Gain Service Academy Admission

Gain Service Academy Admission
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Service academy admissions, explained by the officers who coach families through it. LTC Robert Kirkland (USA, Ret), a West Point graduate, and Capt Trisha Dach (USAF), a USAFA graduate, cover what actually decides an appointment to West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy: the Whole Candidate Score and its equivalents, congressional nominations, the Candidate Fitness Assessment, teacher evaluations, interviews, and DoDMERB medical qualification. Episodes follow the application calendar, so families hear each topic before the deadline, not after. Written for parents first, with the numbers behind every claim and the mistakes we see most often. LTC Kirkland and Capt Dach are the only two coaches. Every student works directly with one of them. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve your Service Academy Admissions Assessment at gainserviceacademyadmission.com/assessment.

  1. Oct 15

    West Point SAT Score: Why Non-Athletes Need a Higher One

    The West Point SAT score your student needs is higher than the published average if no coach is recruiting them. The class average in the profile blends two groups: recruited athletes, who are admitted on lower scores, and everyone else. If your student is not recruited, the real bar is the non-athlete average, and it sits above the brochure number. The same structure applies at the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy. In this solo episode, LTC Kirkland opens with the question parents ask him most: a 1400 SAT, varsity letters, an Eagle Scout, and no appointment. He then shows why. A planned share of every class is committed to recruited athletes before the board reads a file, the additional appointee category lets those seats skip order of merit, and the reported SAT gap between recruited athletes and other cadets runs 100 to 150 points in the biggest sports. The figures come from retired Brigadier General Lance Betros, law professor Tim Bakken, and independent analyses, not official academy guidance, so treat them as estimates. LTC Kirkland closes with seven moves for the non-recruited candidate, starting with the SAT target that actually matters. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve a Service Academy Admissions Assessment. Link is in the description. https://gainserviceacademyadmission.com/assessment

    West Point SAT Score: Why Non-Athletes Need a Higher One

  2. Oct 14

    Naval Academy Teacher Evaluations: What Counts

    Naval Academy teacher evaluations show admissions how a candidate handles challenge, feedback, teamwork, and responsibility. In this solo episode, LTC Kirkland explains what the English and math teacher forms ask, how the peer-comparison ratings work, why specific written examples matter, and how the Blue and Gold Officer interview fits into the broader recommendation category. Rob also discusses an older estimate that Official Recommendations account for about 24 percent of the Whole Person Multiple. That broader category includes teacher evaluations, Blue and Gold Officer feedback, and other recommendations. Current public USNA documents do not verify the 24 percent breakdown or a teacher-only share, so treat the number as an estimate rather than official guidance. Families will learn how to choose a teacher who knows the student well, ask early, provide concise reminders of real classroom moments, address discipline or accommodations honestly, and prepare for the interview. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve a Service Academy Admissions Assessment. Link is in the description. https://gainserviceacademyadmission.com/assessment

    Naval Academy Teacher Evaluations: What Counts

  3. Sep 29

    West Point CFA Now Counts 15%: What Families Need to Know

    West Point CFA scoring now counts for 15% of the Whole Candidate Score, up from the long-standing 10%. LTC Kirkland explains what the five-point shift means for families preparing a competitive academy application. West Point now publishes a 55/30/15 formula: 55% academic strength, 30% leadership and character, and 15% physical fitness through the Candidate Fitness Assessment. This replaces the long-standing 60/30/10 model. Source: West Point Admissions, Steps to Admission: https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission Rob also explains why removing video verification from push-ups and pull-ups creates a score-integrity concern, how West Point could improve verification, and how candidates should prepare. Train all six events in order, start months early, leave time to retest, and use an administrator who counts clean reps. The Service Academy series is hosted by LTC Kirkland and Capt Trisha Dach. This is a solo analysis from LTC Kirkland. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve a Service Academy Admissions Assessment. Link is in the description. https://gainserviceacademyadmission.com/assessment

    West Point CFA Now Counts 15%: What Families Need to Know

  4. Apr 17

    Naval Academy Whole Person Multiple: How USNA Actually Scores Candidates

    The Naval Academy Whole Person Multiple (WPM) is the formula that decides every appointment, and it was just published for the first time. LTC Kirkland and Trish Dach walk through every category the Naval Academy now weights publicly and explain what families should actually change in their preparation now that the guesswork about admissions is gone. Watch on youtube to see graphics: https://youtu.be/6qylTVlpsUE?si=rYipt1hw-uMT-tZD&t=123 This episode covers: The 50/50 split between academics and leadership Why official recommendations are now worth 24 percent Why math test scores carry almost twice the weight of verbal How athletics extracurriculars edge out non-athletic activities The CFA retake window and its 2.5 percent swing How strategy should differ for a freshman versus a junior preparing to apply They also explain what the Rand recommendation study showed about score clustering, why optional letters of recommendation should come from coaches and community leaders rather than distant senior figures, how to quantify leadership impact with real numbers in the application, and the three concrete changes families should make starting this week to reflect the published weights. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve a Service Academy Admissions Assessment: https://calendly.com/trish-dach/strategy

    Naval Academy Whole Person Multiple: How USNA Actually Scores Candidates

  5. Mar 26

    DoDMERB Series 4: Vision, Hearing, and Dental Standards

    LTC Kirkland and Dr. (COL) Cajigal break down the head and neck medical standards from DoDI 6130.03 that generate the most anxiety for Service Academy families.   This episode covers eyes and vision, refractive error cutoffs, the spherical equivalent calculation, LASIK and PRK timing, keratoconus, color vision testing and service-by-service policies, ear tubes and hearing tests, chronic sinusitis versus routine sinus infections, braces and Invisalign timing (including the June 1 rule), and wisdom teeth.   They explain what the standards actually say, how DoDMERB applies them, where families commonly misunderstand what is disqualifying, and why applicants should never delay medically appropriate treatment out of fear of DoDMERB.   The eyes and vision section uses graphics and visual explanations. That portion is much easier to follow on screen. Watch the YouTube version for the vision segment: https://youtu.be/hptRgIJsRdQ?si=eE4Y73Ee3AE07d1d&t=240   If your family needs help navigating a DoDMERB disqualification or waiver, contact us about DoDMERB Consulting: https://dodmerbqualified.com/start About DoDMERB Qualified: DoDMERB Qualified helps Service Academy and ROTC families navigate the DoDMERB medical qualification and waiver process. LTC Kirkland handles all family consultations. Dr. Cajigal reviews cases behind the scenes as the medical expert. Learn more at dodmerbqualified.com.

  6. Mar 9

    DoDMERB Series 3: Mr. Larry Mullen's Memo on DoDMERB Sucess

    If your family is navigating DoDMERB, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is working the process the wrong way. In this episode, LTC (Ret.) Rob Kirkland and COL (Ret.) Dr. Arthur Cajigal break down Mr. Larry Mullen’s well-known Applicant Reference Guide—the practical DoDMERB “do’s and don’ts” that help applicants and families work with the system instead of against it. You’ll learn why the applicant should lead the process, how parents can support without taking over, what strong medical documentation actually looks like, why summary letters often fall short, how to think about DoDMETS vs. DMACS 2.0, and what families should avoid if they want to keep things moving. In this episode: • Why the applicant should lead communication with DoDMERB • How parents can support without slowing things down • What counts as a strong medical record submission • Why summary letters often are not enough • The difference between the DoDMETS portal and DMACS 2.0 • Why status updates can create panic if misunderstood • Why timing matters in a first-in, first-out system • Why asking “what are my chances?” usually leads nowhere • What to do—and what NOT to do—to avoid unnecessary delays 📄 Download Mr. Mullen’s memo here: https://dochub.com/m/shared-document/info-qxtcf1/7J4mQvgRvz0nB0mRj2pO5n/mullen-dodmerb-memo-pdf?dt=Q6vwTVr9wgKRivy4vr-u If this episode helped, subscribe, share it with another Service Academy family, and send us your DoDMERB questions for future episodes.

    DoDMERB Series 3: Mr. Larry Mullen's Memo on DoDMERB Sucess

  7. Mar 4

    DoDMERB Series 2: Waivers Explained for Service Academies (2026)

    If DoDMERB says "Disqualified," it can feel like the door just slammed shut. But for many competitive Service Academy applicants, that DQ is the start of the waiver review, not the end. In this episode, LTC (Ret.) Rob Kirkland and COL (Ret.) Dr. Arthur Cajigal (former DoDMERB staff and Army ROTC Cadet Command surgeon) break down the waiver process from start to finish: who actually grants waivers, why documentation matters, what conditions tend to be waived, and what families can control to avoid delays. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: What DoDMERB does (and doesn't do) What a waiver really is, and who decides it Why being "considered for a waiver" is a big deal The questions waiver reviewers ask behind the scenes (deployment risk, recurrence, monitoring, sudden incapacitation) What "good medical documentation" actually looks like What to do (and what NOT to do) to keep your waiver timeline moving BOOK A CONSULT: Want a clear plan for your specific situation (records to pull, remedials, waiver strategy)?  Start here: https://www.dodmerbqualified.com/start If this helped: Subscribe, share with a parent/applicant who needs it, and send us topics you want covered next.

  8. Feb 27

    DoDMERB Series 1: The Truth About DoDMERB (Former DoDMERB Doc Explains)

    If your student sees “Disqualified” on DoDMERB, that doesn’t automatically mean their Academy dream is over.  In this episode, Former DoDMERB Physician Dr. Arthur Cajigal breaks down what DoDMERB actually does, who makes decisions, and what happens next when a candidate is marked Qualified, Remedial, or Disqualified. What you’ll learn today:  What DoDMERB is (and what it’s not) The 3 outcomes: Qualified / Remedial / Disqualified Who can qualify you vs. who can disqualify you Why DoDMERB does NOT grant waivers Why honest medical disclosure matters (and protects your future) Next episodes in this series: We’re going deep on WAIVERS—who grants them, how services assess risk, what families can/can’t control, and why two similar cases can have different outcomes. Drop your DoDMERB question in the comments (asthma, ADHD, vision, ortho injuries, etc.). We’ll use your questions to guide the waiver episodes. BOOK A CONSULT: Want a clear plan for your specific situation (records to pull, remedials, waiver strategy)? Start here: https://www.dodmerbqualified.com/start If this helped, subscribe and share with another family navigating DoDMERB.

    DoDMERB Series 1: The Truth About DoDMERB (Former DoDMERB Doc Explains)
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Service academy admissions, explained by the officers who coach families through it. LTC Robert Kirkland (USA, Ret), a West Point graduate, and Capt Trisha Dach (USAF), a USAFA graduate, cover what actually decides an appointment to West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy: the Whole Candidate Score and its equivalents, congressional nominations, the Candidate Fitness Assessment, teacher evaluations, interviews, and DoDMERB medical qualification. Episodes follow the application calendar, so families hear each topic before the deadline, not after. Written for parents first, with the numbers behind every claim and the mistakes we see most often. LTC Kirkland and Capt Dach are the only two coaches. Every student works directly with one of them. If you want to know exactly where your student stands and what needs to improve, reserve your Service Academy Admissions Assessment at gainserviceacademyadmission.com/assessment.

Information

  • Creator
    Gain Service Academy Admission
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Gain Service Academy Admission. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Gain Service Academy Admission

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