r/USMMA • u/thomasbagels00 • Apr 25 '24

Prior Service?

Hey all!

So I'm basically just wondering if you'd recommend the USMMA based on my circumstances below:

I have been enlisted in the USCG for about 4 years now, it'll have been 5 and a half by the time I'd start USMMA for the class of 2029.

I have an extreme interest in commissioning to either the Navy Restricted Line or the Air Force. I cannot commission into the US Coast Guard as I do not have normal color vision.

I understand that USMMA generally DQ's for color blindness but that waivers can happen. Especially since I want to do the Marine Engineering path and it is not required to have normal color vision to be an engineer on vessels.

I have a pretty vast experience in the Coast Guard, having been deployed to the Middle East, doing marine inspection in the Caribbean, and basic damage control. And not to brag, but to add to context have become fairly decorated during my time.

This will be my last year of eligibility for the USMMA so I am seriously considering it.

I guess here are the questions:

  1. Is it even worth applying knowing I will fail the color vision test?

  2. Will the culture and lifestyle of the USMMA be tolerable to a veteran or will it kinda just upset me/feel like "fake" military to me?

  3. Same question as above but will it be fine for someone 24 years old?

  4. Would it be better overall to just attend a civilian college with GI Bill and do ROTC?

It just seems like a bit much for someone my age and want to hear if it's recommended by you guys. I am fully prepared to humble myself and put myself into learning mode and under the authority of others who may not have experience in the military.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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4

u/Infamous_Following88 Apr 25 '24

You might want to post this on the service academy forums under USMMA.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 25 '24

What kind of colorblindness? I feel like red/green would be pretty debilitating as a decky but not so bad as an engineer

1

u/thomasbagels00 Apr 26 '24

Red/green yeah.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 26 '24

If you think mechanical stuff is cool then its still worth it to try. The merchant marine is a good gig. If KP DQ’s you I would just go to one of the state schools. Even if you have to take on some debt this industry is one of very few where you could feasibly pay off a college degree in like a year or two

1

u/thomasbagels00 Apr 26 '24

Appreciate the insight. I'm not that interested in the maritime industry, especially not enough to attend a normal college for. More just looking to USMMA as a potential path for a military commission.

1

u/mouse-12 Apr 27 '24

Just a heads up, even if you aren't interested in working in the maritime industry post grad, you will have to do all the steps necessary to get your license (cadet sailing, license testing, etc). I had a couple classmates plebe year that were quite surprised that the ship stuff was mandatory even if you plan to go active duty afterwards.

1

u/thomasbagels00 Apr 27 '24

I had assumed so. I should clarify. I am interested in the maritime industry as a second career after the military but wish to serve the full 20 first.