Probably, why?
Citadel question
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Probably, why?
Citadel Questions by JCT 95
Hi - I am a grad of The Citadel and do volunteer recruiting in the mid-atlantic. I can answer a few of your questions.
As for grades for 4th Classmen - don't listen to "old grads" war stories. If you are well qualified in math, English and science courses, you will do well. The average GPA for the 4th Class over the last decade is around 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Each Knob is assigned both a professor in his/her major to monitor grades and provide help as well as a Cadet Senior to monitor and help the first year Cadet do well. There is a lot of emphasis on grades and assistance for first year Cadets. The Citadel has won national awards for its first year help for students. Apply yourself - you will get good grades.
As for transfer to WP or Naval Academy - some Cadets do this. But once you are at The Citadel chances are you will want to stay with your classmates. There are 3 and 2 year scholarships available based on qualifications for Army. I believe also for Marines. Navy and Air Force are commissioning fewer second Lts - so need to check with the PNS and PAS at the college - call them.
As for Special Operations assignments. I have only known of one NROTC grad to be assigned a SEAL slot right out of The Citadel. Typically you enter and then apply. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force assignments are all based on grades and your performance at summer cruises and encampments. For This year below you can see what The Citadel NROTC unit was able to do for its graduates seeking combat assignments:
NROTC students receive prestigious Navy assignments
UNIT HAS NATION'S NO. 2 SWO SELECTION
The Citadel's Naval ROTC unit is once again making a name for itself on a national level.
OC Landon Stultz
This year 18 midshipmen and officer candidates who will graduate in May were selected to receive competitive Surface Warfare Officer assignments. One is ranked the No. 2 pick in the country with another three selectees in the top 10.
Throughout all NROTC units nationally, there are 299 Surface Warfare Officer assignments available for graduating seniors. No other school but The Citadel has more than one selection in the top 10. The Citadel has eight SWO selectees in the top 25 percent and five in the top 10 percent of the nation.
Marine Col. Tom Clark, commanding officer of the NROTC Unit, is extremely proud of the outstanding achievement of the SWO selectees.
"These midshipmen and officer candidates have worked very hard. I am confident that they will go on to do great things in the Navy as they continue to excel," he said.
Midshipmen (all cadets) and Officer Candidates (all active duty military) are ranked by order of merit against their peers nationally. It is a competitive process taking into account student's GPAs, physical fitness scores and peer evaluations. It is known as the defining factor in which future officers will begin their military careers.
Officer Candidate Landon Stultz was the No. 2 overall selection in the nation. Alexander Goodwin and Clarese Neill were also in the top 10.
Stultz, Goodwin and Neill are all enrolled in the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program for enlisted sailors. STA-21 is one of two programs at The Citadel that gives enlisted sailors and Marines the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree and an officer's commission. All active duty servicemen and women attend class alongside the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Approximately 52 active duty military personnel are currently enrolled at The Citadel.
In addition to receiving highly regarded Surface Warfare Officer assignments, all graduating Citadel students received their first or second choice of duty ships shown below:
OC Landon Stultz- USS Chosin (CG 65)
OC Alexander Goodwin- USS Somerset (LPD 25)
OC Clarese Neill USS Chaffe (DDG 90)
OC Sammy Amalla- USS Arlington (LPD 24)
OC Matthew DeLaVega- USS Sterett (DDG 104)
OC Ryan Trenk- USS Carney (DDG 64)
OC Sebastian Delos Santos- USS Boxer (LHD 4)
Cadet Dimitri Paspalaris- USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93)
OC Derrick Prescott- USS Boxer (LHD 4)
OC Joshua Neeper- USS Somerset (LPD 25)
Cadet Matthew Neal- USS Port Royal (CG 73)
Cadet John Holl- MCM Crew Swerve
Cadet Zachary Northcutt- USS Princeton (CG 59)
Cadet James Isham- USS Tortuga (LSD 46)
Cadet Michael Singer- USS Gary (FFG 51)
Cadet John Cowart- USS Normandy (CG 60)
Cadet Ashley Sparks- USS Germantown (LSD 42)
Cadet Thomas George- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
Hi - I am a grad of The Citadel and do volunteer recruiting in the mid-atlantic. I can answer a few of your questions.
As for grades for 4th Classmen - don't listen to "old grads" war stories. If you are well qualified in math, English and science courses, you will do well. The average GPA for the 4th Class over the last decade is around 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. Each Knob is assigned both a professor in his/her major to monitor grades and provide help as well as a Cadet Senior to monitor and help the first year Cadet do well. There is a lot of emphasis on grades and assistance for first year Cadets. The Citadel has won national awards for its first year help for students. Apply yourself - you will get good grades.
As for transfer to WP or Naval Academy - some Cadets do this. But once you are at The Citadel chances are you will want to stay with your classmates. There are 3 and 2 year scholarships available based on qualifications for Army. I believe also for Marines. Navy and Air Force are commissioning fewer second Lts - so need to check with the PNS and PAS at the college - call them.
As for Special Operations assignments. I have only known of one NROTC grad to be assigned a SEAL slot right out of The Citadel. Typically you enter and then apply. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force assignments are all based on grades and your performance at summer cruises and encampments. For This year below you can see what The Citadel NROTC unit was able to do for its graduates seeking combat assignments:
NROTC students receive prestigious Navy assignments
UNIT HAS NATION'S NO. 2 SWO SELECTION
The Citadel's Naval ROTC unit is once again making a name for itself on a national level.
OC Landon Stultz
This year 18 midshipmen and officer candidates who will graduate in May were selected to receive competitive Surface Warfare Officer assignments. One is ranked the No. 2 pick in the country with another three selectees in the top 10.
Throughout all NROTC units nationally, there are 299 Surface Warfare Officer assignments available for graduating seniors. No other school but The Citadel has more than one selection in the top 10. The Citadel has eight SWO selectees in the top 25 percent and five in the top 10 percent of the nation.
Marine Col. Tom Clark, commanding officer of the NROTC Unit, is extremely proud of the outstanding achievement of the SWO selectees.
"These midshipmen and officer candidates have worked very hard. I am confident that they will go on to do great things in the Navy as they continue to excel," he said.
Midshipmen (all cadets) and Officer Candidates (all active duty military) are ranked by order of merit against their peers nationally. It is a competitive process taking into account student's GPAs, physical fitness scores and peer evaluations. It is known as the defining factor in which future officers will begin their military careers.
Officer Candidate Landon Stultz was the No. 2 overall selection in the nation. Alexander Goodwin and Clarese Neill were also in the top 10.
Stultz, Goodwin and Neill are all enrolled in the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program for enlisted sailors. STA-21 is one of two programs at The Citadel that gives enlisted sailors and Marines the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree and an officer's commission. All active duty servicemen and women attend class alongside the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Approximately 52 active duty military personnel are currently enrolled at The Citadel.
In addition to receiving highly regarded Surface Warfare Officer assignments, all graduating Citadel students received their first or second choice of duty ships shown below:
OC Landon Stultz- USS Chosin (CG 65)
OC Alexander Goodwin- USS Somerset (LPD 25)
OC Clarese Neill USS Chaffe (DDG 90)
OC Sammy Amalla- USS Arlington (LPD 24)
OC Matthew DeLaVega- USS Sterett (DDG 104)
OC Ryan Trenk- USS Carney (DDG 64)
OC Sebastian Delos Santos- USS Boxer (LHD 4)
Cadet Dimitri Paspalaris- USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93)
OC Derrick Prescott- USS Boxer (LHD 4)
OC Joshua Neeper- USS Somerset (LPD 25)
Cadet Matthew Neal- USS Port Royal (CG 73)
Cadet John Holl- MCM Crew Swerve
Cadet Zachary Northcutt- USS Princeton (CG 59)
Cadet James Isham- USS Tortuga (LSD 46)
Cadet Michael Singer- USS Gary (FFG 51)
Cadet John Cowart- USS Normandy (CG 60)
Cadet Ashley Sparks- USS Germantown (LSD 42)
Cadet Thomas George- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7)
With all due respect, I have absolutely no interest in being a SWO. I certainly respect what they do, and appreciate their service...but that's not for me. In regards to the SEAL Officer route, there is a specific path that someone has to take - but just to clarify, and this goes for any grad, how many of your classmates have gotten SpecWar Billets?
Glen, I'm surprised that you know of only 1 cadet that has gotten a SpecWar billet.
Thanks.
Glen, I'm surprised that you know of only 1 cadet that has gotten a SpecWar billet.
Thanks.
SuaSponte
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I know of 2 grads in last 6 years who made it through SEAL training, we have a retired Navy grad who is a former Commander of ST6. The commissioning rate varies from year to year but typically is about 40-42%, most officers produced of all colleges with ROTC.
Afraid FullMetalBulldog is wrong on some counts; 'relaxed West Point' is dead wrong, even those at the FSAs agree that The Citadel and VMI have tougher plebe systems than any other military schools, I am retired Army and can tell you most emphatically that is does matter where you went to school if you are in the military; again The Citadel and VMI are very highly regarded for being tough schools that produce large numbers of highly successful officers and more flag officers than any other schools aside from the academies.
If you want to play military and still enjoy the good life of a civilian university go to TAMU, Norwich or VATech; if you want the real deal go to The Citadel
Afraid FullMetalBulldog is wrong on some counts; 'relaxed West Point' is dead wrong, even those at the FSAs agree that The Citadel and VMI have tougher plebe systems than any other military schools, I am retired Army and can tell you most emphatically that is does matter where you went to school if you are in the military; again The Citadel and VMI are very highly regarded for being tough schools that produce large numbers of highly successful officers and more flag officers than any other schools aside from the academies.
If you want to play military and still enjoy the good life of a civilian university go to TAMU, Norwich or VATech; if you want the real deal go to The Citadel
Full Metal Bulldog
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Buisness is an easier major, Engineering is harder. Lot of math in both so.....Not my thing
During knob year, you usually go to bed between 0000 and 0200. You wake up around 0630.
That happens alot actually, and it's all due to transfer credit. I actually have the ability to graduate a year early, but I'm choosing not to: I'd rather have 4 easy academic years than 3 more challenging ones, plus I'd want the extra year of ROTC.
I have no idea to be honest.
The food is contracted by Aramark, so it's.....not very good, but edible. Take vitamins.
You brace all of the time. It is the knob's position of attention.
You'd spend time with her on the weekend's in town. That's about it. Wouldn't you rather get a sweetheart back home that you can exchange sweet letters with?
Anytime, and I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
PS: you can have laptops, ipads, etc, and use them whenever you want.
Bob, I meant no disrespect.....I promise Knob year is the real deal.....but by "More Relaxed West Point"....I was more referring to the post-Recognition culture, something a long way from the OP for sure....but one of my classmates is a former USMA cadet, and I know a few people at USMA....basically, I mean to say that after 4th-classness is done, I would say the culture and attitude is more relaxed and less "serious", mostly from what I hear is just that you have alot more free time here than at the federal academies. Till those bagpipes play though, you're just dreaming of those days.
Full Metal Bulldog
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It's not commonplace, but not unheard of, I know of about 3 upperclassmen doing it, and about 1 or 2 knobs thinking about it.
I don't think so, at least 2 of the upperclassmen I know doing it are contracted military cadets, and when I recieved my scholarship, the Army department said they'd be willing to work with me if I wanted to graduate early.
I did not, I matriculated with about 40 credit hours from AP credit in high school.
I don't think so, at least 2 of the upperclassmen I know doing it are contracted military cadets, and when I recieved my scholarship, the Army department said they'd be willing to work with me if I wanted to graduate early.
I did not, I matriculated with about 40 credit hours from AP credit in high school.
JCT95: wrote-
If you seriously wish to become a SEAL - your best chance is to be selected for the Navy's Surface Warfare slots. These are the combat slots and the ones likely to earn you a chance at being selected.
A Knob wrote that he thinks the average class GPA is only 2.4. This is not true - more like 2.7 - check out the web site - look for class profiles.
"I'm surprised that you know of only 1 cadet that has gotten a SpecWar billet."
Actually - what I wrote was I only know of 1 graduating Senior in the NROTC program in the last decade. Bob mentioned two. Many enter the SEAL program after they are on active duty. As Bob mentioned, a Citadel grad (Flag Officer rand) was recently the Commanding Officer of the SEALS. As for Army, Air Force, special operations types - someone else mentioned that you need to enter service and be selected.
As for the comment from Suasponte that TAMU has several selected to go to SEAL training as graduates of that school's NROTC unit - I find this highly suspect - proof sir?
If you seriously wish to become a SEAL - your best chance is to be selected for the Navy's Surface Warfare slots. These are the combat slots and the ones likely to earn you a chance at being selected.
A Knob wrote that he thinks the average class GPA is only 2.4. This is not true - more like 2.7 - check out the web site - look for class profiles.
"I'm surprised that you know of only 1 cadet that has gotten a SpecWar billet."
Actually - what I wrote was I only know of 1 graduating Senior in the NROTC program in the last decade. Bob mentioned two. Many enter the SEAL program after they are on active duty. As Bob mentioned, a Citadel grad (Flag Officer rand) was recently the Commanding Officer of the SEALS. As for Army, Air Force, special operations types - someone else mentioned that you need to enter service and be selected.
As for the comment from Suasponte that TAMU has several selected to go to SEAL training as graduates of that school's NROTC unit - I find this highly suspect - proof sir?
Full Metal Bulldog
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That's about right.
SuaSponte
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Just talking to some guys in the SEAL training program there, some years they had 8 guys go to BUD/S, some years they had 1. Can't offer any concrete info though, sorry.
With all due respect, your info is a tad off. A SpecWar billet is a combat slot. or at least in this day and age. There arent many Naval battles going on today. getting back to task, You are supposed to put in for a SpecWar package prior to your junior year, you'll go the USNA for Mini-BUD/s, should you succeed then you will attend the USNA's BUD/s prep cruise that summer. Upon completion, you'll attend a board of SEAL officers/senior enlisted. Then and only then will you get a SpecWar Billet, obviously GPA, PST scores, and foreign languages are taken into consideration.
I have a question, and please be brutally honest, is a Citadel degree valued within the Military? It may not be up to up to par with USMA/USNA - but is it appreciated?
Another question, is there a drug problem there? (Please say no)
And a very stupid question, when does the year start and when does it end? And when is recognition day typically? And for recently recognized Knobs, would you define this past year as being "long" or has it kinda' flown by?
And have there been Cadets who have transferred into West Point? (Someone mentioned a program earlier) How hard is that? And when do they typically transfer - sophomore year/Junior year? Any help is appreciated, and I kind of need the answers ASAP.
Another question, is there a drug problem there? (Please say no)
And a very stupid question, when does the year start and when does it end? And when is recognition day typically? And for recently recognized Knobs, would you define this past year as being "long" or has it kinda' flown by?
And have there been Cadets who have transferred into West Point? (Someone mentioned a program earlier) How hard is that? And when do they typically transfer - sophomore year/Junior year? Any help is appreciated, and I kind of need the answers ASAP.
Full Metal Bulldog
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A Citadel degree is very highly looked upon in the military. It's barely a tier below the FSA's.
It's a college, there's bound to be drug problems if you look for them, just don't look for them.
School begins late August and ends late April. Recognition day is usually Mid-April. And that's a surprise.
Some do transfer, I wouldn't say it's hard per se: you just apply and hope like everyone else. Most that do do it after knob year, it's not exactly bright to do so after 3 years of college and ROTC just to repeat it all again, to me doing it after just 1 year is kind of unnecessary.
It's not impossible, that's when most people that do do it do the application.
It's a college, there's bound to be drug problems if you look for them, just don't look for them.
School begins late August and ends late April. Recognition day is usually Mid-April. And that's a surprise.
Some do transfer, I wouldn't say it's hard per se: you just apply and hope like everyone else. Most that do do it after knob year, it's not exactly bright to do so after 3 years of college and ROTC just to repeat it all again, to me doing it after just 1 year is kind of unnecessary.
It's not impossible, that's when most people that do do it do the application.
What do you mean by that? Do people actually transfer after 3 years?
Just wondering. I've recently decided that I am going to be going to The Citadel.