Quoted:
My 6 yr old son has made up his mind to become a US Navy officer. (I know, it's a little young) What routes are available to this goal, besides USNA and ROTC? Any input from current and former Navy/USMC officers would be welcomed.
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Good grades, 3.5 or better and active in school like running for school presidency and things like that. This should give him a good chance for appointment in the academy. Around junior year in HS start writing to your Congressman/Senator expressing interest in the academy and ask if they can help(that can't hur either)
Other routes:
NROTC scholarships. Again good grades helps. If there is a high school in your area that offers JROTC, have him go there and take it.
BOOST program. You must enlist in regular Navy then apply for BOOST. It basically allows you to go through the NROTC program if you did not qualify for the scholarship. I believe you have to be in at least 1yr enlisted service to apply for this.
Or go the route I went. Sign up as enlisted. Have the Navy pay for college while he's in and then transition over to Officers program after your enlistment.
If he wants to fly for the Navy, he would need to have 20/20 vision going into flight school. I believe they are still requiring that they pass the Marine PFT instead on the regular Navy PFT(I could be wrong on this one)
Hope that helps.