<p>I have a friend who is stating that she remembers filling "something out" and
is now being activley persued by the Naval Academy, the B&G officer and our moc. She stated that she has not filled out a preliminary application nor has she turned in any paper work to our local moc. She is a fencer who had participated in the junior olympics and has an ACT of 30 with a 4.0 gpa. I just don't understand how all this could be happening by just filling "something out". Our moc had a deadline for the nomination packet on November 15. She stated that the nomination representative came to her school with the B&G officer and tried to talk her into attending the Naval Academy. Have any of you heard of this being done?</p>
<p>Thanks for any input. She really has quite of people, including myself, in an uproar.</p>
<p>I smell something fishy, and I'm not referring to the contents of my apple crisp.</p>
<p>While it is known that the Academy recruites for athletes, the way you describe it just rings all wrong. The appointment process just doesn't work that way, nor does the Academy chase people down in desperation.</p>
<p>Did she mention if she was being recruited for fencing?</p>
<p>It is possible that a recruited athlete will get a visit from a coach and contact from the area BGO- they may even come to watch the athlete if they are competeting in an off-season competetive sport camp.... I have never heard of the MOC office/rep coming to persue anyone....</p>
<p>what is more feasible is that someone (coach perhaps) noticed the athlete and sent a recruiting letter, followed by further information from the admissions office- that is entirely plausable-</p>
<p>in any event, if there is interest on the athletes part, better get moving- if not, let the coach know so that he/she can redirect their efforts as well-</p>
<p>BGO’s are known to be aggressive in their pursuit of prospective candidates- whom they consider superior- to USNA. I could also imagine a particular BGO rounding- up a volunteer nomination panel member to accompany him/her to solicit a seemingly worthwhile prospect. As far as nomination packet deadlines go; there are exceptions to almost everything one can think of. As I’ve been told: “If the Navy wants you; somehow they’ll find a way to get you” :)</p>
<p>in our experience, our son's BGO did everything possible to challenge our son's motivation and decision..... nothing was made easier.... and he was a recruited athlete.... he was not accompanied, preped or offered any other type of assistance with the entire admission process (or MOC process) other than lots of questions to provoke some serious soal searching, a few calls to "check on progress" and lots of advice/council that I have no doubt was offered to all others under this former-marine's charge.</p>
<p>Sorry to dissapoint those out there, but while it is true if the Navy wants you they will find a way to make it happen, the candidate must still have the goods to bring to the table, and more importantly, the motivation, desire and sheer will to want to take the bite in the first place. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that while a coach may help to get you in, they are powerless to keep you in- so make sure this is what YOU want- otherwise the only person you are hurting is yourself. This is not an easy path- for anyone- and while you will have your supporters along the way, in the end you will be traveling on the path alone....</p>
<p>As a BGO, the whole thing sounds odd to me too. I might be able to picture this if she lived in a very small town in an unpopulous state AND she attended a college fair where she filled out an card indicating interest in USNA or attended Summer Seminar. But, as a general rule, BGOs don't "pursue" candidates unless the candidates are assigned to them in the BGO system or they have some reason to know that a student at one of their assigned schools has expressed an interest, such as via a counselor. I can't imagine just calling up -- let alone visiting -- a senior who had never expressed any interest in USNA. There are plenty of great candidates already knocking down the doors to apply. </p>
<p>As for MOCs pursuing, that also seems very odd. It is rare for MOCs to get personnally involved in the selections (for reasons of nepotism/favoritism). I believe that most find out who is selected when the citizen committee hands them a list. Don't mean to suggest personal contact can never make a difference, but MOCs have a vested interest in making this process apolitical. I suppose it's possible if the MOC was just voted out of office and has nothing better to do, but still find it very, very odd.</p>
<p>If she hasn't made any efforts to date to apply to USNA, that tells me she's not interested in which case she should so politely inform the parties who are "pursuing" her.</p>
<p>Of course the initial written interest to attend a SA has to come from the prospective candidate. Once that interest is expressed- to USNA- all thing being equal, BGO’s will do his/her best to pursue a highly qualified candidate. Since the pool of BGO(s) is made up of volunteers- ex-Navy, husbands/wives of Navy/ex-Navy, parents of USNA attendees or former attendees etc, they have a handle on being able to determine and assess whether or not the prospective appointee possess the necessary personal characteristics needed in order to succeed at USNA.</p>
<p>As a BGO, I often attend "College Nights". Interested potential candidates are encouraged to fill out a white card that asks them for very simple contact info (name, Class Year, address, phone and e-mail). These are sent by me to the Naval Academy and the Academy then tracks the student to ensure that they are kept up to speed regarding critical dates for admissions/Summer Seminar/etc. The USNA website also has a similar entry page (you may view it at <a href="https://candidateinformation.usna.edu/ITSD/rfip/acawu014$.startup">https://candidateinformation.usna.edu/ITSD/rfip/acawu014$.startup</a>)</p>
<p>If your friend just "filled something out" (either the card or online), that got her on her local BGO's list of people to contact. I have in the past initially called or e-mailed to potential candidates who were not all that interested, but had filled something out months (or even years earlier). I am happy to remove them from my long list (usually 25 or more) of eager candidates when they ask me to.</p>
<p>I know that in this forum, it seems silly to think of your BGO harassing you to get you to go to the Academy. But I am trained to try several times to at least contact these people. ("He keeps calling me!) This is to ensure that I do not delete these individuals from our list of candidates without first confirming in some way that they wish me to do so. </p>
<p>So if that's the case, just tell your friend to ping us with a "No Thanks!" or return our call, and she will likely never hear from that persistent BGO again.</p>
<p>I also follow up with candidates. However, I would not visit a student at school with a member of the MOC's nom committee unless that person had done something more than fill out a card. I never visit any candidate one on one -- at home, school, or work -- unless I make arrangements ahead of time. To me, that's a bit creepy and presumptuous. And I don't even know the members of the MOCs nom committees -- let alone would I do a joint visit with one.</p>
<p>We may not have the entire story here. Maybe this was part of a pre-arranged school visit or "military" night. We have those at our schools where SA reps and reps from the MOCs attend and meet with interested students. Maybe there was some interim contact. I just find it a bit odd as described above. Agree that if she's not interested, a polite comment will end all contact -- or should.</p>
<p>Fencing is a club sport at the Academy and although I do know that some club sport athletes are "recruited", I kind of doubt Navy would do that for a fencer ( and I'm the mother of a fencer, not at Navy) Maybe if Navy had a NCAA team, but I don't think so even then. I would be a little suspicious of what this young lady is telling people.</p>