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In today's episode, I discuss the uniqueness of the 6 state maritime academies: Cal Poly Maritime Academy Great Lakes Maritime Academy Maine Maritime Academy Massachusetts Maritime Academy SUNY Maritime Academy Texas A&M Maritime Academy What are they? How are they different? What is their value proposition?

In today's episode, I discuss how to ensure that your child secures outstanding letters of recommendation. Unfortunately, a lot of students take this part of the process lightly. They think the teacher is the one who has to do all the work. They just sit back and make sure the LORs are submitted in a timely fashion. I don't think so. There's is a lot of prep work required to make sure your teachers are set up for success. Take a listen to this episode to make sure your child is staying on track with their LORs.

In today's episode, I discuss different ways individuals can become commissioned officers in the U.S. military. Service Academies ROTC Officer Candidate School (OCS) Senior Military Academies (ROTC) Direct Commissions Enlisted to Officer programs CDO/CWO Field promotions There are a few more pathways that are even more uncommon. Learn more about this process in today's episode.

In today's episode, I discuss how AI will impact 4 cohorts: recent college graduates college students high school students middle school students I will also opine on how AI might affect students who choose to attend a service academy or ROTC program. Do you have a child in one of these cohorts? How will they fare?

In today's episode, I discuss what you should expect from your school's guidance counselor.  Extracurricular activity audit? Suggestions for leadership roles? Summer strategy and planning? College essay brainstorming? Timelines for service academy and ROTC interviews? Advice for physical fitness tests? The level of support may vary based on what type of school your child attends (e.g. private, public), but there are many similarities as well.  Listen to this week's episode to make sure you don't get blind-sided. 

In today's episode, I wrestle with the tension between sticking to the old playbook (e.g. traditional college) vs. doing something more non-traditional (e.g. service academies/ROTC) in light of the AI revolution that is upon us. I will share my thoughts on how a service academy experience may be the best antidote for the uncertainty that will come with the wave of AI innovation, disruption, and chaos. Do you agree?

In today's episode, I compare various activities/experiences at traditional colleges versus service academies. dorm life social life academics job placement finances adversity shared mission leadership Which path suits your son or daughter best?

In today's episode, I discuss the importance of the SAT (especially the math section) for students interested in service academies and ROTC scholarships. In a perfect world, your child will be at least one grade-level ahead in math by the time they enter high school. This will allow them to take the SAT at the very beginning of 11th grade. A 7th-grade math placement test is often what determines whether or not your child can move ahead in math. Be very aware of this fact when it happens. If you know a parent with a child interested in the service academies and ROTC, make sure they listen to this episode as early in middle school as possible.

In today's episode, I walk through how midshipmen at the Naval Academy choose the ship they will serve on upon graduation. Note: Not every midshipman will be assigned to a ship. Only midshipman who are drafted into the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community take part in this ceremony (about 250 of the 1,200 graduates). The other service academies have similar traditions and protocols. What you learn in this episode can be used as a guide for how communities in different military branches assign their officers to their specific jobs. Learn how and when these soon-to-be junior officers find out where they will be working.

In today's episode, I go through a list of leadership opportunities that may be worth pursuing to beef-up your leadership credentials. school-based sports-based JROTC-based Summer-based Community service-based DIY-based For each of these experiences, the selection board will consider: (1) scope, (2) responsibility, (3) sustained commitment, (4) initiative, and (5) progression.

In today's episode, I compare what it takes to secure a DI athletic scholarship compared to a military scholarship (e.g. service academy or ROTC). what are the odds? what are the risks? How do you improve your chances? Understanding the pros and cons of each pathway may help your child make one of the most consequential decisions in their lives.

In today's episode, I discuss the how much (or how little) a "campus culture" can influence your child's world view. I look at three different students: street-smart student middle-of-the-road student clueless student And 3 different campus environments: political (conservative or progressive) religious (faith-friendly or secular) social permissiveness (strict or anything goes) How will different campus cultures influence different types of students? Will that influence be positive or negative? Where do ROTC programs and service academies fit into this picture?

In today's episode, I describe how service academies and ROTC scholarship opportunities solve for today's teenagers' 3 biggest fears: How will I pay for college? How will I find a job? How will I afford a home? Have a son or daughter who is thinking about these questions? Give this episode a serious listen.

In today's episode, I assume the role of a 15, 16, or 17-yr-old high school student who is interested in the service academies or ROTC. In the past, not much was expected of these aspiring midshipmen and cadets.  Most had a very superficial understanding of what they were getting themselves into and there wasn't a clear path to figuring these things out.  Those days are over.  In this episode, I demonstrate how easy it is for any student to get information about the service academies and ROTC without going to the library, visiting a service academy, talking to a retired military person, or randomly plugging search terms into Google.  Enter...ChatGPT Learn how easy it is to sit back and become a subject matter expert on these topics in the matter of an hour or two.  From clueless to fully-informed. 

In this episode, I review the results from the early Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC selection boards. How many Air Force ROTC scholarships were awarded? How many Type I, II, IV Air Force ROTC scholarships were awarded? How many Navy ROTC scholarships were awarded? How many Army ROTC scholarships were awarded? What do these trends say about the competitiveness of ROTC scholarships?  Listen to this episode if you have any interest in pursuing an ROTC scholarship in any (or all) of the branches.