<p>How do u know if the Naval Academy or any other service academy is* for you?</p>
<p>I am still searching my soul for this question as a rising senior. I don't know about the 9 year committment and the hard work. I have many lazy bones in my body. This is for all: prospectives, midship(wo)men, and alumni. I am also considering NC state, UNC-Ch and Duke. What would be tougher: Duke or USNA? Duke rotc or USNA? UNC rotc or USNA. and why?</p>
<p>i think its safe to say usna is tougher then ANY other colleges you have in mind.</p>
<p>You have to ask yourself what your endstate is. If it is to be a military officer then you have to ask yourself where you will be able to develop into a combat leader the best. If your endstate is not to be a military officer and combat leader then the academy and rotc are probably not for you.</p>
<p>leetx, My S is a rising jr. NROTC midshipman at NC State (NCSU battalion beats UNC and Duke every year in field competitions. State is way more hardcore). </p>
<p>Of course NROTC is never going to be as tough as a service academy.<br>
BUT, if you already know you are lazy, you probably should reconsider because NROTC (my S's unit anyway) requires quite a LOT of physical activity plus you have to take extra ROTC classes in addition to your regular classes so you always have a heavy load of credit hours.<br>
Those who are not committed to it are usually not successful in the program. Don't make the mistake of thinking NROTC is a good way to get some free scholarship money. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment. </p>
<p>S's class started out with 28 midshipman (25 on scholarship) at the beginning of freshman year. When their Jr. year begins in Aug., they will have 13 left in their class. You have to really want it and be willing to do whatever it takes even when it makes you miserable because sometimes it surely will. </p>
<p>that being said, my s loves it (most of the time,lol).</p>
<p>whats the advantage of being a military officer or combat leader? I always wanted to be a entrepreneur and thought that the USNA would help me develop skills like discipline and leadership.. I probably don't want to be in the military for my whole career.</p>
<p>There really is no "advantage" to being an officer. Most officers would make a lot more money in the private sector, and would be able to be with their family much more if they worked in the private sector. You become an officer not because of what it will do for you in the future, you should become an officer because you know in your gut that it is the right thing for you and for your country.</p>
<p>^^^exactly^^^ Many people questioned my S's decision to be a Naval Officer, asking shouldn't he be going to med sch. or law sch. The answer was no. He has wanted to be a military officer for years (since middle sch.) and would not think of doing anything else regardless of the money.</p>
<p>I knew USAFA was for me after summer seminar. It just fit. Not all people get that feeling, but I did.</p>
<p>USNA shouldn't be viewed as a stepping stone to a business career. Granted, it does set people up for a lot of business success, but that is not what it is for. Do you want to be a leader in the military? It does not neccessarily need to be a career, but if you don't want to do it for at least a few years, I would advise you to rethink USNA.</p>
<p>Service academies REQUIRE dedication, not just to your goals but to the service as well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How do u know if the Naval Academy or any other service academy if for you?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There are several places to start to "figure it out"....
all will require some effort on your part, however. </p>
<p>First, get the catalogue- and read it, cover to cover.
It will give you a starting place as to what the USNA is all about.
Is this something you can see your self doing?</p>
<p>Second, visit.
A picture is worth a thousand words.</p>
<p>Third, do your homework.
Get Smallwoods book "A candidates guide to .....USNA"
available on Amazon.com
read that- it will explain the "how to's" of this process.
Get info on NRTOC.
Get the catalogues from your other schools and read those.
Visit your top choices.</p>
<p>Then start asking questions- all sorts of them- here and from others-
find out who your BGO is and make contact.
Meet with your college councilors
Discuss with your parents
Research each of the other schools that are on your "list" just as thoroughly.</p>
<p>With a bit of effort on your part....research, reading, visiting, etc.... you will come to the point where the USNA is either something that you can see yourself doing, or not.... but you need to do the work.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Isn't it kind of like buying a boat? </p>
<p>If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!</p>
<p>Why be a military officer or combat leader?...Because you owe it to the people you are leading. Their lives depend on it. It is not about what you want to do and how it will benefit your life. Your responsible for the sons and daughters of America. That Marine under your command as a combat leader is somebody's son or daughter, or maybe husband/ wife, father/mother. If you plan on using the military, then it is not for you. All of the money in the world will not bring back that person who may die under your command from incompetance because you are too worried about your career after the miltary instead of being that combat leader. Sure everybody doesnt stay in for a career however every day you are an Officer of Marines or Sailors you are not your number one priority, your people are.</p>
<p>Well said!!</p>
<p>Bill,
Stop being such a grouch ;)
Navy 07 said it best, and navy2010 suggested a reasonable plan. I have a question though. I know the current USNA catalog is online, but I thought the Great Class of 2009 was the last to receive it in the mail along with the fantastic DVD, including "To Lead and to Serve." Do current candidates automatically receive the catalog, or do they have to call admissions and request it?</p>
<p>The Smallwood book was our bible!</p>
<p>Nah...bill's not being grouchy.... </p>
<p>Bill, I so appreciate your sense of humor! (and it's not even friday yet!!!)</p>
<p>but it nevertheless reminded me that the path to the academy is different for everyone...</p>
<p>While the majority may have "desired" this for a long time (be it Naval officer, navy as career, USNA, military, or any combo of them), some arrive at the decision through other doors...I would venture to say that for some it is some tangible/intangable thing that peeks their interest enough to explore further- and after that, the USNA- and the Navy sells itself....</p>
<p>So I have to give credit to the kids that even consider any of the academy programs - including ROTC's- for their inquiry- no matter how that gets sparked. Some will get turned off in the process, while others will "catch the bug." What I do think is a "must do" is that they do their "homework"- </p>
<p>I think the best thing anyone can do is enourage them to explore their options carefully- and thoroughly- so they can make an informed choice when the time comes. Hopefully, they will make the right one- for them!</p>
<p>(As for Smallwood- we would have been lost without it...that and our son's BGO's!!!)
(USNA cataloge can be downloaded.....not sure about the DVD... I think the video has been changed - redesgined around the USNA Mission)</p>
<p>
[quote]
How do u know if the Naval Academy or any other service academy is* for you?</p>
<p>I am still searching my soul for this question as a rising senior. I don't know about the 9 year committment and the hard work. I have many lazy bones in my body. This is for all: prospectives, midship(wo)men, and alumni. I am also considering NC state, UNC-Ch and Duke.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am answering without having first read the replies above, so please forgive me if I repeat any points.</p>
<p>You say you are searching your soul. Well, that's the answer to your question. If it provides any help, let me offer you some questions I think you need to ask yourself and, more importantly, ANSWER HONESTLY before you make any decisions.</p>
<p>1) What do you really want to be in life? Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Military Officer, Teacher? It is a surprisingly difficult question because even once you've answered it for "sure" it can change.</p>
<p>2) Once you answer question #1, what do you think is the best way to achieve that goal? This question requires you to look up facts and figures as well as search yourself. I will use the time-honored example of wanting to be a military doctor. Yes, you can go to USxA and become a doctor, but it is exceedingly difficult. You may be better off going ROTC, or else becoming a doctor first and then signing up through OIS. Many paths, each with pros and cons, and you can only walk one.</p>
<p>3) Concerning the military. Are you prepared to give a good number of your "prime" years to the Service? It means less-than-market pay, long hours (days, weeks, months) away from home, sub-par living conditions, and the chance of getting killed. OTOH, it provides leadership experience at an age unheard of in the civilian world, experiences you won't find anywhere else, and a sense of belonging to a group that must be experienced in order to be appreciated.</p>
<p>4) As to whether to attend USxA or ROTC, that requires answering questions similar to those above. Are you prepared to go through a seemingly pointless Plebe Year when you could instead be waking up next to the warm body of your SO every morning, skip class with few repercussions, party every night, call home whenever you want, and have your summers off, or are you willing to sacrifice and put up with a metric assload of crap? The payoff, of course, is the pride and comraderie that comes with the ring you find at the bottom of that pile once you're done slinging it all...</p>
<p>This is what comes to mind up front. You have much thinking to do, and don't let anyone make you think they have THE answer. The military is not for everyone (not yet, anyway). The Service Academies most DEFINITELY are not for everyone. The question is, are they for YOU? Only YOU can answer that. What we old broken-down alumni and the current generation of mids/cadets and their parents can do is give you the answers and information you need to make the final decision, and there really isn't a right or wrong one.</p>
<p>Good luck, God bless, and shoot me an IM if you want to.</p>
<ul>
<li>Z</li>
</ul>
<p>
[quote]
What would be tougher: Duke or USNA? Duke rotc or USNA? UNC rotc or USNA. and why?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Woops. Sorry. Missed this. :o</p>
<p>I would put any Service Academy as being "more difficult" than any AVERAGE civilian college/university. It is definitely "more difficult" than any ROTC program simply because of the amount of commitment needed to handle a 24/7 program.</p>
<p>Now, concerning the "AVERAGE" college/university. Academics at USxA are no joke. You will study your tail off or you won't graduate. That said, it is perfectly reasonable to debate if, say.... MIT is more academically rigorous. Yes and no. I know guys who failed out of USNA who were pulling down 3.8's at Georgetown. It all depends.</p>
<p>Rather than asking which is harder than the other, you should ask which is best suited to help you achieve your ultimate goal. Want to be a serious full-time engineer? MIT is hard to beat. Wanna be a lawyer or business tycoon? Harvard. Want to be a doctor? Johns Hopkins is THE place. Want to be an officer in the military? Go USxA unless (as I mentioned above) you want to specialize in something, in which case the formulae start getting more complex.</p>
<p>Hang in there. You're not alone in your soul-searching. :)</p>
<p>Oh, and don't sweat being lazy too much. I am the laziest person on the planet, and I graduated USNA. I did so for one reason: I wanted to graduate more than I wanted to sit on the couch. That's really all it takes.</p>
<p>
[quote]
whats the advantage of being a military officer or combat leader? I always wanted to be a entrepreneur and thought that the USNA would help me develop skills like discipline and leadership.. I probably don't want to be in the military for my whole career.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with that. I wanted a full career but changed my mind later. Others go in for "five and dive" and spend 20 years. What you need to look at is what you'd get out of it.</p>
<p>There are few more personally satisfying jobs in the world than leading men under arms. As I said above, there is a camraderie that must be experienced to be understood. It is ESPECIALLY true if you are a GOOD leader and earn the respect of your people. It goes far beyond teamwork.</p>
<p>If you can thrive in an environment like that, where BS is usually kept to an absolute minimum and where lives are quite literally on the line, then you can bloody well survive in the business world as either an employee or your own boss.</p>
<p>ETA: </p>
<p>
[quote]
There really is no "advantage" to being an officer. </p>
<p><snip></snip></p>
<p>You become an officer not because of what it will do for you in the future, you should become an officer because you know in your gut that it is the right thing for you and for your country.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I respectfully disagree.</p>
<p>There IS an advantage to being an officer. Let's be frank: you give more orders than you take, and it's always "better" to be in charge. You make more money. You get the salutes, etc. IOW, Rank Hath It's Privleges (RHIP).</p>
<p>HOWEVER... Rank ALSO Hath It's RESPONSIBILITIES (RHIR). Sure, you are in charge of X number of people, but that means that your success depends on THEM, and they depend on YOU. THAT is the essence of leadership: to recognize that relationship and do everything you can to ensure your people are HEALTHY and READY. You take care of them, and they WILL take care of YOU.</p>
<p>If there were no advantages to being in the higher ranks, no one would work to earn them. ;)</p>
<p>I am not going to speculate on the benefits of Leading, but i completely disagree that if there were no advantages to higher ranks no one would work to earn them. Some of us are called to Lead and Serve. In the end you are accountable to your men and your country not yourself. This is something I learned from good friend of mine at MD Boy's state who happens to be be on the yard currently working to SERVE not benefit himself. I think that some people are out to benefit them selves but most Military Officers are out to serve. I personally would do it for free.</p>
<p>While there may be some advantages, as you have stated, I believe that many of us who choose the Academy or ROTC route are filled with idealism that makes us feel that we are not pursuing the advantages, but instead the fulfillment that comes from taking care of your men.</p>
<p>That is my exact point Danbrenn.</p>