Practical issues for being at Academy under age 18

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Nov 1, 2019
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I will be doing research on the USNA website for sure, but wanted to hear from others who have experience with a son or daughter at the academy who is still 17 as we may end up in this situation. Do you sign extra forms? Are they basically considered to no longer be a minor if they are at the academy? Any special concerns? Would love to hear a bit from those in same boat. Sorry if posted in the wrong place!
 
That is a GREAT question for admissions. They can and will speak with you since your candidate is technically a minor. I would venture a guess that you may have to sign some sort of release to allow your child to attend the academy if they are not 18 upon reporting date. There are members here who are associated with different academies and can likely chime in with particulars. But normally to join the military prior to being 18 a parent needs to sign a release allowing you to serve. At least it used to be that way, and likely still is...again GREAT question for Admissions..:)
 
My DD will be 17 on I day if appointed. Question is is she at all less likely to get appointment because she is younger? (skipped a grade)
 
My DD will be 17 on I day if appointed. Question is is she at all less likely to get appointment because she is younger? (skipped a grade)
Not less likely. It really doesn't enter into the process.
 
I will be doing research on the USNA website for sure, but wanted to hear from others who have experience with a son or daughter at the academy who is still 17 as we may end up in this situation. Do you sign extra forms? Are they basically considered to no longer be a minor if they are at the academy? Any special concerns? Would love to hear a bit from those in same boat. Sorry if posted in the wrong place!

The answer for the minor consent form is at the link below at the primary source, USNA.edu. Scroll down to Naval Service Obligation.

Now is a great time to re-read every page, link and hamburger menu item at USNA.edu

 
My DD will be 17 on I day if appointed. Question is is she at all less likely to get appointment because she is younger? (skipped a grade)
Oldest applied to USMA and USNA (1st choice). Recruited to play a sport (doesn't matter which one, but not Football). Navy wanted him to "prep" for a year, and Army (2nd choice) gave him full appointment out of HS. Accepted appointment at USMA.

He was 17 years old until July of Beast. People at USNA seemed to imply that they liked kids older... Obviously, all SA's and Civilian Colleges like their athletes older if possible, but Navy made it very obvious that has age (not academics or anything else) was the reason for the "prep" suggestion.
 
The answer for the minor consent form is at the link below at the primary source, USNA.edu. Scroll down to Naval Service Obligation.

Now is a great time to re-read every page, link and hamburger menu item at USNA.edu


thank you so much!
 
Oldest applied to USMA and USNA (1st choice). Recruited to play a sport (doesn't matter which one, but not Football). Navy wanted him to "prep" for a year, and Army (2nd choice) gave him full appointment out of HS. Accepted appointment at USMA.

He was 17 years old until July of Beast. People at USNA seemed to imply that they liked kids older... Obviously, all SA's and Civilian Colleges like their athletes older if possible, but Navy made it very obvious that has age (not academics or anything else) was the reason for the "prep" suggestion.

Well this is frustrating! My DS doesn’t turn 18 until August. He would be okay with prep for a year but he even addressed the age issue in his essays with applications for nominations. Age is just a number and his record proves his maturity and ability! I really hope this isn’t the case! Plus, one of his backups to the academy is enlisting in the Navy! With an ASVAB score of 97 he will get his first choice of Nuclear!
 
If 17-year-old is offered a slot at NAPS due to age, wise move would be to say, “Thank you very much and I’ll see you next year for Plebe Summer. Now which way to Newport?”
 
Well this is frustrating! My DS doesn’t turn 18 until August. He would be okay with prep for a year but he even addressed the age issue in his essays with applications for nominations. Age is just a number and his record proves his maturity and ability! I really hope this isn’t the case! Plus, one of his backups to the academy is enlisting in the Navy! With an ASVAB score of 97 he will get his first choice of Nuclear!

Every eligible age is represented on Induction Day. There will be plenty of 17 year olds, along with “ancient mariners” from the Fleet and Corps, and college applicants/re-applicants. Age diversity is the norm.

As he finalizes his backups, with his interest in nuclear programs, I hope he researched the NUPOC program, see below just a few official and unofficial links of the many available. NUPOCS go to some of the top STEM schools in the country.





No doubt he is considering NROTC as a back-up, because of the ability to do the USNA-recommended Plebe-like coursework and still be working toward a commission, able to re-apply to USNA and score a ROTC nom source too.
NROTC at Purdue has produced many nuclear officers over the years, through both the NROTC unit and NUPOC program.
 
Our DS was appointed to USNA and USMMA at age 17 and did not turn 18 until December of plebe year at USMMA. You will have to sign a release before DS or DD takes the oath when they report. One issue we had was we were unable to get a hotel for DS when he reported because he was a minor. We live 3,000 miles away and could not accompany him. We found a local family to pick him up at the airport, let him stay at their house overnight, and take him to report the next day. He did get special attention in both a positive and negative manner from the cadre who knew without him telling anyone that he was the youngest plebe at the academy. If your DS or DD is mature enough to earn an appointment, he or she is mature enough to succeed at an academy. Good luck.
 
USNA isn’t going to care they are 17. Athletic recruitment and coaches are a different story. Coaches are looking at bodies and maturity in the aspect of getting bigger, stronger and faster. As long as a candidate meets the minimum age requirement they will be fine.
 
That is a GREAT question for admissions. They can and will speak with you since your candidate is technically a minor. I would venture a guess that you may have to sign some sort of release to allow your child to attend the academy if they are not 18 upon reporting date. There are members here who are associated with different academies and can likely chime in with particulars. But normally to join the military prior to being 18 a parent needs to sign a release allowing you to serve. At least it used to be that way, and likely still is...again GREAT question for Admissions..:)

Or here, asking people who have been through it before, and aren’t super busy during peak appointment time. I’m team #LeaveThemAlone for the easy answers. That can also usually be found on their website.

I have no problem with people contacting admissions, but remember every call or email they have to answer (time thousands of candidates and parents), takes time away from their day [emoji51]
 
Our DS was appointed to USNA and USMMA at age 17 and did not turn 18 until December of plebe year at USMMA. You will have to sign a release before DS or DD takes the oath when they report. One issue we had was we were unable to get a hotel for DS when he reported because he was a minor. We live 3,000 miles away and could not accompany him. We found a local family to pick him up at the airport, let him stay at their house overnight, and take him to report the next day. He did get special attention in both a positive and negative manner from the cadre who knew without him telling anyone that he was the youngest plebe at the academy. If your DS or DD is mature enough to earn an appointment, he or she is mature enough to succeed at an academy. Good luck.

thank you, very helpful! She's very mature and she's not worried about it. I just started thinking about the practical issues. While we'd be able to take her there, being able to anticipate things like the hotel issue you raise just in case is very helpful. Thank you!
 
thank you, very helpful! She's very mature and she's not worried about it. I just started thinking about the practical issues. While we'd be able to take her there, being able to anticipate things like the hotel issue you raise just in case is very helpful. Thank you!

RE: hotel issue....I had this with two separate candidates. First one I called the hotel and pre-approved it. Second I had a close small Airbnb I pre-approved as well. Reaching out is helpful, both situations went flawlessly!!
 
YMMV on hotel problems. My kids traveled without me prior to age 18 and did not have a problem. My daughter traveled to Greece at age 16 and lived with relatives while going to school with her cousin and did not have issues while travelling unaccompanied. She flew on a regular ticket, not the airline unaccompanied/escorted program. One of her older brothers (now a USNA grad) traveled across the country to join me at a conference, got delayed an spent a night at a hotel in Las Vegas (unaccompanied) while he was in High School and had a great time. By the way, he didn't turn 18 until just before Parents Weekend of his Plebe Summer.
 
The problem is more from the hotel side, VS the traveler. They now require ID (I believe post 911 homeland security requirement) at check in, and most (all?) don’t allow younger than xxx age per policy.
 
The problem is more from the hotel side, VS the traveler. They now require ID (I believe post 911 homeland security requirement) at check in, and most (all?) don’t allow younger than xxx age per policy.
Again, YMMV

We didn't ask about policy, they just went in and registered including showing ID when asked.
All of this was well past the implementation of post 9/11 rules.
 
Just our personal experience, but there were issues trying to arrange travel (unaccompanied) for our sons' when they were under 18. Flying was never an issue, but renting a car or signing for a hotel room was, mainly because as minors it is difficult for a business to hold them liable and if an adult does not "co sign" some businesses have issues with a minor agreeing to a contract (rental or lodging). I think the solution could be to find a hotel (if car rental is not needed) that is near the installation or school and see what their policies are. Either my wife or I had to accompany our sons on any travel where they needed lodging or car rental before they turned 18. Made trips to visit schools and academies expensive, but you do what you have to for your kids. Sometimes a college or academy may be able to offer a "sponsor" to assist with lodging and transportation, it never hurts to check.
 
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