<p>Hey, I'm a Marine and I was just accepted directly to the academy from the fleet for class of '09. I'm looking to meet other people who are either prior enlisted or from NAPS. We all report a day early, and I've heard that one of the closest knit groups at the Academy are the prior's (my brother is an Academy grad '03). I'm a lot older and I'm looking for people who are older like me (I'm almost 23). Drop me a line even if you don't fit this description. I'm just looking for people to talk to about being excited to go this summer.</p>
<p>That's a strange situation to be in...being a year or so older than the upper-classmen screaming at you. You should be ahead of most of the people on this board, who are almost all straight out of high school.</p>
<p>I'm sort of in the same boat as you are going to be Taylor... In the fact that I will be older (20) than most of the "kids" joining me on I-day... I am transferring from Texas Tech University, and will have already had two years of college experience under my belt. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I feel that a person grows (mentally, physically, emotionally) the most during their first 2-3 semesters of college or even just the first year and a half out of high school (in the real world)... I would like everyone that visits this board plus those that will be joining us on I-day here in June, to know that I will always be available to chat with in regards to any matter. I'll help you carry on For it won't be long, until I'm going to need, somebody to lean on. (Love that song... just had to throw it in there)</p>
<p>Nick,
I know exactly what you're talking about. I've spent two years at college and two years in the Marine Corps, and most of my development came within my first couple of semesters. The rest of the time of course was just trying to fix what I screwed up straight out of High School. I did very poorly in college (less than a 2.0). I had to join the Marine Corps to even have a chance.</p>
<p>Just as Spider said, I'd also be willing to help out anyone who needs it. I'm not really worried at all about plebe summer, or plebe year.
Don't give up if you fail. I applied to the Academy last year and didn't even get into NAPS.</p>
<p>i'm kind of in the same boat as y'all... except that i am still waiting to get an appointment... i'm in my freshman year of college now, and i've definately gotten a lot more responsible since high school--financially espescially. but at the same time, i think i did a lot of my emotional maturing while i was still in high school. i had a really tough sr. year, like, there was a suicide at my school, one of my closest friends got pregnant (she doesn't believe in abortion and kept the baby), my (ex)boyfriend slept with my (ex)best friend... but i dunno, i guess i'm just trying to say that while those of us who've been off on our own will have the advantage of knowing how to take care of ourselves without our parents, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll be rediculously removed from our classmates developmentally. i think it mostly just means we'll have a slightly less stressful plebe year. i also think our classmates will catch up to us pretty quickly because people who go to service academies are generally mature and responsible to begin with.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your appointment! My son has two prior Marine Plebes in his company. You have a challenge ahead of you...yes, you are going to be older than some of Cadre, but just remember "chain of command". Put a neutral look on your face, think anything you want in your head and get on with it. One HUGE thing for you to remember is that Plebes, no matter what their age, cannot drink PERIOD, no exceptions. It's one year out of your life and not worth the trouble it can cause. My son really looks up to the priors in his company and they've been great at helping the younger plebes.</p>
<p>I think if you made is through MCRD Parris Island or MCRD San Diego with Marine Corps Drill Instructors then Plebe Summer should be a walk in the park! </p>
<p>When I visited the Merchant Marine Academy I ate breakfast with a prior Marine who spent time in Iraq. I thought, how can the upperclassmen even be worthy of yelling at him? Unless of course...they're prior enlisted.</p>
<p>"I think if you made is through MCRD Parris Island or MCRD San Diego with Marine Corps Drill Instructors then Plebe Summer should be a walk in the park!"</p>
<p>That kind of attitude will be the first reason why it won't be. </p>
<p>"how can the upperclassmen even be worthy of yelling at him? Unless of course...they're prior enlisted."</p>
<p>Because the upperclassmen have two years of officer training under their belts, while the prior enlisted Marine has zero. </p>
<p>--Taylor, all I can say is that you are going to be in for a LONG year. If you can, you should try and think of yourself not as corporal, but as a plebe, as soon as you show up. Also, you should be aware of the fact that the upperclassmen are NOT very confident in their abilities to lead others, and they will not appreciate it if they perceive that you are "challenging" them on anything. The Academy is a VERY different place than the FMF, and it is important that you recognize the differences in culture and work with the system rather than against it. I think plebe year will suck especially bad for a guy in your situation--but just keep your eyes on the prize at the end. </p>
<p>hmm, don't ever remember saying I wanted to challenge anyone's authority???</p>
<p>Try Parris Island...</p>
<p>And I still don't plan on having a hard time. Marines just shut up and do what they're told. We have the edge because we don't have to impress anyone like the High school kids do. We just go with the flow.</p>
<p>The priors hate it! well I don't know about the academy but at NAPS (lucky you got straight in) they bascially have to babysit us and they get punished if we f-up. Most of them get striper roles and they are expected to set the example. It's very hard to keep patience when some of these guys have been to Iraq and these "kids" complain about not wearing gloves in 50 degree weather. It's just hard to start from the bottom again.</p>
<p>I really have to take my hat off to candidates that are coming from the fleet, NAPS, foundation schools, and colleges for their commitment to the goal of attending USNA or one of the other service academies. Overall, these young men and women are smart, hard-working, and motivated enough to spend a year or two, maybe even three years beyond high school studying, working, and putting together all the pieces required (probably without the help of an adult) to win an appointment to one of the service academies. If they have the MATURITY and WISDOM to accomplish that then I believe that they will overcome the challenges they encounter along the way and have a brilliant career in the military service of their choice. Their experiences add to the quality and diversity of the Brigade. BRAVO!</p>
<p>In President Jimmy Carters latest bio he talks about attending college for two years before he was finally able to gain a nomination to the United States Naval Academy. His experience is an inspiration to many.</p>
<p>I have applied this year to USNA, but right now my best chances are with NAPS. If I don't get NAPS this year I am considering enlisting into the Navy Nuclear Power Program. I understand 18 received appointments out of the program last year, but I don't know how many applied. I like hearing of the success you prior enlisted are having getting appointments. From your expiriences, what do you think those who don't get placed into NAPS should do? What other enlistment programs should I consider besides Nuclear Power? What exactly did you do?</p>
<p>If you don't get a USNA appointment, then go ROTC or OCS. By the time you get through bootcamp, nuke school, NAPS, USNA, you could either be an O-1 Academy Grad or an O-3 ROTC grad at the same age. There are a lot of guys here at NAPS that went to nuke school and are older than some of the newly commissioned/graduated USNA teachers here.</p>
<p>BRM21o,
Do you by any chance know how old the oldest people at NAPS are...I'm an enlisted Marine and I'm trying to gauge how many people in my class (09) are going to be around my age (I turn 23 shortly after getting to the academy this summer...I'm pretty much as old as you can get to go). It would be reassuring to know that there are others as old as I am. I'm not looking forward to being possibly alienated because of my age and background.</p>
<p>What rank are you 09Marine? Most of the prior enlisted are E-4's and E-5's, over 21, and you don't have to worry about being alienated. Once we get to be plebes, we're all 18 again. I have all of the NAPS Marines e-mail addresses if you want them. The training at NAPS and USNA is COMPLETELY different than the Corps and at times extremely frustrating but we have a good group of guys and have established a good chain of command within ourselves so that we all succeed as Marines do. Did you spend any time in the sand? Who were you with? MOS? PM or e-mail me if you want e-mail addresses and info about the Marines here. </p>