How can my daughter increase her chances of service academy selection? Which one is best for cyber?

For myself, HS grades were a factor, but less important than SAT/ACT scores. Those scores are probably the single largest factor in a large number of factors. But the "whole person" concept is still huge at USAFA, so involvement, success, and leadership in sports and other extracurricular activities (from Scouting to band to employment to community service) are all important factors. If your daughter is an athlete, especially if she has won at the conference/district/state level, reach out to the USAFA coach of that sport. I was surprised to learn (after the fact) that a single note from the men's gymnastics coach made my application folder different enough. So it doesn't need to be a big sport to help, but if it is (basketball, softball, soccer) even better. BTW, my dad watched boilers in a paper plant for a living...so while I'm sure it never hurts to have a senator as your uncle, it is not a requirement.

Don't forget about the US Coast Guard Academy, it is the only service academy that does not require an appointment. You apply just like any other university. Worthwhile to looking into.

All of the Service Academies are looking heavily at Cyber. The next war will have a very heavy cyber component, and we will be actively engaged in the cyber warfare realm. I know that the Army has been discussing bringing in qualified cyber people as Colonels fresh off the street. That is the level of need within all of the service components at this time. If your daughter wants Cyber, then she will have a career path and a home in DoD for the foreseeable future. Everything from our communication systems to our weapons systems are taking on a cyber component.

I believe all of the Service Academies are focused on the 'whole person' approach mentioned by Col Lenertz. They are looking for good grades; good test scores; participation in a varsity sport; participation in school service organizations (DEKA, FBLA, etc.); and they are looking for solid community service support (i.e., Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society, etc.). The Service Academies are looking for candidates who are top notch physically, academically, mentally, and who have a healthy work-life balance.

Once she decides which branch is right for her, she should try and get involved in a JROTC program at the High School Level. This will give her the inside lane on the Service Academy selection process and greatly ease the transition requirement moving from a civilian school to a Service Academy. She will already have been exposed to many aspects of service life (i.e., standing uniform inspection, proper wear of uniforms, how to polish shoes, drill, military history, customs and traditions, etc.). These programs are designed to produce the feeder students into the Service Academies. So being in a JROTC Program will greatly increase her odds of selection.

The other benefit to JROTC is that her Senior Military Instructor can sponsor her application to the academy. For the Naval Academy, she will not be required to obtain a Congressional Sponsor if her SNSI recommends her package (though it doesn’t hurt to have both). The JROTC Program also offers three separate career pathways through college. The Service Academy, ROTC, and tuition grant programs. The JROTC Programs also offer summer leadership camps and academies that will further increase her chances of being selected.

The sooner she gets into a JROTC program the better her odds of selection will be. After she has chosen a service branch, you need to help her understand what that program is designed to do. I know the Naval JROTC program is designed to provide feeder candidates to the Naval Academy and ROTC who want to be Nuclear Reactor Operators. That doesn’t mean that is what she has to do. But, if she truly wants to be a Nuclear Reactor Operator (as does my daughter), then she is a natural selection in a program that is designed to produce that end product. My oldest daughter went to the Naval Academy after being in JROTC and became a Military Intelligence Officer. My youngest daughter wants to be a Reactor Operator. The pathway is open through JROTC for either option. But it is substantially easier if your daughter wants to be what the JROTC program is designed to produce.

I worked for a spell as a JROTC Instructor in the Navy Program and it does give the Candidates the inside lane in competing for a slot at the service academies. If they opt to Enlist, it also provides them with the benefit of graduating from Boot Camp as an E2 or E3 (depends on the service component). So either route of Officer or Enlisted is benefited from participation in JROTC.