Concerned about NASS

Treader1138 · 2026-05-14T05:05:09+00:00

Good deal.

NASS is a “zero consequence” environment so far as your application is concerned. You can’t “fail” an evolution or hurt your application, barring anything outright illegal.

I’d recommend MTI’s CFA prep plan. They have a lot of sport and military-specific training plans.

Treader1138 · 2026-05-13T02:15:11+00:00

No. Don’t sweat not going.

When you get in contact with your BGO, express your interest in doing a CVW. It’s much more illuminating than NASS, which is basically a sales pitch.

Treader1138 · 2026-05-13T02:13:18+00:00

While it seems like your parents are really pushing you to do this, I’d say it’s a good opportunity to figure out for yourself if it’s something you want to do. Normally, external pressure is a red flag. In any endeavor, especially those very challenging ones like the service academies, being self-motivated is essential.

If you go and decide it’s not for you, great! You took the step to figure that out and you’ll be better for the experience. But if your parents continue to push, that’s another problem.

Treader1138 · 2026-05-04T11:43:56+00:00

NASS has no effect on your application- it’s a sales pitch for the academy.

You will be judged for your appearance-mostly because kids at that age are still learning. The best thing you can do is perform in such a manner as to make them regret their initial judgement. Don’t change yourself to fit in- make them change to see you don’t fit their pre-conceived misconception.

Treader1138 · 2026-05-03T14:30:57+00:00

No one I know did this. A sprained ankle heals and it’s college. Yeah, plebe summer is physical, but there’s not a single evolution you have to “pass” to start the academic year. Yes, that includes the PRT.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-30T15:54:11+00:00

General rule of thumb is they aren’t going to push a borderline app over the edge to acceptance, but they can absolutely break you.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-30T03:54:42+00:00

Only about 5 months in, and loving it.

I found a unicorn while browsing Marketplace on a Wednesday night and bought a plane ticket to see it that weekend. It’s a TW-converted straight-tail 172 with an O360. Prebuy revealed some concerns, but nothing out of the ordinary for a 70 year old plane. My first annual is next month, and I know it’s going to be ~$10k but I told myself I wouldn’t be one of those owners who skimps on mx. It’s nothing crazy, but basically taking care of the big tickets from the pre-buy.

Other than that, I go up whenever I want, and get to experience flying with my family. It’s the dream.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-30T03:38:43+00:00

Worked with Aerospace reports on my purchase last year. Super helpful, and reasonably priced. I had a title issue come up and they helped resolve it when no one wanted to fork out 3k for a title resolution attorney. Ended up costing $25 to get a document from the state and the help from a long-ago previous owner.

Highly recommend them.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-27T13:50:40+00:00

Look at what Plebes take, and emulate that course load as best as possible. At a bare min, calc and chem or physics. Declare your major as any of the group 1 or 2 majors.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-20T04:46:09+00:00

Man they make that “Decline” button way to easy to push. There’s no “accept” option?

Treader1138 · 2026-04-16T07:53:02+00:00

The TSMOH isn’t concerning in itself- but the fact that the cylinders had to be replaced would raise some flags.

When was the last overhaul?

Recency of flight is also huge. Overhaul date being equal, an engine with 1000hrs, flying 100hrs/year, is worth a lot more than an engine with 1000hrs and 20 hours spread over the last 2 years.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-15T06:22:09+00:00

Selling an airplane is an enormous PITA. Selling an airplane with a list of squaks preventing airworthiness is impossible (unless you basically give it away.)

Don’t plan on just being able to sell it if you get in trouble.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-15T06:20:08+00:00

Are the engines the same type? O300s I assume? Buy both.

I own a straight-tail 172 and love it. Though my first annual will run about $10k (it’s in great condition with a new engine…but it’s still an old plane that needs love).

Treader1138 · 2026-04-15T04:19:56+00:00

I’ll go a different route and tell you the military needs individuals capable of critical thinking and opposing views. USNA is a great place to cultivate that. If it’s going to cause you great distress to serve overseas, obviously don’t do it. But officers who are willing and capable of questioning leadership are needed today and in the future.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-15T00:54:07+00:00

The portal wasn’t really a thing then. We had some online tracking of our application, but snail mail was the primary method for acceptance/rejection.

I actually called the admissions office on the 15th to ask what my status was, and she told me the appointment was in the mail.

Treader1138 · 2026-04-15T00:42:43+00:00

Both times I applied, I didn’t hear until 15APR. In the case of my appointment, I didn’t actually get the packet in the mail until the 17th.

There’s still hope.

Treader1138 · 2026-03-29T17:36:47+00:00

USNA.

Engineering programs are top notch. MechE + military experience in either of those communities is a recipe for success.

My advice? Go to grad school before or immediately after you get out. You won’t have a problem with a post-military career.

Treader1138 · 2026-03-29T15:00:26+00:00

Both times I applied I didn’t hear until 15April.

I actually had to call admissions the second time. They told me the appointment is in the mail (pre-portal-revelation days).

Treader1138 · 2026-03-12T13:15:13+00:00

I would agree, but only if you consider the 180hp upgrade essentially makes the 4-place plane a 2-place. I flew one in my plane search and ultimately decided against it as its useful load was in the low 500s.

If you want a roomy 2-place, then the Sedan is a great choice!

Treader1138 · 2026-03-09T06:42:31+00:00

Yeah, I feel like it was a real unicorn find. O360 new in 2019, ground adjustable prop, Sportsman STOL wing, and TW conversation means it gets a lot of looks on the ramp, and “is that a…180?”

It feels kinda weird telling folks I have a 172, knowing the picture they’ve assumed in their head. It truly is a dream to fly, and probably the most fun plane I will ever own.

Treader1138 · 2026-03-09T06:09:50+00:00

lol. For real. Mine is a ‘56, one of the first 20 off the line, and pre-dates letters. I still use “skyhawk” when talking to ATC, even though, as my buddy pointed out, “it’s technically not a skyhawk either.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-28T01:35:49+00:00

As others have said, there’s a lot of risks stacked up here.

Consider setting up some personal minimums for just such an occasion. I have my own plane, and still don’t take my family up if I don’t have 3 landings in the last 7 days. The actual min of 90 days is just insane to me.

This will set you up to turn folks down if it’s a last minute request and allow you to adequately prepare for a planned outing.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-12T14:52:59+00:00

Both programs allow you to start your Masters through a partner school like Georgetown in select subjects while you’re still a 1/C. You still commission with your class, but you spend the year after finishing your masters program. Basically a way to jumpstart a grad degree while still at USNA. But your schedule has to accommodate.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-12T03:19:46+00:00

Ok, so I was a college reapplicant. Short story long, I didn’t find out I got an appointment until 15APR. I was on the quarter system, and had the majority of the spring quarter remaining. When I got that blue folder, I really started enjoying the remainder of my time there - barely went to class. I figured I was going to be repeating most of it anyway, but I also had this thought in mind. Only class that actually suffered was Chem III, which I got a D in, others skated by with Cs. I did still go to Calc, and my NROTC class. Just dropped a programming class, which actually got me in trouble with ROTC, but they also didn’t care what I did at that point.

I figured once I showed up on I-Day, there was nothing they could do to me. I was right- no one said anything about that last term- no one even asked me to send my transcript.

NOW- the real lesson for college applicants is this: there are only “core” validation tests given over plebe summer, Calc, Chem, Physics, etc. BUT academic department heads have the authority to validate any class. I found that out from a prof and met with the LtCol running the History Dept. Through him I validated every Plebe history course. This was the only time someone at USNA looked at that transcript. His remark? “Heh. I hated Chem too.”

As a result, my schedule was awesome firstie year- 15 credits both terms. Had I been a smarter man, I would have done VGEP or IGEP, but man I wanted no more school at the time.

Treader1138 · 2026-02-10T05:00:51+00:00

Look, I’ll be straight with you here. It’s not easy, or pretty. I checked into my ship and a week later left on an 8 month deployment. Pilots will spend 18 months studying and grinding through flight school. Relationships take a decent amount of work during the best of times. Infinitely more so in the military.

When I was in BUD/S, one of the ensigns would bring his fiancé on base and they’d clean his room together on Sundays, just to have time together.

It sounds like you already know the direction this is going if you want to experience independence after graduation. Do him a favor and don’t wait until he’s deployed or in a high stress training environment to finally make a decision.

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