<p>My son is a sophomore at a private school in FL. His school does not have ROTC. He got a B in Honors English as a freshman. All his other classes have been As. He takes honors or AP levels in all of the classes where it is offered although he has taken some classes where an honors weighting is not available (weightlifting, spanish).</p>
<p>He plays football, wrestles, and plays lacrosse. He was the captain of the JV Football team (does that count?), and will be captain of the wrestling team next year. He is probably to small to be recruited for football at Navy (5'6", 145 lb) and not good enough at lacrosse. He will be attending wrestling camp this summer at USNA so that he has a chance to stay there for a week.</p>
<p>He is in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and he coaches youth football. </p>
<p>What else should he be doing to improve his chances of getting in USNA? His wrestling coach is a retired Army Captain who works for The State Dept now, and one of the adult football coaches that he works with is an Air Force recruiter (not an officer). Can these guys help him at all? We have not approached the for help although I think that they know that he is interested in military service.</p>
<p>If he does not get into USNA he will try for an ROTC scholarship somewhere. He wants a career as a Naval Officer. He wrote that in the essay that he had to write for his high school admissions (he is a scholarship student).</p>
<p>Lastly, I heard that USNA is trying to increase the number of Jewish midshipmen. Is there any truth to that?</p>
<p>Have you joined serviceacademyforums.com? Very good place to get information on the Naval Academy some information on ROTC.</p>
<p>Helped me alot when my daughter was applying for Annapolis. She is now a Sophomore in college on a NROTC Scholarship and very happy.</p>
<p>Sounds like your son is doing all the right things- and then some! All of the contacts he has made can help him. Join that forum and I think you’ll find some good advice as well.</p>
<p>ID and overtly pursue a plan modeling the profile of appointed Midshipmen. Lots of data and anecdotes on USNA, serviceacademies, CC, and other sites. Get the “book” that lends insite. Used to be Smallwood, now a woman. Loads of them on Amazon, good, used, cheap. Monitor the plan regularly …how’s he doing? What activities, course of study, and level of achievement are being attained? </p>
<p>Have an equally good, attractive plans B,C, etc. This basket has too many good eggs for too few nests to make it the “only way” to hatch a chicken. </p>
<p>Most important? Learn about the USN and USMC. These are the end games. Does he want to be a career officer in one of these? That’s the fundamental question. If so, multiple paths will readily reveal themselves and USNA will become merely the gravy on that prime rib dinner.</p>
<p>Always recognize that success in this process is equal parts politic and personal. One absent the other won’t fly …or sail…or submerge.</p>