Navy SEAL from USNA ?

Parents Forum
1

<p>My son is interested in persuing an Appointment at the USNA. He has the academic and physical credentials and temperment to thrive in the military. Would the Navy be likely to award an appointment to someone who wants to be a SEAL and discloses this in their essay during the appointment process. The reason I ask this somewhat paradoxical question is that I know that SEALS are some of the best of the best in the Navy. But I also know that is a very risky endeavor and does the Navy want invest in an academy education for a career field that draws primarly from enlisted ranks. I ask this question with utmost respect to the SEAL community.</p>

2

<p>You may wish to post this in the USNA forum:</p>

<p>[Naval</a> Academy - Annapolis - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/naval-academy-annapolis/]Naval”>Naval Academy - Annapolis - College Confidential Forums)</p>

3

<p>I’m a little confused by your question. Through the USNA and NROTC programs in college, the Navy trains future officers to fill their needed roles across ALL of their communities - surface warfare, submarine warfare, aviation, the SEAL community, Marine Corps, etc. All of these communities are equally important. If your son has an interest/passion for being a SEAL officer, I can only see that as a positive when seeking an appointment at the academy. You mention that SEAL’s draw primarily from the enlisted community. Are you not aware that ALL SEAL teams are led by officers? I was a navy pilot and have several friends that were Navy SEALS, commissioned through the USNA. I can assure you that the Navy does not have any negative prejudices against anyone seeking a career in any of their communities. Having a passion for being a SEAL officer commissioned through the academy can only be positive factor in his seeking an appointment there.</p>

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<p>A portion of USNA graduates are able to select SEAL training. They do the selection process based on class rank, or at least they used to, and I would assume that is still the case. If, when graduation time comes near, he is high enough on the list as far as class rank goes, he can select what ever area there are billets left.</p>

<p>I knew a number of graduates who selected SEAL training. One went on to lead a seal team.</p>

5

<p>you may want to check out this thread on CC</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/naval-academy-annapolis/532757-usna-seal.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/naval-academy-annapolis/532757-usna-seal.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you look at the career opportunities for graduates of USNA, one of them is special operations, which includes the SEAL</p>

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<p>^^cadteach is correct…ANY duty assignment that you get in the Navy (including your initial assignment upon being commissioned as an officer) is determined by two factors, in this order:

  1. Needs of the Navy
  2. Performance of individual seeking the assignment</p>

<p>The better you perform at the USNA or in NROTC (in grades, leadership billets, naval aptitude), the more likely you are to get assigned to one of the highly coveted and competitive billets (pilot training, SEAL team, nuclear power school).</p>

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<p>dukedad is right. My son earned a SEAL billet out of NROTC and it took him 2 years of hard work to get selected between grades, athletics and personal interviews. The same was true for his friends he has made from the Academy. Keep in mind there are a lot of great jobs in the Navy. Try to qualify for the pre-BUD/S program between your junior and senior year. You may or may not like it. Also keep in mind that even if you get selected you still need to make it through BUD/S and SQT.</p>

8

<p>There are an allotted number of SEAL officer slots every year at service selection time. These slots will be filled by someone. It could well be your S. The best candidates get the slots. I don’t think it would be to your S’s disadvantage if he expressed his interest in becoming a SEAL. If he doesn’t get a SEAL slot then he will get some other assignment so it’s not like the Academy has wasted their time and efforts on him. </p>

<p>I would urge your S to also apply to NROTC. My S (NROTC) is an EOD (spec. ops. explosive ordnance disposal) officer. He had to work really hard to get it because like SEALS they take a very small number of officers each year fr. NROTC and USNA. Then once you get the slot, the “fun” begins. The two years of training that follows is grueling…to put it nicely. Good luck to your S.</p>