I have been denied admission to USNA this year, but I was all-around a qualified candidate with a nomination. I'm considering enlisting in the Army Reserve Split Option program where I would go to basic this summer and train for my job next summer. I'm not sure if I want to reapply to USNA, but my recruiter says that reserve soldiers have gone to West Point. Basically, by question is if I were to enlist in the Army Reserve, would I be able to reapply to USNA's CO 2023 or would my Army contract prevent me from attending? Also, I know that Usna reserves 170 spots for enlisted personnel, but how likely is it that a soldier would get one of those spots? Thanks for any help!
Reapplying Through Army Reserve
- Thread starter hsanc
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CaliBoy2000
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Hey, as a guy that’s enlisting in the Navy, the “170 Reserved spots” in every USNA class is only for the Active Duty personnel in the Navy and the people in the Navy Reserves. To be exact, I think it’s 85 Active Duty spots, and 85 Reserve spots. If you’re going to enlist in the Army, I think your chances of going to West Point may be greater since I think West Point also has that “Reserved spots” program just like the other academies. However, even if USNA doesn’t have reserved spots for the Army Reserves, you can still apply there and get accepted if the admissions deems you qualified. It’s basically the same for the other Academies too.
With regards to getting a reserved spot, based on what I read on this forum (and reddit, and other sites), those reserved spots never get filled each year for various reasons. And if your application is pretty competitive as someone going in straight out of high school, then chances are, you might get one of those spots with your new and improved resume.
With regards to getting a reserved spot, based on what I read on this forum (and reddit, and other sites), those reserved spots never get filled each year for various reasons. And if your application is pretty competitive as someone going in straight out of high school, then chances are, you might get one of those spots with your new and improved resume.
"Regular and Reserve Navy and Marine Corps service members compete for 170 appointments. Apply via your Commanding Officer in accordance with OPNAVINST 1420.1 or MARINE CORPS ORDER 1040.43(series); commanding officer's endorsement must accompany application. To receive a SECNAV nomination, a candidate must possess a combined SAT score (verbal and math) of 1050, or ACT equivalent combined score of 46 (English and math). Be advised these scores are minimums and are lower than the competitive levels for entrance into the Naval Academy, but will place a candidate in contention for NAPS based on the whole person concept. The Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) provides an excellent means to get back into the school environment for service members that have been out of the classroom."
From: https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Active-Duty-Service-Applicants.php
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Why Army Reserve vs Navy Reserve? Why reserves at all? Not questioning anything other than trying to get to your underlying plan and intent. Enlisting in either service, active or reserve, is not necessarily the best way to become an officer in either service. Is college out of the question? Preferably one that has NROTC where you can enroll without a scholarship and have opportunities to apply for a scholarship? What's your motivation for the path you are contemplating?
I am attending college in the fall, so the reserve was the only option. My school doesn't have NROTC, and I chose Army Reserve over Navy because Navy doesn't think they can get me into my mos of choice. I am fine with the idea of serving in the reserve if I cannot get into USNA. USNA is only something I'm contemplating, my motivation is wanting to serve in the military and also receiving education benefits later on
As a commuter there is no way I would be able to PT with the unit three times a week at 5 Am. they take a bus from campus to another college forty minutes from me. With my schedule as an engineering major, there is no way for me to find time to take the ROTC courses at a college forty minutes away. Believe me, I have weighed all of these options and was hoping that Army Reserve could work.
Old Navy BGO
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As noted above ...enlisting in the Reserve gives you an additional potential nomination source in that particular service, so enlisting in the Army Reserve really doesn't help for USNA from a nomination perspective. Other than perhaps some slight boost showing your committment to serve, I really don't think it adds much to the overall application. I think a strong showing in a engineering curriculum would be far more important on a reapplication than enlisting in the Army Reserve, but thats just my opinion.
OP had another interesting question ...would enlistment contract with Army prevent attendance at USNA ? Navy enlisted to USNA happens all the time (including with NAPS), but would Army release an enlistment to facilitate attendance at another Service Academy. I would certainly hope that the Army, or any other Service for that matter, would be open minded enough to allow a person to leave to attend a Service Academy, but OP should raise the question with his/her recruiter, and ask them to show where in the enlistment contract and/or Army regulations this is provided for.