<p>Dear Mister Sinister,</p>
<p>Queenbee gives good advice about appling to AROTC. The application is relatively easy and is online. That will speed up getting the “DoDMERB card” and is an excellent backup plan for becoming an Army Officer. Also, have you started the application to any of the other academies? They are available sooner than USMA’s and tend to get the DoDMERB process started sooner also. I do not recommend applying just to speed up the DoDMERB process, though. Apply only if you would truly be interested in attending. </p>
<p>Try to ignore the comments about the relative merits of other people’s applications. It will make you crazy to constantly compare yourself to others and to be constantly judging your chances. Keep you head up, be proud of what you have accomplished so far, and keep improving yourself academically and physically. </p>
<p>Have you joined the listserv Prospective-Net? It is a very helpful, fairly private, email based site where you can post questions about the application process. Malos and experienced moderators answer your questions and you can read the questions and answers from the other members. It is designed for prospective USMA cadets and their parents. Here is the link:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.west-point.org/parent/prospective-net/[/url]”>http://www.west-point.org/parent/prospective-net/</a></p>
<p>Good Luck! Thank you for making the decision to serve our country. </p>
<p>usservicemom</p>