Serious question - How diverse are these academies (westpoint, Naval, air force, etc)? Asian parent here with DS interested in applying to one of these. Reasonably athletic but academically exceptional. I'm really interested in knowing if these places are welcoming of non-whites in general. Wouldn't want DS to get stuck in a bad situation. If this comes across as prejudiced, I apologize in advance.

Anonymous wrote:What are career options after serving your time owed?

How long is a piece of string?

Many end up in the DC area. A lot of the graduates have prestigious engineering or science degrees, some management experience, familiarity with the federal government, so, naturally, they often work for the government as employees or contractors, lots of defense contractors and consultants. Transitioning to projects with DHS, DOT, DOD can be pretty straightforward.

Some go to law school, some go to medical school. Some get CPAs. Some get MBAs.

Some will transfer over to the merchant marine, or work for that industry with companies like MAERSK. Some have been trained as pilots and can continue that, or FAA, or Boeing, or McDonnell Douglas.

What does anyone do, really?

Anonymous wrote:What are career options after serving your time owed?

Nothing that an elitist DCUM would be proud of, that's for sure.

You may find this thread informative, PP.

https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/what-civilian-jobs-are-available-after-uscga.54398/

What are career options after serving your time owed?

Neighbor did it and he loves it.

Anonymous wrote:PP, why would they ever deploy overseas?

USCG has members serving overseas alongside other services. It is not a large proportion of the service, which itself is very small. If you're interested in the historical deployments you can read about deployment overseas in WW2 and Vietnam.

Anonymous wrote:Is it prestigious? Or seen as like a trade school?

You cannot be serious. It's very prestigious. I would love for my youngest to have that opportunity. DH went to VMI and my son is leaning in that direction. Our older kids are in/through college.

CGA I believe would have higher test scores than other academies, but check for yourself and don't quote me on it. You cannot get in with the political recommendations, must be on your own merit. And last time I looked, there's no grade 13/extra year of high school for CGA like there is for WP/Annapolis/AirForce --- you have to be smart enough from day 1. They have my respect. Trade school? No. Like any other academy, uniformed officers with science degrees. What did you think, car mechanics?

Anonymous wrote:Because the main mission is not combat.

Same for Merchant Marine Academy - plus you get two sea years and "only" reserve duty to pay back service. That said, I'd not encourage my DD to go to one of the service academies.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a kid who applied this cycle? What was the process like?

,

DC friend got in - URM, lower socio economic, average student, but very athletic.

Anyone have a kid who applied this cycle? What was the process like?

Anonymous wrote:Is it prestigious? Or seen as like a trade school?

It is prestigious. Not as famous as West Point (U.S. Military Academy) or Annapolis (U.S. Naval Academy) but regarded as highly selective with talented graduates, and certainly not seen as a "trade school." Many Americans are not that well-versed in what ANY of the service academies do, so with a child at the Coast Guard Academy you would have to be prepared to explain to people that it is a four-year college with a bachelor of science degree. Lots of engineering (about two-thirds of majors are STEM), so better known at engineering grad schools but well known in general in grad schools.

Is it prestigious? Or seen as like a trade school?

PP, why would they ever deploy overseas?