To Reapplicants That Were In NROTC

[usnahopeful19]

Hi and happy Easter!
I haven't heard back from USNA yet. If I get a negative response I'll be doing NROTC in college next year and I know that it's possible to get a nomination from your Unit.
To those that have reapplied from an NROTC Unit, was it weird to ask for a nomination? How did you go about it/when did you ask? Did you have to do anything to prove your desire to attend USNA before you could get one?
I'm just afraid that asking would be too awkward since I'll be in a commissioning program already. I'm hoping that hearing some of your stories might help me formulate a plan for reapplying.
Any and all responses would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[pleber16]

It wasn't awkward when I asked. I was in a really small unit (there were 4 or 5 other people in my class, and we were the largest class). It's been over 3 years since this happened so I don't remember exactly how it came up. I think I was in a end of semester evaluation/counseling meeting with the LT in the unit and mentioned to him that I was reapplying and asked if he had any insight as to how I'd get the nomination. I wasn't the first person to do it. Two years before me there were two people reapplying. One got in, one did not. My year there was another person reapplying who didn't get in.

The nomination actually comes from the CO. I set up a meeting with him during first semester and he discussed it with me and told me to come back second semester so he could use my first semester performance in the recommendation. He was really good about it. He was actually an academy grad himself so he was more than happy to help.

 

[2013Mom]

I'm still hopeful that you will get in to USNA this year, but I will try to answer your questions anyway. My son applied for an ROTC nomination; it's strait forward, but you are right to feel it may be a little awkward. Your senior leadership should understand; the individual Naval Officers at the ROTC unit likely have allegiance to the Navy and not so much to the school (unless, of course, they happen to be a grad), so you probably won't face much resistance. The timing is important because it requires a letter of rec from your Prof of Naval Science and you'll only have one semester there before it's due. You may end up really liking your Plan B, too, so if you start early and stay the course, you will probably have a better chance of following through.

Depending on how large a ROTC unit you are in, the PNS may not know all the freshmen, so you will probably want to approach him/her in the first month or so (through your instructor or you unit admin), so that the PNS can form a basis for a recommendation or offer to schedule an interview. Your ROTC unit may have smaller groups/activities that can help you build a quick resume--like band, drill team, optional conditioning-- in which you can participate. There probably won't be too many (read: none) leadership opportunities your first year, so you will be on a pretty level field as far as competition. Grades and first semester courses are the BIG players. You need to take a schedule similar to the first semester at USNA even if some credits may not apply directly to your intended major (i.e. Chemistry may end up counting only as general credit for a History or French major).

 

[NavyHoops]

I had a buddy who was a PNS. I asked if they had anyone take this path. She said yes. I asked for suggestions on how to approach. Her suggestion was in initial counseling to say you applied to USNA and were denied and have opened up a reapplication. Get it out front but also state that you would like to table that thought until the end of the semester so you can 100% focus on ROTC and if at the end of the semester you still have the desire to reapply you plan to approach them for a recommendation. It's all about attitude, maturity, and showing that you are 100% committed to be an officer regardless of path. Show your desire to learn and serve and generally the chain of command is supportive. Just one suggestion on possibly how to handle it.

 

[pleber16]

There probably won't be too many (read: none) leadership opportunities your first year, so you will be on a pretty level field as far as competition.

Not necessarily. True, a lot of it will depend on the size of the unit. For example, mine was very small so the leadership positions were pretty well spread throughout the classes. There were two squads and myself and another freshman were the squad leaders. Even if you're part of a larger unit, there will still be opportunities. You can volunteer to help run events, be a leader among your classmates, etc. Aside from being a squad leader I was also a tutor. I think it helped show that I was still trying to step up to the plate and not only concerned about my own goals.