Tachypsychia
05-17-11, 07:46 PM
Hello Marines!
I've floated around on the forums for a while now and decided to officially join so I could get some advice.
Back in 2006 I decided I wanted to be a Marine Aviator and looked into all the programs that one could use to commission then get wings. I applied for the USNA the same year I swore in for Marines Reserve on a 6x2 contract. I got my congressional nomination and thought for sure I'd get a Letter of Assurance (LOA) from the academy, but something held up my application and I never got to complete the DODMERB.
That summer after graduation I went to MCRD Parris Island and earned the title. 4 years later, I'm in my second year attending college and have a deployment to Iraq under my belt with more time active duty than time drilling. I realize that this is something I want to do for the rest of my life, and I want to go career.
I have just one more year that I'm eligible to apply to the Naval Academy and want to try again. I feel that I present decent competitiveness for an appointment. I was hoping to get some hands on advice from Naval Academy graduate mustangs, but I understand that there might not be a ton floating around here, so any advice is appreciated.
I'm curious about my chances of getting appointed from looking at the Class of 2014's profile.
There were about 17k that applied and about 6200 with official nominations. And out of those 6200 that were truely considered 1250 were appointed. Out of the 1250, only 7 were Marines that were prior enlisted.
At first I figured it was because there weren't many Marines, either reserve or active that took advantage of the process because the restrictions are so tight (can't be married, between 17-23, ect) but it seems that 377 SECNAV nominations were handed out. This confuses me because I read that there were 170 nominations available to both active and reserve Navy and Marines, totaling 340 total possible nominations but since that number was surpassed I'm not sure what to think.
As far as my credentials go, I'm a Lance at the top of the list so I'll be picking up CPL next quarter. I have 3 CERCOMs (1 for top of class in MOS, 1 for actions in Iraq, 1 for work in the maintenance shop at the reserve center) as well as 2 Certs of Appreciation and 2 positive page 11s. I'm not sure, but from what I hear, this is an above average rap sheet for a lance. I have not had any NJPs or adverse councilings. My pro/cons are 4.5/4.5, I run a 1st class CFT, after this weekend I'll be 3rd award Expert rifleman ect. The only negative I can think of is my current PFT, which is a 2nd Class. I'm going to a secondary MOS school in August where I plan on getting a good 1st Class on the books. I've already knocked 3 solid minutes off my run time, but it's the pull ups that kill me. Regardless, I'm working on that.
As far as applying to the academy, I have to retake my SAT because my scores are over 2 years old, but my previous scores were 620/640 Math/Reading, and I'm confident that I'll score higher than that this next time.
I know it's a lot to read but I'm looking for similar stories for Marines who chose to do the same thing so I'll know where else to improve so I can be as competitive for the SECNAV nomination as well as an appointment, since I only have one more shot. There are always other options for commission but I have my heart set on the academy right now.
S/F
I've floated around on the forums for a while now and decided to officially join so I could get some advice.
Back in 2006 I decided I wanted to be a Marine Aviator and looked into all the programs that one could use to commission then get wings. I applied for the USNA the same year I swore in for Marines Reserve on a 6x2 contract. I got my congressional nomination and thought for sure I'd get a Letter of Assurance (LOA) from the academy, but something held up my application and I never got to complete the DODMERB.
That summer after graduation I went to MCRD Parris Island and earned the title. 4 years later, I'm in my second year attending college and have a deployment to Iraq under my belt with more time active duty than time drilling. I realize that this is something I want to do for the rest of my life, and I want to go career.
I have just one more year that I'm eligible to apply to the Naval Academy and want to try again. I feel that I present decent competitiveness for an appointment. I was hoping to get some hands on advice from Naval Academy graduate mustangs, but I understand that there might not be a ton floating around here, so any advice is appreciated.
I'm curious about my chances of getting appointed from looking at the Class of 2014's profile.
There were about 17k that applied and about 6200 with official nominations. And out of those 6200 that were truely considered 1250 were appointed. Out of the 1250, only 7 were Marines that were prior enlisted.
At first I figured it was because there weren't many Marines, either reserve or active that took advantage of the process because the restrictions are so tight (can't be married, between 17-23, ect) but it seems that 377 SECNAV nominations were handed out. This confuses me because I read that there were 170 nominations available to both active and reserve Navy and Marines, totaling 340 total possible nominations but since that number was surpassed I'm not sure what to think.
As far as my credentials go, I'm a Lance at the top of the list so I'll be picking up CPL next quarter. I have 3 CERCOMs (1 for top of class in MOS, 1 for actions in Iraq, 1 for work in the maintenance shop at the reserve center) as well as 2 Certs of Appreciation and 2 positive page 11s. I'm not sure, but from what I hear, this is an above average rap sheet for a lance. I have not had any NJPs or adverse councilings. My pro/cons are 4.5/4.5, I run a 1st class CFT, after this weekend I'll be 3rd award Expert rifleman ect. The only negative I can think of is my current PFT, which is a 2nd Class. I'm going to a secondary MOS school in August where I plan on getting a good 1st Class on the books. I've already knocked 3 solid minutes off my run time, but it's the pull ups that kill me. Regardless, I'm working on that.
As far as applying to the academy, I have to retake my SAT because my scores are over 2 years old, but my previous scores were 620/640 Math/Reading, and I'm confident that I'll score higher than that this next time.
I know it's a lot to read but I'm looking for similar stories for Marines who chose to do the same thing so I'll know where else to improve so I can be as competitive for the SECNAV nomination as well as an appointment, since I only have one more shot. There are always other options for commission but I have my heart set on the academy right now.
S/F