<p>I am currently enlisted, and will (hopefully) begin attending USMA next year. I will be an e-5 with two deployments under my belt at the time that I am released from my unit to move to West Point.</p>
<p>Am I going to see any benefits / respect from anyone while I'm there since I have already been through all of this? Or will it be swept under the rug and irrelevant?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>A Marine with two tours of Iraq under his belt just graduated from West Point with the class of 2010. You will find that your experience will be welcomed amongst your fellow cadets but its not going to get you “extra stripes”----you’ll earn that on your own as a cadet. Good luck!!</p>
<p>CombatMedic,</p>
<p>There is a difference between a Cadet and an enlisted personnel.
I have utmost respect for you being a combat veteran. However, you must remember that you should not look down on upperclassmen and your classmates who have never been in combats because you know a bit more and have more experience on the actual Army side. The Unites States Corps of Cadets has its own ranks and systems. I know that within the Corps, there are some combat Rangers who have badges, ribbons, awards, or taps that you can possibly ask for as an E4 or an E5, but once they are detached from their old units, they are PART of the Corps and should constantly remind themselves that you are not a superior but a subordinate.
I cannot make you understand what will come later at West Point, but you ought to remember that being humble is a key to success at West Point as an enlisted personnel because there is always a someone who is better skilled and trained than you; no matter where you are.
Good luck and please do not be respectful to cadet cadre even though you think “it” is wrong. Being rebellious will only hurt you in the future.
Keep me updated if you get an appointment to West Point.</p>
<p>-Dan</p>
<p>Prior service are given great respect as Cadets, especially if you have been deployed. They are allowed to wear their campaign ribbons and combat arms insignia. Often some prior servoce end serving as leadership for the corp. One advantage you will have is knowing which end of the stick is pointed when going through Cadet Basic Trianing and also military life in general.
Your will not receive any benefits from any other Cadet - CBT is CBT and the pressures of A-Week and your Plebe year will be the same. However once you show your experience and maturity you should not find this as a problem as this focus is provided to develop Plebes and when it is seen you do not require certain aspects fo the education effort will go to those Cadets who require the help.</p>
<p>thanks for the feedback!</p>
<p>I am currently in Afghanistan (enlisted) and also applying for West Point. Aside from it being a pain going through this process while located overseas, I too had this same question. I get verying answers from everyone.</p>
<p>Our son is currently in the process of completing his West Point Cadet Candidate Application and is an enlisted military intelligence soldier studying at Defense Language Institute. Our nephew (Andrew Thoma, West Point Class 2009) graduated 35th out of a graduating class of approximately 1000 and is mentored our son during this exacting process. He has received a formal invitation from West Point Superintendent (Lt General Huntoon) along with 29 other enlisted soldiers, will have the chance to meet the academic staff, talk with current cadets, complete their Candidate Fitness Assessment, see Army play VMI and have any issues addressed related to completing their applications. I noticed that West Point does highlight (in the invitation paperwork) the respect that your peers (other cadets) have for prior service enlisted and 4 recent enlisted cadets have reached the rank of Captain of the Cadets. I have had several conversations with our son related to just this subject. I will be respect of a past that reflects a since of duty and having served and an unique perspective as all the new cadets struggle to adjust. Use that opportunity to justify that respect and help others who may be having difficulties adjusting to military way of doing everything. You are part of corps of cadets and a team. Do not brag, and offer advise tactfully, but do contribute when you see an opportunity to use your enlisted experience.</p>
<p>I wish all who apply success and one piece of advise, ensure that your three responses to the Candidate Statements on the West Point Cadet Candidate Portal are yours and yours alone, plagiarism software will detect paste and copy entries, do not be flowery or attempt to give what you think is the party line. They want to see true motivation to success in the candidate. Be very proactive, complete the application punch list as quickly as possible, and follow up with your Scholastic Officer Evaluation requests from your High School Math and Science Teachers as if your life depended on it.</p>
<p>One last very important point, be honest during the process. Real world West Point lesson learned from class of 2009. One cadet was not graduated and commissioned because he was not truthful about how he used his voucher and where he purchased his class ring. The Corps rules by a code of honor that states, "I will not lie , steal, or cheat, or tolerate others that do. It is a zero tolerance rule that the Corps of Cadets lives by. So start early, be honest on all the information in your application, any interviews, or personal meetings with West Point Admissions/Professors, and current cadets.</p>
<p>Good Luck to all you enlisted soldiers who aspire to lead the men and women of the best military in the world,…they deserve only the best, so be the best. God bless this great nation and those who serve it.</p>
<p>Seriously think about what you are doing, USMA probably is not what you think it is and you will miss your enlisted friends more than you can ever imagine. If it’s something you really want to do, good luck and godspeed. </p>
<p>[Should</a> you go to, or stay at, West Point by John T. Reed](<a href=“http://www.johntreed.com/gotousma.html]Should”>Should you go to, or stay at, West Point by John T. Reed)</p>
<p>-Combat Vet resigning from the Academy at the end of this semester.</p>