Service Selection Competition

Hi, I'm wondering if someone could help fill me in on what the most competitive career tracks are. I've read that SEAL spots are obviously very tough to get both because there aren't many and because of how difficult the training requirements are, and possibly the USMC can be hard as well? And I'd assume it's probably not easy to get a spot as a pilot? Is any of this accurate? Are there other things that are very competitive or otherwise difficult to get? Are some postings considered more prestigious than others? I know a large part of each class become SWOs, but aside from or even within that, are there specific options the overachievers at the top of the class are generally gunning for?

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help!

well if you want to go into submarine tracks, don't major in the social sciences.
If you want to be Navy SEAL, don't expect to be in combat immediately. Expect to be an advisor or trainer in other countries, regardless of whether you like it or not.
To be a USMC officer, you'll have to graduate from TBS. 6 month...

cdev said:

Hi, I'm wondering if someone could help fill me in on what the most competitive career tracks are. I've read that SEAL spots are obviously very tough to get both because there aren't many and because of how difficult the training requirements are, and possibly the USMC can be hard as well? And I'd assume it's probably not easy to get a spot as a pilot? Is any of this accurate? Are there other things that are very competitive or otherwise difficult to get? Are some postings considered more prestigious than others? I know a large part of each class become SWOs, but aside from or even within that, are there specific options the overachievers at the top of the class are generally gunning for?

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help!

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SEALs is very competitive. USNA typcially has around 30-35 spots a year. Not sure how many these days are found competitive for SEALs but guessing it's about double that. Competitive means they passed the SEAL screener, attended mini-BUDS and did well on PT test. EOD is also very competitive.

USMC numbers wise has a pretty high selection rate. Do well physically and at Leatherneck, don't fail classes, show good leadership and USMC is definitely achieve able.

Pilot can vary, but selection rate is still pretty high for those who are physically qualified and past the ASTB. NFO these days is pretty easy to get.

Subs is all about passing the nuke interview and strong grades. You can google service selection for each class. It won't give percentages for each assignment.

Can't tell since this is your first post if you already have an appointment or just now applying. I wouldn't suggest focusing on a service selection solely based on which is the 'easiest', 'hardest' or 'most prestigious'. Once at the academy you will have an opportunity to understand the various career paths in more detail prior to making a selection.

This is how the Class of 2016 broke out:
http://www.navytimes.com/story/mili...-drafted-navy-marine-corps-branches/76056832/

There may have been onesy-twosy changes by Comm Week. Things happen. A few years ago, we had a USNA sponsor son who was dead set on aviation, majored in aero, wanted astronaut long-term via jets and TPS (ambitious man!), was in top ten class rank, got aviation, and in his final pre-comm physical, was found to have a condition requiring medication that DQ'ed him from Navy air. He had to choose another community.

It's roughly the same each year. Some mids are allowed to go in communities not usually available because of warfare NPQ issues that popped up their last two years.

Some arrive at USNA knowing what they want and strive toward that the entire 4 years. Some come in wanting one thing, and through briefings, summer training and exposure to officers in other warfare specialties, surprise themselves and choose another path. It's all about what feels right, not the prestige of something, IMPO. All have a role to play, though amongst the "family," you will hear the inter-community trash talk. Mids choose warfare specialties for a variety of different reasons. The important thing is that it is a warfare community a mid is excited about and is ready to work in for at least 5 years.

Yes, it's harder to get into some warfare specialties, because of limited slots, difficult screeners, physical standards (eyesight, etc.). The competition is against the others in the class who want those slots. Most get what they want. Sometimes a mid gets the next lower choice on their ranked list. That's part of the deal.

There's competitive aspects of all communities. SWO gets competitive when you get to ship selection. There was one slot for USS Zumwalt, which went to the #1. LCS, Japan, Spain, and San Diego will go to the top graduates as well (DDG-1000 and LCS are the newest, biggest, and baddest; many want to go overseas and be a part of FDNF; San Diego is just an awesome place to be in general).

Early select submarines will be extremely competitive. Otherwise, submarine selection hinges solely on getting to and passing the interview; you will be assigned submarines immediately after your interview if successful. Submarine selection is always under quota, so if you have decent grades and are willing to do the work (i.e. do well in your classes and retain the material) it should not be an issue.

IWC is looking for specific proficiency and demonstrated understanding of the roles of the community (which many lack). For the physically qualified slots, CW/IP selected CS majors and a couple of Cyber majors, all of them with experience from NSA/NCWDG/NIOCs/IWC fleet cruises (for many a combination of two or three of those). Intel is only possible through SWO-Intel, and those are usually in the top couple dozen.

Based on the numbers, one could say USMC is not that competitive. But the numbers don't matter. There are Marine priors that don't make the cut at Leatherneck and are forced to go Navy.

There were many service assignment review boards this year for Pilots and SWOs to go to NFO. If you don't want to get boarded for a selection you don't want, don't be borderline and be prepared to defend your reasons for both wanting that one specific community and not wanting the other community.

There's odd things like Naval Postgraduate School (without any IGEP program) and the Defense Language Institute. I don't know how those happen.

Work hard, it pays dividends in ways you won't expect. Be prepared to do something else if medical comes knocking two days before graduation.

Many USMA cadets find out that Special Forces is not on their list for graduation. So they have to go Infantry, then Airborne, than Ranger/something else, then after making Captain, go out for Special Forces selection.........all this after five years AD...............

cdev said:

Some arrive at USNA knowing what they want and strive toward that the entire 4 years. Some come in wanting one thing, and through briefings,

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http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/Service-Selection-Competition.49414/

You may find this recent thread and many others useful. Try using "service selection" as a search term.

And, read everything, follow every link, on usna.edu:

http://www.usna.edu/Viewbook/careers.php


And yes, your order of merit (class standing) plays a role for both service selection and selection of ship or pipeline school date start. For example, someone near the bottom of the class may still get their #1 choice, Surface Warfare, but not get their dream ship and location, getting an amphib in Norfolk instead of a Burke destroyer in Pearl Harbor.

Fall of 1/c year is generally service selection time, and after winter holiday, ship/school date selection. Some mids hear earlier what their service selection is, such as early select submarines.

Finally, YouTube is also your friend. Here is sample searching on "USNA Class of 2016 service selection":

Nuke
Cyber security

For OP: They are all overachievers with back up as A+ personality. Some are SWO, some are USMC , some BUDS, some NUKES and some go other routes. They are all tough career choices.

OP. The first thing they tell parents and prospective mids is that the Navy has the final say on your service selection. You really have to be ok with anything. There are many stories about how a Mid didn't get the community they wanted.

That said, Medical is difficult and competitive.