Prior Enlisted for USNA Class of 2022

[AviationOrdie]

I'm prior enlisted (Navy), selected to attend NAPS with the class of 2018. If any prior enlisted or civilians are seeking help with the application process or have any questions feel free to ask them here or ask for my email. Im willing to help. Good luck to all.

 

[AROTC-dad]

Congratulations, AO! You have gone through a lot of hoops to get to NAPS.

Well done. and thanks for offering to answer questions on this topic!

 

[usmcAVI]

I had made the late decision in wanting to attend the USNA preferably through NAPS. Any tips for being on enlisted side of the house to make myself stand out?

I made bad decisions in dropping the ball my senior year by dropping my AP and advanced classes halfway through the year as well as failing to take my SAT simply due to the fact that I had alreaded signed my contract with the U.S. Marine Corps thinking there was no longer a reason to take on the rigerous courses. Looking back at it there's nothing I can do to change it, but hoping to find out how much is academics looked out a few years after graduating high school and just looking to better myself now for he future. I believe i havewhat it takes to attend the Naval Academy, but I'm not sure how to convince admissions. If it helps I go out of my way to do volunteer work and have been trying to max out the PFT/CFT standards to show that I have the physical ability to keep up with what NAPS can throw at me.
Any advice?

 

[Blessedmom]

I had made the late decision in wanting to attend the USNA preferably through NAPS. Any tips for being on enlisted side of the house to make myself stand out?

I made bad decisions in dropping the ball my senior year by dropping my AP and advanced classes halfway through the year as well as failing to take my SAT simply due to the fact that I had alreaded signed my contract with the U.S. Marine Corps thinking there was no longer a reason to take on the rigerous courses. Looking back at it there's nothing I can do to change it, but hoping to find out how much is academics looked out a few years after graduating high school and just looking to better myself now for he future. I believe i havewhat it takes to attend the Naval Academy, but I'm not sure how to convince admissions. If it helps I go out of my way to do volunteer work and have been trying to max out the PFT/CFT standards to show that I have the physical ability to keep up with what NAPS can throw at me.
Any advice?

I would first start by studying & taking the SAT/ACT. If you can sign up for rigorous STEM courses at a local college or online classes. From what DS told me, Priors are respected by his company and others. They really provide brotherly/sisterly help & comfort to new plebes DS looks up to them!

 

[AviationOrdie]

Get your scores up. But a huge thing I've noticed people do is try to compare themselves to others. During the process you'll have many interviews and you'll write multiple letters. CONVEY HOW MUCH YOU WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY. Explain how you want to help shape the future of the military and how rewarding it will be to lead sailors/marines. I was below par in just about every aspect. But I kept a good view on my situation and I said how I am on paper has nothing to do with my aptitude to step up and lead. I explained how my mistakes and obstacles in life helped me be more mature and humble myself. They aren't looking for the most amazing candidate out there. They're looking for someone who has POTENTIAL and really wants the opportunity. They will take someone who has average scores but REALLY wants the opportunity or would 'kill' for a chance over someone who barely wants it and has amazing scores. Trust me in all of this. If you have more questions or would like to look at my package I can email it to you. Just let me know. Best of luck to you!

 

[NavyHoops]

Congrats AO on your appointment to NAPS. A great path to USNA.

For USMCAvi... AO gives great advice. Go to the education office and sign up for the SAT and ACT. Try both. Take a prep class. It would be well worth for you. Sign up at your local community college or a school on base and start with core courses like math, chemistry, physics, english. If you can show you can succeed in college level courses that would be huge. Be a leader in your unit and show maturity. Those are two biggest traits officers look for when recommending Marines and Sailors to NAPS. I have written several recommendations for ambitious young Marines who wanted to attend USNA.

 

[Gbp328]

I had made the late decision in wanting to attend the USNA preferably through NAPS. Any tips for being on enlisted side of the house to make myself stand out?

I made bad decisions in dropping the ball my senior year by dropping my AP and advanced classes halfway through the year as well as failing to take my SAT simply due to the fact that I had alreaded signed my contract with the U.S. Marine Corps thinking there was no longer a reason to take on the rigerous courses. Looking back at it there's nothing I can do to change it, but hoping to find out how much is academics looked out a few years after graduating high school and just looking to better myself now for he future. I believe i havewhat it takes to attend the Naval Academy, but I'm not sure how to convince admissions. If it helps I go out of my way to do volunteer work and have been trying to max out the PFT/CFT standards to show that I have the physical ability to keep up with what NAPS can throw at me.
Any advice?

You sound like one of the Marines I'm helping out at my unit. Either way, you're a Marine. Excel at what you do, especially your green side. Get those belts, do your hours and trust me you'll have your chain of commands backing on whatever it is. That being said, also study hard no one is going to help you. Try to attend MASP if you don't know what that is, ask your leadership. If they don't know, go to the education center on your base.

 

[Pineapples11]

Get your scores up. But a huge thing I've noticed people do is try to compare themselves to others. During the process you'll have many interviews and you'll write multiple letters. CONVEY HOW MUCH YOU WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY. Explain how you want to help shape the future of the military and how rewarding it will be to lead sailors/marines. I was below par in just about every aspect. But I kept a good view on my situation and I said how I am on paper has nothing to do with my aptitude to step up and lead. I explained how my mistakes and obstacles in life helped me be more mature and humble myself. They aren't looking for the most amazing candidate out there. They're looking for someone who has POTENTIAL and really wants the opportunity. They will take someone who has average scores but REALLY wants the opportunity or would 'kill' for a chance over someone who barely wants it and has amazing scores. Trust me in all of this. If you have more questions or would like to look at my package I can email it to you. Just let me know. Best of luck to you!

Very nicely said, you don't have to be the 5.0 Gpa kid with a 1600 SAT and 4 minute mile. You just have to show them that you want it, and that you deserve it, which I have no doubt that you do.

 

[usmcAVI]

Thank you all for the useful inputs. I'm currently waiting on my CO to approve my request to come speak to him as it is being routed up the chain regarding my current situation.

I do find the process to readjust myself to the academic environment to be a bit tedious that includes me having limited resources. I'm stationed overseas and do not have the same opportunities as those CONUS.
Just as Gbp328 assumed, my leadership had no idea what MASP was when I brought it to their attention. I haven't had the chance to go to my education office with them being on the way other side of base and operating only during my long work hours as some of you may remember what the air wing days were like.

I'm making time to do all these things and hopefully get a chance to find out what is needed of me before we go on our next detachment in the very near future.

Any other tips would be much appreciated in the mean time.

 

[usmcAVI]

Another thing I meant to ask for the priors: for letters of recommendation from 2 officers in my direct CoC, is that strictly Commissioned Officers? I ask because my OIC is a CWO2 and can write a pretty good recommendation for me if possible.
Thanks again

 

[Gbp328]

You don't need to sit down and talk to your CO. You just route the paperwork up. He signs it and you send it. And CWO2 will do.

 

[EASis]

You don't need to sit down and talk to your CO. You just route the paperwork up. He signs it and you send it. And CWO2 will do.

Your BGO interview is done with your CO. If he wants to sit down and talk to you he will, if he doesn't he'll just sign the endorsement and you'll mail everything in.

 

[dmg98]

I'm prior enlisted (Navy), selected to attend NAPS with the class of 2018. If any prior enlisted or civilians are seeking help with the application process or have any questions feel free to ask them here or ask for my email. Im willing to help. Good luck to all.

I'm prior enlisted (Navy), selected to attend NAPS with the class of 2018. If any prior enlisted or civilians are seeking help with the application process or have any questions feel free to ask them here or ask for my email. Im willing to help. Good luck to all.

Hello I am currently enlisted and looking to apply to the naval academy. Do you have an email that i could possibly reach you at to ask some questions on your process of getting into NAPS or the Naval Academy?

 

[Capt MJ]

Hello I am currently enlisted and looking to apply to the naval academy. Do you have an email that i could possibly reach you at to ask some questions on your process of getting into NAPS or the Naval Academy?

You can pm here on SAF after 5 posts, and your ability to do that will usually catch up to you after a day or so. Great to seek advice from someone who just recently went through the process.

If you haven’t already, read every page, dropdown and link on USNA.edu
Most answers are there.

There is also a dedicated senior enlisted leader in Admissions who looks after enlisted applicants. Just call Admissions and ask.

Most enlisted applicants go through NAPS as a matter of course.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Very nicely said, you don't have to be the 5.0 Gpa kid with a 1600 SAT and 4 minute mile. You just have to show them that you want it, and that you deserve it, which I have no doubt that you do.

Caution...this comment should not be interpreted to mean that "Interest & Motivation" trumps all other admissions factors. There are plenty of candidates out there that really want it, and even really deserve it, that don't get appointed each year. Admission is highly competitive, and presenting the best record that you can is important to success. However, in the context of this thread, people should understand that other factors come into play when prior enlisted personnel apply to USNA, and high school academics and SAT scores aren't as important as the command endorsement. NAPS was created to provide a means for getting promising young enlisted personnel ready for USNA academics.

 

[Capt MJ]

Aa a Dept Head and Division Officer, I sat on officer program interview panels for all kinds of enlisted commissioning programs, including SA applications. As a CO and XO, I interviewed candidates 1:1.

I still remember the confident Petty Officer who told me his motivation for applying for a commissioning program was “officers make more money.” He had not done his homework about the nature of that career path (except, perhaps, to study the DFAS pay tables), and could not articulate why we should recommend him.

At its heart, it’s a job interview process.

I took my role in the command endorsement process very seriously. After all, I was signing my name to a document attesting Seaman Finarkle was a worthy candidate to become a leader of Sailors, take them in harm’s way, be accountable for the mission and his/her people’s actions and accept greater responsibility for people and things.

And, I cannot tell you how pleased and honored I felt over the years when a junior officer would walk up to me and say, “ma’am, you were my XO and put me through my paces at Command X before sending me to the CO and recommending a strong endorsement of my officer package. I just got orders to Y.” Or when they have contacted me via FB or LinkedIn to tell me how they were doing. Just the best feeling. That’s what makes it ok to eventually retire - knowing there are the following generations of fine officers and enlisted personnel coming right along.

 

[Jefeboss23]

I'm prior enlisted (Navy), selected to attend NAPS with the class of 2018. If any prior enlisted or civilians are seeking help with the application process or have any questions feel free to ask them here or ask for my email. Im willing to help. Good luck to all.

What’s up man I’m prior as well HT2 and waiting to see if I’m appointed or not but quick question when did you find out you were going? And how did you find out? I can’t go to NAPS cause of my age so I would have to get direct appointment but just wondering how you found out and around what month it was?

 

[redwhitebluemom]

As former enlisted, who did you contact to gather info about this process? My Active Army son is considering trying to get into a SA for Aviation or Aerospace Engineering. He is 21. He’s got to make things happen quickly if he takes this route. He is also considering a ROTC route if the SA is not in the cards.

 

[NavyHoops]

At USNA there is a Chief who runs the admissions for fleet applicants. The USNA website has an enlisted applicant page with info. It’s a good place to start. Each year the Navy and Marine Corps release updated instructions on how to apply for a given class year.

 

[Capt MJ]

As former enlisted, who did you contact to gather info about this process? My Active Army son is considering trying to get into a SA for Aviation or Aerospace Engineering. He is 21. He’s got to make things happen quickly if he takes this route. He is also considering a ROTC route if the SA is not in the cards.

For all the SAs, reading every page, drop down and link on their websites is the essential first step. Most answers are there. I know for sure USNA has a senior enlisted member in Admissions who helps enlisted applicants, so the others probably do too. It’s a simple matter of calling Admissions and asking for the enlisted admissions rep or counselor.
Your DS, since he’s Army, has to research the applicable Army directives for his situation.

https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Active-Duty-Service-Applicants.php

The other key is not so much the major, but which SA has the selection of officer professional communities he would be fine with going into. Most Navy roles involve being on the sea, in the sea, under the sea, or over the sea. ROTC and the SA are interim stops enroute to the period of obligated service.

Your DS should also take some time to reflect on the individual culture of each service, as well as the fact that he would be an older member of the class at, say, USNA, and he’ll be treated like the 17 year olds, by 19 year olds, plus no civilian clothes, no car, very limited off-Yard time on Saturdays. No drinking even if he’s 22. Don’t get me wrong, prior enlisted do great at USNA, and are usually a great help on all things military. It is worth comparing SA full-immersion vs. ROTC college lifestyle.