re: How difficult is it to get your kid into a military service academy

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You can go the ROTC route, have a normal college experience

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I was in NROTC for two years and we all wished we could wear the uniform more than twice a week b/c it is very true that some women just love a guy in uniform. I was really kind of an average joe most of the time but got hit on more times than I can count when I was in uniform.

Second the Coast Guard recommendation by the way. The CG doesn't get as much love but their jobs are generally more interesting and geared toward serving the public directly, plus you get to spend time with your family more.

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As strange as this may sound, the academies are pretty liberal. Even though the vast majority of the military is conservative leaning.

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You got this right, my boys tell me it's all PC at USAFA.

Helps if you have a letter of recommendation from both your Congressman AND Senator. FYI Doesn't take a political connection, but it does take a solid application/good resume

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Helps if you have a letter of recommendation from both your Congressman AND Senator. FYI Doesn't take a political connection, but it does take a solid application/good resume

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A good interview with the local Academy liaison will go a mile without connections. Often these interviews go over an hour. The people want to know your kids are committed and have the right values. They often ask the same question 2-3 different ways and take copious notes, they can smell BS.

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As strange as this may sound, the academies are pretty liberal. Even though the vast majority of the military is conservative leaning.

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Not really. Enlisted tends to be pretty conservative. Officers are more of a mixed bag.

Don't get all wrapped up in the Service Academies, have a plan be B, C, D....

ROTC Scholarships are extremely competitive, but it affords the opportunity to have a life. Tulane, for example, combines a Merit Scholarship for room and board. That's not common, btw. Start preparation earlier than they say.

Also, don't forget the Guard, maybe the best deal in the Military, esp if your kid wants to fly. I joined after HS, they basically paid my way through LSU.

There's only one statement that has no bias:

By the time you make Captain (Lieutenant for Navy), every advantage you might have had from your precommissioning source is gone and you are all considered at the same level. The aforementioned advantages may help or hinder you going forward depending on who your senior rater (Boss' boss) is.

Your promotion to O4 and beyond is only about 30% dependent on your performance and 70% dependent on factors you have no control over.

A friend’s son is starting at the naval academy in the fall. He has stellar academics and has made it well known throughout high school that that was what he wanted to do. He wrote letters and arranged meetings and interviews for a couple years. But it has to be the boy’s mission, not the parent’s mission. And quite frankly, I have no idea what made the difference for this kid, but he is absolutely solid as a person and a student.

They are not politically connected.

I went to the Air Force Academy for a year, hen wisened up and dropped out and did ROTC at LSU. I’m in the same spot as all my Academy peers, just one year later.

Merchant Marine Academy and Coast Guard are the best options. MMA allows for commission in any branch(AD, Guard, or Reserve) or go be a merchant marine.