U.S. Military Service Academies

Col Rick Thompson (USAF, Retired)Admissions Liaison Officer

Five Military Service Academies

Air Force AcademyColorado Springs, CO

US Naval AcademyAnnapolis, MD

Military AcademyWest Point, NY

Coast Guard AcademyNew London, CT

Merchant Marine AcademyKings Point, NY

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Snapshot of Service Academies

• Appointment to a Service academy is the equivalent to a 4-year scholarship

• U.S. govt provides room & board, medical & dental care, textbooks & a monthly salary (latter does not apply to Merchant Marine Academy)

• Selection rate is approximately 16%, with about 1,350 students entering the Military, Naval & Air Force Academies, and 275 students entering the Coast Guard & Merchant Marine Academies

• In addition to academics, Service Academies focus on “Whole Person Development”: Military, Athletic & Character and Leadership

• Service Academy graduates earn a Commission as a military officer• Graduates (except Merchant Marine) incur a minimum five-year active

duty commitment & an additional three-year reserve commitment• Merchant Marine Academy graduates are not obligated to join the

active-duty military, but they do have a service obligation

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Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. citizen• 17 - 22 years of age (25 for Merchant Marine Academy)• Be unmarried, not pregnant, and have no legal

obligation to support children or other dependents (does not apply to Merchant Marine Academy)

• Good moral character

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Basic Steps to Admission

• To be eligible to compete for an appointment, applicants must:

Have an Official Nomination (excluding the Coast Guard); Be Academically Competitive; Be Medically Qualified; and, Be Physically Qualified

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Academy Nominations

• To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, an applicant must have a nomination from an authorized nominating source

• Congressional Both U.S. Senators Representative Vice President

• Military Related Presidential Regular / Reserve Components Honor Military Schools / ROTC / JROTC Deceased / Disabled / MIA Medal of Honor

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USAFA Admission Measures

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60%20%

20%

Academic Composite Extracurricular Activities Other

USAFA Academic Composite (60%)

• GPA / Class rank / AP & Honors Courses• School’s percentage of graduates going on to college• SAT and ACT Scores• Highest individual scores from multiple test dates taken

• Profile of the USAFA Class of 2010• HS GPA - 3.86 #1 in Class - 8%• Top 10% - 50% Top 25% - 81%• SAT

• Verbal - 630 Math - 660• ACT

• English - 28 Math - 29• Reading - 29 Science Reasoning - 28

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USAFA Extracurricular Activities (20%)

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• Athletic & Non-Athletic• Profile of the USAFA Class of 2010

• Class President/Vice President - 18%• National Honor Society - 63%• Eagle Scout/Gold Award - 13%• Civil Air Patrol - 11%• Athletic Letter - 81%

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USAFA “Other” (20%)

• Admission Liaison Officer Evaluations

• Teacher Evaluations

• Common fitness assessment required by all service academies

Max ScoreEvent Men Women Averages

Basketball Throw 102’ 66’ 70’ / 41’

Pull-ups (Flexed-Arm Hang is 18 7 8 / 2 optional for females)

Shuttle Run (4x10 yd) 7.8 sec 8.6 sec 10.0 / 11.5

Crunches 95 95 65 / 65

Push-ups 75 50 50 / 30

One-mile Run 5:20 6:00 7:00 / 8:00

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USAFA Admissions Calendar

SeniorJunior

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Take ACT / SAT

Complete Admissions FileTake Medical ExamTake CFA

Request Nom

Appointment Offers

Class Enters

Class Filled

Request and Return Application

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0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%

Caucasian African American Hispanic/Latino Asian/Pacific Islander Native AmericanRace and Ethnicity

Current & Projected U.S. Demographics vs. USAFA Cadet Wing

USAFA Cadet Wing 2000 U.S. Population 2040 U.S. Population

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Academy Life is Regimental

• School Day

Time Activity

5:15-7:20 a.m. Personal time

7:25-7:40 a.m. Breakfast

7:50-11:43 a.m. Classes (4)

11:50-12:20 p.m. Noon Formation & Lunch

12:30-1:20 p.m. Professional Military Training(Ancillary Training on Tuesday & Thursday)

1:30-4:23 p.m. Classes (3)

3:30-6:30 p.m. Practice for Cadets Involved in NCAA Intramural Sports(Others Participate in Intramural Sports Twice Weekly)

5:00-7:00 p.m. Optional Evening Buffet

7:10-11:00 p.m. Academic Call To Quarters(Tuesday & Thursday Includes Military Call to Quarters for 30 Minutes)

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USAFA Majors/Minors* Offered

Basic Sciences Engineering Humanities Social Sciences

Basic Sciences Aeronautical Foreign Area Studies

Behavioral Science

Bio Chemistry Astronautical English Economics

Biology Civil Foreign Language*

Geospatial Science

Chemistry Computer History Management

Computer Electrical Humanities Political Science

Mathematics Environmental Legal Studies Social Science

Meteorology General Mil Strategy

Ops Research Mechanics Philosophy*

Physics Systems

Space Ops Systems Mgt

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Academy Life is Regimental--Cont

• Uniforms must be worn during the school day• Cadet rooms must be maintained in “inspection state”• Privileges earned• Only 15 days of personal time during summer--remainder of summer

is training

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Preparatory Schools

• Each of the 5 military service academies offer preparatory schools--most are co-located on the Academy grounds

• Intended for Academy applicants who have potential and are otherwise qualified except for a slight deficiency in grades, physical fitness, or extracurricular activities

• 10-month program of intense academic preparation, military training, and athletic conditioning, designed to develop the skills and character necessary to be successful at the academy

• Curriculum is focused on mathematics, English & basic sciences• Intended for active military, minorities & athletes• High school students may not apply directly to the Prep School• Between 75 and 80 percent of all entering students earn an

appointment to the academy

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Academy Summer Programs

• “Summer Seminar” (Navy and Air Force)

• “Summer Leaders Seminar” (Army)

• “Academy Introduction Mission” (Coast Guard)• Six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior

year in HS (Coast Guard’s is one-week)

• Intended to teach interested students about the respective service

academy

• Selection and eligibility criteria varies by Academy--at a minimum:• Unmarried, not pregnant and have no legal obligation to support anyone;

• Superior HS performance to include: GPA, class standing, and/or strong

PSAT/SAT/ACT;

• Demonstrated achievement in athletics and extracurricular activities; and,

• Physically fit and in good health

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Academy Summer Programs - Cont

• Cost is $350, which pays for room and board, as well as a variety of

materials. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation

• Naval, Air Force and Coast Guard Academies offer three sessions, while

the Military Academy offers two sessions

• Students apply on-line

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Snapshot of ROTC

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• Reserve Officers Training Corps (“ROTC”) is the program for training students in colleges/universities to serve as officers in the military

• Can attend colleges/universities that offer ROTC or through “cross-town” agreements, i.e., attend college/university that does not offer ROTC and participate in ROTC classes at a nearby college/university

• ROTC offered by the Army/Navy/Air Force• ROTC encompasses leadership development, military skills &

adventure training• Graduates earn a commission as an officer in the military

AFROTC Academic Requirements

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• Applicants are measured on academic performance using an Academic Composite SAT and/or ACT scores (no mixing allowed) Class rank GPA # of advanced placement or honors courses completed through 11th grade

• Profile of AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2009 Class Rank Top 12% Average GPA 3.77 Average SAT 1260 (Math and Verbal portion only) Average ACT 27

AFROTC HS Scholarship Program

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• Scholarships are based on a student's merit, not financial need• Students can apply on-line beginning May 1st of their junior year to Dec

1st of their senior year• Type 1

Pays full college tuition, most fees and $900 per year for books

• Type 2 Pays college tuition and most fees up to $18,000 and $900 per year for

books (if tuition exceeds $18,000 per year, then student pays the difference)

• Type 7 Intended for in-state colleges/universities with a cap of $9,000 and $900 per

year for books—tuition above $9,000 is not qualifying

• Cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance during the school year $300 for freshmen, increasing annually, $500 for seniors

Contrasting ROTC vs Academy

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• Similarities• Very competitive process--applicants must be well-rounded and meet

Academic, medical and physical requirements• Both Academy & ROTC graduates earn a degree• Both Academy & ROTC graduates earn a commission as a military officer • Graduates can be directly sent to medical school or law school at govt

expense• Selection extremely competitive• 1 additional year of commitment for every year of school

• Non-Similarities• Nomination not required for ROTC• ROTC is far less regimental• Greater likelihood for Academy graduates to get pilot slots

How You Can Help Students

• Let students know about service academies early

• Encourage qualified students to:• Take IB, AP & Honors courses, including:

• Computer Science--minimum of 1 year

• English: 4 years, including written composition

• Foreign Language--minimum of 2 years

• Math: 4 years of college-prep, including algebra, geometry & trigonometry

• Lab Sciences--4 years, including biology, chemistry, and physics

• Social Sciences--3 years, including history, economics, government & behavioral sciences

• ACT/SAT early & often• Take on leadership roles in all activities

• Be involved in athletics

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Orientation Tours for Educators

• Air Force and Naval Academies have programs that bring educators to the respective academies• Deadline to apply for Air Force‘s program is 6/1 for sessions offered in first

week in Nov and Dec

• Navy offers sessions during 1st and 3rd quarters—deadline to apply is typically four months prior to session

• Four day program• Some out-of pocket expenses, e.g., Air Force pays transportation

and meals, but not lodging

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Websites and Local Points of Contact

• Military Academy - http://www.usma.edu/• POC: Leah Scherr, 702.435.3849 , Bllmks88@aol.com• Summer Leaders Seminar: http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/summer.cfm

• Naval Academy - http://www.usna.edu/homepage.php• POC: Ed Joyce, 702.452.3657, edj@cox.net• Summer Seminar: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm

• Air Force Academy - http://www.usafa.af.mil/• POC: Major Jennifer Morrison, 702.326.8489, usafa1994@live.com• Summer Seminar:

https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/online/onlineapplication.exe?SS=true

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Websites and Local Points of Contact - Cont

• Coast Guard Academy - http://www.cga.edu/• POC: Norm Simpson, 702.435.3849, WhatNBlazes@aol.com• Academy Introduction Mission - http://www.uscga.edu/display.aspx?id=2942

• Merchant Marine Academy - http://www.usmma.edu/• No local POC

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Questions

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