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.








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