I understand that, but the USNA has a long tradition of producing quality SEAL OIC's/Troop Commanders. I want to be both an Academy guy, and a SEAL - obviously there are other ways to commission, provided it doesn't work out...but goddammit I'm going to try my best.
Reapplying - HELP ASAP
- Thread starter jct95
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I understand that, but the USNA has a long tradition of producing quality SEAL OIC's/Troop Commanders. I want to be both an Academy guy, and a SEAL - obviously there are other ways to commission, provided it doesn't work out...but goddammit I'm going to try my best.
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NROTC produces SEAL folks too. Once your active duty no one will care where you went to school. Apply to NROTC as a backup plan. Oh wait. You're heading to college this fall. If the school has an NROTC program I strongly recommend you enroll.
I appreciate the advice and Not to be a know it all, but it is significantly harder to attend the SEAL screener as an NROTC student...and outside of Texas A&M, I can't think of a single SMC that has a training program that can rival the USNA.
...and while it is true that 50% of all SEALs are prior enlisted, there are a number of Academy guys in there. Not to mention, USNA Grads boast a 90% success rate at BUD/s (due to the training, SEAL screener, mini-BUD/s, and summer SEAL team trips, etc, etc). So being an Academy guy, well, it's a big deal.
Quick question, I had applied for a USNA Nomination last year - instead I had received a USMMA nomination. I ultimately ended up committing to a civilian college instead, when I reapply this year - am I hurting my chances of receiving a USNA nomination by not taking the USMMA nomination? I hope I'm making sense, and is this common to see? Thanks.
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I suppose it depends on the MOC and no one here could answer. However, if it was just a nomination that was declined and not an appointment, then I don't think it will matter... but that's just me guessing, which is all anyone here can do.
Understood, I hope it doesn't hurt my chances...
usna1985
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I have no idea how your MOC's nominating committee will feel.
If you explain your reasons for attending a civilian school over USMMA and those reasons make sense to them, I would think you should be ok. However, I'm not those people and I wasn't there, so I can't really advise you about your specific circumstances.
If you explain your reasons for attending a civilian school over USMMA and those reasons make sense to them, I would think you should be ok. However, I'm not those people and I wasn't there, so I can't really advise you about your specific circumstances.
Understood, and I'm sorry if I put you on the spot.
Basically, I want to become a SEAL officer - there aren't many USMMA grads that go onto to become SEALs...the Academy routinely gets 30 midshipmen picked up for BUD/s, and of those 30 - 90% will go onto become SEAL Officers. I hope my explanation makes sense, any opinion/advice is appreciated. Thanks again.
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jct95,
You are worrying way too much about what your chances are. One, as USNA1985 stated, no one here can address you specific circumstances -- whether that is for the MOC nomination process or USNA Admissions. Two, there is a lot in this process you can't control and if you worry too much about every single aspect of it, it will drive you (and others) crazy. Three, if you think you have a good and logical reason for the actions you have taken during the admissions process, then you need to make that argument when the appropriate time comes. It doesn't really help on here to ask "what are my chances" when none of us have (or will have) the full picture. Go forth and conquer; prove to your MOC and USNA on why they should select you. Discussions on this forum, while we try to give good advice, aren't taken into consideration. Ultimately, YOU need to make decisions on how you will handle YOUR re-application.
You are worrying way too much about what your chances are. One, as USNA1985 stated, no one here can address you specific circumstances -- whether that is for the MOC nomination process or USNA Admissions. Two, there is a lot in this process you can't control and if you worry too much about every single aspect of it, it will drive you (and others) crazy. Three, if you think you have a good and logical reason for the actions you have taken during the admissions process, then you need to make that argument when the appropriate time comes. It doesn't really help on here to ask "what are my chances" when none of us have (or will have) the full picture. Go forth and conquer; prove to your MOC and USNA on why they should select you. Discussions on this forum, while we try to give good advice, aren't taken into consideration. Ultimately, YOU need to make decisions on how you will handle YOUR re-application.
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First, +1 to usnabg08's post. Second, although I admire your desire to become a SEAL and there is nothing wrong with it, I think you need to consider whether you would be willing to serve in another capacity. My own son wants to eventually go to MARSOC, but he's smart enough to know, and has come to accept, that his real job is to become an effective officer who is willing to serve in whatever capacity the Marine Corps needs him to serve in. THAT is what they are looking for. It doesn't mean abandoning your dream but it does mean perhaps changing your attitude about your service.
SuaSponte
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Keep in mind, 200+ guys initially want SEALs at USNA, gotta have a backup plan.
Not trying to sound cocky, but being a SEAL is my backup plan...if I absolutely can't become one, I'll go SWO - then drop a BUD/s packet.
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Huh. You need to do some serious expectation management.
Also, some things to consider:
Why do you want to be a SEAL? Like, deep deep down?
What if it doesn't work out? This is much more likely than the alternative. I don't just mean failing to select SEALs. I've known several guys who worked their ass of for three years, rocked the screener and went on cruise only to find out they didn't like the community or wouldn't like doing the actual job for five years. I guarantee you all of them were as full of piss and vinegar as you are now before they went.
What is your ultimate endstate? If it's SEAL and only SEAL don't go to USNA. Just go enlist. If it's not serving as a Navy or Marine Corps Officer in whatever community fits the needs of the service (i.e., not necessarily what you may want), USNA is not the place for you.
Frankly you've been looking for a lot of handholding in this thread and answers that no one here can provide you with any certainty or honesty. Usnabgo08 hit the nail on the head.
All the SEALs I've spoken to, were committed to doing one thing and one thing only...and yes, some of them were Academy guys.
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@jct95 - A Marine Officer and recent USNA grad invited you to do some introspection and you replied with how driven your SEAL friends were towards one goal. But that's not what you were asked. You keep distracting yourself and getting distracted. THINK about what she said. You've stated you have a plan in case you don't get BUDS/SEALs and I get that intellectually you do. But I encourage you to take Hurricane's questions to heart and figuratively/literally take a look at what's in your heart. Are you really willing to serve, from your heart and with all you got, in any capacity in which you're asked to serve? If you're put in charge of the Division that cleans the heads on a nuclear sub every hour of every day, are you willing to do that with gusto? Just something to think about. 
TakeMyAdvice
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You are basing your chances for success at BUDS on stats from previous individuals selected from a single source. You cannot be farther from the mindset required to succeed at BUDS if you believe that if you are accepted to a place that has a high success rate for BUDS that you too will be successful. WHY CAN'T YOU ATTEND ROTC AND ATTEND BUDS AND GRADUATE?! WHY WOULD YOU SAY "I CAN'T" BEFORE YOU EVEN TRIED-seems to me that your mindset is opposite of what the teams are looking for and you may want to reconsider your goals. If your desire is to be a SEAL first and foremost then enlist and become a SEAL. THEN, apply to the Academy once you have attained what YOU say is your goal. If you do not make it to the Academy you will still be a SEAL, operating as a member of the teams (and there are other commissioning options available). I personally know of (2) SEALs who became officers from the enlisted ranks and (1) who attended BUDs as a Navy LT (SWO). When you have a dream, there's more than one path leading to it, you have to be willing to take any path that leads you to where you want to be, and that only works if you understand what you really want. I can tell you that my goal was to be a Marine and when I was turned down for an NROTC scholarship, USNA had not sent me an answer yet, and PLC/OCS was years away, I walked into the recruiter's office and began my paperwork. NAPS called and offered me that as an option which I accepted and here I am, 15 years later, still serving as a Marine-my Goal-achieved. I also recommend losing the term/mindset "I want to be an Academy guy" as it will not serve you well if/once you hit the fleet.
Full Metal Bulldog
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I'm 99% percent sure that pre-calc is offered at USNA, but I could be wrong.
I would take Calculus though. It looks better on your resume and will prepare you for the USNA math-oriented curriculum. I'm a 100% liberal-arts type person, and from my experiences in high school AP Calculus and helping classmates taking calc in college, it's not that hard if you're willing to learn and your professor is decent (which they should be at the college level).
You want to be a SEAL, right? Do you understand that as a special operations officer of any type, math is important? You can't pull the "Ha, well I was an English major, so I dunno" in the middle of a potentially either very friendly or very hostile village in lots-o-sandistan and you need math, maybe even some advanced math, to either help those villagers or eliminate some high value target.
Rant over. Take calculus.
I would take Calculus though. It looks better on your resume and will prepare you for the USNA math-oriented curriculum. I'm a 100% liberal-arts type person, and from my experiences in high school AP Calculus and helping classmates taking calc in college, it's not that hard if you're willing to learn and your professor is decent (which they should be at the college level).
You want to be a SEAL, right? Do you understand that as a special operations officer of any type, math is important? You can't pull the "Ha, well I was an English major, so I dunno" in the middle of a potentially either very friendly or very hostile village in lots-o-sandistan and you need math, maybe even some advanced math, to either help those villagers or eliminate some high value target.
Rant over. Take calculus.