Plebe MIADs

Thanks everyone! This raises a new question though. How is order of merit determined? Is there a formula like that for WCS?
 
USMA 2016,

The WCS (whole candidate score) is used to rank candidates in the admissions process and does not have any meaning after you are a Cadet. The WCS is based on all the input to WP and includes grades, teachers recomendations, SAT scores, fitness test, leadership positions, activities, written essays, etc. etc.

After you get in WP, everything depends on your class standing which is composed of your academic, military and physical fitness scores combined. I forget the exact weighting of these three but I think it is 60% academic and 20% each military and physical grades.

Many of your prividgles and opportunities at WP are influenced by your class standing.
 
Some top-ranked Cadets asked for Air Assault or OPFOR but they were the exceptions

While the cadets tend to do it, it would be a mistake to make class rank assumptions based on MIAD.

Due to injuries, separations, and unexpected STAP, slots free up in ABN and AASLT. These are normally given to OPFOR. The don't appear to move as many between the other schools late in the process.

We also know very high ranked cadets who chose AAS by choice, some to help make a branch/major decision, others based on the odds of getting one or the other school based on branch post graduation. (A couple in the 3-5% low double digit range range). Some TAC & NCO's coach their cadets on this.

There are also other options for plebes like combatives, which some cadets took out of interest even though their rank could have gotten them in ABN/AASLT. Those and AIADS are easier to do while at USMA. One option that went away this year was mounted training.

So there are different strategies, even though many cadets try to get what they perceive is the most huah. What's funny is that washout/recycle rates are higher for AAS than ABN, and most double stacks I know indicate it's the harder school.

But its up to the cadet and TAC NCO to sort, it's one of the few areas you get to express preference.

BTW, Cadet Award Score is 55% academic now. 30% mil, and 15% physical. (or 35/10) And they fit each subscore using std deviation. Don't know when the year end scores will be announced. But I know of cadets checking email to see.
 
I do not disagree with West Point Hawk but I stand by my post. Of course, as I mentioned, many top ranked Cadets requested Air Assault or OPFOR for a number of different reasons. However, in general, the top tier went to airborne- if you were not in the top 400 or so Cadets in class rank you did not get airborne (maybe there were a few exceptions).

I would personally recommend Airborne school. It is DIFFICULT to get airborne school after graduation unless you are going to an organization that requires airborne or went Infantry. Air Assault is realtively easier to get later.

The opinions of the TACs and Tac NCO's at West Point vary greatly based on their backgrounds and experiences. An airborne officer with 82nd Airborne experience probably holds airborne in much higher esteem than an Armor non-airborne officer. A 101st Air Assault officer probably hold Air Assault in higher esteem than an airborne qualified officer etc. etc. This is a debatable statement, but in my many years in the Army Airborne was held in higher esteem than Air Assault.

A story from an "old soldier". In the early 1960,s there were two Airborne Divisions - the 82nd and the 101st. I was in both divisions during my career. Later the 101st lost their airborne status and were changed to an Air Assault Division. This was a MAJOR trama for the paratroopers in the 101st and resulted in a big loss of morale (I was there). The Army in response invented the Air Assault Badge for legitimate reasons but also to have a badge that would make-up for the loss of airborne status. I am not saying that there is anything phoney about the Air Assault Badge or putting down people that have the badge (I proudly have both). Just giving you the history.

All of the options are good and provide great experience and training. Each Cadet should seek the training that they want. For those that did not get their first choice they should just "soldier on". That is the way the Army works. Over the long-term it probably does not matter which activity you got as long as you work hard and learn.
 
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Some perspective from the active Army:

1. Air assault is physically tougher than airborne, but doesn't qualify you to do anything really (except go to Pathfinder if you're in the 101st).

2. Airborne is physically easier than air assault, but actually gives you a usable skill that can open up more billets. There's a hell of a lot more esprit de corps in being a paratrooper than being air assault qualified.

3. This Army has been at war for 10 years, and with the notable exception of an infantry LT's credibility riding largely on his Ranger tab, no one gives a damn what schools you've attended. For the last 6 years, no one has really even bothered to wear their badges thanks to ACUs.
 
ScoutPilot
Believe me - these badges DO make a difference on Promotion Boards to help "break ties" and discriminate between officers with almost equal reconds. An officer with the Airborne Badge and Ranger tab stand-out -especialy for combat arms officers.
 
ScoutPilot
Believe me - these badges DO make a difference on Promotion Boards to help "break ties" and discriminate between officers with almost equal reconds. An officer with the Airborne Badge and Ranger tab stand-out -especialy for combat arms officers.

Maybe that'll come back (they say it will but who knows), but with a 108% total promotion rate to major and a 100% rate (84% PZ) to LTC, not much has mattered. My point was more that whatever MIAD they get as a cadet in their first summer is not a big deal. They'll have plenty of time to manage their careers well and seek other opportunities.

You made a valid point though. Again, the real exception to the "schools aren't a big deal" mantra is the Ranger Tab.
 
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Heck,
I would recommend Airborne while an officer. Better experience. No mopping the barracks.

Air Assault is tough either way, just get it done as a Cadet. Fewer opportunities after school.

In my day (last decade) a combat arms officer can get an Airborne slot out of their Basic or Advanced Courses pretty easily.

Of course, just my opinions.
 
Scoutpilot,

I fully agree with your posts. You clearly know what you are talking about.

Over the years I have seen promotion rates be very high and very low - based on what is happening. For the past few years we have been fighting two wars so the rates have been historically high.

Now that we are out of Iraq - winding down in Afghanistan- reducing the size of the Army - you will see these rates get MUCH lower. Of course, the primary factor on promotion boards is performance of duty (especially in a combat zone) but other factors like;
Official Photograph
Badges
Schools
will emerge again as "tie breakers".
 
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