Anonymous
02/13/2015 21:40
Subject: Re:West Point to Naval Acdemy?
Anonymous wrote:USNA grad here.
1 -- Inter-service transfers (after graduation, before commissioning) do occur, mostly a legacy of when there was no Air Force Academy. But they are very rare, 10-15 per year per school (usually "graduation physical" related; one service would let you fly where the other would not, or someone who could no longer fly...).
2 -- There is a well-established exchange program (spend a year at the other school); that's another 10-12 people/year. Depends on your major (hard for some types of engineers to do it, as you have to be able to keep up with your studies while you are gone) and it is very competitive.
3 -- You can theoretically leave USMA during your first two years and apply for entry to USNA just as you could from any other college (I had a friend who spent two years at Citadel and then applied to USNA). You cannot leave after the start of your junior year, though. Many midshipmen went someone else first for a year or two. Classes you have completed that Navy offers could be credited to your record so you could take advanced ones. But you still have to spend four years there to graduate (be a plebe TWICE?), and I am guessing few of the USMA plebe credits other than basic freshman classes would transfer (just as Naval Science 101 wouldn't transfer anywhere).
4 -- Now, would a congressman balk at spending two slots on one person? Depends on where they are; there are places in the US where there is not that much competition for a slot and so the congressman has ceded the whole discussion over who gets the slot to the Academy admissions office ("pick who you want and I'll sign the form"). They might not care much. The DC area, though is not one of those; it is VERY competitive here because there are so many alumni children who both attend really good schools here and know of the opportunity.
This, 100%. And one additional commissioning source is pre-arranged specialty-line commissioning. You graduate from the USMA, for example, and are immediately commission in the USAF. This happens perhaps a half dozen times per year, in each case by prior approval of the two Superintendents involved.
Anonymous
02/13/2015 17:55
Subject: Re:West Point to Naval Acdemy?
USNA grad here.
1 -- Inter-service transfers (after graduation, before commissioning) do occur, mostly a legacy of when there was no Air Force Academy. But they are very rare, 10-15 per year per school (usually "graduation physical" related; one service would let you fly where the other would not, or someone who could no longer fly...).
2 -- There is a well-established exchange program (spend a year at the other school); that's another 10-12 people/year. Depends on your major (hard for some types of engineers to do it, as you have to be able to keep up with your studies while you are gone) and it is very competitive.
3 -- You can theoretically leave USMA during your first two years and apply for entry to USNA just as you could from any other college (I had a friend who spent two years at Citadel and then applied to USNA). You cannot leave after the start of your junior year, though. Many midshipmen went someone else first for a year or two. Classes you have completed that Navy offers could be credited to your record so you could take advanced ones. But you still have to spend four years there to graduate (be a plebe TWICE?), and I am guessing few of the USMA plebe credits other than basic freshman classes would transfer (just as Naval Science 101 wouldn't transfer anywhere).
4 -- Now, would a congressman balk at spending two slots on one person? Depends on where they are; there are places in the US where there is not that much competition for a slot and so the congressman has ceded the whole discussion over who gets the slot to the Academy admissions office ("pick who you want and I'll sign the form"). They might not care much. The DC area, though is not one of those; it is VERY competitive here because there are so many alumni children who both attend really good schools here and know of the opportunity.
1 -- Inter-service transfers (after graduation, before commissioning) do occur, mostly a legacy of when there was no Air Force Academy. But they are very rare, 10-15 per year per school (usually "graduation physical" related; one service would let you fly where the other would not, or someone who could no longer fly...).
2 -- There is a well-established exchange program (spend a year at the other school); that's another 10-12 people/year. Depends on your major (hard for some types of engineers to do it, as you have to be able to keep up with your studies while you are gone) and it is very competitive.
3 -- You can theoretically leave USMA during your first two years and apply for entry to USNA just as you could from any other college (I had a friend who spent two years at Citadel and then applied to USNA). You cannot leave after the start of your junior year, though. Many midshipmen went someone else first for a year or two. Classes you have completed that Navy offers could be credited to your record so you could take advanced ones. But you still have to spend four years there to graduate (be a plebe TWICE?), and I am guessing few of the USMA plebe credits other than basic freshman classes would transfer (just as Naval Science 101 wouldn't transfer anywhere).
4 -- Now, would a congressman balk at spending two slots on one person? Depends on where they are; there are places in the US where there is not that much competition for a slot and so the congressman has ceded the whole discussion over who gets the slot to the Academy admissions office ("pick who you want and I'll sign the form"). They might not care much. The DC area, though is not one of those; it is VERY competitive here because there are so many alumni children who both attend really good schools here and know of the opportunity.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 16:51
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
The military academies all have extremely high standards. Young people accepted to USNA, USMA, or USAFA are outstanding, high-achieving students, leaders, and athletes. These kids have to be able to achieve across the board, not only in one category.
It is unusual to transfer from one academy to another, but sometimes a young person will realize that another service is a better fit. They would have to be very successful to be even considered for a transfer.
It is unusual to transfer from one academy to another, but sometimes a young person will realize that another service is a better fit. They would have to be very successful to be even considered for a transfer.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 14:41
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
On a historical note, my great-grandfather desperately wanted to attend West Point from his rural district. But that congressional appointment was already taken, so he won the appointment to Annapolis (he finished second on the competitive exam the congressman gave to determine his appointee, but the high scorer couldn't pass the physical test).
The day he graduated from Annapolis in 1910, he resigned his commission in the Navy and accepted a commission in the Army. Pretty sure that wouldn't be allowed today.
The day he graduated from Annapolis in 1910, he resigned his commission in the Navy and accepted a commission in the Army. Pretty sure that wouldn't be allowed today.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 12:33
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
The weather in Annapolis is certainly better.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 11:55
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I would assume its very unusual for a kid to make a switch? My friends son who has been at West Point decided to take a break after his first year and has now applied to the Naval Academy and going next year. Why would someone switch? I found it odd can can that even be done? Just curious......if anyone knows. I know they are both extremely competitive and rigorous but I thought you needed to be nominated to go to West Point by a congressman or something, just wondering why he would give that up and didn't know one could transfer between the academies.
You need a recemmenation from a Congressman for any of the service academies. Each branch of military service has its own culture. The kid may not have had a good sense of what that meant and realized that West Point / Army was not the right place for him and the Navy was better.
It is my understanding that Naval Academy is harder to get into than West Point. Some of the recent challegnes with West Point is it was a direct route to the Middle East after graduation.
All true. I would find it a little odd that the same Congressman would write a letter of rec. to one service academy for one constituent and then two years later do the same for the same kid. Those are rare perks that Congressmen or women want to spread around their constituent base as much as possible.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 11:50
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
Anonymous wrote:I would assume its very unusual for a kid to make a switch? My friends son who has been at West Point decided to take a break after his first year and has now applied to the Naval Academy and going next year. Why would someone switch? I found it odd can can that even be done? Just curious......if anyone knows. I know they are both extremely competitive and rigorous but I thought you needed to be nominated to go to West Point by a congressman or something, just wondering why he would give that up and didn't know one could transfer between the academies.
You need a recemmenation from a Congressman for any of the service academies. Each branch of military service has its own culture. The kid may not have had a good sense of what that meant and realized that West Point / Army was not the right place for him and the Navy was better.
It is my understanding that Naval Academy is harder to get into than West Point. Some of the recent challegnes with West Point is it was a direct route to the Middle East after graduation.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 11:44
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
It's not common, but it's definitely not unheard of. My high school boyfriend was at the NA, and they hosted/sent "exchange students" each semester to the other service academies. Each year 1 or 2 would decide they liked the other academy better, and transfer.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 11:32
Subject: Re:West Point to Naval Acdemy?
Maybe he wanted to be in the navy?
Honestly, I have a kid who is a current high school sophomore and might consider one of the service academies. I considered West Point many years ago myself. If my kid decides to go that route I would certainly encourage the Naval Academy over the others. In terms of long-term career opportunities I suspect they are better in the Navy for a kid coming out of one of the academies in a few years. Think about it -- we are winding down what is largely ground and air involvement in the middle east and hopefully we will not be so heavily committed for many, many years (or ever). But, that also means that there are a large number of officers and soldiers who are not much older who have significant combat and/or combat area experience. Every time an assignment or promotion is being considered that lack of combat experience is going to be a negative when there will be so many who do have that experience.
Honestly, I have a kid who is a current high school sophomore and might consider one of the service academies. I considered West Point many years ago myself. If my kid decides to go that route I would certainly encourage the Naval Academy over the others. In terms of long-term career opportunities I suspect they are better in the Navy for a kid coming out of one of the academies in a few years. Think about it -- we are winding down what is largely ground and air involvement in the middle east and hopefully we will not be so heavily committed for many, many years (or ever). But, that also means that there are a large number of officers and soldiers who are not much older who have significant combat and/or combat area experience. Every time an assignment or promotion is being considered that lack of combat experience is going to be a negative when there will be so many who do have that experience.
Anonymous
02/12/2015 07:07
Subject: West Point to Naval Acdemy?
I would assume its very unusual for a kid to make a switch? My friends son who has been at West Point decided to take a break after his first year and has now applied to the Naval Academy and going next year. Why would someone switch? I found it odd can can that even be done? Just curious......if anyone knows. I know they are both extremely competitive and rigorous but I thought you needed to be nominated to go to West Point by a congressman or something, just wondering why he would give that up and didn't know one could transfer between the academies.