Plebes to be scrambled

It was just announced that the Plebes will be scrambled which is how it was at one time (Back when the Comm was a cadet by the way). As you go through your experience, remember it is all subject to change. Be flexible.

What exactly does that mean?

Forgive my ignorance.

You typically spend a year or two in the same Company after Beast. At the end of one of the years, all the cadets in a class are scrambled up and reassigned to new companies. You meet new classmates and learn to live with a whole new set of peers and other classes. It can be good or stressful. Some get a new start from being labled a spaz or an ate up cadet while others who were studs may not be in their new groups. Either way, it is another stressful change to be worked through. For the past few years, this scramble took place after Yearling year. The scramble had already been announced with rumors of it being changed. Today it was announced that the yearlings would be staying where they are and it would be the Plebes who would be scrambled. This is how it was back when the Comm was a Cadet. The scramble point has changed back and forth over the years. Each point has its pros and cons. (and always subject to change- the Comm has been there for a year and has now had time to see what he likes and dislikes- expect more changes)

This is a "good news-bad news" issue. In my day (years ago) we stayed with the same company for 4 years. A few Cadets were occasionally switched to give them a new start.
My son and his roommates (Class of 2015) do not want to switch. They have forged close friendships and teamwork with their fellow plebes. I can see the value for Cadets who have had some trouble in their present Companies and are rated near the bottom of their class in their companies. However, I see more negatives than positives - but of course my opinion does not count.

Thank you for the thorough explanation, oldcorpsdad.

BigNick, why do you see more negatives than positivies with plebe scrambling? (Or are you refering to scrambling as a whole?)

BillSL,

I do see the benefits to scrambling. However - in the old days - we stayed with the same company. We got to know our classmates in the company as brothers - we developed teamwork and trust - we developed a company pride over the years.

Changing companies I believe is a big positive for Cadets who need a new start but is not good for people who like their company and are doing well in the company.

You will see that you develop close friends during Plebe year. It is good to meet new people and develop new friends but you have special love and trust in your Plebe company classmates.

My son (Class of 2015) already had his Yearling year roommates picked. He feels that he would be in a better position next year with those roommates than with strangers.

2012 scrambled after yuk year. My cadet's best friends are still from that first company, but he's made good friends in this one, too. It all works out.

I would imagine one reason for scrambling is to get you used to dealing with it and whatever stresses it causes. It's definitely going to happen when you go AD.

BigNick said:

BillSL,

I do see the benefits to scrambling. However - in the old days - we stayed with the same company. We got to know our classmates in the company as brothers - we developed teamwork and trust - we developed a company pride over the years.

Changing companies I believe is a big positive for Cadets who need a new start but is not good for people who like their company and are doing well in the company.

You will see that you develop close friends during Plebe year. It is good to meet new people and develop new friends but you have special love and trust in your Plebe company classmates.

My son (Class of 2015) already had his Yearling year roommates picked. He feels that he would be in a better position next year with those roommates than with strangers.

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It may not be something most people look forward to (myself included) but it is the reality of the Army, not just a West Point creation. Learning how to form new bonds, develop loyalties with different units, and accustom yourself to new superiors/subordinates are but some of the many benefits to scrambling. It is definately something that shouldn't first be experienced after commissioning. We may all complain about it, but it does more good than bad in my eyes. Your friends will still be at most a 10 minute walk away.

My son is very adaptable - he will not have any trouble. However, I bet he "hangs" with his Plebe friends every chance he gets.
America'sFinests - is there normally another scramble before graduation?

BigNick said:

This is a "good news-bad news" issue. In my day (years ago) we stayed with the same company for 4 years. A few Cadets were occasionally switched to give them a new start.
My son and his roommates (Class of 2015) do not want to switch. They have forged close friendships and teamwork with their fellow plebes. I can see the value for Cadets who have had some trouble in their present Companies and are rated near the bottom of their class in their companies. However, I see more negatives than positives - but of course my opinion does not count.

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Their class is not unique. All plebe classes forge those bonds. We scrambled after plebe year. It made for a good new start and 3 years of amazing friends.

BigNick said:

My son is very adaptable - he will not have any trouble. However, I bet he "hangs" with his Plebe friends every chance he gets.
America'sFinests - is there normally another scramble before graduation?

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No, normally there is only one scramble. The yearlings who volunteered to scramble into the reinstated I Companies were exempt from the mandatory scramble with their class this year(before it was changed to Plebes scrambling). It's also better to scramble after Plebe year because the upper leadership of the company won't be new and as Scout alluded to, you get 3 years in a row with the same people as opposed to getting even more attached with your Plebe friends through an extra year only to end up scrambling anyway.

My class at Navy was scrambled at the end of Plebe Year. Just as mentioned above, there are mixed feelings about it. Just as people will like it as they dislike it. To be honest, I really didn't care at the time. I ended being scrambled to an amazing company with one of my best friends and had really good room mates. I disliked my Plebe Year room mate (I lost the coin flip on who had to live with her - she was eventually kicked out for mental issues) so I was just happy to be free from her! To be honest I don't think I hung out with anyone from my plebe year company after we were scrambled. It does provide a clean slate for everyone which is nice. Just because someone was an amazing Plebe or not so amazing Plebe, doesn't mean that is what they will be like as an upperclassman. But, it is a good learning lesson on what active duty life will be like, constant change in leadership, units, personnel. Learning to adapt to the situation and different people is critical to doing well in the Service. Every administraiton at the schools has different opinions on it and it varies from year to year on what will happen. I think the idea of not knowing if they will or will not is the hardest part!

Word around the campfire about YUK year...

Word around the campfire from my son and his buddys is that they are going to take away weekend privilages from YUK class of 2015. Attitude is they are trying to get cadets to quit because of Pentagon $ cutbacks. Hope not.

bigmoe said:

Word around the campfire from my son and his buddys is that they are going to take away weekend privilages from YUK class of 2015. Attitude is they are trying to get cadets to quit because of Pentagon $ cutbacks. Hope not.

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No data on privs, rank, or any of the other rumors madly being discussed. There are dozens. Some are clearly just to get lower classes riled up.

I can speak to the last part about trying to get cadets to quit..... In the recent briefings we heard clearly that they are not trying to get cadets to quit, in no uncertain terms.

They are less concerned about attrition from cadets who screw up. Specifically, they are enforcing regs with fewer 2nd & 3rd chances offered. Some would call this "tightening up" or getting stricter, while others would argue they are not changing regs.

And the intent is to free up slots for cadets who are serious and "really want it". Largely in response to the reduced authorized corps strength.

They are also having to adjust their planning some as well, as acceptances are up, and overall attrition trending lower. There were several reasons they felt were driving this: Economy, positive spotlight, "safer" now choice due to the combat drawdown, etc.

So is this trying to get cadets to quit? They will say no, they have much invested. And will tell you they are dealing with the bottom 2-5%.

The big gripe we are hearing from 2015 about the scramble is not that they have to scramble, they all expected that. It's that they had lined up roommates of their choice, etc. And with very little warning now it will now be luck of the draw.

Another issue is that normally they'd move their stuff to their new room at year end, which allows them to spend day 1-2 of reorgy helping their assigned plebe, which is their responsibility.

Now they will spend most of day 1 of reorgy getting their own stuff moved across campus and sorted.

It's not the end of the world. They will deal with it. It does come across as a leadership issue, as there were active plans based on a cow scramble, which are now wasted effort. But I guess there is a lesson there as well.

What's funny is there have been papers written with analysis of the different scramble approaches. Lot's of pros & cons. It has impact on leadership assignments for rising cows, etc. (Less time under a new tac)

I ran across one of the papers by accident (Goofle is your friend), and it made me realize there is far more to scrambles than just roommate preference.

True- my Class of 2015 son told me they had just completed the roommate assignments for next year and he had the roomates he wanted. The Yucks also had their new assigned companies when the unexpected announcement was made. I understand (I was in the Army many years) that things change but this seems to be an unnecessary "fake-out".

However, life goes on - I am just happy he got by Plebe year.

As far as Cadet attrition is concerned - my information is that many at USMA feel that the retention of Cadets with 2nd, 3th and 4th chances has gone too far. I think we will just see a tightening of standards that have gotton too loose. Just my opinion. This opinion was shared by two upperclassmen that I know and also by several of the Plebes from my son''s company. They tell me that there is a CLEAR bottom 2% in every Class including 1st Classmen that are relatively poor in every measure -academics-leadership-physical-military dicipline-attitude etc. I hope any reduction is from this group.

I know I don't go to WP but at CGA we switch companies at the end of swab summer and then again at the end of our 4/c year. Honestly, its better this way, although maybe its more effective for us since we are a much smaller Corps. For the freshman, it helps them get to know their other classmates as well as challenges them to adapt to new surroundings, people, etc. It also prevents too much complacency/friendly relationships with upperclassmen. It also provides those swabs who had a rough summer to get a fresh start.
This year, 2015 were not shotgunned into different companies at the end of swab summer. Sure, they were really tight, but they also were very comfortable with their cadre (2/c) and would often skip over their 3/c (mentors) and go to the 2/c. It kind of messed up the system we have in place here, including the chain of command. Also, just like someone posted above, just because you don't live near someone, doesn't mean you can't be friends. Some of my best friends here are from my swab summer company and I only lived with them for 7 out of the 100 weeks I have been here. Good luck to 2015, take it as an awesome opportunity to grow closer as a class as you get to know more people!

2013, 2014 and 2015 scramble situation:
The Cows scrambled after Yuk year.
The Yuks will not scramble after Yuk year.
The Plebes will scramble after Plebe year.

Interesting that the Yuks will be in the same company all 4 years - unless they volunteered for the I companies last year.

Each class will have a different scramble situation and each cadet will adjust.
IMPO - these last minute changes and the adjustments that have to take place planning wise, is good training for the cadets.
Welcome to the Army.

buff81 said:

same company all 4 years - unless they volunteered for the I companies last year.

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The majority of those volunteers did so because of the impending Yuck scramble. By volunteering, they ensured being in the same regiment and also getting to stay in a company for 3 years instead of just 2. They must be pretty upset now unless they ended up loving their new company.

If scrambling is so essential - WILL THE CLASS OF 2014 SCRAMBLE AFTER COW YEAR?