Unwanted service assignment

hornetrhinodad

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Oct 2, 2014
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I did a quick search but couldn't find anything. Sorry if a repeat. My son is in NROTC and has been on track for aviation. He did one year no scholarship, then was awarded a CO scholarship. Scored way high on all tests and passed all medical. Number 2 in his command. Was assigned to to a VFA squadron for first class cruise and felt at home. Had an F/A-18 flight and knew he was where he was supposed to be. He just called and said he was "drafted" to submarine nuke billet. Figures it is because he's engineering and did good in physics and calculus. What the heck? He's an aerospace engineering major, selected aviation as his top choices, but is "drafted" to nuke school? He is devastated. What are his options? Is there any appeal process, or is he committed to the selection board choice? This really isn't where he wants to be. Can his assignment be changed? What process is available to seek a different billet, if any?
 
I've never seen this issue brought up on this board before, I will be very interested to see what answers you get.

Being familiar with the Army side of things I know little about how the Navy assigns it's cadets. The Army works off an OML system, the top 10% of the Active Duty OML are guaranteed their Branch, the rest are at the whim of the Army.

If the Navy is anything like the Army I would imagine there is little he can do at this point. I know the one thing the Cadre all told both my sons was don't pin your hopes on any one branch, or in the case of the Navy, any one Service.

I would think your son's best option at this point is to talk with his command and find out what his options are.
 
+1 to Jcleppe. I don't know about any appeal system, but talking to his cadre sounds like the right first step. Of course, as you and your DS know, there is never any guarantee of getting what you want. It could also be that there just weren't enough pilot slots this year.
 
hornetrhinodad,

Has your son talked with his command yet, did they give him any explanation on his selection.

Just a question, Does the NROTC command call the Mids individually into the office to inform them of the selection or do they do it all together?
 
hornetrhinodad, Your DS' disappointment is understandable but I would assume that the command has drilled into the midshipmen the concept of "needs of the Navy." That said, I don't know that I have never seen this posted or discussed on this site since I have been a member.

I will reach out to my DS who can solicit commentary from his Navy friends in his ROTC unit.

I also sent you a PM.
 
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Selfless service. It sucks he didn't get exactly what he wanted, and since it most likely won't be reversed, hopefully he'll put his best foot forward for those he will lead. Best of luck to him trying to get it "appealed" and for the future.
 
Thanks for your replies. Yes, we both understood there's no guarantees, but this does seem extreme. He mentioned he did speak to his CO and did not get any encouraging information. I don't know how he was informed or the specifics of his conversation with his CO. This all just happened. I will gather more information and post as warranted. Taking a step back, I can understand that if there is a compelling need in the service, then the service will reach out and grab the best solution. But this wasn't on his or my radar.
 
Not that it helps with his situation but I have read a few recent articles that has mentioned that the Navy was making a push for well performing STEM majors in Nuke billets. Your son may have been one of those they were looking for. Certain Engineering majors who wanted a pilot slot have been experiencing the same thing in AFROTC.

Subs are pretty cool, and they get the best food.
 
I have a friend who's MID was "recruited for subs". Aviation was first choice. Did not list Subs as an option. This MID was a physics major with good grades. Long story short, when for the interview. The officer could see the MID's heart was not in it and released the MID and wish the MID good luck. Now the MID is in Aviation school. This is recent story.
 
Needs of the Navy always come first.
The Navy does not hide this fact. A lot people live in denial that "it won't happen to me." It does, and will continue.
Nuke drafts, helo drafts, SWO drafts happen. Never heard anyone call a jet draft a draft, but have seen that as well.
Hornet students that do well get sent to Japan.
Having said all this, it is not the intention of the Navy to place people in a roll they don't want, but it happens.
I am familiar with only a couple instances where orders were changed, both involved an active duty parent with stars, plural, on their collar.
Just one man's observations,
OS
 
Maybe it's different for NROTC than for United States Naval Academy but at USNA the needs of the Navy take priority. On different years grads are 'encouraged' for different branches/service selections. You have some say but if you are a math and science head with good grades you are likely to be voluntold subs. In fact when I asked my mid how his grades were he said, "well all I can say is, good news, no subs for me"

There are many benefits to subs (more pay, more cool port calls, less time commitment)
 
Nuke school is a VERY difficult school and supposedly has a rather large failure rate. I doubt the Navy is going to force anyone to go nukes. Strongly encourage....quite possibly. Your son should make his feelings on this billet clear to anyone that asks him. Don't let the "good of the service Rah Rah" crowd force him to just go with the flow and end up with a billet that he hates. He may not get Aviation....but I don't think he'll end up with nukes. Good Luck!
 
Nuke school is a VERY difficult school and supposedly has a rather large failure rate. I doubt the Navy is going to force anyone to go nukes. Strongly encourage....quite possibly. Your son should make his feelings on this billet clear to anyone that asks him. Don't let the "good of the service Rah Rah" crowd force him to just go with the flow and end up with a billet that he hates. He may not get Aviation....but I don't think he'll end up with nukes. Good Luck!

The Air Force must work differently, in AROTC you can whine all you want but your not going to change your branch selection. Nothing "Rah Rah" about it, just the way it is.

I assume it's no different in the Navy, they don't keep it a secret that you may not get what you want.
 
Our DS just went through SARB (Service Assignment Review Board) and had the meeting with a room full of O6s. They told him they needed more NFO's this year. He told them he preferred SWO, but it didn't seem to have much effect. He is familiar with "the needs of the Navy", but it is still disappointing when you have your heart set on another community.
 
..in AROTC you can whine all you want but your not going to change your branch selection.
The Navy and the AF doesn't whine...that must be unique to the Army. OP....your son doesn't need to whine...just be firm that he isn't interested in Nukes. I don't believe they will FORCE him to go to nuke school.
 
The Navy and the AF doesn't whine...that must be unique to the Army. OP....your son doesn't need to whine...just be firm that he isn't interested in Nukes. I don't believe they will FORCE him to go to nuke school.

Really, that's your comment, I guess with your unlimited knowledge in the Naval service selection process your advice to a Mid is to be firm with his command that he does not like what he was given, I'm sure that will work well for him. You can believe anything you want, but be a little careful with the advice
 
I guess with your unlimited knowledge in the Naval service selection process your advice to a Mid is to be firm with his command that he does not like what he was given, I'm sure that will work well for him.
Yes...that is my advice. My unlimited knowledge of the Naval service selection process is as extensive as yours. If the Mid doesn't want Nukes he should be clear and firm. I don't think the Navy will force Mids into THAT particular billet. Try to convince them to get on board...yes. Force...no.

Be careful Jcleppe....you are verging on violation of forum rules. Sure would hate to see this thread deteriorate anymore just because you couldn't control yourself when it comes to insulting others that you disagree with.
 
My DD (Freshman ROTC) had been told me recently that certain universities (Notre Dame, MIT, Rice, etc.) are targeted to provide a larger number of nuke officers than other schools. And that if you are the #1 Midshipman in your class, that you can expect to get Aviation, but #2 and other top students should expect to get assigned nuke. I don't know if this is simply a rumor that floats around the Midshipmen or if this is true, though. It would be interesting to know if this is true.
 
Good luck to him trying to get out, but he won't be alone as a reluctant submariner in Nuke School. The Navy can and does force people to go that route, no matter how firmly they express their wish for another assignment (up to and including asking to be reassigned at the nuke interview). Most helpful advice I've heard to someone in this situation is to grow where you're planted.
 
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