Transcript Briefing Topic Title Goes Here (1 January 2005)

U.S. Military Service Academies
Col Rick Thompson (USAF, Retired)
Admissions Liaison Officer
Five Military Service Academies
Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Military Academy
West Point, NY
Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
US Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
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Snapshot of Service Academies
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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
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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
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To be eligible to compete for an appointment, applicants must:
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Have an Official Nomination (excluding the Coast Guard);
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Be Academically Competitive;
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Be Medically Qualified; and,
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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
20%
20%
Academic Composite
60%
Extracurricular Activities
Other
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USAFA Academic Composite (60%)
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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
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Profile of the USAFA Class of 2010
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HS GPA - 3.86
• Top 10% - 50%
• SAT
• Verbal - 630
• ACT
• English - 28
• Reading - 29
#1 in Class - 8%
Top 25% - 81%
Math - 660
Math - 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
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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 Score
Event
Men
Women
Averages
Basketball Throw
102’
66’
70’ / 41’
18
7
Pull-ups (Flexed-Arm Hang is
optional for females)
8.6 sec
8/2
Shuttle Run (4x10 yd)
7.8 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
Junior
Senior
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Request and Return Application
Take ACT / SAT
Class Filled
Request Nom
Complete Admissions File
Take Medical Exam
Take CFA
Appointment Offers
Class Enters
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Current & Projected U.S. Demographics vs.
USAFA Cadet Wing
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Caucasian
African American
USAFA Cadet Wing
Hispanic/Latino
Race and Ethnicity
2000 U.S. Population
Asian/Pacific Islander
Native American
2040 U.S. Population
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Academy Life is Regimental
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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
Meteorology
General
Mil Strategy
Ops Research
Mechanics
Philosophy*
Physics
Systems
Space Ops
Systems Mgt
Social Science
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Academy Life is Regimental--Cont
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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
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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
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“Summer Seminar” (Navy and Air Force)
“Summer Leaders Seminar” (Army)
“Academy Introduction Mission” (Coast Guard)
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Six-day experience for high achievers who have completed their junior
year in HS (Coast Guard’s is one-week)
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Intended to teach interested students about the respective service
academy
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Selection and eligibility criteria varies by Academy--at a minimum:
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Unmarried, not pregnant and have no legal obligation to support anyone;
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Superior HS performance to include: GPA, class standing, and/or strong
PSAT/SAT/ACT;
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Demonstrated achievement in athletics and extracurricular activities; and,
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Physically fit and in good health
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Academy Summer Programs - Cont
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Cost is $350, which pays for room and board, as well as a variety of
materials. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation
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Naval, Air Force and Coast Guard Academies offer three sessions, while
the Military Academy offers two sessions
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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 “crosstown” 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
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AFROTC Academic Requirements
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Applicants are measured on academic performance using an
Academic Composite
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SAT and/or ACT scores (no mixing allowed)
 Class rank
 GPA
 # of advanced placement or honors courses completed through 11th grade
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Profile of AFROTC scholarship recipients for 2009
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Class Rank Top 12%
 Average GPA 3.77
 Average SAT 1260 (Math and Verbal portion only)
 Average ACT 27
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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
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Type 2
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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
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Pays full college tuition, most fees and $900 per year for books
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
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$300 for freshmen, increasing annually, $500 for seniors
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Contrasting ROTC vs Academy
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Similarities
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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
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Non-Similarities
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Nomination not required for ROTC
• ROTC is far less regimental
• Greater likelihood for Academy graduates to get pilot slots
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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
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Air Force and Naval Academies have programs that bring educators
to the respective academies
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Deadline to apply for Air Force‘s program is 6/1 for sessions offered in first
week in Nov and Dec
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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
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Military Academy - http://www.usma.edu/
• POC: Leah Scherr, 702.435.3849 , [email protected]
• Summer Leaders Seminar: http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/summer.cfm
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Naval Academy - http://www.usna.edu/homepage.php
• POC: Ed Joyce, 702.452.3657, [email protected]
• Summer Seminar: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm
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Air Force Academy - http://www.usafa.af.mil/
• POC: Major Jennifer Morrison, 702.326.8489, [email protected]
• Summer Seminar:
https://admissions.usafa.edu/secure/online/onlineapplication.exe?SS=true
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Websites and Local Points of Contact - Cont
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Coast Guard Academy - http://www.cga.edu/
• POC: Norm Simpson, 702.435.3849, [email protected]
• Academy Introduction Mission - http://www.uscga.edu/display.aspx?id=2942
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Merchant Marine Academy - http://www.usmma.edu/
• No local POC
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Questions
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