at NAPS.

See you there, brother.
 
This year's Naps class includes several priors that came out of Nuke school. They all appear to be doing quite well. If you'd like I would be happy to reach out to their parents and see if one of them would be willing to share their experiences.

Napster's are allowed to have a car and several of them do. (I know because they provide shuttle service to the airport sometimes for my MC.) The priors all had a huge advantage in the beginning because they know the rules, the rates, how to make beds etc. So, the biggest thing would probably be make sure you are physically fit. Indoc (the first 3 weeks) was pretty rigorous for everyone because of the physicality and the lack of sleep.

Here is some info on the pay. I don't know how it compares to your current paycheck - also several of the Napsters have received promotions during their year at Naps, I'm not sure if that affected their pay:
  • M/Cs get paid twice a month, on the 1st and the 15th - total monthly amount is $1017
  • monthly payment for BAF (Battalion Activity Fund for books etc) is $2,000 per year paid in 8 installments - $250.
  • Monthly payment for uniforms is $230
  • Supposedly most M/Cs get about $200 per paycheck spending money. But, if you have any scholarship money it can be applied to the BAF or uniform costs.
One more thing - check out the Naval Academy Prep School Facebook page - it will give you a fairly nice overview of NAPs and the year ahead of you. The school uses the page to share info with parents and if you look last year in May and then July, they posted the admissions info and the Indoc info.
 
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Everyone is spot on regarding pay and cars at NAPS. You will retain your enlisted rank and pay at NAPS. Save it! Put it away. Your pay will be different than Midshipmen Candidates who come from high school, prep schools or college. Some uniforms you will have to buy and others you won't. They will provide info on what to bring of your sea bag. If you have debt pay it off. As mentioned cars can be kept at NAPS, but start creating a plan for after NAPS. You cannot have a car until Junior year at USNA. Your pay at USNA will be much less. As a junior it will be $200-250 ish/month and less than that your first 2 years (your pay is technically higher, but the majority goes to pay for issued items such as uniforms, books, etc). How do you pay for gas, insurance, etc of a car and still have some pocket change to go to the movies and out to eat as a Mid? Can your parents keep it for the two years and how do you pay for insurance while it sits? All things to think about.

You will not retain your rank once you get to USNA. As mentioned you will receive Midshipmen pay and that will be your rank. Going to NAPS is a great deal. It puts you in a rigorous academic environment and prepares you well for your time at USNA. Sets a very solid foundation. You won't go to NAPS unti late July/Early August, so you have some time. Keep in great shape, that will help alot. You mention having a lot of free time, it could be useful to take a Pre-Calc/Calc class online or at a community college to refresh yourself. Other classes that would help are Chem, Physics and anything writing course. Basically the fundamentals. Kahn Academy is a great route also, but you must stay disciplined with it and be consistent. More than anything stay out of trouble, keep busy, workout and enjoy the down time before it gets very busy later this year. Nuke admits to USNA and NAPS tend do very well at USNA. Keep focused and congrats!
 
I don't know what your study habits were like when you were in high school or at Nuke school, but you may want to stay in or get back into the routine of studying. Set up a training routine for both PT and academics. And schedule these activities out for the week. If you have 4 hours, dedicate 2 hours to PT and 2 hours to studying. Pick a place to study like a library if there is one on base. Make it just like a job that you have to do, make it your routine. What to study is up to you, but work on the areas that are weak in. Also, read. Not something technical, but a novel. Pick one of those books you never read in HS, but only used the spark notes. Or start with a Tom Clancy novel where you get a military story, but still a novel. Navy has a professional reading program http://navyreading.dodlive.mil/ and you can get many of these books as ebooks for free.
 
I'm considering enlisting into the Nuke program instead of enlisting into the Air Force.
What are the odds of getting into the Prep School/USNA as a nuke student, assuming very good grades and SAT?
 
Assuming very good grades and SAT your chances of getting into NAPs would seem to be nil. NAPS is for applicants who are NOT academically qualified.
 
Assuming very good grades and SAT your chances of getting into NAPs would seem to be nil. NAPS is for applicants who are NOT academically qualified.
What about direct to the Academy? I've heard it's somewhat easier for those in Nuke power school to be accepted than the rest of the enlisted Navy, but I don't know about the accuracy of that statement.
 
None of us can give a percent chance. Nuke school is always on the look out for candidates who do well in nuke school, show maturity and demonstrate some leadership skills. They will then look at their high school and if they have had any college stats. USNA always gets a dozen or more kids this route a year. USNA looks at many factors for priors if USNA or NAPS is the best path. I have seen exceptional students go to NAPS simply because they had not been in a classroom for several years or need a little more academic prep. And I have also seen exceptional prior candidates be direct admits. Not something to worry about honesty, USNA will make that call. So the chances are there, but it depends on a lot. Bottom line, if you enlist be prepared to spend your entire enlistment doing whatever job you signed up for because there are so many variables. If it's a risk you are willing to take to spend 5 years in a steel tube to get to USNA, then go for it! Good luck.
 
My DS just withdrew from Navy Nuke early enlistment because he was accepted to USMMA and is on the USNA wait list. One of our friends was Navy Nuke and told him it can be risky as a route to USNA. If they don't have enough nuke specialists when you graduate, you are going to a Submarine or Carrier, period. The recruiter really had my DS psyched for Navy Nuke because of that better shot at USNA, but thank God, he finally came to the conlcusion USMMA was a better opportunity for him.
 
My DS was/is in Prototype portion Nuke program but he has been accepted to the USNA!!! They stopped him him prototype and have given various gopher type jobs until he leaves in two weeks. He has been told he should do well since he scored very high in nuke school. I keep asking him the same questions regarding pay. Also asked him if his current medical benefits would continue since he is active duty when he gets to USNA but he doesn't know. Wonder because I don't know whether we need to add him back to our health insurance. Don't want to because of added cost unless necessary. Does anyone know? I am so happy for him!
 
Your DS can talk to the Chief at USNA Admissions who handles enlisted applicants.
 
At NAPS and USNA he is considered Active Duty and remains in Tri-Care. As Capt MJ stated he can contact the Chief for prior enlisted for help.
 
This is the USNA Budget Book, which gets updated every year. It may help.

I think enlisted NAPSters get their regular enlisted pay. At USNA, they will get roughly 1/3 of O-1 pay, but a lot comes out to pay for uniform issue, gear, dry cleaners, cobbler shop. Net pocket money will gradually increase as initial charges are paid off. There is also something called the "ACE Loan," which ensures someone can arrive with nothing except what they are wearing and be ok. See link.

If he hasn't talked to the Chief in Admissions yet, he should. The Chief takes good care of everyone coming from NAPS, the Fleet and Corps.

One good piece of advice: pay off any credit card debt before I-Day.

http://www.usna.edu/_files/documents/2015-2016 Budget Book.pdf
 
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