Report on Academy Day

[NJROTC-CC]

O.K., so DS - - a sophomore - - and I attended our MOC's academy day this morning. It was held at a military base. Extremely nice facilities. I got to meet our congresswoman, whom I have met before, but I wanted her to learn that DS has an interest in the Naval Academy directly from him, in person (not from me through any back channel.) Mission accomplished. He was wearing khaki's, a nice school polo and penny loafers. He was one of the better dressed. He looked her in the eye and shook her hand. She asked him if he had ever been to the USNA and he told her that we visited this past summer. A senior from his high school came over and joined us and we talked a bit about the NJROTC program at our school with the congresswoman. I saw only one student from another school wearing a JROTC uniform. It did not seem appropriate, although I was impressed that she did appear to be a battalion commander from her school. (For those not familiar with JROTC, becoming a battalion commander is a very valuable leadership position.) But she hogged all the time talking to the female MIDN who was down from USNA, so we never got the chance to talk to the MIDN. We couldn't get between the two of them. Also, the BGO assigned to our school was busy talking to other folks so, unfortunately, we did not get to speak to him either.

Each service academy played a video about their academy and had a current cadet or MIDN speak about their experience. I learned a bit about the USMMA, that I did not know before. Not sure how much of a impact it all made on DS, because he does not talk a lot about his emotions. But he did get to introduce himself to two members of the MOC's nominating committee who are USNA grads who later because FBI agents, which is one of his goals. He gave firm handshakes and looked them in the eye and they gave him some advise (the kind of stuff I have already told him, but it is good to hear it from someone else.) Also, he told me he would be interested in applying to the USAFA as well, which I did not know before. On the way back in the car I talked to him some more about the importance of SAT scores. It seemed to really sink in for once and he committed to making a maximum effort. Overall, not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning. As soon as we got home, he left to join his NJROTC unit doing fundraising at SAM's Club.

 

[landlock]

Your story reminds me of my DD's service day. At the end she had what seemed like a low key off the record conversation with an older women there. They bonded about her desire to put USNA first not realizing the women was a USNA grad in civilian clothes. The older women talked about how for women the Naval Academy uniforms were the best. Seems trivial right? Fast forward a year later and that women was on the congressional military board that interviewed her.
My DD received the nomination from that congressman. I am not saying the conversation had anything to do with it but for potential applicants going to an academy day bring your "A" game!

Since your child has the benefit of time, I would highly recommend taking SAT's spring sophomore year so if scores are not great you have all summer to study (Khan Academy worked for my DS who is now a plebe). It is nice to have good scores by January junior year for the NASS application if that is something your child might want to do. You would also have plenty of time to work on any weaknesses in CFA. Pull ups were something that both my DS and DD worked on for over a year to get to 5 for her and 13 for him for the CFA. They both could only do one at the beginning. The basketball throw is also something that can be trained for that most applicants don't work on. Good luck.

 

[NJROTC-CC]

Your story reminds me of my DD's service day. At the end she had what seemed like a low key off the record conversation with an older women there. They bonded about her desire to put USNA first not realizing the women was a USNA grad in civilian clothes. The older women talked about how for women the Naval Academy uniforms were the best. Seems trivial right? Fast forward a year later and that women was on the congressional military board that interviewed her.
My DD received the nomination from that congressman. I am not saying the conversation had anything to do with it but for potential applicants going to an academy day bring your "A" game!

Since your child has the benefit of time, I would highly recommend taking SAT's spring sophomore year so if scores are not great you have all summer to study (Khan Academy worked for my DS who is now a plebe). It is nice to have good scores by January junior year for the NASS application if that is something your child might want to do. You would also have plenty of time to work on any weaknesses in CFA. Pull ups were something that both my DS and DD worked on for over a year to get to 5 for her and 13 for him for the CFA. They both could only do one at the beginning. The basketball throw is also something that can be trained for that most applicants don't work on. Good luck.

Good advice. That’s funny. We actually talked a bit about the CFA with one of the members of MOC’s nominating committee and we specifically discussed training for pullups (which is DS’s weakness)