USAFA Alumni Question

[Soap]

I would like to attend the Naval Academy. Now, my father graduated out of the USAFA in 1985. My question is, will this help me? Or does it only help me at the USAFA. I don't mind going to USAFA, I just prefer the USNA.

 

[MJP]

It can open up another nomination source for you. As a dependent of AD or retired military, you can apply for a Presidential nomination as well as your two senators, your MOC and the VP.

 

[usna1985]

You only qualify for a Pres nom if a parent meets the service requirements -- merely having been in the military isn't enough. The requirements are posted on the usna.edu under Admissions and then nominations.

Being the child of a military member helps a bit. Whether it's USAF or USN doesn't matter. Being a "legacy" isn't really much help at USNA.

 

[Soap]

It can open up another nomination source for you. As a dependent of AD or retired military, you can apply for a Presidential nomination as well as your two senators, your MOC and the VP.

Is that it? Would it help if my father passed away? (Not in combat.)

 

[NavyHoops]

Yeap that's it. It can help a small amount possibly in the WCS but nothing huge. Sorry to hear about your father.

 

[MJP]

See USNA1985 post above-it has good info

 

[Soap]

Thanks all!

 

[USAFA83GradWife]

It can open up another nomination source for you. As a dependent of AD or retired military, you can apply for a Presidential nomination as well as your two senators, your MOC and the VP.

Is that it? Would it help if my father passed away? (Not in combat.)

Your father passing away may not directly help with getting a nomination; however, you may be asked about hardships that you've encountered and how you overcame/handled those hardships (maybe in an essay or by a congressional committee during the interview). I don't know how old you were when you lost your father, but keep that in mind and think about those things that helped you cope.

 

[Soap]

It can open up another nomination source for you. As a dependent of AD or retired military, you can apply for a Presidential nomination as well as your two senators, your MOC and the VP.

Is that it? Would it help if my father passed away? (Not in combat.)

Your father passing away may not directly help with getting a nomination; however, you may be asked about hardships that you've encountered and how you overcame/handled those hardships (maybe in an essay or by a congressional committee during the interview). I don't know how old you were when you lost your father, but keep that in mind and think about those things that helped you cope.

Thanks! Great post. My dad died when I was super young, obviously this made me easier to cope with because I couldn't remember too much of him.

 

[falconchic88]

Soap, some anecdotal experience that may be helpful but may be just that, anecdotal: DH and I are both 88 USAFA Grads. We have one USNA Grad, One USNA rising Firstie, and one USNA Plebe to be, class of 2019. Only one of the three were also accepted to USAFA (the Plebe to be). Based on our experience and input from USNA Alumni with children at USNA, our opinion is that USNA gives a bit more of a bump for "legacy" (even from other service academy parents) than USAFA does.

 

[Soap]

Soap, some anecdotal experience that may be helpful but may be just that, anecdotal: DH and I are both 88 USAFA Grads. We have one USNA Grad, One USNA rising Firstie, and one USNA Plebe to be, class of 2019. Only one of the three were also accepted to USAFA (the Plebe to be). Based on our experience and input from USNA Alumni with children at USNA, our opinion is that USNA gives a bit more of a bump for "legacy" (even from other service academy parents) than USAFA does.

Thanks!

 

[usna1985]

FYI, many USNA grads have very-well qualified kids who are turned down. USNA gives a "bump" to children of military parents -- whether that parent was a USNA grad, SA grad or entered the military (officer/enlisted) from some other source is irrelevant. It is the same level of "bump" that you get for other achievements, such as high SATs, team captain, Eagle Scout, etc. The historical reason, BTW, is that kids of military parents are more likely to understand what the military is all about and thus may be more likely to stick it out. Also, lots of kids from SA parents apply to SAs, so that may skew the numbers (i.e., more candidates of SA kids = more appointees of SA kids).

It may well be, however, that USNA gives more weight to kids of military parents than other SAs -- I can't speak to that point.