Hi everybody.
I've always been interested in submarine warfare and that's why I have applied to USNA this year. I was just wondering, what would be the ideal area to major in at the Academy (assuming I receive a OA of course)? I was thinking Systems Engineering, maybe Oceanography??? Any thoughts appreciated.
If you WANT submarines - boy are you going to the right school!
The best thing to get submarines is to major in ANYTHING other than a Group III major (i.e. English, History, Political Science) and do well in it. You don't have to great ... just "well."
Then, after having achieved that - you will end up in a submarine whether you like it or not.
I'm just kidding ... sort of. You are probably unaware that submarines has become increasingly less popular over the years and, consequently, there has been somewhat of a "submarine draft" going on. There are a significant number of midshipmen who are being "forced" to go into subs, even though it is not their first choice, because of three things converging ...
1) They Naval Academy has a quota, and
2) There are not enough midshipmen who have submarines as their first choice, and
3) Those selected generally have technical majors and have done well.
In my opinion, submarines have become less popular BECAUSE of the War on Terror. Most candidates to the service academies are relatively patriotic individuals who are willing (maybe even
eager) to participate in the conflict in some capacity. It is hard to imagine what role a submarine plays in the War on Terror.