Questions about Service Academies

<p>Navy2010-Thanks for the kind words. Mothers Day was wonderful this year. My children may question whether I deserve medals (they have seen me in Psycho-mom mode too often). But we have been very blessed..</p>

<p>So which area of the military is best for a math/science oriented guy with above average knowledge of computers. I'm also quite creative according to my teachers. I also know a lot about the stock market.</p>

<p>I am of course thinking of entering the military through a service academy, but I don't know which area, don't have a preference yet.</p>

<p>As an officer, you don't so much have an "area" as a "community".</p>

<p>For example, in the Navy, you have (or at least had) enlisted personnel known as Electronics Technicians. THEY were the ones who went to all the tech schools to really learn electronics. As an Officer, however, you will be called upon to lead people like that, but not know the job to the level that they do.</p>

<p>So, the upshot of all this is that while you may be very good at computers (and that's very cool, BTW), the fact remains that YOU will most likely NOT be doing a lot of programming, troubleshooting, etc.</p>

<p>Believe me, it was a shock when I figured that out myself way back when...</p>

<p>godfather, found some info from USMA here about medical school:</p>

<p>"The Department of Defense permits up to two percent of each USMA graduating class to attend medical school"</p>

<p>"Currently, there are two fully-funded sources which produce physicians for the Army: The Medical School of the Department of Defense Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the Department of the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program." I'll let you look up more about those.</p>

<p>Some items to note: active duty time spent in student status does not count in determining eligibility for retirement. Grads are tendered commissions as captains in the Medical Corps. </p>

<p>The USUHS path leads to an additional 10-year service obligation or seven years of obligated service with a six-year reserve obligation which starts following residency. (Usually USUHS grads continue their medical education with 1 year of internship and 2-4 years of residency.)</p>

<p>The Scholarship path leads to an additional 4 year obligation in addition to the 5 years a grad owes USMA which totals 10 years (with a year of internship training).</p>

<p>"IF YOU COME TO WEST POINT TO BE AN ARMY DOCTOR, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE AN ARMY DOCTOR FOR A LONG TIME."</p>

<p>so there you go, it comes straight from a West Point letter</p>

<p>On the Med school front - search for KP2001 posts - he is currently in med school and went to USMMA. Much discussion in past posts.</p>

<p>"active duty time spent in student status does not count in determining eligibility for retirement"</p>

<p>True; however, if you do attend USUHS and hit the 20yr mark after graduation from USUHS you then jump to 24yrs gaining credit for your time at USUHS. It's weird, but the way it works.</p>

<p>I believe it is that way with all of the service academies, isn't it?</p>

<p>The only thing that being at the academy 4 years changed is I will be under the Final Pay instead of current system an average of the last three years. The retirement system changed and because it changed while enrolled, it was considered I was in the military. </p>

<p>It doesn't add 4 years to retirement pay.</p>

<p>I was specifically talking about USUHS, not any of the academies when it comes to the retirement stuff. Your time at any of the Academies does not count towards any retirement/pay benefits.</p>

<p>Somebody read the original post, and tell me where I'd be most likely to succeed. Forget the medical school part if you want, I don't know that it's going to happen anyway. Just assume I'm going into the military and tell me based on what I said, which area of the military I'd be best in.</p>

<p>Godfather, I'm not sure anyone can direct you to that answer except yourself. By re-reading your first post, your passions remain unclear. My son said over & over again. "I wanna drive the "big boat". I want to be the one to take supplies to our troops & get people out of harm's way". He knew the direction he wanted to go. Logistics. He also knew he wanted to serve in one of the maritime branches. Its a direction. If you're good with Math, as you say, all of the academies offer engineering. Fly a jet? Navigate a ship? Be a defender and protect our wall? Do you like architecture? If you like medicine, become a medic at an academy. Academy kids and people in the services wear many hats & have many jobs all at once. On every one of the academy web pages, there is a section you can look at as to what you can do after you graduate. If I were to suggest anything you should look at, it would probably be that. First, find a direction, then the advice can follow. Total strangers aren't really good at just telling you what you should do. There are many possibilities for you to check into yet.</p>

<p>Explore some on USMMA as you will be able to look at being in any branch of service upon graduation. Better like the water though. :)</p>

<p>Following up Jamzmom - then take a good look at your strengths, weaknesses and what you are passionate about. If you get seasick, cross out Navy, USMMA and USCG, for example. If you love to fly - check out USAF and USNA. If you are a great writer and good, but not great at math; go where there are liberal arts majors - not available at some academies. And above all, be passionate about wanting to serve your country and be a leader able to make and implement decisions. Good luck - just the application process is a test to see if you can jump through all the hoops!</p>

<p>I listed some of my strengths and weaknesses. I'm passionate about music, but that doesn't apply to this I don't think.</p>

<p>Just a general thing about me, I like to rise early and get things done, and my strongest subject is most definitely math, followed by science. i'm very good at making tough decisions (except this one), and I enjoy being in charge and guiding people through tasks.</p>

<p>I love the water, and I can swim long distances. But then again, I've never been in the air in a situation where I'd think about doing it myself. I've been on a flight before, and I always admire that the captain is such a leader, but how should I know I want to fly?</p>

<p>Jamzmom, was it just a childhood dream of your son's? I just don't know how you would never fly before and decide it's what you wanted to do, but maybe he did fly before on his own.</p>

<p>Godfather, it seems like you have a lot of drive and ambition. Believe me, there are a lot of options out there for you besides the service academies. There are a lot of merit based scholarships too, especially if you think you will do well on your SAT's. When we were looking at schools, my CC truly wanted very badly to go to USMA. The desire to serve had been there for a long, long time. Before thinking about college, there were a lot of community events and time spent, just because.....it's what she wanted to do. I used to call her "My Peace Corp Baby", because that's what she wanted to do, serve her community, town, now country. The desire was always there. Leadership.....that was there too. Yes, the good grades, sports, etc. But I think more importantly, the desire to serve her country and lead were there way...... before. I understand the fact that you will need scholarships, we did too. We left many avenues open. First and foremost was USMA, but you can't put all your eggs in one basket and we went to visit USMA in Junior year. We were also encouraged to apply to more than one service acadamy. If you can, visit the academies. We were lucky enough to live close enough to visit USMA on day trip . I know how important it is to visit, because you kind of get that "gut" feeling. We visited other colleges too. There were some yays and a few nays. You mention prestige as one of the reasons. There are many prestigioius schools out there that will also fit the bill for you. A lot of her high school friends "wrinkled their noses" when they heard her choice. She didn't care and knew where she was meant Tto be. I think if it's a service acadamy that is your calling, you will know. You are smart to keep posting and asking questions. Your generation is lucky to have the internet avenue open to you.</p>

<p>Good luck with your decision, but you sound smart enough to get scholarships to plenty of other schools, too. I wouldn't rule them out!</p>

<p>Godfather, I wish the Jamz would find time to get on here so he could tell you but alas, he's eating birthday cake at this very moment, doing Physics homework. Chocolate too! Anyhow, I think M of BTT's '10's CC & my Mid had much in common. "Peace Corp. Baby" :) Good one! My kid was a beach baby. In love with the ocean. Wanted to be a marine biologist. Had a huge dolphine collection. Dreams change. Jamz was a new freshman in high school in NJROTC at the time that 9/11 happened. That seems to be the biggest influence on him wanting to go the service route. It effected him a great deal. He told his teacher that he would Command the unit one day & go into service. He worked his way up to the Commanding Officer of NJ by his Senior year. He worked with local government & community service. MANY hours of giving time to things he thought were important & that he could make a difference in. Little kids were his soft spot and still are. I thought he would teach someday. And may later on... Maybe some kids are just lucky in that they have known what they wanted for 4 or 5 years now. In some kid's cases, there are so many options out there, it boggles the mind to think which direction to go. When my older son graduated, he reverted back to 1st grade again. I wanna be a fireman, I wanna be a brain surgeon, I wanna be the President, I wanna be a nascar driver. It ain't easy is it? Just slow down & do the work. Research, research, research. Something will hit you like a ton of bricks that you're gonna say, "HEY! This is for me!" Do you have an advisor at your school? It has to be someone you like & respect. You should seek some face time. Truly. Good luck. You're on a quest so put your heart & soul into it.</p>

<p>Keep your passion for music. You will find a way to use it in all you do. Besides, its the one & only thing I know of that is enjoyed by every living thing.</p>

<p>Not much to add to this good advice except to comment on the flying: When my son started being interested in air force, I made sure he took some flying lessons. Cost about 80 bucks per hour. well worth it though -- he was hooked after one lesson!</p>

<p>my cousin is in the air force- he said he spent at least thousands just on lessons!</p>