<p>I have been accepted to both the USNA and USMA summer seminars. I am drawn to both services and feel that I would be excited and fulfilled while pursuing both careers. I feel that I am drawn to the water and have always like the idea of the sea service. With the Army, I know the service. I have grown up with it. Every Army officer and West Point grad I meet I am impressed with. I believe I would be happy in an Army career. I rarely meet a Naval officer, probably because their high-speed guys are at sea. The one thing with Navy is I want to work with people not just a computer system, and I do not know much about naval careers, whereas I have more access to information about life and the career experience of an army officer. With Navy I'm thinking SWO and Army Infantry or Armor. If anyone could offer insight it would be much appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>If it's any comfort to you, remember that you can earn your commission into the Marine Corps from USNA too, which would pretty much cover most, if not all, of the career opportunities present in the Army. For that reason, if USMA and USNA are equal in all other aspects to you, then USNA might be the way to go for you because you have both the option of a "naval" career in the Navy or an "army" career in the Marine Corps.</p>
<p>But that's only if both institutions are equal for you. Don't forget other factors such as location, majors, etc are points to consider as well.</p>
<p>im more of a history sort of guy so for some reason that makes me like west point more</p>
<p>Read some books about the Navy..?</p>
<p>JTRW3990, </p>
<p>You should consider also looking at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Kings Point graduates have the option of going active duty in any service or taking a Reserve or National Guard position and working in the maritime industry.</p>
<p>The Army has recently established a very aggressive program at Kings Point headed by a West Point Grad of 1995, with two NCO's and a Warrant Officer. The Army lead is Captain Joel Buffardi, is a recruiting poster Soldier. He did his five years active service and then went to Wall Street to run hedge funds and when the war started, he gave up his million dollar a year job to rejoin the NY National Guard and has done two tours in Iraq and instead of going back to Wall Street, he volunteers to set up the Kings Point program. In addition to going to sea for a year, many Mids are going to jump school and getting jump certified during their sea year as well.</p>
<p>You should call Capt. Buffardi.</p>
<p>If you want to be a SWO in the Navy, Kings Point is also worth a look, because when you get into the Fleet, you will have actually been in command of a bridge many times during your year at sea and know what's going on. At the Naval Academy you will go to sea for maybe six weeks during a summer and will simply follow a junior officer around. At KP you will go to sea for a year and will be a working member of the crew of different types of merchant ships where you will do everything from manage cargo ops, to commanding the watch, to painting the decks. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.usmma.edu/life/sea/default.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.usmma.edu/life/sea/default.htm</a></p>
<p>LFWB had appointments to both USNA and USMMA and chose USMMA because of the options and the chance to spend so much time at sea. He's already been to 9 countries and 24 ports, including two trips to Iraq to bring supplies to the troops.</p>
<p>Just another thought.</p>
<p>Yes, definetly conidering Kings Point.</p>
<p>Navy's the way to go! Forget West Point</p>
<p>Though I'm sure everyone has their school loyalties reasoning and examples will be the most effective in helping me make the decision. thanks.-John</p>
<p>JTRW3990,</p>
<p>Me and you are in the same position- I'm unsure of whether or not I want to go to USMA or USNA (I've been offered appointments to both thankfully). Here's how I reasoned it out:</p>
<p>I've always wanted a career in the Navy but I'm drawn more to West Point because not only do they have the major I like, I wouldn't have to take as much math over there as I would at the Naval Academy and I absolutely suck/loath math. That was a big issue for me. Also, here is my career break down:</p>
<ol>
<li>Go to West Point and major in what I want to major (Military History or Military Art and Science)</li>
<li>Become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army</li>
<li>Go into some combat arms profession (Infantry, Armor, Artillery, or Aviation) and NOT die (emphasis on the not)</li>
<li>Serve my 8 years in the U.S. Army</li>
</ol>
<p>Now here's the kicker:</p>
<ol>
<li>Retire from the Army and serve in the U.S. Navy for the rest of my days either as a Naval Aviator (with an Age waiver hopefully) or attempt to become a Navy SEAL or lastly, serve as a Surface Warfare Officer.</li>
</ol>
<p>With that plan in mind, not only do I get to go to West Point and get the major I like, I also get to ground pound for a bit (which I've always wanted to do) while still have the opportunity to live like a Star Trek character in the U.S. Navy.</p>
<p>That's how I reasoned it anyway. You may find another way to reason it out. If my visit to the Naval Academy this coming weekend doesn't completely "wow" me, I think I'll go with the plan I just mentioned above.</p>
<p>Hope that helped!</p>
<p>USNA lets you choose between flying/sailing/shootin', which is great. I can't ignore the fact that USMA has produced scores of historical figures, as opposed to a crazy daiper-wearing astronaut :)
If you're like me, intrigued by the history, practically blind, and with ambitions to be a Latin American dictator, USMA can't be beat</p>
<p>JTRW3990,
D received appointments to both Army and Navy--she was able to attend the summer seminar sessions at both academies. When the summer sessions were through she had made her final decison and now she is finishing her 2nd year at West Point. She based her decision on several things--all of which were subjective on her part of course :) :</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Military bearing and discipline of the upperclassmen/women at the each academy.</p></li>
<li><p>The level of organization at both seminars</p></li>
<li><p>The academy grounds--the "feel" of the place, if you will.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And probably most importantly, where she could really see herself in 4 years--in or on the water in a mostly technically oriented career or leading soldiers.</p>
<p>Good luck on your choiuces--pretty good alternatives to choose between!</p>
<p>As you can see by my SN, I had the same struggle. I'm now finishing up my second year hear at West Point. One thing you said caught my attention--that you want to work with people, not a computer system. That's why I came to West Point. Especially as a SWO, you're going to be put in charge of a part of a ship, not a platoon. You could have only 1 or two guys under you. For me, that was enough to make me want to go to West Point. Only 16% of the graduating class at USNA gets to go Marines. That's not a very high percentile.</p>
<p>I'm a foreign area study (middle east) major, and I love it. I went to Egypt for Spring Break, going back for three weeks in the summer, and then I'm doing a semester abroad in Jordan next year. What awesome opportunities (and all of them free!) I've learned so much Arabic, and experienced a completely different and awesome culture.</p>
<p>Another thing that tipped me towards West Point was that I wanted to do all the so called "hooah" stuff. I wanted to play with weapons, drive a Humvee, get cool gear. I've done all of the above, and I love it. USNA isn't nearly as tactically oriented. I don't know that you'll ever shoot an M16 except during their version of Beast. </p>
<p>Just a few thoughts.</p>
<p>Yeah I like all of the hooah stuff too. I wish the Navy still went to war, not just missiles. With the Navy I like the idea of being on the water and the travel. Marines4me do u think ull go Rangers? I suck at math too spectrez. I do know that there was an Annapolis grad who went Army and did a spectacular retreating action in Korea, I can't recall his name but he was certainly a hero. I want to lead people not just a machine, though commanding a ship must be awesome. Thanks for all of the input, keep it coming.</p>
<p>JTRW, I'd say that going to Ranger School is pretty unlikely for me, considering I'm a female. ;) If I could go Armor, though, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Right now I'm looking at Aviation, MPs, or MI. I want to lead a Platoon, so I'm not sure about MI, but at the same time, I really want to continue to learn/speak Arabic. We'll see what time brings.</p>
<p>marines4me</p>
<p>My friend's daughter graduated from USMA a couple years ago and is now leading a platoon of MPs. She is loving every minute of it!</p>
<p>Tim</p>
<p>
[quote]
Navy's the way to go!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course! :D</p>
<p>
[quote]
Forget West Point
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not so fast. </p>
<p>Choosing between West Point and Annapolis is like choosing between a Lamborghini and a Ferrari. No matter which one you pick, you will be in for one hell of a ride and will be doing something SERIOUS that others will envy from afar, and with good reason.</p>
<p>Go to both places, see which one best suits you, then decide based on that. You can't go wrong.</p>
<p>Well, you can pick West Point, but that's a different matter. ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I wish the Navy still went to war...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It does.</p>
<p>However, if you mean all-out war like we saw in WWII, then I should remind you that when the day comes that the United States Navy needs to fight battles like WWII again, it will mean that WWIII is upon us and the death and carnage we will be witnessing will make the "casualties" we are now seeing in Iraq look like child's play. (I can only imagine what the reaction of some would be to news like THAT.)</p>
<p>Be careful what you wish for...</p>
<p>ETA:</p>
<p>
[quote]
And probably most importantly, where she could really see herself in 4 years--in or on the water in a mostly technically oriented career or leading soldiers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's exactly right (even though USNA gives you more flexibility of choice after graduation). Still, the choice of which Academy to attend boils down to what you want to be doing AFTER the Academy.</p>
<p>I chose Navy because I loved the technical nature of ships, aircraft, etc. Looking back, I think I would now choose Marine Corps (believe it or not). These things happen.</p>
<p>Good luck on your selection. Remember that there are other kids out there (many of whom will look DOWN on you) who would commit mass murder to have the choices you are now facing. </p>
<p>Congratulations and good luck! :)</p>
<p>When we attended a board presentation of all the service academies to the public last summer, the navy rep stated, for the record, the USNA is am "engnerring school". The army rep said the USMA had evolved to over 60 acdemic paths to select and while math would always be important, the liberal arts were in many paths just as important.</p>