USMA, USNA, or USAFA

[1776]

I have been offered appointments to USMA, USNA, and USAFA, but am struggling in deciding which academy is the best for me.

For context, I plan on majoring in Biology/Life Science/General Science. I am interested in branching in the following:
Army: intelligence, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, quartermaster
Navy: intelligence, medical corps
Marine Corps: intelligence, communications, logistics
Air Force: RPA pilot, logistics, intelligence, acquisition,
Space Force: intelligence, acquisition, space operations

Possible careers: long-term officer (15+ years), medical, government

Some questions I have about each academy/branch are:
USMA: What is life like as an Army officer in intel, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, or quartermaster?
USNA: How competitive are selections for intelligence, communications, logistics in the Navy/Marine Corps?
USAFA: Are the benefits and opportunities equal for pilots and non-pilots?

I think that I would enjoy my time at any academy; however, I want to choose the one that would best set me up for my goals and interests.

Hopefully there is enough information to offer any feedback or insights. I would greatly appreciate any help.

 

[navy27hopeful]

Navy you wont go INTEL (except for very special cases) unless you are deemed unfit for URL (injured). Would not bet on being able to go intel.

 

[DrMom]

You want to be a physician? Each of the academies has the same number of slots at USUHS for med school and there are scholarships from the services for civilian medical schools and DO schools.
You cannot go wrong with any of these choices, on this thread of course we say, 'Go Army'--because if you can go to West Point, why would you go anywhere else?

 

[Walman888]

You want to be a physician? Each of the academies has the same number of slots at USUHS for med school and there are scholarships from the services for civilian medical schools and DO schools.
You cannot go wrong with any of these choices, on this thread of course we say, 'Go Army'--because if you can go to West Point, why would you go anywhere else?

Go Army! Beat everybody!

 

[Capt MJ]

I have been offered appointments to USMA, USNA, and USAFA, but am struggling in deciding which academy is the best for me.

For context, I plan on majoring in Biology/Life Science/General Science. I am interested in branching in the following:
Army: intelligence, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, quartermaster
Navy: intelligence, medical corps
Marine Corps: intelligence, communications, logistics
Air Force: RPA pilot, logistics, intelligence, acquisition,
Space Force: intelligence, acquisition, space operations

Possible careers: long-term officer (15+ years), medical, government

Some questions I have about each academy/branch are:
USMA: What is life like as an Army officer in intel, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, or quartermaster?
USNA: How competitive are selections for intelligence, communications, logistics in the Navy/Marine Corps?
USAFA: Are the benefits and opportunities equal for pilots and non-pilots?

I think that I would enjoy my time at any academy; however, I want to choose the one that would best set me up for my goals and interests.

Hopefully there is enough information to offer any feedback or insights. I would greatly appreciate any help.

Congratulations on 3 appointments to 3 different paths. May I respectfully say it’s mid-April, and in retrospect, perhaps some of this thinking and research could have been done earlier on “what comes after,” as the SAs are 4-year way stations to the real goal, service as a commissioned officer.

Time to play catch-up on investing time in detailed research at primary sources.

USNA:
First, Marines. You can request Marine air (if you qualify physically) or Marine ground. All Marine officers attend The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico after commissioning. Once there, your performance, the needs of the Marine Corps and your personal preference are considered, and your MOS is assigned.

Second, Navy. Usna.edu clearly lays out the Navy warfare communities available for service assignment. Intelligence isn’t one of them. Without writing “Navy Officer Communities 101,” USNA’s mission is to produce unrestricted line warfare officers (URL). Intelligence is a restricted line warfare community (RL). Yes, a handful might get to go that path every year, but often the reason is they are found to be NPQ for URL or they have one of the few colorblind waivers (those mids know when their appointment is offered they may only go RL, Staff Corps or Marine ground). Intelligence may occasionally be a possibility for non-NPQ mids.
Medical Corps. That’s a Staff Corps. I hope you have read all the usna.edu pages about that path. Again, only a small number of midshipmen are allowed to commission into Med Corps. It is a narrow, hard road.
This recent thread might be helpful:
Thread 'United States Naval Academy vs Brown BS/MD'
https://www.serviceacademyforums.co...ed-states-naval-academy-vs-brown-bs-md.95252/

Bottom line for USNA: You should be fully prepared to go into a community other than the ones you mentioned. You can certainly work hard toward the ones you mentioned, but do the legwork to ensure there are communities you would be willing to serve in.

Keep in mind too this is an anonymous Internet forum, where advice is worth what you pay for it, including mine. Do the work at primary sources.

Good luck - definitely a First World problem to solve. And the REAL question is not which academy is best for you, but which service, culture, mission, officer specialty options are your people and your place.

Screenshot from usna.edu

 

[OldRetSWO]

To add to what Capt MJ said above, Naval Officers can transfer into the Intelligence Field after their initial tour in a Warfare Specialty. Due to length of training and some other aspects, I'd advise Surface Warfare as your best Warfare Specialty to transfer FROM because a shorter training pipeline gets you to the transfer point sooner.

 

[mesanova]

I have been offered appointments to USMA, USNA, and USAFA, but am struggling in deciding which academy is the best for me.

For context, I plan on majoring in Biology/Life Science/General Science. I am interested in branching in the following:
Army: intelligence, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, quartermaster
Navy: intelligence, medical corps
Marine Corps: intelligence, communications, logistics
Air Force: RPA pilot, logistics, intelligence, acquisition,
Space Force: intelligence, acquisition, space operations

Possible careers: long-term officer (15+ years), medical, government

Some questions I have about each academy/branch are:
USMA: What is life like as an Army officer in intel, logistics, medical corps, ordnance, or quartermaster?
USNA: How competitive are selections for intelligence, communications, logistics in the Navy/Marine Corps?
USAFA: Are the benefits and opportunities equal for pilots and non-pilots?

I think that I would enjoy my time at any academy; however, I want to choose the one that would best set me up for my goals and interests.

Hopefully there is enough information to offer any feedback or insights. I would greatly appreciate any help.

Without a shadow of a doubt - GO ARMY!