<p>MMAInsider....thanks for the good tip, I actually found the $99 rate yesterday and booked our stay. We are just doing a day visit. My son was at the USCGA Aim program so is aware of "overnight" in the barracks. Any good resturants in the area that anyone would recommend?</p>
<p>Suzannegra, if you stay at the Mansion, there is excellent dining there and they even their own pub/food as well. There are dozens of places in between KP and there to eat. Some of the other members of this forum have listed several recommended resturants in and around Great Neck the past.</p>
<p>I have to agree with atlsmith on his recommendation of an overnight visit. If you cannot arrange it this visit or a later visit, ther are certain elements of the overnight visit that were very beneficial:</p>
<p>Meet with an Admissions counselor for an hour or two for a presentation and question/interview session.
Candidate meets with Plebe and they head off to barracks and dinner experience at Delano Hall
They have the opportunity to meet other mids and talk about their experiences etc. They spend the night in the barracks. Go to any sports activities like basketball game etc.
Go to a class(s) with a Plebe. (watch plebes fall asleep in class)
Visit the Waterfront and get recruited by various waterfront coaches.
Meet players/coach from a sport that they are interested in.
Breakfast in Delano (mmm mmm)
They get an academy tour by their plebe.
Lunch with Regiment in Delano and all that entails. </p>
<p>The big thing is that they get away from the parents and are able to talk to kids almost their age and find out what life at the academy is really about. They will then have a better idea of what they are getting into next year.</p>
<p>I have a son who is a senior in high school, wants to become a pilot. He has already received his nomination to the Naval Academy, but is thinking the Merchant Marine Academy may be a better choice. I know nothing about any branch of the military, but would like some information. Is this a good option? He is very interested in engineering, and wants to become a pilot after the academy. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Welcome Kristymom. Firstly, does your son have a nomination plus an appointment to the Naval Academy and has he applied to Merchant Marine Academy? Just curious to see where he stands. Yes, KP is a great option to fly. Even though the kids go out to sea, they can do internships with the Navy on carriers or at places such as Oceana Naval Air Station. Someone once posted that more kids flew Navy coming out of KP than out of Naval. I'll see if I can't dig up that old post because it had some stats. I personally know a Navy pilot that is a KP grad. Your son can also fly for the Coast Guard as well. When you ask about options, KP has more than any academy in that you choose which branch of service to go into at graduation. It can be active duty or reserves. Its truly a whole lotta of overwhelming information to post in this forum so I would direct to you a few places to read some about it.
<a href="http://www.usmma.edu%5B/url%5D">www.usmma.edu</a> and <a href="http://www.usmma.edu/parents/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usmma.edu/parents/</a><br>
I know how confusing it is, so feel free to ask away with the questions. There are many here that are a much better help than me. I'm kinda the welcoming committee. :D</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. Yes, he has a nomination to the Naval Academy, and is in the process of applying for the Merchant Marines. That is about all I know. He kept telling me there was a good option of being able to fly, but I didn't have any idea of what that was. Where do we go from here? We live in NE, so flying out for a day to check out the area is a major step. I look forward to hearing from anyone about KP or what would be the best thing to do. Thanks for the welcome!!
Kristy</p>
<p>being from CO, i understand the difficulty of jumping feet first into something you know nothing about. i did it. my first time in NY was the day before my indoc started. it's worth it. i would have felt more at ease had i known what i was going to be doing, but it made it more adventurous i think.</p>
<p>Kristymom,
USMMA is a very good place for naval aviation wannabes. My son chose MMA due to its reputation for placing all its pilot candidates into Pensacola. It worked out for him. He is a Naval Flight Officer with an electronic attack squadron. His selection was several years ago. Today, naval aviation is shrinking. Thanks to the use of precision munitions fewer sorties need to be flown to accomplish a mission. Carriers which used to carry 90 aircraft are now sailing with 70. As a result, pilot slots are a little harder to get. This is true at USNA as well.<br>
In the old days KP would get 20 to 25 pilot slots and be unable to fill them. Recently the numbers have been running somewhere around 12 to 15 I hear. As a result, a few pilot applicants will be disappointed. At NA the numbers are much larger: both the number getting SNA (Student Naval Aviator) and the number disappointed.
One major difference between NA and KP is this: those at KP who want to fly navy can apply for SNA. If they don't get it they can go off and do something else. At Annapolis those who don't get SNA will get stuck with something else like SWO (Surface Warfare Officer) or Supply Corps.</p>
<p>The Army will also be opening up Aviation slots for Kings Pointers this year. The Apache and the Longbow are supposed to be a blast to fly.</p>
<p>Only problem with the army is that once you make 03 about four to five years after graduation your flying time decreases dramatically. In the navy your flying time won't have the same decrease.</p>
<p>well same thing is true for all fun slots, flying, SEAL's, etc... you only get to Lt, and than they make you a paperpusher.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the information. My son is now getting the physicals done and awaiting the next step...whatever that is! I do have another question. He will only have 1 year of a foreign language when he graduates this spring, is that a problem? Any other input would be greatly appreciated. He is very much interested in flying in the military and are thankful for all the information we have received.</p>
<p>i don't think that a foreign language is a requirement to get in, they offer them as electives here, but you aren't required to take one</p>
<p>saw an interesting quote that i find quite funny.
"The Federal Service Academy experience is like trying to sip water from a firehose."
- Lt. Col. Roger Fosdick (USAF Ret.)
haha...
true true... thought someone might get a kick out of that.</p>
<p>LOL.......think that should be written somewhere on the application.</p>