Scrambled in 2019

[Navyboy17]

Hey all! Current plebe here. I hadn't seen anyone post on this yet, so I figured I would.

Our class of 2021 was recently informed that we will be scrambled after our youngster year. This is unlike last year, when the class of 2020 was scrambled following plebe year.

(PSA: scrambling moves a company's plebes AS A GROUP from one company to another. Shotgunning occurs when everyone is scattered to random companies)

The relative reaction from fellow plebes is that we like the idea of scrambling. However, scrambling after youngster year is a new concept to everyone currently attending the Academy and we are curious to see how it plays out.

Figured I could start some conversation on here about the past forms of shotgunning/scrambling and hear some of the past experiences with this!

 

[OldRetSWO]

shotgunning/scrambling comes and goes as the administration changes. Back when I was a plebe, our firsties had been scrambled between 2/c and 1/c year and this was the second time that their class had been scrambled so they actually were in three different companies during their time at USNA. I think that their first one was between plebe and youngster year. Contrasting with that, Classes of 76 through at least 80 (and I think 81) stayed all four years in the same company. I don't know when scrambling/shotgunning came back into vogue but I do know that my son (class of '11) stayed in the same company for all four years.

 

[NavyHoops]

I was shotgunned after Plebe Year. It actually happen sort of out of the blue and there were almost no rumors about it and then we got called into the wardroom and told, guess what! Honestly, I thought it worked out well for me. Now doing it after youngster year is a different story, but I still think there are lots of pros. You learn a lot during true process about yourself, people and leadership. You get to know more classmates, get exposure to other traditions and leadership and you learn from the change. Change is constant, especially in the military. It’s a great way to learn that lesson early. If you embrace it as an opportunity and become a leader amongst your peers in that, it’s a great way to help set the tone. Simple things like a bbq at a park, meet for coffee, grab a pizza when you get the new list of company mates will help forge those relationships and make it a positive experience. It sucks after two years of bonding, you are being split up, but you guys will adapt. Those bonds won’t disappear, just new ones will build.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

85 stayed together.. but seem to recall they started scrambling with one of our underclasses (maybe 87)

Change is constant, especially in the military.

^ This .... you can go crazy at USNA (and in the military) worrying about things you can't control. Embrace the suck, and make the most of the opportunities you get. I still miss the good stuff after all these years, and have forgotten the bad !

 

[ship_shape]

Agree it may suck...but much like the rest of the Navy, you are often scrambled in a way. You may be asked to move to a different part of the command to help the mission, you will consistently have new personnel as well as leaders transition to new commands and have constant changes from the new leadership. It's all a process and one that is constant and when changes like these happen you should embrace it and learn as much as you can from your new shipmates and leaders!

 

[BTCS/USN]

Get accustomed to constant change as long as your career in the military lasts. Duty stations and assignment changes are the one constant you can count on in the fleet. Nobody stays in one place with the same crew more than a few years tops.

 

[USNA2021_Dad]

So they are getting scrambled and moving as a group, if what I read is correct. As a comparison point, USAFA '88 was shotgunned after doolie year and can't say I liked it that much after the bonds so deeply formed...got used to it, like everything, but would have rather stayed with my closest friends longer.

 

[BTCS/USN]

So they are getting scrambled and moving as a group, if what I read is correct. As a comparison point, USAFA '88 was shotgunned after doolie year and can't say I liked it that much after the bonds so deeply formed...got used to it, like everything, but would have rather stayed with my closest friends longer.

Have a friend that I see every 4 or 5 years. We've been friends for going on 35-40 years now. Regardless of the periods we don't get together, when we do finally hook up we immediately go back to finishing each other's sentences, laugh at the same things without any comments between us and b%*÷h about the same things that bother us. Scrambled or shotgunned don't matter. They'll be amazed how much paths will cross later on down the road.