Practical issues for being at Academy under age 18

ProspectiveCandidate-mom said:
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!
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Our DS didn't turn 18 at the USNA until September. As far as we know, he has had zero issues being one of the younger plebes. Being 6'3" probably helps :)
 
ProspectiveCandidate-mom,

Forty years ago, I was 17 at USMA for about six months. I think my parents signed something with the acceptance, but that was about it. I flew commercial air on my own (by coincidence, sat next to another future cadet). Stayed at the Essex Hotel in NYC on my own, part of a group travel special offer for USMA cadets. Once at USMA, was treated as an adult because I was in the Army. Remember filling out forms for SGLI, wills, finance paperwork with no questions asked. The only time being 17 came up was when I was barred from a blood donation drive for being under 18.

I could not register for the draft before leaving for USMA. The following summer was the first time I was home after I turned 18. I had to clear up a question from the draft board about not registering for the draft on my 18th birthday (easy answer, "on active duty").
 
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Aren’t there 9 and 10 year old kids in College these days ... and most of them don’t even shave.
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Honestly, I think Kids these days are ready too be out on their own by 16 or 17 years of age ... why spend so much time doing the college level work in HS .... Go to College or the SA and do it.
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kpmom2013 said:
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.
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The hotel issue will continue until he is 21. If the hotel has a mini bar and the person getting the room is under 21, they wont allow them to register unless you have someone who is 21 or older. We had this issue when my son would fly back to Boston the day before his dorm would open. None of the hotels would allow him to stay by himself because of the mini bar issue. We finally found a hotel that didnt have that problem.
 
I think DD was the second youngest in her class ( 2020) and about 4 months short of 18 on Iday 2016. As noted above, there was a minor consent form DW and I to sign; no big deal.

Plebe Summer is a great equalizer. If your son or daughter holds it together and pulls their weight in the squad, platoon, Etc., he/she won't be viewed as different by classmates because Detailers won't be treating her/him differently. This carries on into the school year as all plebes pretty much take the same classes, and are competing for grades and leadership roles in their company on an equal basis.

The biggest age impact for DD was social. Because Mids live on a base with the USNA making sure that each Mid is kept waaaay busier than the average college student. There isn't much opportunity to meet people outside of the USNA student body. Your best friends are the DDs/DSs sharing your journey, the people in your class. Between NAPS, 2-3rd try plebes and admissions from the fleet, by the time DD was midway through her 3c year the majority of her class was 21.

It was a little frustrating for her as an increasing number of classmates (her only local friends) were going out for a beer on a Sat. in Nap Town and she couldn't. It also means that your classmates don't get to see you "with your hair down". In her 1c year now, DD relates that she keeps hearing "I never guessed you were this fun to hang with".

Not a huge deal for DD, she loves the USNA.
 
Capt MJ said:
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.

www.navycs.com

Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program

The basic requirements for selection to the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC). Program leads to appointment on active duty as a Navy Ensign.
www.navycs.com



Navy NUPOC Program

NUPOC pays up to $175,000 to complete a degree and provides 5 distinct career paths that combine engineering with intense leadership challenges.
nupocaccessions.blogspot.com nupocaccessions.blogspot.com

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.
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Thank you for sharing this information.
 
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