My interview is tomorrow and I am so grateful I get to have a voice and show why I want to attend a service academy, The United States Military Academy in particular. I know that the panel will most likely ask me why I want to join the Army in general. I have my answer, but I am concerned I will offend anyone who is in a different branch of service. How can I make sure I give an answer that is true, but without insulting the other branches, thus possibly weakening my chances of being seen as a favorable applicant for the nomination?
Why One Wants to Join the Army
- Thread starter FaiM13
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2008
- Messages
- 20,520
You can express a preference without being negative about another Service or Service Academy.
Is there something you observed, something that happened, that you can mention as the thing that started you on this path? Maybe someone’s mom, an Army senior enlisted, came to school for a career day and impressed you. Or you saw a sharply uniformed Army Officer at church. Or read a book by GEN Colin Powell on leadership. Or your JROTC instructor became a personal role model. Or - “I have thoroughly researched the missions, potential officer career paths and culture of the 5 Armed Services. The Army appealed the most to me because... and I feel my skills and abilities would be a good fit there.
Last resort - “I don’t want to be on the water or under the water for months at a time.” “Neither Navy blue or Air Force blue are my best colors.” [emoji16]
Last edited:
My DS always said I like Air Force uniforms the least (Not the most important component of the academies just a truthful observation)....Now he proudly wears the blues
I agree. If your answer starts off with......"I dislike X because of.........", that won't be well received. Focus on why you decided to choose Army.
I told the board that I'd prefer being on a ship in the middle of nowhere to being on a base in the middle of no where. I also told the USAFA grad that I thought real pilots landed on carriers (My interview was more laid back than most...)
Be honest but tactful. No interviewer is going to be offended that you don't prefer their branch.
Be honest but tactful. No interviewer is going to be offended that you don't prefer their branch.
No, I am not going to try to purposefully insult other branches because I am aware that each branch is vital to the military's success. However, I cannot control how other people will receive what I say, which is why I am trying to avoid that issue altogether.
- Joined
- May 22, 2018
- Messages
- 5,482
Focus on why Army is right for you, not on why Navy or Air Force is wrong for you. If you can do that, then you should have no problem at all. Talk about why you are going to something, not going away from something.
Your MOC interview should be taken seriously and trying to be flippant or funny with your replies would be a mistake.
2024candidate
Swimmer
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2019
- Messages
- 279
During my interview, I was actually not asked why I wanted to join the Navy. None of my fellow candidates who I've talked to did either. Obviously, this is not normal, but just thought I'd share.
23usna23
MIDN, USN
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2019
- Messages
- 20
I agree, but you have to gauge the room. I was a Principal Nominee in a competitive district and when they asked "What is a weakness that you have?" I said "Chocolate", received a laugh, and then continued with my actual answer.
On my application for the nom, I also ranked Naval Academy as '1' and the rest as '0'. This was a bold move on my part, but I explained myself well. I said, "My grandpa was a Naval Aviator, my father was a Marine, I wouldn't be allowed back home if I chose a different branch", again, they laughed, and I continued to say "I can't see myself in any other branch. I don't want to be in the Army. I couldn't care less about the Air Force. I want to be a Naval Officer and I want to go to the Naval Academy.. and if I don't get in, I'll see you again next year".
Then, we spoke about my extra-curricular activities. I was a manager for the varsity football team and they were shocked that I knew so much about football... The rest of the interview was me defending the reason why I am a Patriot's fan.
Overall: Gauge the room and be yourself.
I agree about the 'be yourself' part, don't memorize answers or give stock answers that you think the interview team wants to hear. However, most h.s. students have had little experience in high profile interviews. Attempting to be a comedian can go terribly wrong if you say something the interviewers do NOT find funny. You certainly don't want to come off as arrogant or with a sense on entitlement regarding getting a NOM.
For most applicants, you are far better off to treat this as something serious/important which it is. Be self-confident about your skills/abilities, be respectful with your answers, answer the questions honestly and leave the comedy routine for some other occasion.
For most applicants, you are far better off to treat this as something serious/important which it is. Be self-confident about your skills/abilities, be respectful with your answers, answer the questions honestly and leave the comedy routine for some other occasion.
In life, it is all about the fit. Our son knew the Coast Guard and Air Force was not the right fit for him due to their missions. USNA was first followed by USMA. One team, one fight and the services complement each other. Go in there, tell them why USMA is a great fit and close them! Don't forget to say Beat Navy at the end with a smile! Good luck from a Navy dad
PS do you have plan B and C? That would be ROTC and OCS.That is... bold! Especially "I couldn't care less about the Air Force"... But hey you got the nom (and a principal at that!) and that's what counts.
While I wholeheartedly agree, I will still assert that it is important to gauge the room. About ten minutes in I was informed by the USNA graduate that I looked like MIDN Blakeney from Master and Commander. For those who haven't seen the movie, he's about six years old.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2008
- Messages
- 20,520
Lord Blakeney acquitted himself quite well in battle scenes, and with only one arm, so I’d take that and run with it. [emoji16]