Good luck Firsties with Service Selection/Appt.

TBS Graduation for her class is 1/25. Still no word on assignment but school is Lejeune. Going to "Warrior Day"? Would like to fire some new stuff (50 is my choice) but I don't think wife is enthused about riding in AAV into the field in January with a helmet. Good luck to your daughter and have a great Christmas for you and yours.
 
Dolphins2012 said:
According to the USNA website's FAQs:
“What chance do I have of getting my first choice of service assignment?
It depends on what you are requesting, but over 90% of a typical graduating class will receive their first choice.”
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I don't want to seem like I'm one who thinks that the choices of a 22 year old should always previal (clearly I don't), but that figure of 90% is nonsense. Whoever wrote that either typo'd it, made it up, or misinterpreted something they'd read... not uncommon for a website. The figure quoted in the above post of 80% for "combined 1st + 2nd choice" seems much more plausible.

Speaking of which, life has a way of working out for high achievers, like those at the Academy. It is quite common for misconceptions, preconceptions to dominate a young person's thinking, due to lack of experience. How can a firstie really know whether they will, in actuality, like Marine Air, or Nuc Sub, or SWO more than the other options, without having served within those communities? A mid can be wrong about that, and probably at least a third of the time.

The Army has 16 basic branches open to newly minted 2LTs. The Lt. Colonel I know best started as Aviation and after 10 years switched to HR (Adjutant General). He likes HR much more in retrostpect, but it didn't sound appealing at all when he was choosing 18 years prior.
 
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dunninla,

One, you are confusing "liking" a community vs. selecting -- selecting a community, obviously, doesn't necessarily going to mean you like it and it could work both ways -- one who got their first choice or one who got their fourth choice.

Two, with your same logic -- how do we know a Cadet or MIDN (non-prior) will really "like" being in the military?

Whatever the statistic is, it is. Bottom line, if one isn't comfortable being in either service or selection available, then one needs to reconsider why they joined the Naval service. The number one reason should always be selfless service (to country, DON), meaning whatever one gets, though how unfamiliar, they will put forth their best effort and somewhat embrace their selection. Life isn't always fair and in the military it is common to be ordered to do things you wouldn't "like."

Also, there are always stories about how someone got their second or third choice, which they thought they were going to hate, but ended up loving it. My class saw MANY male MIDN get "drafted" (told) for subs...it wasn't what they had envisioned to do....however many of them carried on smartly and are progressing through their pipeline as if it was their first choice. In the Navy (I can't speak exactly for USMC), there are very seldom opportunities to transfer.

If one is concerned they might not get the Service Assignment they like, well then they need to reconsider what they signed up for.
 
If Hurricane see this, she might be able to provide an estimate. I'm pretty sure USNA will never release that statistic, though.
 
jadler03 -- I think we're in agreement. My point was that the 90% was way off, and that getting 2nd or 3rd choice isn't as bad as it might appear.

P.S. The sub draft was alive and well last year, and I assume this year as well. I spent some time chatting with one of those draftees at the Pointsettia Bowl last December (Navy v. San Diego St.) The $20k or $30k, or whatever bonus it was, can't remember now, was a help but I'll bet those drafted Nukies are doing just fine right now. Last year saw 132 (incl. 8 females) go into Subs out of the Academy, and 143 (4 female) out of NROTC. OCS produced about 135 (3 female), for a combined 410 (15 female).
 
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AF6872 said:
TBS Graduation for her class is 1/25. Still no word on assignment but school is Lejeune. Going to "Warrior Day"? Would like to fire some new stuff (50 is my choice) but I don't think wife is enthused about riding in AAV into the field in January with a helmet. Good luck to your daughter and have a great Christmas for you and yours.
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LOL My wife would love to fire off a 50 Cal. at Warrior Day! Saw the schedule, it's only about a 5 hour event starting at 07:30. We will be there!

Logistics School is at Lejeune starting in February then it's report to Pendelton in June.

Merry Christmas and best to your family as well
 
MIDNDAD:

Pendelton is great for you guys. Good luck and you will see her for a long time. TBS PDS is Paris Island. Not the first choice. First school is Lejeune. Tell your daughter to check out Emerald Isle for rental. On the beach and cheap during the winter period. With BAH should not be a problem and about 30 minutes from main gate.
 
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