No disagreement there. But "an education" and a "service academy education" are not the same thing. I knew lots of sailors who completed associates or bachelors degrees using tuition aid at community colleges or through upper division programs such as University of Maryland University College. They got solid educations and credible academic credentials. Others were fortunate enough to go through degree completion programs where their full-time jobs for 1-2 years were simply to finish their degrees. But those programs were not in the same league with nor as competitive to get into as the service academies.
I agree that there's enough command support (and perhaps tuition assistance) for any servicemember to have the potential to earn a college degree. It's a time-management sacrfice.
A service academy is a more difficult challenge. About 10% of the appointments are reserved for enlisted servicemembers, but they still have to meet the miimum standards of the admissions boards. (For example, USNA sets the minimum SAT scores at 600 math and 600 verbal. No waivers.) Those who don't make the cut might be offered a year at NAPS (at govt expense, many enlisted) or a junior college (funded mainly by USNA alumni donations) as long as they remain eligible for an appointment in all other respects. A son of a high-school classmate had a 590 SAT score but lots of potential in other areas, so he attended a year of junior college courtesy of the Naval Academy Foundation and re-took the SATs. He matriculated at USNA the following year and today he's flying Navy helicopters.
Each service academy counts their applications differently, and it's controversial. For example USNA counts an application if a high-school student indicates interest on the website, attends the Summer Seminar "trial" week, or even attends a sports camp-- whether or not they fill out the full application. This loose applications criteria tends to reduce the admissions rate, but it's still extremely competitive.
Today I doubt I'd be able to squeak by the admissions committee. I was very strong on academics but not so much on the rest of the "whole person" multiple. But in the 1970s USNA was under heavy pressure to cough up more nukes, and I certainly fit that profile...
Not to highjack this thread, but discussions of getting free education through 'serving my country' got me curious. Can anyone give me a brief summary how it's done? What's the minimum time a person must spend in the military for such benefits? I understand the why factor, it's FREE in financial terms, but it can also be very dangerous or lose/wound your child if he/she gets called to 'serve the country' in say Middle East these days. I mean just reading some of experiences of veterans, I cannot wrap my mind around such a pursuit for free education. I hope my own kids don't join though I respect and understand others who do.
Both the service academies and the ROTC units now require an obligation of five years of active duty and three years of Reserves (which can be served in the Individual Ready Reserve, or inactive status). That's generally referred to as "five and out", although some may stay on active duty longer for shore duty (or a return to the continental U.S.) to facilitate the transition.
Some specialties (Air Force and Navy pilots, military doctors) incur additional obligations that may take them out to 7-9 years of total active service. It depends on how long it takes them to get through the training pipeline and how much $$ is invested in them.
And yes, it's dangerous. Most of the applicants (including me, my spouse, and my daughter) failed to appreciate the danger and the accumulated damage of wear & tear. People can easily get hurt or even killed out there, although some specialties are actually less dangerous than civilian life. For other servicemembers, the military is regarded as the best option for an aimless life or a disadvantaged childhood. I read a statistic a decade ago claiming that over half of recruits had witnessed a shooting or been sexually assaulted before joining the service. Other recruits just weren't ready for college or a career (for whatever reason) or felt that they were chronically underemployed.
Military veterans earn GI Bill benefits which will pay for their college degree or other certification (36 months or four school years of nine months each). It might not pay for Harvard but will certainly pay for almost any State U, including a housing allowance. With a longer service obligation, servicemembers can transfer their GI Bill benefits to their spouses or children-- so some military families can earn a free education paid for by their military member.
Some civilian employers think that veterans are just mindless order-following drones or else sit around on their asses barking orders all day. Many vets have been told that they "won't be able to just order around their team members" or "will have to learn soft skills in working with people". When vets encounter that attitude, they quickly learn to seek employment elsewhere because those opinions show that employer is clueless. Veterans not only learn to stay calm under pressure but to prioritize, focus, and persevere. We also can't just snap out orders and expect mindless compliance without first earning mutual respect and building a team. It's all about leadership and setting the environment, not coercion.
though this forum would disagree with such assessment.
