<p>candidatemom: I was only referring to having to pay tuition. We all know everyone starts as a plebe regardless. As for the foundation don't you still have to compete for a nomination even if you are in NAPS or on a foundation sponsorship. It isn't a sure thing is it?</p>
<p>Sweatpea, your friend has great stats, he should definately pursue his dream. Attending college, doing his very best academically, sports..... might fair better than enlisting.</p>
<p>Coastie:
While you do have to compete for a nomination in the same manner as if you were a new applicant (if you are at NAPS or foundation), they will "find" one for you if you fail to get one through the regular channels. So, as long as you do what's expected and don't get hurt too badly, you are in.
NAPS05mom</p>
<p>Coastie:</p>
<p>Since this person was not offered a foundation sponsorship, he/she would have to compete for the nomination again. Foundation students who maintain the standards (academic, military, honor code, and deportment) and do not gain a nomination through their MOC, are often given a superintendent's nomination or receive one from another source.
CM</p>
<p>momoftwins - I wanted to thank you for the reference to Olympic Institute for Leadership. I contacted Brian Douglas and found his advice concerning the military academy application process to be enlightening. I highly recommend this organization to any young person interested in preparing to make application to any military academy.</p>
<p>Biography of the current Chief of Naval Operations - #1 in the Navy - note: no USMA, no NROTC - OCS after college. VMI sounds like a fine choice and a great school.</p>
<p>" Born in Sioux City, Iowa, and raised in the midwestern states of Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois, Admiral Clark graduated from Evangel College and earned a Master's Degree of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Arkansas. He attended Officer Candidate School and received his commission in August 1968.</p>
<pre><code>Admiral Clark served aboard the destroyers USS John W. Weeks (DD 701) and USS Gearing (DD 710). As a Lieutenant, he commanded USS Grand Rapids (PG 98). He subsequently commanded USS McCloy (FF 1038), USS Spruance (DD 963), the Atlantic Fleet's Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Destroyer Squadron Seventeen, and Destroyer Squadron Five. After being selected for flag rank, Admiral Clark commanded the Carl Vinson Battle Group/Cruiser Destroyer Group Three, the Second Fleet, and the United States Atlantic Fleet.
Ashore, Admiral Clark first served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Systems Analysis Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He later completed assignments as the Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Surface Warfare) and as the Administrative Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He served as Head of the Cruiser-Destroyer Combat Systems Requirements Section and Force Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer for the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and he directed the Joint Staff's Crisis Action Team for Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Admiral Clark's first flag assignment was at the U.S. Transportation Command where he was Director of both Plans and Policy (J5) and Financial Management and Analysis (J8). While commanding the Carl Vinson Battle Group, he deployed to the Arabian Gulf and later served as the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Admiral Clark has also served as the Deputy and Chief of Staff, United States Atlantic Fleet; the Director of Operations (J3) and subsequently Director, of the Joint Staff.
Admiral Clark became the 27th Chief of Naval Operations on July 21, 2000.
Admiral Clark's personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three awards), the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, and various service and campaign awards. :
</code></pre>
<p>im not sure if youre trying to prove something, because obviously each route to becoming an officer will produce at least SOME good officers.</p>
<p>note: Lt. William Calley went through OCS. (My Lai)</p>
<p>"at least some" hmmm - do you have some data that shows that USNA graduates are more competent than NROTC grads or OCS?</p>
<p>note: </p>
<p>Scott Waddle - USNA Class of 1981</p>
<p>commander of the USS Greeneville, the submarine that crashed into a Japanese fishing vessel as it emerged in waters off Hawaii, took sole responsibility for the fatal February exercise that claimed the lives of nine Japanese. A group of U.S. civilians were onboard the Greeneville as part of a distinguished visitors program designed to promote public support for the U.S. Navy. Waddle acknowledged that mistakes had been made and corners had been cut aboard the 6,900-ton nuclear sub but said his actions were not criminal. He received a reprimand in April and retired from duty.</p>
<p>"note: no USMA, no NROTC - OCS after college." - you seem to carry some bias yourself.</p>
<p>no need to lose your composure, as it seems that is the direction youre headed, but you do know that majority of the admirals in our fleet come from annapolis, yes? im not suggesting this means competency but usna certainly provides a different training experience than OCS or ROTC.</p>
<p>"Do you have some data that shows . . ." </p>
<p>USNA constitutes 1/3 of the annual officer accessions, yet still accounts for more than 1/2 of the flag rank officers. <a href="http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/fulcrum_main.pl?database=ft_u2&keyfieldvalue=ADA424782&filename=%2Ffulcrum%2Fdata%2FTR_fulltext%2Fdoc%2FADA424782.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/fulcrum_main.pl?database=ft_u2&keyfieldvalue=ADA424782&filename=%2Ffulcrum%2Fdata%2FTR_fulltext%2Fdoc%2FADA424782.pdf</a>
I was going to use the same stat, but didn't want to hear any complaints about a cite. Apparently the author I linked to thought the stat was common knowledge too!</p>
<p>As far as VMI goes--I think you can get a better academic education at MANY civilian schools. I think that the quality of military training may be nominally worse at a civilian school's ROTC program, I don't think that the VMI's military training will be perceived as being demonstrably superior by the admissions board. </p>
<p>With respect to overall preparedness, as a 2/c plebe summer detailer, I had a plebe who had attended VMI for one year in my squad. He failed his initial PRT, was not impressive in terms of overall military bearing, and probably was in the bottom 1/3 of my squad. </p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>