Naval Academy?

[Hawkins]

Just curious if anyone here went through the Naval Academy in Annapolis. If so, what was it like?

Thanks,
Hawkins

 

[VaB]

Aside from the man snuggling, car stealing, drug dealing, and test selling, it's great!!!

 

[aeronautic1]

Robert. Crown Sailing Center

Best free education you can get. Word of advise, if you are luck enough to get in, try out for the sailing team. It is the only way to get off academy grounds during your plebe year. I know, I was an offshore racing coach there.

 

[coho92]

Great Place to be from but a lousy place to be.... Make some good friends, put up with a lot of arcane policies, summers are fun, and four years after you start, it'll take 6 months to start acting human again - recommend going to a real school, drinking beverages of your choice, interacting with the opposite sex and NROTC on the side -- just my two cents

 

[skiddriver]

Yes, class of 1980. I stay up with what's going on through the alumni association. Good school, frustrating at times due to an indecisive policy of trying to have the Midshipmen leadership run the place, while keeping a lid on any scandals. Bunch of smart people locked up and under constant stress is a recipe for mischief. IMHO they should knock off the 1950's style BS and run the place like the active duty military, but then we'd have a larger population of Mids in Leavenworth.

That said, if you like sports, there are plenty of opportunities to participate, albeit not at the highest levels of the NCAA. You can learn a lot if all of the additional duties and heavy class load don't get in the way. The school gets a large number of aviation slots, which are handed out by class rank (though they may have snuck in a quality spread metric, the more recent grads can comment). Town is nice if pricey, though a lot of the locals give the Mids a cold shoulder. Summer training can be a blast if you get the right slot.

When I went we came out with a regular commission, vice a reserve one. They changed that to a reserve commission a while back, and now have come full circle and you graduate with a regular commission again.

If you want to go into the Marine Corps, the PLC program might be a more efficient route. Though you do have one or two summers of crushing training, you are generally unencumbered with ROTC-like activities during the school year, and also earn years of longevity for pay if you don't take the tuition stipend.

USNA is worth a look. Can be hard to get into from certain states due to its popularity (MD, VA, NY, MA). Some states end up with unfilled appointments that go to out-of-staters.

Good luck.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Aside from the man snuggling, car stealing, drug dealing, and test selling, it's great!!!

Girlfriend killing?

 

[WizardPilot]

I applyed last year to the AFA and USNA. AFA rejected, got into the USNA. I turned down the appointment, I got a AF scholarship for ROTC and I figured that would be a better route for me. I am from Utah, and I was number one on the nom. list for the congressman. You have to weigh what you want to do, and how you would like your life to be. If you want to be a robot and not get out much, head the the USNA. I bet it is not that bad, but in the ROTC program, you basicly have a civilian life and maybe one or 2 summers doing some training or job shadowing.

Also you may want to weigh academic possibilities. At the USNA, you will be able to get as much help as you ask for and can squeeze in. Your time is regimented (no slacking off is what that means), and you can say that you graduated or attend the USNA. That regimented schedule from the get go makes or breaks people. If you have the desire to do well at the academy, you will. If you have the desire to do well in a civilian school, and don't have a schedule planned out, it will hurt you. But that regiment is guarenteed at the academy. There are pro's and con's to everything. You should look into all of them and make a decision based on that and the outcomes of each. DO NOT ONLY APPLY TO SERVICE BRANCH SCHOOLS!!! Apply for AF and Navy scholarships, they give those out quite frequently, and if you prepare yourself for the academy and do not get the slot, chances are you have prepared well enough for a scholarship(full ride too.).

Look into what civilian public or private schools have ROTC programs and if the school apeals to you apply to it. What can it hurt? Weigh your options, and what you want to do in your life, set the goals, and just shoot at it! Do your best, do not get discouraged. Things change and may get tough, but if you fight through it you will become a better officer and civilian. This is my advice to do if you are looking into applying. If you have applyed and are accepted, congrats! Enjoy it and have a nice day.

Wizard

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

That was th USAFA

Girlfriend killing?

Hugh, I thought you were a seaman?

Remedial PT is in your future. Have fun with all those boxes tonight....I'm only talkin' about the freight.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

I sponsor 3 mids. at Annapolis

They are really dedicated and work hard. I don't think I would have liked that much structure in college. Pulling watch until 2100 on a Saturday night, no thanks!

It definately isn't a free education, but if your dedicated, it would be a great learning experience.

 

[skywiz]

I applied to USNA back when I was in high school. Didn't get accepted and went with my back up - NROTC. And..it worked out for the best! I ended up getting a "free" education plus free room and board (certain selected rotc schools) and a slot into flight school.

Not to knock the academy (very prestigious) but some academy guys I work with said they would have done rotc if they could do it all over. Contrary to popular belief, back when I selected pilot, everyone from my rotc unit who wanted it got it. It is actually more competitive to get pilot at the academy.

Just food for thought - don't forget to do your homework and keep your options open. Good luck.

 

[Purpledog]

If you want to go into the Marine Corps, the PLC program might be a more efficient route. Though you do have one or two summers of crushing training, you are generally unencumbered with ROTC-like activities during the school year, and also earn years of longevity for pay if you don't take the tuition stipend.

The best kept secret. I was guaranteed a flight school slot my first semester of college. They still doing that?

 

[rumpletumbler]

They should make a navel academy. That could be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

 

[F18-FDX]

I graduated in 1987. Overall a great experience. Yes it's hard at times and you can't go out drinking and chasing pu$$y every night, but there's plenty of that to be had when you get outside the walls. Bottom line for me, I'd do it again. Outstanding sports programs, NCAA or intramural, just about everything to choose from, excellent education and that prepares you for the future. Mostly engineering but lots of "bull" majors available too. As was mentioned, it is a great place to be from, whether you stay for a career or move on. Obviously impressive on a resume, you can write your own ticket in many respects.

I chose Annapolis over the AFA because I wanted to fly from aircraft carriers, just something I always wanted to do (that and the fact that Naval Aviators are better, of course). Realize that's not a given, there are hoops to jump through to make it that far. There are usually enough pilot slots for those physically qualified, but you don't want to be last in the class academically just in case! PM me if you have more questions.

 

[SIG600]

Go to a nice big state school where you can party your ass off for 4 years, and get a more diversified education (and get laid a lot more) then spend 13 weeks in OCS, and have the same butter bars as everyone else. I probably did more drinking/partying/socializing in my first 6 weeks of college than my current roommate (an academy guy from '02) did in his first 2 years. But hey.. to each their own.

 

[spanky2]

Go to USAFA. Make USNA #2 choice (anybody can crash-land on a boat) ... or go to USAFA and cross-comission into USMC (or USN if you like "seamen"). Or choose that other school in NY if both of these options fail. Seriously, any service academy is a great education, guaranteed career upon graduation / comission. They are you best guaranteed option to get into flight school.

 

[stonewall]

Robot? WTFO? Is this from your vast experience with dudes from the Academies?

I went to USAFA, drank as much as anyone on this thread and got laid like a madman. You just have to be a little more proactive.

Guess what? If you're a f****** geek in high school, you're going to be a f****** geek in college whether you're at USAFA, USNA, FSU, or Bama. If you went there, comment. If you didn't, STFU. Most ROTC guys I know (and I include some of them as my best buds) are woefully misinformed about Academy life (yes, there can be one), and most of the ROTC guys, despite what they say, can't tell if a dude went to the Academy or not unless they wear their ring, which most of us don't.

 

[VaB]

If you went there, comment. If you didn't, STFU.

Heh heh. Spoken like a true... oops, nevermind, I didn't go there. LOL

 

[TonyC]

Robot? WTFO? Is this from your vast experience with dudes from the Academies?

I went to USAFA, drank as much as anyone on this thread and got laid like a madman. You just have to be a little more proactive.

Guess what? If you're a f****** geek in high school, you're going to be a f****** geek in college whether you're at USAFA, USNA, FSU, or Bama. If you went there, comment. If you didn't, STFU. Most ROTC guys I know (and I include some of them as my best buds) are woefully misinformed about Academy life (yes, there can be one), and most of the ROTC guys, despite what they say, can't tell if a dude went to the Academy or not unless they wear their ring, which most of us don't.

Relax, Magnum, you're gonna give Zoomies a bad name. By your logic, you shouldn't comment here, either, because you didn't attend Canoe U.

You're only kidding yourself if you think your social life compared with that of a "normal" university student. How many times did you, ON A TUESDAY AFTERNOON, decide to just go grab a pizza and beer for dinner? How many times did you decide to sleep in rather than attend a class? How many times did you have to think about washing your own clothes?


WizardPilot's point that academy life is more structured is valid. I think his advice was pretty accurate. Lighten up.




.

 

[firstthird]

Magnum may have been a little forceful but I must admit I've been thinking much the same thing. Hawkins asked guys who have been there what they thought and over half the guys on this thread are offering opinions about how great their civilian colleges were.

If Hawkins can get into one of the acadamies, let's all assume he is smart enough to ask all his friends about State U. down the road. But he may not know anyone at one of the academies, thus the query.

For my part, I enjoyed USNA overall and would do it again but it is definitely different than a civilian school. That being said, you don't get to sleep in or skip class or take 4 day weekends. All part of the deal. However, you will get a chance to do sports and not have to worry too much about it affecting your academics, since everyone is required to do something. Although, varsity football is going to take way more of your time and effort than company fieldball.

Another nice thing, is that it lets/forces you to prioritize and compartmentalize to an extraordinary degree. When you are at school you study and work out. When you get away from the yard for a weekend, you binge drink and party with the best of them (well, maybe you won't be quite as adept at tapping a keg as your ROTC friends, but it can all be learned in time)

If you want to serve your country and start now, it is a fine place to start. Of course, ROTC will accomplish the same thing, you'll just have a different experience enroute.

 

[TonyC]

Magnum may have been a little forceful but I must admit I've been thinking much the same thing. Hawkins asked guys who have been there what they thought and over half the guys on this thread are offering opinions about how great their civilian colleges were.

If Hawkins can get into one of the acadamies, let's all assume he is smart enough to ask all his friends about State U. down the road. But he may not know anyone at one of the academies, thus the query.

The dynamic you observe is no different than on any other thread on FlightInfo. Hawkins will have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

If WizardPilot was smart enough to earn an appointment to USNA, I reckon he's qualified to comment on the subject. There's no reason for Magnum!! to get all wrapped up because he chose to use the word "robot." Furthermore, it's irresponsible to try to lead Hawkins to believe that a cadet can "drink and get laid" just like a university student. I'm not too worried about it, though, because I think someone seriously looking at the service academies is probably bright enough to see through his facade.

Besides, it's not about "geekiness" or machismo - - the differences in lifestyles are much more profound than when and where you can drink alcohol and whether it's permissable to spend the night with your girlfriend.








.

 

[firstthird]

Agreed. Definitely a big decision and taking in all the available info is the only way to go. And when it comes down to it, Hawkins will be the only one to know where his priorities lie and what he wants long term.

And frankly, plenty of guys do chooose an academy, get there, decide they made a bad choice and bail sometime during the first year. not the preferred method, but it happens.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I went to USAFA, drank as much as anyone on this thread and got laid like a madman.

I didn't have to go to either of the service academies to be able to say that THIS is total Bull$hit!

Define "Madman"!

Having spent most of my life with those who took various routes to commissioning, it's clear who the socially challenged among us were, by a long shot, the Acadmeny victims.
Drank and got laid like a madman at the USFA....PUHLEEEZE!

 

[Hawkins]

Thanks for all the different views guys. Don't worry, I'm just a high school kid getting a little perspective on the different ways to get involved in the Navy. I won't take anyone too seriously. I promise.

-Hawkins

 

[Wild Weasel]

I'm just a high school kid getting a little perspective on the different ways to get involved in the Navy.
-Hawkins

Hey Hawk...I'm not an academy guy, however been in for over 23 years and to be honest with you, it really isn't all that apparent who did or did not go to one of the service academies. There are benefits and drawbacks to any of the avenues available to getting a set of wings (be they gold or silver).
If you want to get a good perspective of academy life in general, try reading the book "Absolutely American". The service school guys I have talked to said it was a pretty good depiction of life at an academy, and I felt it accurately protrayed the comradeship that exists in the military in general. Granted it is about West Point, however it is a good read, and current (published last year I think)......go check it out at the local library (using the library is a good way to practice being cheap as an airline guy later in life!!)

 

[SIG600]

Thanks for all the different views guys. Don't worry, I'm just a high school kid getting a little perspective on the different ways to get involved in the Navy. I won't take anyone too seriously. I promise.

-Hawkins

Wanna know the best way to get involved with the Navy? Four words... Bachelor Degree Completion Program or BDCP for short.

Go to a four year school that you want to, and where you can have a real social life. Do well your first year (because you have to get 30 credit hours to apply for this). Lets say in May 2006 you're finishing up your freshman year of college. Now you can apply for BDCP, and whatever program you want. Wanna be a pilot, you're applying for a pilot slot in 2009 when you graduate. So you apply, get accepted to the BDCP program. Now what happens, is when you graduate college in 2009, you have an OCS date waiting for you and a guaranteed pilot slot, cuz thats what you applied for (can't get that at an academy). And oh ya, that whole time you're in school, you're getting E-4 pay every month, you're accruing leave that you'll have when you get commisioned a full bank of leave as an O-1!!!), and you're time in service counts. So you'll be commisioned as an O-1, and have 2 or 3 years of service, and be making way more $$$ than the Academy pukes that wasted away for 4 years locked up while you were out partying your ass off and getting a nice paycheck, to do nothing but go to school. Thats right, no ROTC unit, no uniform, nothing. Just keep your grades up and keep your ass in shape for OCS.

And I agree full heartedly with Hugh... you could DEFINATLEY spot the Academy guys showing up to flight training when I was in Pensacola, they all looked like slobs and had no social skills (well 60-70% of them)... there were some really good dudes that came from Canoe U though.

PS... as a BDCP your pay can also go up while you're in school if you recruit more people to the program.

 

[F18-FDX]

Wanna know the best way to get involved with the Navy? Four words... Bachelor Degree Completion Program or BDCP for short.

Go to a four year school that you want to, and where you can have a real social life. Do well your first year (because you have to get 30 credit hours to apply for this). Lets say in May 2006 you're finishing up your freshman year of college. Now you can apply for BDCP, and whatever program you want. Wanna be a pilot, you're applying for a pilot slot in 2009 when you graduate. So you apply, get accepted to the BDCP program. Now what happens, is when you graduate college in 2009, you have an OCS date waiting for you and a guaranteed pilot slot, cuz thats what you applied for (can't get that at an academy). And oh ya, that whole time you're in school, you're getting E-4 pay every month, you're accruing leave that you'll have when you get commisioned a full bank of leave as an O-1!!!), and you're time in service counts. So you'll be commisioned as an O-1, and have 2 or 3 years of service, and be making way more $$$ than the Academy pukes that wasted away for 4 years locked up while you were out partying your ass off and getting a nice paycheck, to do nothing but go to school. Thats right, no ROTC unit, no uniform, nothing. Just keep your grades up and keep your ass in shape for OCS.

And I agree full heartedly with Hugh... you could DEFINATLEY spot the Academy guys showing up to flight training when I was in Pensacola, they all looked like slobs and had no social skills (well 60-70% of them)... there were some really good dudes that came from Canoe U though.

PS... as a BDCP your pay can also go up while you're in school if you recruit more people to the program.

Consider the source...I'm glad he's such an authority on the USNA.

 

[Chach]

Hawkins,

Those telling you not to go to the USNA, were not amongst USNA ranks. Regarding snatch, the Mustang officers get all of it. I didn't poll the cool ones, but served with many outstanding USNA types.

Good Luck,
Chach

 

[TonyC]

Consider the source...I'm glad he's such an authority on the USNA.

But, he didn't claim to be an authority on USNA, and he didn't comment on USNA.

Hawkins said

I'm just a high school kid getting a little perspective on the different ways to get involved in the Navy.

and SIG600 told us about a different way that hadn't been mentioned. I sure wish I had known about some program like this when I was in high school looking out.


Imagine my surprise when I was an O-1 at 1 year pay and learned that a contemporary in the squadron who was commissioned after me was earning O-1 at the 3 year rate. I didn't know it was possible until then.

Hawkins is better off for knowing now.









.

 

[SIG600]

Tony C gets what I was saying apparantly. Ya... I had buddies that were commisioned with me in OCS, making O-1 over 3 years (which is about 500-600 a month more) and had a maxed out leave bank. Someone tell me how this is a bad deal?

Drank and got laid like a madman at the USFA....PUHLEEEZE!

Dude... guys at USAFA don't take no for an answer!

 

[WizardPilot]

Robot? WTFO? Is this from your vast experience with dudes from the Academies?

I went to USAFA, drank as much as anyone on this thread and got laid like a madman. You just have to be a little more proactive.

Guess what? If you're a f****** geek in high school, you're going to be a f****** geek in college whether you're at USAFA, USNA, FSU, or Bama. If you went there, comment. If you didn't, STFU. Most ROTC guys I know (and I include some of them as my best buds) are woefully misinformed about Academy life (yes, there can be one), and most of the ROTC guys, despite what they say, can't tell if a dude went to the Academy or not unless they wear their ring, which most of us don't.

Chill out MAGNUM. I was using "robot" as only a describing word. The Academy is very regimented, and I do not think that you can deny that. No one I have talked to, friends and random zoomies, ever have denyed that. But yes, I have somewhat of a "Vast" experience of academy dudes. It takes you guys awhile to come back to the world when you guys finish off.

You need to get over yourself. Guy's like you at academies or any other school who try to go out, get drunk, and dive pu$$y at every oppourtunity give schools bad names. I have known "F****in geeks" in HS who are now very very well respected at their schools, and are either married to or dating some freaking hot girls. AND I know guys who were not "F*****in geeks" in HS and are complete lame, and ignorant people who don't want to come to the realization that you have to grow up one day... I hope you have realized this, because if you base yourself on how much you got wasted and how many girls (or gay lovers in your case) you got on, that is pathetic. You and even ROTC guys are training to be officers in the AF, USN, USMC, Army, Girls might be fun to get, and getting drunk might be your thing, but that is stupid, childlike, and Primative. Getting drunk and getting some is not what college is all about, and some people take it to the extreme.

Don't think that since you went to the academy and got drunk and pu$$y every once and awhile makes you all high and mighty. I respect Academy guys very very much. But their lives are much much more different than a civilians or ROTC guy. That is all I was trying to say, and you explode on here. I have been in the thread's starters posistion before and it is a difficult decision to make. I was just trying to help out, but you decide to freak out. You can give your opinions and I will give mine.

You are true in that later on in life it is hard to differentiate between Academy guys and ROTC guys. You really can't do it. But you bet you can when you get them right after commission day. Good luck to all.