<p>I know this isn't specifically regarding USNA, but I was thinking you guys could help me.</p>
<p>It's always been my dream to serve my country, and I originally intended on attending a service academy, but my parents discouraged me from going. I will be attending Princeton this fall, but ultimately I want to enroll in OCS or the platoon leaders course. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions as how I can prepare myself physically and mentally? I'm 17, I can do around 70 pushups, 12 pull ups, and I run 4-8 miles a day, usually 8 miles in an hour. I want to be in the best physical and mental condition possible, MARSOC would be my dream, so any advice is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m sure you parents are just looking out for you, but you are now an adult. Make the decisions for yourself. If you really want to go to a service academy you still can. There are many who take a year of prep school or college prior to attending a service academy.</p>
<p>Check out the application processes, pick classes that would be similar to a plebe curriculum. and apply for the class of 2015…you need to get on this though as soon as possible.</p>
<p>If you decide to stick w/ the Princeton route than if you can afford it try P90X, Insanity, or CrossFit. All of the programs have been used by the Marine Corps. They are great workouts and from there you learn some great workout techniques and trust me they push you to the limit and beyond. As far as mental preparation…not sure how you prepare yourself for that…other then push yourself, challenge yourself…choose harder classes or take on an extra class. having a difficult class load will certainly work you mentally and will help you develop organizational/priority skills and of course planning. you’ll quickly learn you can’t procrastinate w/ a tough work load. Keep in mind a freshmen at USNA will have a course load of 18credist per semester. Depending on what major you choose at USNA you could 20 credits a semester.</p>
<p>thanks for the input so far, but after college I believe I should be free to make my own decisions. Attending Princeton isn’t a monetary issue for me, I’m getting significant FA. Is it advisable to transfer into USNA or go the OCS route? I understand the USNA route from a financial perspective, but does OCS put you at that much of a disadvantage?</p>
<p>As a new USNA grad, I can not imagine any scenario that I would have to ask for my parents permission, nor where my parents would expect me to ask permission. At 22 years old I may ask for advice but that would be it, certainly not permission. LOL as of graduation I was informed that I was officially off the parental payroll!</p>
<p>ib612 - have you read One Bullet Away? Suggest you do if have not. USNA was a good road for me, but had I not gone to the Academy I would have done OCS. As for transferring - only you can know if it would be the right road for you. Ask yourself if you want to repeat freshman year of college because you will be doing so. Do you think that your experiences at Princeton will serve you well for OCS? I can tell you without a doubt that I received a first class education, was exposed to things that I would have never gotten to do anywhere else, from the lecturers that are brought onto the yard, to the summer programs I attended, to the friendships that I made. </p>
<p>I have not started TBS yet so I cannot answer your question on possible disadvantage. I can tell you both of my Marine Corps Company Officers went through OCS. I have very high regard for both individuals.</p>