Presentation

Navigating Your Way to Annapolis: 

Navigating Your Way to Annapolis …and the other United States military service academies

Objectives: 

Objectives Learn about the 5 military academies How to prepare for an academy academics, athletics, leadership, service The Congressional nomination process The application process What if I don’t get into an academy? What are my options?

The Five Military Service Academies: 

The Five Military Service Academies U.S. Military Academy (West Point) U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis) U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs) U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut) U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York)

SAT Score Ranges 25% - 75%: 

SAT Score Ranges 25% - 75% USMA V 570 - 670 M 590 - 680 USNA V 590 - 680 M 620 - 700 USAFA V 580 – 660 M 610 – 690 USCGA V 560 – 660 M 600 – 680 USMMA V 620 – 670 M 600 - 650

Steps to Follow(for the School Counselor): 

Steps to Follow (for the School Counselor) Freshman and Sophomore Years Identify students who may be interested in military careers. Students need to know early on that admission to the academies is highly competitive and multi-faceted. Students need to be supported in choosing a rigorous academic curriculum, doing as well as possible in all courses, becoming involved in sports, and taking advantage of leadership opportunities.

What the heck is: 

What the heck is DODMERB?

DODMERB: 

DODMERB Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board

Slide8: 

Steps to Follow Freshman Year O Be a good student. O Participate in school sports. O Become involved in one or two community service activities or school clubs. O If you are a Scout, talk to your scoutmaster or troop leaders about working toward your Eagle or Gold award. O Visit one or more of the academies.

Slide9: 

Steps to Follow Summer - Freshman Year Don’t waste your summer, do something meaningful: O Take a course O Go to a scouting or sports camp O Work on a community service project O Learn how to swim O Take flying lessons

Slide10: 

Steps to Follow Sophomore Year O Be a good student – take the best possible curriculum, concentrating on math and science. O Participate in school sports, working your way to varsity level if possible. O Stay involved in one or two community service activities or school clubs and begin to demonstrate leadership in them. O If you are a Scout, work at earning your Eagle or Gold award. O Visit one or more of the academies if you have not already done so.

Slide11: 

Steps to Follow Sophomore Year - Summer Don’t waste your summer, do something meaningful: O Take a course O Go to a scouting or sports camp, or become a camp counselor O Work on a community service project O Learn how to swim or become a lifeguard O Take flying lessons

Slide12: 

Steps to Follow Junior Year O Be a good student – take the best possible curriculum, adding honors and AP courses if possible, concentrating on math and science. O Participate in school sports, working your way to varsity level if possible. O Stay involved in one or two community service activities or school clubs and become a leader in them. O If you are a Scout, earn your Eagle or Gold award. O Visit the academy(ies) to which you will be applying.

Slide13: 

Steps to Follow Junior Year (continued) O In October, go online and apply for the academy summer programs. O In March, take your SAT if your counselor feels you are ready – repeat the SAT in May or June – also, take the ACT at least once. O In April, write to the Vice President, your two U.S. Senators, and your Congressional representative, requesting a nomination to a military service academy. O In April, go online and request an application from the academy(ies) of your choosing.

Slide14: 

Steps to Follow Junior Year (continued) O In April, go online and apply for an ROTC scholarship with the appropriate branches of the military. O In April or early May, ask three teachers and your counselor to write letters of reference for your congressional nomination packet.

Slide15: 

Steps to Follow Summer - Junior Year O Attend one of the Academy summer programs if you have been accepted, otherwise, do something meaningful. O Begin to train for your PAE. O If contacted by DODMERB, take your physical examination. O In early summer, complete your congressional nomination packets, send them in, and request your school to send your Junior year transcript to your congressional representatives.

Slide16: 

Steps to Follow Summer - Junior Year (continued) O In August you should receive the actual application from the academy(ies) in which you expressed interest back in April. If you have not received them by mid-August, call and request an application. Begin work on the application.

Slide17: 

Steps to Follow Senior Year O In September give your teachers and your counselor the recommendation forms that came with the academy applications. O In September, ask your P.E. teacher to administer the PAE. Repeat if your score is not above average. O In October, complete your academy application and send it in. O In October, take the SAT again, and have your scores sent to the academy(ies) to which you are applying.

Slide18: 

Steps to Follow Senior Year (continued) O If contacted by DODMERB, take your physical examination. O Have your congressional nomination interviews. Academy field representatives also will interview you. O If invited, take an overnight visit at the academy. O Stay in touch with your academy admissions representatives, making sure that your file is complete. Take care of any medical issues raised by DODMERB.

Slide19: 

Steps to Follow Senior Year (continued) Spring O O O Accept your appointment. O O O Summer O O O Report for duty. O O O Congratulations!!

The Congressional Nomination: 

The Congressional Nomination The congressional nomination authorizes the academy to offer an appointment. The usual nomination sources are: The Vice President Senator Jon Corzine Senator Frank Lautenberg Local congressional representative

Other Sources of Nomination: 

Other Sources of Nomination Presidential: sons and daughters of career military personnel Sons & daughters of Medal of Honor awardees Sons & daughters of deceased & disabled veterans ROTC programs Enlisted soldiers, sailors, airmen of regular service and reserve components

The Congressional Nomination: 

The Congressional Nomination Nomination Anomalies Nominations are not needed for the Coast Guard Academy The Vice President does not nominate to the Merchant Marine Academy

Nomination Categories: 

Nomination Categories Principal with numbered alternates nominator ranks candidates 1 through 10 Principal with competitive alternates nominator assigns principal candidate and leaves remaining candidates unranked Competitive nominator presents a slate of 10 unranked candidates

Non-Academy Options: 

Non-Academy Options Academy Prep School Programs ROTC program in civilian college Apply again next year - nearly 1/3 of cadet classes are students who have had one or more years of college Attend a non-government military college

Slide25: 

Candidate Pool / Open Files Q: medical ? was partial sked med med DQ request waiver VAS D O D M E R B SSK PAE Q: WCS first time? reschedule letter “some mistake” letter yes Q: WCS no Q: WCS PAE check pass fail no show periodic queries (access) Qmed VAS “Wally Card” incomplete RC eval VAC failure to respond to Wally

Slide26: 

QNS first 100 Q: PRTCSAG ? Qmed or pending waiver QPAE or PAE check’d incomplete complete R/C: Math? English? CEER? A/C: Math? English? CEER? VAS DQ Prep? no USMAPS WPPSP Class Composition other Q no competitive? select? QNS others yes wait for nom “Wally Card” R/C recommends yes