<p>Can I attend West Point and get a commission in another service. Friends have told me yes and I have tried to search on the internet to see if it is true but haven't found any info.</p>
<p>yea dude, you can do that, though very few do. Sorry I don't know the details, but I know it's possible! </p>
<p>However...I would recommend attending a service academy that corresponds to what you are planning to do in the future.</p>
<p>-David</p>
<p>Ditto Dash's advice. It can happen and does, but it's pretty rare. Only about a half-dozen from each class seem to do this each year.</p>
<p>If you don't know what service you want to go to after graduation, than you may want to look into Kings Point. While it may not have the reputation of the other 4 academies, you have a lot more options coming out. You can choose to go into any of the services, the NOAA corps or even into the private sector sailing or working in the maritime industry.</p>
<p>USNA Class of 2007 Interservice transfers:
Air Force-4
Army-2
Coast Guard-2</p>
<p>If I may add one small comment:</p>
<p>That was NOT a stupid question. :)</p>
<p>When you tell someone that you went to the Naval Academy and they answer, "Which one?"; THAT is a stupid question! :mad:</p>
<p>quick question: Math is by far not my favorite subject. I tend to prefer the humanitarian subjects like History. I am drawn to SWO, the CG or WP. Perhaps you USNA alumni/midshipmen and parents can guide me through your experience. Would the Navy SWO still be a good choice if I do not like math, yet thoroughly enjoy history and reading? Thanks-John</p>
<p>You will find that your choice of major has ZERO to do with your Service Selection. I know history majors who went to Nuclear Submarines and Aerospace Engineers who went Marine Corps. Therefore, and as has been recommended before, if you don't like mathematics, then by all means study History or English for a major.</p>
<p>That's the good news.</p>
<p>The bad news is that while you may hate math, you will still be required to do it. LOTS of it. Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Thermo, Fluids, DiffEQ's, EE, Weapons, etc. It's the way things are. If that is going to be a problem, then I suggest you reassess your desire to attend the Academy. </p>
<p>You COULD sign up across the street at St. John's College where they do such wonderful little exercises as reading Plato in the original Greek. Of course, you need to check your manhood and patriotism at the door as a condition of admission. Let's just say that it's the polar opposite of USNA, and they're stupid enough to think it's a good thing. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Look, all joking aside, not everyone who gets into USNA is a math geek. My roommate was a history major, did better than I did in EE, and ended up flying helicopters for the Navy before transitioning to a field I can't talk about. Trust me, you can pass USNA and have a hell of a career; you just have to want it. Nothing worth having in life is easy, and nothing easy in life is worth having.</p>
<p>Good luck. :)</p>
<p>Inter-service transfers are very rare. Generally, they are given to those who have some or all of the following qualities: (1) applied to the SA for the other service but didn't get in; (2) have a long, strong family tradition in another service (usually coupled with (1)); want and have aptitude for a service selection that isn't available in the USN or USMC. Bottom line: I wouldn't count on it. </p>
<p>As for your question re math, I was terrible at it, and I do mean terrible. Worse at physics but good at engineering, ironically. Like you, I was more drawn to -- and better at -- the humanities. The important thing to recognize is that, at USNA, you must take -- and PASS -- the required math, science and engineering courses. Even as a history major, the majority of your classes will be in courses other than history. As long as you understand that and are willing/able to do it, you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Yes I am a fine math student, not exemplary, but I do pretty well. I wonder if I would like engineering, I do like learning about my car engine. The only thing I wonder about is are careers in the Navy geared towards math people or will I have a fine and exciting career in the Navy? Or would a land service be a better choice? thank you.-John</p>
<p>If you want a career as a submariner, you're in for a lot of math, science, and engineering -- although I know a history major who went on to be a submarine CO. I know many, many who were pilots, NFOs or surface line without being exceptional at math. If you can survive academics at USNA, you can do very well in any warfare speciality even if you don't love math -- although you would likely find submarines more of an academic challenge.</p>
<p>You never know what will hit you once at the academy...my plebe always thought of math as a necessary evil, vgood at it but didn't really float the boat. The boy got to USNA, decided that he actually likes math, really liked his Calc III instructor and is probably going to be a Math major with a humanities minor and is soooo excited about it.</p>
<p>You may like engineering. I am an engineer and like you was fine but not great in math. I found the practical applications made the math ok. Here is the brief that the Class of 2010 had about picking majors. Look at it as it may give you insight to Engineering etc at the Academy.</p>
<p>Good Luck-</p>
<p>The presentation was fascinating. In my day, they worked very hard to keep the humanities majors at <20%, due to the lingering influence of Rickover. They almost browbeat people into selecting MSE majors. I must say that the more "open" approach seems better in that mids are more likely to be happy with, succeed at, and therefore stick with their chosen majors.</p>
<p>JTRW3990,</p>
<p>If you want to be a SWO, you really should look into USMMA as well. When you graduate from Kings Point you will have been working at sea for 360 days and will have been responsible for every aspect of managing a bridge, including being in command. You will be fully competent in all aspects of ship handling and have a Coast Guard license to prove it. </p>
<p>You will still have to prove yourself, but when you're on your first ship they find your navigation skills are as good as anyone's on the ship you will get a lot of opportunities to shine.</p>
<p>The other thing, you will really know if you like being at sea or not.</p>
<p>very true. I actually discoevered USMMA before USNA. I am just now learning about USNA. Funny, I guess. I will definetly apply to USMMA. USNA and USAFA are the only SAs I haven't visited. I dont think I will be visiting AFA. I look forward to visiting USNA and I am sure they will be able to answer lots of my questions there. For now I have the collegeconfidential. Thanks everyone.-John</p>