USMA or USAFA?

armymike7

USMA 2024
Joined
Mar 18, 2019
Messages
28
I'm looking to join the class of 2024 at either USMA or USAFA but I cannot decide. I've been pondering it for many months and I'm hoping that some external input can break the stagnation.

I plan on majoring in mechanical or chemical engineering. After school, I plan on pursuing either the Aviation, Engineering, or Battlefield airmen/SOF fields. After going to SLE and summer seminar, I feel that I identify more with the culture of the air force but I am much more attracted to the long history of West Point and the Army. West Point has been my dream since I was very little and it has been my primary motivation for doing well in school. I am also quite attracted to the training offered by West Point such as Army Airborne school, CFT, CLDT etc.

I know the choice should be based on which service I see myself in after time at the academies, but the issue lies in the fact that I could see myself at either. Any advice?
 
Apply to both. Visit both as much as you can. Continue to learn about service life post-SA. See if you receive offers of appointment. Be open to the journey on the way to this potential decision and be prepared to choose. That’s a big part of being an adult.
 
Yep you don’t really have to make that decision until next spring, should you received appointments to both. Senior year will provide much growth, maturity, and clarity. You may find that the choice becomes obvious. It’s normal and perfectly OK to not know at this point.

It’s like making a good soup...put everything in and let it simmer for a LONG time!
 
My DD was in a similar place, but between USNA and USMA. As @Capt MJ suggests, she kept all options open to the end. That meant applying to both plus USAFA and ROTC — her top priority is to serve our country as a commissioned officer, whichever route it takes.

Her heart had always been with Navy/USNA first, but her eyes turned toward Army/USMA after a concerted lobbying effort by alumni at a West Point Founders Dinner. After that brief flirtation, she decided on USNA. In the end, I know she would’ve been happy at either one — both for college and for active duty. But most important thing is she gave herself options, and she gave herself time to truly explore the various angles of the decision. Suggest you aim to have those same options and time.
 
Think about life AFTER the academy and also life if you don't become a pilot.
  • Army Aviation is predominately rotary, but officers don't fly as much as WO's. If you don't become an Army pilot, you will need to embrace "living in the elements" and lots of rucking.
  • AF offers more fixed wing, but then if you don't become an AF pilot, the majority of positions are desk oriented.
  • One is not better than the other. They are just different.
  • Think about the jobs each branch offers after graduation before you choose.
In the meantime, as MidCake, justdoit19, and Capt MJ advise, apply to BOTH! You can decide later!
 
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I'm looking to join the class of 2024 at either USMA or USAFA but I cannot decide. I've been pondering it for many months and I'm hoping that some external input can break the stagnation.

I plan on majoring in mechanical or chemical engineering. After school, I plan on pursuing either the Aviation, Engineering, or Battlefield airmen/SOF fields. After going to SLE and summer seminar, I feel that I identify more with the culture of the air force but I am much more attracted to the long history of West Point and the Army. West Point has been my dream since I was very little and it has been my primary motivation for doing well in school. I am also quite attracted to the training offered by West Point such as Army Airborne school, CFT, CLDT etc.

I know the choice should be based on which service I see myself in after time at the academies, but the issue lies in the fact that I could see myself at either. Any advice?


no Chemical Engineering major at USAFA, only Chemistry
look at all the SA's to see what majors they offer - and what career fields each service has
 
Aviation, Engineering, and SOF are VERY different fields.

For Aviation, AF has mostly fixed-wing, expects several flying assignments out of their pilots, and generally tries take good care of them. Army has mostly rotary-wing, expects their officer pilots to be OK pilots and good unit leaders (eg, they don't get as much flight time after their first assignment). Army also views aviation as more of a supporting function than the AF's reason for existence. Warrant officers do the most flying in the Army, and are the flying experts, vs. the officers fly some but are more focused on leading the unit. The AF mixes this and expects pilots to be the flying experts until somewhere in the 8-12 year point, then move more toward leadership.

For AF Engineering, expect to be primarily in the office, and doing more program management than experimental research.
 
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