What is it really like to be in the army and go to West Point (planning future)?

Ask Waldo?!

Part and parcel of serving your country is that when you get out, you will be older. I wouldn't count it as time lost though! You'll be living more intensely than your average civilian. West Point is insanely hard - physically, mentally, and psychologically.

Give West Point a try. Do team sports in high school, get some community leadership, keep your GPA really high, and take some challenging coursework. Start doing the research now so you know when it is you have to submit paperwork/requests for West Point. It's really competitive. Chances are, you won't even get a chance to go. And if you do get a chance, you might decide it's not for you. But it's worth a shot. If you don't make it, you can apply for an ROTC program at a regular university or college (end result is the same, you get to be a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.)

After West Point you would serve five years in the Army. Your specific branch (Infantry, Armor, Logistics, whatever) will be decided your last year at West Point. After you graduate you'll go on to a branch school and then to your first unit.

I am kind of odd for someone my age in that I immensely baroque lute recitals but I doubt many lieutenants who are lutenists commission through West Point! West Point offers far more degrees than a BS in Engineering.

See pg 33 of the 2009-2010 West Point Catalog for a list of majors offered at West Point:

http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/wp_catalog.pdf

I would definitely not characterize time spent as a military officer as time lost. That is very valuable managerial experience that employers value, not to mention that the income of a young officer is not bad. O-1 to O-2 in 18 - 24 months. O-2 to O-3 in another 24 months. Plus all officers are eligible to collect BAH, the tax free housing allowance.

http://militarypay.defense.gov/mpcalcs/Calculators...

This is an example of what a military officer (Navy in this example)can do after serving active duty time and leaving the service.

http://www.navy-officer.com/pay.html#mba

Officers can use the GI Bill to finance graduate or professional education. The GI Bill pays E-5 BAH for the locale of the college and also pays the highest rate of in state undergrad tuition at the highest cost public university in the state. Also the Yellow Ribbon program at certain universities will pay higher tuition.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yellow_... sure to apply for the West Point Summer Leader's Seminar when it opens for applications in mid December( Dec 14 2009, Dec 16 2008)of your Junior year:

http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/summer.cfm

The Air Force Academy website offers outstanding advice to students prepping for a service academy, rotc scholarship or any highly selective university. Open the links to the left of the dialog box. Full CFA instructions are available at the end of the physical prep link. Same CFA at all service academies.

http://www.academyadmissions.com/#Page/Preparation

The Class of 2013 Profiles detail the academic and extracurricular accomplishments or candidates who successfully competed for an appointment. The selection process is nearly identical at West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy:

http://admissions.usma.edu/moreinfo/Profile2013.pd...

http://www.usna.edu/admissions/documents/Class%20P...

https://admissions.usafa.edu/RRC/Class_of_2013_pro...

I think it is fairly normal for most guys from military families to feel a sense of duty and honor in serving their country. I am not sure what your dad is feeling. Most guys I know are not pushed by military parents to join the military or try for an appointment to a service academy though the parent is very proud if a son decides to compete for an appointment. At all the service academies the percent of legacies is fairly low. I guess you know that you have an automatic presidential nomination available to any Dod service academy, though the number of appointments is limited on a Presidential Nomination. At least a Presidential nomination allows competition beyond the Loa(letter of assurance) round of competition.

http://www.usna.edu/admissions/steps10.htm

Even if not selected for an appointment in the round of competition within nominating sources, and assuming no other nomination, it allows triple qualified candidates-scholastically, medically, physically- to be be waitlisted for competition for declined offers of appointment. This competition is based solely on whole person scores

Good Luck!

i does not situation approximately your historic previous of having an bronchial asthma. I unquestionably have been via DODMERB (branch of Defence scientific examination assessment Board) and it somewhat is not something to be concerned approximately. so some distance as your credentials, you look precise heading in the right direction for an academy applicant. you will desire to touch your interior reach Congressional workplace and inquire approximately an utility for a provider academy. i've got faith the last date is October 1st for the purposes. that still incorporates reccomnedations and essays. Your actual well-being point would desire to be as much as par, and DODMERB isn't something to be traumatic of. it somewhat is reviewed via the board and a few those with some distance worse injuries or circumstances are despatched via. stay on the main suitable music and get your utility in as quickly as achievable. pass military.

go and read this book, it will tell you exactly what West point is all about, and what to expect.

http://www.amazon.com/Absolutely-American-Four-Yea...

As for life after West point, go to a bookstore, go into the miltiary section and find a book about being a platoon leader, and that will give you an idea about being in the military.

You are best off right now, and for the next 4 years, trying to win the heart of this cutest girl in the school. There's absolutely no reason for you to be thinking that far into the future because all its going to take is one girl to please you sexually and all your plans will change.