Commissioning numbers for 2016

theboo

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For those interested here are the spring commissioning numbers for the SMCs:

The Citadel - 151
VMI - 140
TAMU - 130
Norwich - 127
VA Tech - 127
North GA - 83

This does not reflect some who will be commissioned later in the summer after completing LDAC, OCS, PLC or those commissioned after graduating in August
 
Is there a break down by service?
As you may know North GA is Army only.
 
How about a breakdown comparing the number of cadets commissioning versus those choosing to not commission?
 
How about a breakdown comparing the number of cadets commissioning versus those choosing to not commission?
From my understanding numbers as follows:
VMI's 2016 graduates commissioning percentage is 54% (VMI is 100% Cadets)
Norwich 2016 graduates (graduating members of Norwich's corps of cadets=296, 127 of whom commissioned for 43% and total Norwich graduates=469 for 27.5% overall)
Virginia Tech 2016 graduates (graduating members of VT's corps of cadets=294 for 43%)
Citadel's 2016 graduates (graduating members of Citadel's corps of cadets=564, 151 of whom commissioned for 25% and total Citadel graduates=898 for 16% overall)
Not sure about A&M and NGA
 
You can find most of TAMU's numbers in recent posts on the individual services' ROTC facebook pages.

Army - 51
Air Force - 32
Navy/USMC - no number posted, looked like about 20 total in the picture

That doesn't add up to 130, though.
 
The Citadel:

Army - 105
Navy - 16
Air Force -15
Marines-15

Still the top commissioning source in the nation for Army after USMA and #1 source of commissions for all colleges aside from the service academies
 
@theboo, while the Citadel might have a larger number commissioning (due to the larger class size), VMI actually has the highest percentage of those who commission.
 
Agree with Clueless - let's celebrate all those that choose to serve.

For sake of accuracy, it appears VMI's #s were 302 graduated on 16 May 2016 and 149 commissioned! There may be more that commission after the summer. The final official total with breakdown by service will be in the June 2016 VMI Institue Report, but the overwhelming number will be for the Army. Looked liked less than 10 AF, and about 20 each for USMC and USN from watching the ceremony on line. Always brings a tear of pride.
 
What is the reason that less than half commission? Is it by choice? Did they not "cut the mustard"? I would have thought that 100% of students in a ROTC program that graduated would have received a commission. I think I'm missing something. Sorry.
 
At most of the SMCs, the majority of the class do not commission. VMI has in recent years raised it's numbers to be about half of the graduating class. This is by choice of those that attend the SMCs, and due to budget cuts by the services. I do not know the percentages but guess that about half of those that do commission are on a ROTC scholarship.
 
While touring The Citadel our Cadet guide told us that he was not commisioning. He said he, as a South Carolina resident was attending for; the structure, as he thought it would help him be successful with a difficult major, the high quality of the education, and the connections the alumni network would give him. As an engineering major he a job lined up entering his junior year.
I have a co-worker whose son attended VMI for many of the same reasons. Although as a NJ resident he did not have the benefit of in state tuition rates. He was hired by a VMI alum to work as a civil engineer at a very large construction company prior to graduation.
 
As I understand, most folks go to VMI because of the zeal and loyalty of it's network of graduates. Some say "Institute" graduates are fanatical... and I don't think there's anything else quite like it. However, VMI is first and foremost 100% military... and very old-fashioned at that! The "old-corps" is very much still alive at VMI!
Looks like Army was the largest number this year, which is typical and makes sense because VMI has produced more Army generals than any other school in the country (aside from Army!)
Next, VMI produces many USMC officers: 20 Marines, with more set for commissioning this summer. VMI's ties with the USMC run VERY deep: VMI has graduated 2 Commandants of the Marine Corps and the "Greatest of the Leathernecks" & "the Marine's Marine," General John Archer Lejeune, was one of VMI's Superintendents. Not to mention several VMI Marine heroes have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Next is the USAF with about 15 VMI graduates commissioning in the Air Force and more set for the summer. As the newest service, USAF and VMI ties are perhaps not as strong as the Army and USMC, but a recent Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General John Jumper, is a VMI graduate, as is General Darren McDew, the Commanding General of Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command. Interestingly, Both the Commander (USAF) and Vice Commander (USN) of U.S. Transportation Command are VMI graduates. Typically the smallest numbers to commission at VMI are Navy, this year with 12. Hope that helps and is not too much propaganda!
 
@theboo, while the Citadel might have a larger number commissioning (due to the larger class size), VMI actually has the highest percentage of those who commission.
Just reporting the raw numbers in case anyone is curious, if that's OK. AJC makes a valid point that The Citadel and VMI don't exist just to produce military officers, that is the job of the service academies. The comradarie, strong alumni network along with the fact that they teach skills you don't learn at a civilian college motivate many young people to attend, strong academjcs and high graduation rates don't hurt as well as the fact that they are a good value for the money.
 
As to why commissioning rates are usually around 50-55%, there are a variety of reasons. A big reason that is rarely talked about is that a sizable amount of people (I'd put it around 15%, but it's just a guess) are medically disqualified from service. You don't have to pass a DODMERB to get into the SMCs, so lots of people have preexisting issues that only get caught when they're trying to get a contract or 3-year scholarship, and due to the drawdown, waivers are pretty scarce these days. Due to the kind of stuff that you have to do at an SMC, some people also get injured and lose their contracts during their time as a cadet. Some people also don't get contracts in their preferred service (this is big for USMC guys) and decide that they don't want to commission in another service, like the Army, where contracts are easier to get. Then you have the people who either never wanted to commission or decided it wasn't for them during their cadetship. I think medical DQs are really overlooked when considering commissioning statistics, though.
 
50-55% is still way higher than it used to be in the 1990s and early 2000s.
 
50-55% is still way higher than it used to be in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But it is way lower than it was prior to 1991, up until then it had been mandatory to commission unless not physically qualified. One of the real disappointments I have with my alma mater is that even at the height of Iraq/ Afghanistan with a decade of war, less than 70% commissioned. Those numbers indicate to this old grad that way too many VMI grads are just like most of the rest of the country and believe in service and leadership - as long as it doesn't inconvenience them. It is a real disappointment to me and I think a lot less of those alums who couldn't at least take a reserve commission in the USAR or ANG and put some of their own skin in the game.
 
Not aware that ROTC ever mandated commissioning, wasn't the case when I went through The Citadel in the late 70s. Keep in mind that the drawdown of the military and subsequent loss of commissioning slots has greatly impacted the numbers, also per previous cmments not everyone goes to El Cid or VMI with the intent of commissioning, many are drawn for the reasons mentioned above and I personally don't have a problem with it. I do believe the 2 schools should be receiving a significantly larger number of slots but that's a sensitive political issue that DOD doesn't want to tackle; there has been talk of shutting down some ROTC detachments that commission small numbers and it certainly seems cost effective. Hey repatriot, did I mention that The Citadel commissions so many Marine Officers its long been called The Military Academy of the Marine Corps?
 
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