So, I’m thinking about going to the US Naval Academy, and I’m not asking about my chances of getting in, but information regarding the culture there for people who don’t fit the typical ‘going into the military’ build. In short, I’m looking at being an aerospace engineer, I have good grades, did a Rotary Exchange in Switzerland my sophomore year of high school, speak German, have danced ballet for nine years and competed in mixed martial arts for four years. I’m a bit of a free spirit but like structure and protecting and upholding what I think is right. I’m from a tiny Appalachian town in Southern Ohio. Everything I’ve read has been the same information and I’m really just looking for details that are more than “it’s hard, you make great friends and learn a lot.”
You sound as though you “fit the typical ‘going into the military’ build.” Keep doing what you are doing. Be sure to seek out leadership positions in your ECs and community service. Best of luck!
My DS received his Appointment to the Naval Academy in January and is looking into all service options, so let me give you bit of our experience what maybe a good fit. However, there is no perfect fit and one size fits all. You should consider yourself applying to the Academy being who you are and consider how you can contribute to your class. Most important being in the military culture is the ability to adapt and assimilate to the Academy culture and to the Navy way of life. If you cannot do these it is already a bad fit! To tell yourself you will change when you get there is already asking for trouble. You have to start now and get mentally, physically, morally, and academically prepared.
Start by telling yourself that half the class at USNA are as smart as you and ready to excel at the academy. Top 25% are very well prepared and likely to be already in top 5-10% of their high school class. And top <10% of USNA are brilliant in every ways!
This is how we started to look at the Navy.
Do you like being out in the sea 6 months straight, whether you are a SWO or in Aviation? You don’t get sea sick? If not, then you may want a staff job on land. Look to see what they are. Remember, Navy is Sea going service.
Do you enjoy STEM? No! Then Navy is not the best service for you.
If you like STEM or can handle STEM, then you will be fine even if you major in social science and humanities.
Everything else except the mission, Navy culture, Navy uniform, Navy is really no different from the Army and Air Force as military institution. Either you are in combat arms or combat support.
But before I take this further, you should ask yourself, if you want to be in the military environment from day 1 or being in it half the time until commissioning. If half the time, then that’s the NROTC experience. You can enjoy best of both worlds in ROTC, but not at the Academy. You are in the military from day one and you will not second guess that for one second. And you will be a good listener and a good follower before you learn to lead anyone. The Academy will break you down and reassemble you to a sailor and Midshipman they want you to be. If you don’t there is no place for you in the Naval Academy. This is the same at other Service Academies. So that is the biggest cultural difference between ROTC and the Academy.
I will pause here and let you respond.
Try Summer Seminar (between your Junior and Senior years of HS). You get a week as a cadet, a few hours as a Plebe, but your squad leader will be a recent Plebe and can ask tons of questions. My son went to SS and USNA moved up his list from five to tied for first.
Like @TroopDad says though, it is a lifestyle you are choosing and very STEM focused. Although, there is a liberal arts option as well, but you’ll still be required to take a lot of math and science even if you choose to major in poly sci, history or econ.
@TroopDad So much of what you wrote is wrong.
Every USNA graduate should be prepared to go to sea. SWO is where most grads end up with Aviation being a close second, and if that is what you get assigned there is no “staff shore duty”. Certainly there are shore billets in the service but it is not something that you just decide that you are going to do instead of going to sea.
Navy also has probably the most options for non-STEM grads with the exception of AF pilots. If I read the OPs post correctly she is looking at majoring in Aerospace Engineering so I don’t think STEM would be an issue.
UNSA is really not how you have described it as far as not second-guessing things. That is the leadership laboratory aspect of the Academies in that you do question things and learn why certain leaders are better than others. Diversity is a real thing at USNA, not just in a racial or gender sense, but it is a mix of “free spirits”, liberal thinkers, conservative thinkers, poor kids, rich kids, and everything in between. Everyone can fit in as long as you’re helping the team win. There is more freedom at the Academies than you describe as well. It is not an inescapable prison.
And finally, saying that the Navy culture is no different than the other services shows that you have no idea about the US military in general. Each service has deep differences in culture, mission, and yes, even uniforms. Some are good, and some are not. Please define the difference between combat arms and combat support. With the wars that we have been in for the past 30 years there has been a huge blur between any lines. Some position are truly tip-of-the-spear, but everyone is in the fight no matter what their job.
@AnnaGuita You have a good resume. You lack standard athletics but your involvement in ballet and martial arts can be emphasized in your application. Did you compete at a state or regional level in either one? That would be a good point to add via essays or your BGO interview. You are not a typical candidate and that can be a good thing. USNA needs more than just male lacrosse captains with a 4.0 gpa from an Eastern boarding school! Be prepared to share your views with your classmates, and keep your mind open to their life experience. Let those differences in your lives make you all stronger rather than pushing you apart. That is what USNA is, building a great team to move into the fleet. Your classmates will be your lifelong friends because of your shared experiences. If you have more specific questions please ask.
Good luck.
I think there is good information in the above posts, but also know that you can etch out your own path is you have the mindset to do so. My daughter graduated in 09. She went SWO with an EDO option. (engineering duty option or officer? I can’t remember exactly). It’s its own community made up of engineers. She had to interview for it and did have her first assignment of 3 years at sea. (however her ship hardly left port, but that’s a different story). Anyway, she has cultivated a beautiful career so far that she really enjoys as well as really believes in. She was also a dancer and isn’t GI Jane by any stretch. She is, however a very organized person who likes structure and fights for the little guy. The Academy was a tough road for her oftentimes because she was the one who would take up the cause rather than let things go at times, but the Navy is a perfect fit for her. Private message me if you would like to talk to her about career planning and life in and out of the yard.