Recruiter: Enlistment boosts Academy/ROTC Application

[nightcrew17]

My son attended summer leadership session at United States Naval Academy this summer and then followed up with a Boys State conference.

Now he has a navy recruiter telling him that enlisting with a delayed entry program will boost his application for the Naval Academy and ROTC.

When I look at the make up of the people that are awarded the scholarships or a spot at the academy, it only shows enlisted sailors that applied. I know he would need a waiver to go from being enlisted to ROTC or the academy, but I'm trying to tell him it doesn't boost his appearance to the people that decide these positions.

Plus, he won't even start basic training, so it doesn't really prove anything when it comes to service or leadership as an officer candidate.

Then, finally, the recruiter says he can help him with his application to keep things straight for him, which I think he's not doing all the kindness of his heart.

I'm trying to get my son to focus on ACT's, straight A's, this physical fitness test, letters of recommendation and I feel like this is a false positive.

What do you all think?

 

[Capt MJ]

My son attended summer leadership session at United States Naval Academy this summer and then followed up with a Boys State conference.

Now he has a navy recruiter telling him that enlisting with a delayed entry program will boost his application for the Naval Academy and ROTC.

When I look at the make up of the people that are awarded the scholarships or a spot at the academy, it only shows enlisted sailors that applied. I know he would need a waiver to go from being enlisted to ROTC or the academy, but I'm trying to tell him it doesn't boost his appearance to the people that decide these positions.

Plus, he won't even start basic training, so it doesn't really prove anything when it comes to service or leadership as an officer candidate.

Then, finally, the recruiter says he can help him with his application to keep things straight for him, which I think he's not doing all the kindness of his heart.

I'm trying to get my son to focus on ACT's, straight A's, this physical fitness test, letters of recommendation and I feel like this is a false positive.

What do you all think?

Enlisted recruiters have only 1 goal: enlist sufficient qualified candidates to meet enlisted recruiting goals. Recruiters are fine, hard-working people, but he or she cannot guarantee ANYTHING about an enlisted path to an officer commissioning program.

This is what USNA says:

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General advice for grades 9-12 on applying to USNA. Get guidance on preparing for a Naval Academy application.

www.usna.edu

And, he should take a look at incoming class profiles:

Class Portrait

View the USNA Class Portrait for applicants.

www.usna.edu

There is an enlisted path to officer commissions, with one being USNA, but it works out for a relatively small number each year.

The recruiter will likely keep engaging him unless your son directly informs him or her he is not interested and asks to be removed from the contact list.

Is your son hard at work on nominations from Senators and Representative? Checked their websites for any service academy info sessions?

And welcome new member of just over a half hour!

 

[Devil Doc]

Ruuun, don't walk away from the recruiter's office.

After of course he gets free Navy merch like a 'It's Not Just a Job' bumper sticker.

 

[GrilledCheese94]

Entering USNA and/or earning an NROTC Scholarship from the Fleet are perhaps the most difficult paths to earning a commission. So many things have to line up correctly for this to happen. Can it be done? Absolutely.

As @Capt MJ pointed out, the only goal that an enlisted recruiter has - from ANY branch and component - is to contract someone for enlistment.

Been there, done that. Not easy.

My own path to USNA happened to come from the Fleet through NAPS, but USNA wasn't even close to my plan when I first enlisted. Had it not been for me being able to take a last minute phone call when I happened to be in the duty hut one afternoon, I would've been with my unit in Kuwait for the opening salvos of Desert Shield instead of raising my right hand in T-Court with my USNA classmates

 

[Ihavenoidea]

If going for a officer path through a SA, ROTC, or OCS is the goal, then I would recommend doing that goal first and foremost. Starting enlisted with a expectation of getting officer is VERY tough and competitive. As mentioned above, it is the most difficult path.

As @Capt MJ stated, enlisted recruiters mission is to get qualified applicants to sign up for enlisted. Applicants that want SA or ROTC are almost always fully qualified and motivated. The recruiters hit them hard if they find out about them. The recruiters are hard working and have a tough job, so some tend to use tactics similar to a timeshare salesman. Be careful what they tell you because it is not always the full truth.

Going enlisted is great and extremely important. If that is the path you want to go. If officer is the path you want, then go that path. If it doesn't work out, you can always go to a enlisted recruiter after the process. They will still want you.

 

[OldRetSWO]

I can think of one, yes ONE enlisted person that I served with across 27 yrs commissioned service who managed to accomplish this although I did get to send a few to various OCS and Seaman to Admiral programs but for USNA, it was ONE. Literally the finest sailor in a crew of approx 500 and when we interviewed him, his High School record was exemplary but he'd failed DODMERB because of severe dental issues that his parents could not afford to fix. He enlisted and Uncle Sam's dentists fixed him right up and after he came to us, he shined like a lighthouse among what was a very good crew.

 

[flieger83]

I'm tired so I'm not going to try to recall the other SA's "enlisted to Academy" program names. In the USAF, there is a program called "LEAD: Leaders Encouraging Airman Development." In this program, young enlisted airmen from the AD, ANG, AFRC, are eligible to apply and compete for the program. I don't know the precise numbers that apply, but I do know that the USAFA Prep School has a maximum of 75 slots for them.

So...where do these airmen come from? ALL OVER the force: National Guard, Reserve Forces, and active duty. They are screened from their immediate supervisor up to their Wing Commander. At each step, they MUST be the one. Eventually we arrive at 75 or less.

This past year in Arizona, I think I heard at our last ALO meeting that we had 10 applicants from two bases.

One was selected.

Switching to Navy...one of my former students (I tried for three years to convince her to apply to Annapolis and USAFA, but she declined) in JROTC (a star) decided a year after high school to enlist in the Navy. She became an "AE" if I remember correctly (worked on the avionics and electrical equipment aboard a SH-60 Seahawk Helo; and flew with a crew). Two years in, and while afloat in the Pacific...long story short, her Chief called her in to discuss the Navy program to get sailors to the academy.

She decided she did want to do that so she pressed on with the process. We had several "middle of the night calls" from her base in Yokuska to AZ, going over recommendation letters, essays, etc. She found out she'd been selected and was leaving her ship to head to NAPS, when the Captain called her to his "office" (I assume that's what they're called) on board and started with "I hear we're wasting your time afloat, Petty Officer. We can't have that, so pack your gear and be off MY ship by XXXX hours." She said she almost dropped to the deck. The the CMC and Captain came over and congratulated her and told her of her selection.

She graduated USNA, Class of 2025.

It happens, but...from my "limited window" it's not often/common. NOT the way to go if your actual goal is to attend the SA.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[EA129]

My son attended summer leadership session at United States Naval Academy this summer and then followed up with a Boys State conference.

Now he has a navy recruiter telling him that enlisting with a delayed entry program will boost his application for the Naval Academy and ROTC.

When I look at the make up of the people that are awarded the scholarships or a spot at the academy, it only shows enlisted sailors that applied. I know he would need a waiver to go from being enlisted to ROTC or the academy, but I'm trying to tell him it doesn't boost his appearance to the people that decide these positions.

Plus, he won't even start basic training, so it doesn't really prove anything when it comes to service or leadership as an officer candidate.

Then, finally, the recruiter says he can help him with his application to keep things straight for him, which I think he's not doing all the kindness of his heart.

I'm trying to get my son to focus on ACT's, straight A's, this physical fitness test, letters of recommendation and I feel like this is a false positive.

What do you all think?

Your head is in the right place. It's just a bad sales pitch and it's one recruiters have been using for decades. Most enlisted recruiters are fairly clueless regarding the USNA application process. The only thing he should be talking to a recruiter about is an NROTC application.