Problem with Release from Navy to Go To MMA

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Wesl54

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Oct 29, 2019
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My DD was accepted to CGA back in March. She is currently enlisted in the Navy, and she immediately went to commanders with acceptance letter. They filed a conditional release for her, and dragged their feet sending it up the COC. As of 5/15, no word on CR yet.

Then very recently she was accepted to MMA, which is her first choice, and she went to commanders to change her conditional release to MMA. There was much discussion on how they were to do this, and during this they discovered they shouldn't have done a conditional release for CGA, that they transfer them to a base in Groton, CT, and then they transfer into CGA from there, according to this: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-...an/1000/1900Separation/Documents/1910-184.pdf

However, they did decide that MMA needs a conditional release, so they filed that. She has no idea where this CR is in the COC, or if they are sitting on it or what.

Obviously, time is short. If they do things the way they normally do, it will take too long and she'll be sitting on base when MMA starts because they didn't get the paperwork done in time for her to go. What can she do about this situation? It would be tragic for her not to get to go to SA because of a paperwork issue.
 
Wesl54 said:
My DD was accepted to CGA back in March. She is currently enlisted in the Navy, and she immediately went to commanders with acceptance letter. They filed a conditional release for her, and dragged their feet sending it up the COC. As of 5/15, no word on CR yet.

Then very recently she was accepted to MMA, which is her first choice, and she went to commanders to change her conditional release to MMA. There was much discussion on how they were to do this, and during this they discovered they shouldn't have done a conditional release for CGA, that they transfer them to a base in Groton, CT, and then they transfer into CGA from there, according to this: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-...an/1000/1900Separation/Documents/1910-184.pdf

However, they did decide that MMA needs a conditional release, so they filed that. She has no idea where this CR is in the COC, or if they are sitting on it or what.

Obviously, time is short. If they do things the way they normally do, it will take too long and she'll be sitting on base when MMA starts because they didn't get the paperwork done in time for her to go. What can she do about this situation? It would be tragic for her not to get to go to SA because of a paperwork issue.
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I would have her reach out to the academy's admissions office to see if they might be able to assist her. I also wonder, if maybe someone in the academy's Naval Science Department might be able to help. It might be worth a call to them too.
 
Wesl54 said:
My DD was accepted to CGA back in March. She is currently enlisted in the Navy, and she immediately went to commanders with acceptance letter. They filed a conditional release for her, and dragged their feet sending it up the COC. As of 5/15, no word on CR yet.

Then very recently she was accepted to MMA, which is her first choice, and she went to commanders to change her conditional release to MMA. There was much discussion on how they were to do this, and during this they discovered they shouldn't have done a conditional release for CGA, that they transfer them to a base in Groton, CT, and then they transfer into CGA from there, according to this: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-...an/1000/1900Separation/Documents/1910-184.pdf

However, they did decide that MMA needs a conditional release, so they filed that. She has no idea where this CR is in the COC, or if they are sitting on it or what.

Obviously, time is short. If they do things the way they normally do, it will take too long and she'll be sitting on base when MMA starts because they didn't get the paperwork done in time for her to go. What can she do about this situation? It would be tragic for her not to get to go to SA because of a paperwork issue.
Click to expand...

This close, I would say have her go to USCGA since that can be done without a CR. I knew a CR for USCGA was wrong as soon as I read that. Why is USMMA her first choice? USMMA is usually the last chance service academy.
 
Thanks for the replies. She has already contacted admissions and Naval Science, but my understanding is that now it is up to the Navy, and that is where there seems to be a bottleneck. She will definitely stay in touch with MMA, and hope they will be able to get the Navy to put this through in time. Is there anything else she can do?
 
Continue to be the squeaky wheel at Admissions, Naval Science, and your chain of command. I have never seen an issue like this not work itself out before INDOC, though I know it can be very nerve-wracking along the way. (Oh, and the other thing you can do is to learn to disregard Mr2020's constant rude and disparaging comments about Kings Point.)
 
Mr2020 said:
I knew a CR for USCGA was wrong as soon as I read that.
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So what?
Mr2020 said:
Why is USMMA her first choice? USMMA is usually the last chance service academy.
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Maybe she wants to be able to commission back in the Navy as an option.. It's probably much harder to do that from CGA
 
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deepdraft1 said:
So what?

Maybe she wants to be able to commission back in the Navy as an option.. It's probably much harder to do that from CGA
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Pretty hard to do that if the conditional release doesn't get done in time and the person is still enlisted in the navy on the 1st day of indoc. Instead of gambling on that I'd take the CGA appointment.
kpmom2013 said:
Continue to be the squeaky wheel at Admissions, Naval Science, and your chain of command. I have never seen an issue like this not work itself out before INDOC, though I know it can be very nerve-wracking along the way. (Oh, and the other thing you can do is to learn to disregard Mr2020's constant rude and disparaging comments about Kings Point.)
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A faculty member told a class our plebe year that USMMA is the last chance service academy, and it's the truth.
 
Mr2020 said:
I'd take the CGA appointment.
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Okay, good for you..
Mr2020 said:
A faculty member told a class our plebe year that USMMA is the last chance service academy, and it's the truth.
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I'll bet that made you feel special.. 🤣

Wesl54 said:
Thanks for the replies. She has already contacted admissions and Naval Science, but my understanding is that now it is up to the Navy, and that is where there seems to be a bottleneck. She will definitely stay in touch with MMA, and hope they will be able to get the Navy to put this through in time. Is there anything else she can do?
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@Wesl54 Have your daughter keep up the pressure to get that CR through. She's got 45 days. Drop back by and let us know how it works out..
 
FQUOTE="kpmom2013, post: 745017, member: 3051"]
Continue to be the squeaky wheel at Admissions, Naval Science, and your chain of command. I have never seen an issue like this not work itself out before INDOC, though I know it can be very nerve-wracking along the way. (Oh, and the other thing you can do is to learn to disregard Mr2020's constant rude and disparaging comments about Kings Point.)
[/QUOTE]

Question about being the squeaky wheel. She tried to keep up with where the conditional release was for CGA, but didn't get anywhere with that. When she asked a few times to the commanders on base, she got nowhere. They just said they didn't know anything, and of course acted like she was a nuisance. She eventually called the Navy Career Center, and after a long time they told her they had received it, but nothing more. So, we're wondering how to be the Squeaky Wheel with the Navy COC. It seems like it's a black hole. Is there something more she can do with the COC, is there some way to know what's going on with it, or how to get to the right person to act on it?
 
Wesl54 said:
FQUOTE="kpmom2013, post: 745017, member: 3051"]
Continue to be the squeaky wheel at Admissions, Naval Science, and your chain of command. I have never seen an issue like this not work itself out before INDOC, though I know it can be very nerve-wracking along the way. (Oh, and the other thing you can do is to learn to disregard Mr2020's constant rude and disparaging comments about Kings Point.)
Click to expand...

Question about being the squeaky wheel. She tried to keep up with where the conditional release was for CGA, but didn't get anywhere with that. When she asked a few times to the commanders on base, she got nowhere. They just said they didn't know anything, and of course acted like she was a nuisance. She eventually called the Navy Career Center, and after a long time they told her they had received it, but nothing more. So, we're wondering how to be the Squeaky Wheel with the Navy COC. It seems like it's a black hole. Is there something more she can do with the COC, is there some way to know what's going on with it, or how to get to the right person to act on it?
[/QUOTE]
Has she been to see her Command Master Chief and thrown herself on his or her mercy? If she has been a good sailor, has the support of her command, has been and will give 110% effort to her last hour onboard, surely there should be someone who can work the back nets and phones for her.

These kinds of inter-service transfers and separations to a service academy are relatively rare, and the human tendency is to punt the unknown down the road.

Is she on sea duty or shore duty?
 
There is no doubt that KP was not the first choice of many KPers. There is also no doubt that a lot of them are very happy with their disappointment for a variety of reasons; they have reached their goals by another path up the mountain or changed their goals when given the options (personal communications.) The world is not static. How many AF and Navy pilot slots will there be for their grads now that the airlines have too many and those who planned to separate soon no longer have a seat in the friendly skies? DS (USMMA 2017) had her choice of principal nominations and chose KP for what it offered and she has no regrets and is proud. KP is hidden but prepares people as well as any institution (personal communication- USAFA grad.) Professors can be cynical just as students can be (Bruce Flemming USNA) but life has taught me that eventually one has to take responsibility for one's lot. All the Academies have earned the right to stand tall.
 
Wesl54 said:
My DD was accepted to CGA back in March. She is currently enlisted in the Navy, and she immediately went to commanders with acceptance letter. They filed a conditional release for her, and dragged their feet sending it up the COC. As of 5/15, no word on CR yet.

Then very recently she was accepted to MMA, which is her first choice, and she went to commanders to change her conditional release to MMA. There was much discussion on how they were to do this, and during this they discovered they shouldn't have done a conditional release for CGA, that they transfer them to a base in Groton, CT, and then they transfer into CGA from there, according to this: https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-...an/1000/1900Separation/Documents/1910-184.pdf

However, they did decide that MMA needs a conditional release, so they filed that. She has no idea where this CR is in the COC, or if they are sitting on it or what.

Obviously, time is short. If they do things the way they normally do, it will take too long and she'll be sitting on base when MMA starts because they didn't get the paperwork done in time for her to go. What can she do about this situation? It would be tragic for her not to get to go to SA because of a paperwork issue.
Click to expand...
Congratulations to your daughter! Here’s to being an effective squeaky wheel and being there at KP at Indoc. Also, would you please update the 2024 USMMA Appointment thread with her appointment, if you haven’t done so already?

If your daughter needs some extra assistance, please PM me when you get five posts and I can put her in contact with someone who may perhaps help. ⚓️
 
Capt MJ said:
Question about being the squeaky wheel. She tried to keep up with where the conditional release was for CGA, but didn't get anywhere with that. When she asked a few times to the commanders on base, she got nowhere. They just said they didn't know anything, and of course acted like she was a nuisance. She eventually called the Navy Career Center, and after a long time they told her they had received it, but nothing more. So, we're wondering how to be the Squeaky Wheel with the Navy COC. It seems like it's a black hole. Is there something more she can do with the COC, is there some way to know what's going on with it, or how to get to the right person to act on it?
Click to expand...
Has she been to see her Command Master Chief and thrown herself on his or her mercy? If she has been a good sailor, has the support of her command, has been and will give 110% effort to her last hour onboard, surely there should be someone who can work the back nets and phones for her.

These kinds of inter-service transfers and separations to a service academy are relatively rare, and the human tendency is to punt the unknown down the road.

Is she on sea duty or shore duty?
[/QUOTE]
Capt MJ said:
Question about being the squeaky wheel. She tried to keep up with where the conditional release was for CGA, but didn't get anywhere with that. When she asked a few times to the commanders on base, she got nowhere. They just said they didn't know anything, and of course acted like she was a nuisance. She eventually called the Navy Career Center, and after a long time they told her they had received it, but nothing more. So, we're wondering how to be the Squeaky Wheel with the Navy COC. It seems like it's a black hole. Is there something more she can do with the COC, is there some way to know what's going on with it, or how to get to the right person to act on it?
Click to expand...
Has she been to see her Command Master Chief and thrown herself on his or her mercy? If she has been a good sailor, has the support of her command, has been and will give 110% effort to her last hour onboard, surely there should be someone who can work the back nets and phones for her.

These kinds of inter-service transfers and separations to a service academy are relatively rare, and the human tendency is to punt the unknown down the road.

Is she on sea duty or shore duty?
[/QUOTE]
She is on shore duty and has been a good sailor. But the people at this base just don't seem to care too much about helping people, just kind of grumpy and busy and "Why are you bothering me?" attitudes.
 
Wesl54 said:
She is on shore duty and has been a good sailor. But the people at this base just don't seem to care too much about helping people, just kind of grumpy and busy and "Why are you bothering me?" attitudes.
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Unfortunately that is not unheard of especially once some one expresses an interest in leaving the Navy. There is a saying, you are your own best advocate.

I went to the CO to advocate for one of my sailors who was about to get Admin Separated (A Chief no less). I walked in to the office and he had a binder open in front of him on his desk. I knew no sob story or but he's an awesome sailor was going to work. I kept that sailor int he Navy because I pointed to a section of the instruction that the CO hadn't read that gave him an option. That sailor is now a Master Chief.

I went to personnel to advocate for one of my sailors and the PN didn't want to help my sailor because he was sure that wasn't allowed. I had the MILPERSMAN section with me and showed him in the document where it was allowed. My sailor got what he needed.

I was trying to get new equipment for my unit and everyone was pointing to someone else as who was supposed to purchase the equipment. I kept making the rounds with a SECNAV message and BUPERSINST knocking on doors and when they would say it wasn't the command's responsibility I would show them in the documents that it was. They would send me to a different department and the same would happen. Eventually someone looked at the documents and said "huh, you're right" and bought me the equipment.

Moral of the story ... the Navy (and really all government) runs on paper. The best thing is to have a document that says what is supposed to happen and who is supposed to do it and to have it in hand when speaking to anyone. It may be a MILPERSMAN, Command Instruction, BUPERSINST, OPNAVINST or SECNAVINST. A lot of time the instructions also state that things have to be processed in a certain amount of time like 30 days so you would want to know that too.

Lastly, don't make it personal as in "you" have to help me, but that "Admin" has to help me.
 
DS on sea term with her 65# of stuff. Counter man at the airport tries to charge her for being over 50#. She argues that she can have up to 70# if on government orders and he screams back "No." DS pulls out a copy of the regs, he gets out his manual and then walks away in a snit. It ain't just the government.
 
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