USAFA vs. USNA

discoduck

New Member
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Mar 9, 2021
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Hello everyone. I want to start by thanking everyone who posts thoughtful advice and guidance on this forum. I hope to do the same and be helpful.


I have read as many threads/posts as I could find about the positives and negatives of both USAFA and USNA. Still not enough to convincingly say I want X. Fortunate to have been offered a spot at both. So...I am hoping others will chime in and offer some advice.

Willing to work hard to achieve the following career aspirations:
- serve as an aviator. Fixed wing, faster the better. As a pilot, wouldn't mind operating off of land or a boat.
- Will study aerospace engineering. Would like to pursue an advance degree in the same field. Eventually, depending on many things...
- Ultimately become an astronaut or a test pilot and put my engineering background to use

What SA would provide the best opportunities such as internships closely related to my field of study, academic rigor, opportunities for a related advance degree, chances to become an aviator, etc.?


Thank you so much.
 
Most people would love to be in your shoes. In fact, most people would love to have been appointed to just one of those two. Just pick your favorite one and you can not go wrong. They are both great SAs.
 
Everything you say you want to do...you can do by attending either SA and then performing at the very top of your field.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
This is a great problem to have. Our DS had more than one astounding option. He had to really choose the place that was best for him.
My mom advice would be this. Choose a career not a school. Choose a culture and lifestyle that speaks to you. These are very different.
The four years you spend at either place will be difficult. And don’t let yourself believe that pilot or aviation is the only path. During service selection this year our son saw both men and women he respected not get their choice. The tears flowed. The reality is that they will bloom where planted and thrive. Be ready to have expectations change and shift with the wind.
Semper Gumby. And congrats to your accomplishment. Choice is a good thing.
 
I essentially have identical aspirations. The major difference for me is that I have not yet been accepted to USNA.

My conclusion: We will have essentially equal opportunity to get to a career as an astronaut/test pilot in either service. However, the USAF will give us a much higher quality of life than either the USMC or USN (unless you are particularly keen on the culture of one of those 3 branches, then roll with that one). Also, USNA is the superior academy due to better networking opportunities (especially in the civilian world) and overall academics.

In short, its literally all a personal/cultural preference. Everyone I've asked that has gone where we want to go has basically said that.

I personally am just emotionally biased to the navy because of lifelong aspirations and familial connections (and also a love of politics which tilts me to USNA), which is why should I get accepted to USNA, I will likely choose to go there.

Should I get that acceptance in the next few days, we should certainly PM and solve this problem together. It's a tough nut to crack, especially since most forums on here about this issue are filled with nuances or old (or both).

I've done my best to talk to as many people who've lived our dreams as possible, but they all unsurprisingly will essentially remind you that it comes 100% down to preference more than anything, which could make this decision way easier or harder depending on whether or not you have one. I am fortunate in that I do, but unfortunate in that I have not been accepted to the school that I have that preference to.

Edit: Just want to make it clear that if I am rejected from USNA I will definitely go to USAFA, since it really is just small personal preferences that I've found to be the distinguishing factors. There's lots of huge pros to USAFA like the glider program and other aviation based activities that USNA doesn't come close to.
 
It's very hard to choose the school, as you are most likely a teenager presented with a decision that could determine your career path for 20+ years. Like Steve said, you will be able to achieve your goals at either Academy. For your listed goals, I believe Air Force would provide better opportunities. Sure, you can fly in the Navy, but your intended planes (faster the better!) would generally require you to be deployed on a carrier away from home for months.

In the Air Force, you get a wider range of planes and fly the newest, fastest planes first. And then you can go home to your family every night, assuming you aren't deployed, which is an incredible experience. Yes, Annapolis offers many things Colorado Springs does not--Marine Corps careers, sailing opportunities, and ship- and sub-based careers--but for anything engineering and flight-related, USAFA would be perfect.

You can't go wrong, though.
 
How about throwing this into the thought process: if you DON’T get an a aviation spot (something happens medically preventing it, you aren’t selected, academics are tougher than expected, etc, etc...), what’s your 2nd choice? And how does that affect your decision? It’s something to consider, as it happens!

Throwing another couple things out there...one has opportunities for the newly created Space Force, and the other doesn’t. Additionally, I have been reading about cuts at Big Air Force in years to come...does that affect anything for you career wise?

The GOOD news, is both are stellar opportunities. And if you truly are undecided and will be happy either place (BTW...have you visited each campus? When my oldest did, he felt ‘his people’ were at USNA. The culture of each service are different!), throw a dart, jump in with both feet, and don’t look back.
 
Thanks to all for such good advice and perspectives.

We visited USNA. Loved the campus as well as downtown Annapolis. Working on visiting USAFA. I am sure I'll feel awestruck there as well.

"Ifnot2025then2026": As a new member, I am not sure I can PM yet.

Best wishes to all.
 
Thanks to all for such good advice and perspectives.

We visited USNA. Loved the campus as well as downtown Annapolis. Working on visiting USAFA. I am sure I'll feel awestruck there as well.

"Ifnot2025then2026": As a new member, I am not sure I can PM yet.

Best wishes to all.
5 posts, 7 days as a member, don’t just “bump.”
 
In my opinion, USNA felt historic while USAFA felt new and futuristic. USNA is a 338 acre campus and USAFA is 18,000 acres.

Your intended major is Aero - it's virtually a tie according to US News rankings - USAFA #3 and USNA is #5.

There are distinct service lifestyle differences others have pointed out. You can't go wrong with either and honestly, if you make a choice now and get to graduation -- you can cross commission into another branch if something along the way suggests you made the wrong choice.
 
Hey man! Love to know what you decide as I'm currently in almost the exact scenario. Were there any particular sources you found to be most helpful? Trying to decide between USAFA and USNA in terms of an aerospace/aeronautical major and a career as a pilot. Thank you so much.
 
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