C/O '26 parents - place to commiserate and share. Roller coaster for the next 3 years!

... just some anecdotes during the watch on the 31st. DS was wearing a semi-Santa outfit complete with the red fluffy hat. I raised Alarm you see, not in my military. DS said that he is on leave and it's ok. It was an all nighter duty, 4 hours on; 4 hours off. He rested in his room. I told him to check his mail box and found 4 letters from me with $$$ enclosed. During dinner time, we went to Senor's Chile and we bought him Chicken Quesadillas, Senor's Fajitas, and Salsa/Chips. Next day he was exhausted and went straight to bed, 0800. We celebrated New Years on the 1st, 1900 hours.
 
... Those are cadres leading the training evolutions. Search FLICKER USNA for training images.
(Note: Pleasantly surprised 😇... the first 90 images were from the Chain of Command Ceremony - new Superintendent).
 
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Mids put in for their choices of training activities and "billets" (leadership training opportunities) for selection.

My kid's perception of being in the Academy is that getting the "choice" billets is just like back in high school where the popular kids continue to get the best options. He basically knew ahead of selection which mids he figured would get to run Sea Trials for his company. He was pretty much right.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Mids put in for their choices of training activities and "billets" (leadership training opportunities) for selection.

My kid's perception of being in the Academy is that getting the "choice" billets is just like back in high school where the popular kids continue to get the best options. He basically knew ahead of selection which mids he figured would get to run Sea Trials for his company. He was pretty much right.
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Yes and no. Things where Mids are selecting Mids, it can be that way. Other training activities that is selected by officers, enlisted and civilians on the yard… tend to be much more about stats, interviews, applications. There are lots of other opportunities for Sea Trials outside training cadre. Station leads and other items. Good chance to step up in those spaces.
 
There is a little bit more that goes into billet selection than just simply being "popular." The military staff tend to identify consistent high performers early and put them in billets that build them up to hold higher level positions. Also, they are just going to trust demonstrated performers over unknown commodities. I've had multiple friends get put up for billets against their wishes. So, while there is a small population of people who very much make it a point to go high up in the command structure, a good amount of people in those "choice billets" are people who are consistent high performers. Also, "choice" is relative. Some people are perfectly content just being a random Cpl/Sgt/Company staff officer. There is considerably less stress, less oversight (not always fun when the Dant/BattO/CO is always going to you for answers), and you have a specific niche. Less military workload also allows you more time to focus on doing things you enjoy, your personal life, and your academics/fitness.

Come Commissioning Day, regardless of one's level of midshipman royalty, you are just the new boot ENS/2ndLt with a lot to learn.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Mids put in for their choices of training activities and "billets" (leadership training opportunities) for selection.

My kid's perception of being in the Academy is that getting the "choice" billets is just like back in high school where the popular kids continue to get the best options. He basically knew ahead of selection which mids he figured would get to run Sea Trials for his company. He was pretty much right.
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Depends on the company and company officer/SEL on how this is done and how much they get involved. It can be a good lesson in building your reputation amongst your peers and subordinates. The popularity contest can be frustrating, but at the same time you'll run into problems if you become the officer no one sees or the one no one likes, regardless of what your department head or XO might think of your performance on paper.

The Navy will place high performers in some backwater billets at times. While disappointing, there is still a job that must be done, and the true high performers will succeed wherever they are planted.
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Mids put in for their choices of training activities and "billets" (leadership training opportunities) for selection.

My kid's perception of being in the Academy is that getting the "choice" billets is just like back in high school where the popular kids continue to get the best options. He basically knew ahead of selection which mids he figured would get to run Sea Trials for his company. He was pretty much right.
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Respectfully, that may be his perception, but it may not be reality. And also is kind of a slam to Mids who do work hard and are recognized and rewarded. There is more to it than only ‘schmoozing’ and being ‘popular’.

There is a reason for assignments beyond ‘popularity’. Hard work wins eventually, every time. There may also be elements your son isn’t aware of, at play. In the big picture.

There are tons of opportunities to lead and learn, over the summer. My oldest had a training that had a stigma attached (YP’s), as did my youngest (OTS-sailing). Both were highlights of their 4 yrs.
As with anything in life, opportunities are what you make of them. But imo it’s not a fair statement to say that billets are assigned only as a popularity contest. It may be what your Mid is telling you, but more than likely, there is more to the whole story.
 
Oh, I'm sure there is. So, sorry for portraying it that way. Just feeling his perspective
 
IronmanDaremo said:
Oh, I'm sure there is. So, sorry for portraying it that way. Just feeling his perspective
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It’s hard to hear no. For many Mids they have rarely or never been told no. There is a running joke in the military (I am sure you heard this in your time, just putting this out there for others), ‘The only way ‘it’ can hurt me is to roll up my fitness report and poke me on the eye with it.’ We know the military requires us to learn to develop thick skin. Some of these billets folks go after at USNA and active duty have barely any spots. So much of it is out of someone’s control. Keep going after things of interest and I am a believer the right things will work out and many lessons are learned along the way.
 
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NavyHoops said:
It’s hard to hear no. For many Mids they have rarely or never been told no. There is a running joke in the military (I am sure you heard this in your time, just putting this out there for others), ‘The only way ‘it’ can hurt me is to roll up my fitness report and poke me on the eye with it.’ We know the military requires us to learn to develop thick skin. Some of these billets folks go after at USNA and active duty have barely any spots. So much of it is out of someone’s control. Keep going after things of interest and I am a believer the right things will work out and many lessons are learned along the way.
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It’s actually a good life skill as well, for everyone. Military or not. People *in general* have to learn how to deal with, and manage, disappointment in healthy ways. Life is full of it!
 
DS just found out he got an internship this summer. Some kind of STEM research. He is looking forward to it. He also hopes that he can be a detailer this summer. Don't know if he has a company billet. He seems to think he can just show up to help with PT if he isn't given one? I don't know how this works.
 
There are always tons of things available I think. My kid is on the Dining Out committee in his company, and some other Brigade level thing that he is the representative for the 3/C for the company.

He is looking to see if he can get an internship at NGA as one of his details. Help him to get that higher level clearance thing working. ;)
 
Parent1stTimer said:
He seems to think he can just show up to help with PT if he isn't given one? I don't know how this works.
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PT is usually in-house within the company, run by 1/C and 2/C training staff. There shouldn't be a reason any other upperclassmen wouldn't be welcome to join or lead, and it's usually encouraged.

And yeah, great way to demonstrate leadership, even if it's building a quick 1 or 2-hour workout plan and executing it.
 
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