Are majors related to assignments?

NeptunePride

NeptunePride

NAPS’24
Joined
Feb 4, 2023
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96
Hello,
I would like to know if majors are related to the service assignment. For example, if I study aeronautical engineering, I would have more chances of becoming a pilot?

I know that before graduating you have to make a list of the first choice and other alternatives.

So if my first choice is Special Operations, second choice is Aviation, and I study aeronautical engineering, they would probably assign me as a pilot rather than being a SEAL?
 
Yes and no. Depends on need of Navy on where they place people.

My son is an aero major. Took a pic at commissioning party with other aero majors. All had aviation shirts on except my son. They all selected aviation as first choice though.

I am pretty confident that service selections include various majors throughout.
 
Major does not impact service selection, except in a few cases. For instance, someone who wants to something with a METOC option needs to major in Oceanography. Or become an Engineering Duty Officer, needs more than likely a Tier 1 major. Cyber needs a Cyber (is maybe Comp Sci is accepted too?). Spec Ops would be more limited by completing screeners than anything academic. Even Tier 3 can go nuke, but it’s definitely more challenging than a Tier 1 or 2. But, a Tier 3 with solid academics and interviews well, can get Nuke.
 
NavyHoops said:
Major does not impact service selection, except in a few cases. For instance, someone who wants to something with a METOC option needs to major in Oceanography. Or become an Engineering Duty Officer, needs more than likely a Tier 1 major. Cyber needs a Cyber (is maybe Comp Sci is accepted too?). Spec Ops would be more limited by completing screeners than anything academic. Even Tier 3 can go nuke, but it’s definitely more challenging than a Tier 1 or 2. But, a Tier 3 with solid academics and interviews well, can get Nuke.
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Thank you!
 
Speaking of the cyber MOS: There are cases in which they were not cyber majors. DD went cyber MOS with a STEM major that was neither cyber nor computer science. I don’t fully understand the criteria or logic, but it does happen. Though perhaps not often.
 
Seabees only takes engineering majors. Some communities, such as intelligence, can be "stem preferred" in their selections. Submarines can take at most 25% of their accessions from the Academy from group 3. Everyone who has gone CWE has been a computer science major on the Cyber Security Team (although such a major is not a requirement).

Additionally, the way service assignment works is you put in preferences. Certain communities (IWC, SEALs, and EOD) are first choice only, meaning you have to rank them as your first choice in order to qualify for them. At the beginning of 1/C year, you put in your preferences of what you want. Your package is then handed to your first choice community for them to evaluate in their own desired way. Your first choice can hold onto you or let you go. If you're held onto, they then rank you amongst all their other selectees. If they let you go, your package then goes to your second choice community and so on. How a "draft" works is when a specific community, usually submarines, doesn't have enough people to fill their quota. The community that's short of their quota then goes around to other communities asking them to give someone up who is qualified to their standards. This is done in a way that balances both midshipmen preference and how highly a warfare community values them. Note that first choice communities (SEALs, EOD, IWC) do not give people up once initial selections are made.
 
Computerman21 said:
Seabees only takes engineering majors. Some communities, such as intelligence, can be "stem preferred" in their selections. Submarines can take at most 25% of their accessions from the Academy from group 3. Everyone who has gone CWE has been a computer science major on the Cyber Security Team (although such a major is not a requirement).

Additionally, the way service assignment works is you put in preferences. Certain communities (IWC, SEALs, and EOD) are first choice only, meaning you have to rank them as your first choice in order to qualify for them. At the beginning of 1/C year, you put in your preferences of what you want. Your package is then handed to your first choice community for them to evaluate in their own desired way. Your first choice can hold onto you or let you go. If you're held onto, they then rank you amongst all their other selectees. If they let you go, your package then goes to your second choice community and so on. How a "draft" works is when a specific community, usually submarines, doesn't have enough people to fill their quota. The community that's short of their quota then goes around to other communities asking them to give someone up who is qualified to their standards. This is done in a way that balances both midshipmen preference and how highly a warfare community values them. Note that first choice communities (SEALs, EOD, IWC) do not give people up once initial selections are made.
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Thank you for your really complete answer
 
Juddusna said:
Hello,
I would like to know if majors are related to the service assignment. For example, if I study aeronautical engineering, I would have more chances of becoming a pilot?

I know that before graduating you have to make a list of the first choice and other alternatives.

So if my first choice is Special Operations, second choice is Aviation, and I study aeronautical engineering, they would probably assign me as a pilot rather than being a SEAL?
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As mentioned above both yes and no. The others explained it really well so I’ll just hit on a couple other things. There are certain nuances to ordering of preferences. In your case if you want NSW (SEALS) then that has to be your #1 spot then followed by aviation. Another example is USMC Air and/or Ground is required to be #1 and/or #2, just the way the module and system works. Marine board will not let you out anything USMC below spot 2 if you want it.
 
@MidCakePa repeated the old joke at the Academy: Poly Sci and fly. Meaning many pilot wanna-be's majored in political science and then went onto Pensacola post USNA. Pilot selection is not dependent on the Mid's major. What counts is how well you did in the major - so, get the best GPA possible for your degree. Also, scoring high the ASTB-E Test is critical as it is the other major selection filter used.
 
Alchemist said:
@MidCakePa repeated the old joke at the Academy: Poly Sci and fly. Meaning many pilot wanna-be's majored in political science and then went onto Pensacola post USNA. Pilot selection is not dependent on the Mid's major. What counts is how well you did in the major - so, get the best GPA possible for your degree. Also, scoring high the ASTB-E Test is critical as it is the other major selection filter used.
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And your relationships with mentors on the yard. Those that sit on selection committees want to know that those they are selecting want it and have put in the effort.

Establishing relationships of real value is critical in many ways, not just service selection, but also moral, academic, career support and guidance.
 
Heatherg21 said:
And your relationships with mentors on the yard. Those that sit on selection committees want to know that those they are selecting want it and have put in the effort.

Establishing relationships of real value is critical in many ways, not just service selection, but also moral, academic, career support and guidance.
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Thank you for your answer! I am really happy to see you on this form
 
I think it will get repeated early and often during their Plebe year - you do NOT have to major in Aero/Astro engineering to be a pilot!

Some Mids will want to pursue career paths that are not Unrestricted Line Officer like the Medical Corps. USNA does not have a PreMed track so they have to select a major that will allow them to complete as many PreMed requirements as they can AND take additional classes or summer school to complete PreMed. Specialty careers that requires specialty education are in the extreme minority of graduates. I think 2023 has 7 people going to Med or Dental school.

In general - service assignment comes down to the following: Needs of the Navy, Personal Interest, Aptitude, Academic/Physical Performance and Medically Qualified.

You can expect to commission into the Navy (or Marine Corps) as an Unrestricted Line Officer (or USMC equivalent) as Pilot,NFO, Submarine, SWO, SEAL, EOD. Some fields are VERY competitive. If a Midshipman is not competitive enough to get their first choices and otherwise physically qualified - expect to be picking your ship assignment as a SWO on Service Assignment night.

Historically - to commission to other fields (restricted line) you need to be MEDICALLY DISQUALIFIED from holding a URL position. I think there are now exceptions for critical career fields like Cyber.
 
realMid said:
As mentioned above both yes and no. The others explained it really well so I’ll just hit on a couple other things. There are certain nuances to ordering of preferences. In your case if you want NSW (SEALS) then that has to be your #1 spot then followed by aviation. Another example is USMC Air and/or Ground is required to be #1 and/or #2, just the way the module and system works. Marine board will not let you out anything USMC below spot 2 if you want it.
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I think I am finally understanding this. If someone wants to be considered for USMC Ground and Navy SEALs its

SEALs #1

USMC Ground #2

And there us no way to add EOD for a #3?
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
I think I am finally understanding this. If someone wants to be considered for USMC Ground and Navy SEALs its

SEALs #1

USMC Ground #2

And there us no way to add EOD for a #3?
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Not something you need to even really be concerned about until your first class year and the process/system may change between now and then. Historically though...the sure fire way to NOT get USMC is to list USMC as a #2 choice.

Another killer was highlighting you wanted to be a pilot first. AKA #1 USMC Pilot, #2 Navy Pilot, #3 USMC Ground was guaranteed not to get selected for The Corps.
 
NeverSayNever said:
Another killer was highlighting you wanted to be a pilot first. AKA #1 USMC Pilot, #2 Navy Pilot, #3 USMC Ground was guaranteed not to get selected for The Corps.
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Every Marine a rifleman…first and foremost.

DD has seen this at TBS, where all the future officers of logistics, intelligence, artillery, aviation, signal, supply, communication, cyberspace and so forth are first learning how to be infantry platoon leaders. (Even those going infantry. 😉)
 
Skipper07 said:
EOD or SEALS must be a #1 choice. MIDN cannot put EOD or SEALS in their preferences unless they have completed screeners and cruises for the communities. As far as I am aware, it is impossible to do both SEAL and EOD cruises.
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I'd have to call my classmates that are on that track as it has changed over the years. Our class selection got wonky as someone got selected for SEALS that had never done a screener and we didn't have summer SEAL programs. In that era the nuance for NSW was to list SEAL as #1 and SWO as #2 with the intent to lateral transfer after an initial sea tour. Somebody more recently graduated may want to chime in.

Most candidates knew who was/wasn't competitive for a slot.

Every community (except swo) is judging a candidates motivation - just like the admissions board to get into USNA! Motivating factor for SEALS is that they want to be a SEAL and if they can't be a SEAL this year than what is their plan to try again? Going from Pilot to SEAL is not a viable path which is why nobody that put Pilot as #2 got their first pick of SEAL. (Decades old example)
 
NeverSayNever said:
Not something you need to even really be concerned about until your first class year and the process/system may change between now and then. Historically though...the sure fire way to NOT get USMC is to list USMC as a #2 choice.

Another killer was highlighting you wanted to be a pilot first. AKA #1 USMC Pilot, #2 Navy Pilot, #3 USMC Ground was guaranteed not to get selected for The Corps.
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And is that somewhat a fact or an opinion that someone who had SEALs #1 and USMC Ground #2 would not get USMC if they did not get picked up for SEALs?

I would hope that is not the case. A bit short sided IMO.

And I guess a related question ——-will they know the results of the SEAL and USMC screeners when they fill out their wish list? I would assume the answer for that must be yes or the process would not make much sense ?

EDITED —-OK I see you answered that last——they have a pretty good idea if they will be competitive for SEALs before they pick.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
And is that somewhat a fact or an opinion that someone who had SEALs #1 and USMC Ground #2 would not get USMC if they did not get picked up for SEALs?

I would hope that is not the case. A bit short sided IMO.

And I guess a related question ——-will they know the results of the SEAL and USMC screeners when they fill out their wish list? I would assume the answer for that must be yes or the process would not make much sense ?

EDITED —-OK I see you answered that last——they have a pretty good idea if they will be competitive for SEALs before they pick.
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Unless things have changed dramatically - Marines want people to want to be Marines...not SEALS. If you want to be a Marine and do SEAL like stuff - they have MARSOC.

Candidates SHOULD know if they are competitive and understand the implications of not getting their #1 pick and those communities SHOULD be communicating how various choices will be interpreted. The USMC does a great job of this and I can only assume NSW is doing the same.
 
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