<p>My son's experience at KP has far exceeded both his and his parents' expectations. However I wouldn't ever try to talk someone into going there. All of the Academies are excellent but very difficult.</p>
<p>Personally I would just talk about the extremely broad range of experiences and choices that the Midshipment will find at KP; and leave it at that. </p>
<p>If the kid decides on KP, then Hooray! If the kid decides on the Coast Guard Academy, then congratulations! </p>
<p>I second Fred's thoughts. The opportunities my son has had a KP could not have happened anywhere else. He's circumnavigated the globe; been to Iraq twice; spent two months on a cruise ship in Hawaii; spent a month on a Russian Tall Ship; and was responsible for preparing and delivering daily situational awareness briefings on the California wild fires to senior Army National Guard officers at Guard Headquarters in Washington during his internship; all while getting to participate as a varsity athlete.</p>
<p>How cool is that? </p>
<p>Congratulations and good luck with whatever choice he makes.</p>
<p>As for going Active duty, there is no better choice than KP.</p>
<p>If you want to fly, KP has the same number of slots as Annapolis but 1/4 the number of graduates, you do the math.</p>
<p>No matter which academy that you choose you will hate it after the first week</p>
<p>Historically, during major conflicts Merchant Mariners suffer higher casualty rates than Naval Sailors.</p>
<p>The first year at Kings Point is more academically difficult than the other Academies.</p>
<p>Many people in the Merchant Marine Reserve serve for 20 years while large numbers of Cadets and Midshipmen from the other Academies do 5 years and leave. (Have no statistics to back up this statement, this is just an impression that I get from personal acquaintances</p>
<p>The best way to have a normal life and to still serve your country is the Coast Guard. You can be stationed near home and still fulfill your mission. </p>
<p>Coast Guard Aviators get more flight time that those of the other services.</p>
<p>Some of the responses were written by fools; I am sure that you can detect which is which. </p>
<p>But, my son doesn't listen to my advice on this and you probably won't either.
</p>
<p>Sounds like your son is relatively astute in recognizing subjective out-of-context and untrue opinions. Now if we can just get the remainder of the readers to do the same, we will be making headway.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This very dangerous misinformation has got to be put to rest. We should request that this statement be deleted as an inaccurate harmful posting but probably too many have seen it. The academies recommend this. Federal law dictates the same and provides an avenue for those wishing to do so. Of course ROTC commanders are proud of their programs. However, when they prevent their students from reaching their potential, they are acting in an unprofessional and self serving manner. Actually, I have never heard of this and the Commanders of which I am aware, not only wished them well but offered them a place to which to return should things not work out.</p>
<p>Not sure how they go about banning someone from this forum. He sent a PM to me a few weeks ago apologizing for some off-handed remarks he made and stated that he had been "permanently banned", but the "permanently" part didn't stick too long. He does seem to enjoy confrontation and creating strife.</p>
<p>USNA69 has a much better grasp of the academy admissions process than probably 90% of the people on this board. His statement about ROTC to service academies is spot on; it is a well known source of academy admissions.</p>
<p>Sorry, not to knock you fred or majmattmason, but he knows his stuff and though he can be gruff at times it is usually only to refute some of the garbage that is produced as fact on this and other message boards.</p>
<p>Sorry to disagree with you on the ROTC info KP2001. Everybody knows that it's legal to go from ROTC to the Academies. </p>
<p>But just go into an ROTC interview and tell them that you want to leave for an Academy after a year and see where it gets you! I've seen it myself.</p>
<p>Sadly, some people with an inflated sense of self-worth tend to congregate in these forums, losing buttons on their vest with every aggrandized post they make claiming expertise in this or that, and believing that only their opinion can possibly be correct.</p>
<p>In most forums, they're known as "trolls" and they tend to go away when ignored.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, some of them seem to feed on creating forum disruptions, and they seem to stay around to confront anyone who dares to disagree with their opinions.</p>
<p>^^^^^^ So Luigi, I take it that you feel fred is correct in all his statements which I pointed out in post # 23? I, on the other hand, feel that some provide possibly disasterous misinformation to potential candidates.</p>
<p>I received a Private Message in regards to Problem Posts. I was told that the best way to get rid of a troll is for numerous people to liberally use the Problem Post Button. </p>
<p>This should be used for rude and insulting posts, inflammatory remarks and deliberate misquotes not only on this thread but wherever it is found.</p>
<p>If this problem is solved we could go back to discussion and learning about Kings Point along with polite disagreement.</p>
<p>Geeze guys! We are all on the same side here. Please simmer down! All I ask was for some info about Coast Guard options out of KP...nothing more :) Let's be nice please! All the academies are great, and the fact that a person is even able to make a choice of one over the other is what our great Nation is all about! I feel blessed that my son's friend has to choose from 3, just trying to give him good, factual, data is all.</p>
<p>I think JAMo4 said it all. Why would anyone who wants a career in the CG and has been accepted at the USCGA go anywhere other than the CGA?</p>
<p>Remember though, that navygirl is the originator of this thread and her question, which we are still debating, is basically whether someone who has always wanted to go to USNA should settle for USMMA.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think JAMo4 said it all. Why would anyone who wants a career in the CG and has been accepted at the USCGA go anywhere other than the CGA?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Awwww, now you're just pullin' my chain ain'tcha. :D</p>
<p>The College Confidential forums are civilian forums run by individuals in the private sector and we all have to follow the rules of the Terms of Service </p>
<p>here. All participants are welcome to report posts that appear to violate the Terms of Service. There is a "Report Problem Post" link on every post. </p>
<p>Please don't engage in name-calling of other participants or other groups of participants. If you have a factual disagreement with someone, disagree about the facts but be grateful for and welcoming of the participation here that helps us all learn from one another. Don't discuss moderation issues here; report problem posts through the channel provided and do your own part to make the forums constructive and helpful.</p>
<p>Not true, you are twisting her OP with your own biased opinion.</p>
<p>Her question had nothing to do with "settling for USMMA" as you so condescendingly put it. :rolleyes:.</p>
<p>Her exact question in the first post was "Would I receive the same training in leadership at King's Point as I would at the Naval Academy?"</p>
<p>The answer of course is, yes. </p>
<p>However, you seem to have a huge problem with anyone who takes that position.</p>
<p>Why do you think that leadership training is lacking at Kings Point?</p>
<p>We know you think every KP grad who goes to sea is a "sell out", but are you also so biased to think that the United States Merchant Marine Academy would not be providing her with the same (or some say better) leadership training?</p>
<p>However, you seem to have a huge problem with anyone who takes that position
</p>
<p>Her question must be tempered with the fact that in addition to leadership, she must also be prepared to become a Naval Officer. No way will the USMMA provide leadership skills commensurate with preparedness to become a Naval Officer as will what her experience would be at USNA. The Naval Academy prepares Naval Officers. USMMA prepares merchant marine employees. There is a huge difference. Help her to achieve the best. Advise her accordingly.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Naval Academy prepares Naval Officers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, so does every ROTC program and OCS. What's your point?</p>
<p>Why does it take an USNA SWO candidate almost a year longer to get SWO qualified than it does a USMMA candidate? Because USMMA grads already know how to navigate and handle a ship. And why does the Naval Surface Warfare School in Rhode Island contract with the Global Maritime and Transportation School at USMMA to run the navigation and ship handling programs for the Navy?</p>
<p>I'm sure it will come as a huge surprize to the Commander of the 5th Fleet and the Joint Forces Commander, GITMO and the Joint Forces Commander, Horn of Africa that they weren't prepared to be Naval Officers at Kings Point.</p>
<p>This discussion is not about ROTC or OCS, it is about USNA vs USMMA. You yourself stated in the other thread concurrent with the possible demise in active duty commissions from USMMA last year that the purpose of USMMA was to train merchant mariners. If one wants to go in the CG, attend the CGA. If they want to be a merchant mariner, attend the USMMA. If they want to be a Naval Officer, attend the Naval Academy.</p>
<p>Sure, sea year provides seamanship skills to those who eventually end up Navy SWOs. They will have an edge on technical skills at the expense of some other attribute which they have failed to obtain by not being at USNA. Sea year, independent steaming in a container ship, provides a marginal immediate technical upper hand for the 25% or so which go SWO. For all other career paths and for other service selections, perhaps except for CG, it is a waste of time.</p>