<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>(copied from my post on the West Point Forum)</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>As a major I would enjoy history</p>
<p>Naval History is much cooler/more influential than Army's history will ever be.</p>
<p>If you don't think so...just remember how Columbus got here (pretty sure he didn't walk)...or how the Pacific war in WWII was almost entirely Navy/MC run...or how the Greeks defeated the Persians only because the Persian fleet was decimated at Salamis...you get my point.</p>
<p>Navy > Army</p>
<p>JTRW3990- </p>
<p>[<a href="http://www.usna.edu/History/weboffer.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/History/weboffer.html</a>]</p>
<p>That is the link to the USNA's available history courses. It would probably change semester to semester somewhat, but I would say a safe guess is most will be available.</p>
<p>This is the link to the USMA's available military history courses, there are other history courses also, which you can find if you just browse around. It's also possible they won't offer all of the courses each year.</p>
<p>Personally, after looking at that list and wanting to be a History major myself, I'm a little more tempted to attend USMA over USNA based off courses. That is if I want two History degrees lol...</p>
<p>I do have a question for you though, maybe you might have some info here since you are familiar with the Army, if SWO you mean SpecialWarfareOfficer (SEALs, EOD, Diver, SWCC) for the Navy, and for Army, Infantry or Armor, why not Special Forces/Special Operations? On the Army's website I wasn't able to find out if you could join SF or SO from USMA, if you know anything about this, let me know, if not all good and good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>(I believe SWO stands for Surface Warfare Officer, but since the USNA website also lists Special Warfare Officer, I have to ask each time)</p>
<p>Yeah, I meant Surface Warfare. My Army Instructor is an Army Green Beret Command Sergeant Major and my neighbor a former SEAL Chief Petty Officer so I've been exposed to that aspect of the services too. I consider them also, but I also look at my realistic goals more closely. Naturally in the Army, I would try for Ranger and airborne and see where I go from there.</p>
<p>In the Army I believe they want you to have Ranger and Airborne qualifications before you can apply for SF. I think it is that they want an officer to have command experience.</p>
<p>Ah I see thanks! Best of luck to you.</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>If you go to the Naval Academy you have the option of a navy career and a marine corps career, and in my totall un-biased opinion (MCJROTC officer) Marine Corps is better than Army, has more pride in what it does.</p>
<p>JRT: What I would suggest is to attend both summer sessions with an open mind (you said you were accepted to both) and see what "fits" better.... if you are offered a candidate visit weekend at USNA and USMA during your senior year, so much the better...the more you can visit and experience each one "first hand" the more opportunity you will have to figure it all out.</p>
<p>It appears you have done your homework, and are asking all the right questions- questions reaching beyond the 4-years of academics- which is a great thing....so keep it up... you will figure it out, so just give each one the time and attention they (and you) deserve! Best of luck....either way, you can't go wrong- they are wonderful institutions!</p>
<p>Some of this has already been touched on...</p>
<p>USNA offers more variety in terms of types of service than USMA. You have aviation, subs, surface, USMC, and some specialties. I am no expert on Army career paths, but I do know they are not as varied as USN.</p>
<p>That said, you can't go wrong either way. Putting all rivalries aside, USMA and USNA are among the best places you can possibly go, and both will serve you well. What you have to do is look deep inside yourself and decide what is best for YOU.</p>
<p>What do you dream of? Is it being an Airborne Ranger? Is it sleeping under the stars, no matter what the bugs and mud feel like? Is it leading men directly within the thick of combat, with the enemy oftentimes within arms reach? Is it leading a tank platoon? Then go Army.</p>
<p>If it is engaging in a more intellectual kind of battle, where tactics and weapons systems are more technical and deadly, were you have to face both the enemy as well as the sea, then Navy is your choice. If you want to combine the Army bits with the Naval Service, then USMC is your calling.</p>
<p>Either way, you are to be envied. Some people live their entire lives and are never blessed with having to choose between two such choices. Appreciate your position, do your homework, choose, then don't look back.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>JT-
I understand what you're going through, about a month and a half ago, I was in your same position, deciding between USNA and USMA. What it boiled down to for me was the fact that USNA has a much wider career field than USMA. If you weant to do a little ground pounding, go Marine. If you change your mind half-way through (very very common) you go surface warfare, or aviation. In the end I decided that USNA was right because the options are much greater. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>The Army has more boats than the Navy and more planes than the Air Force</p>