Just FYI...a gentleman I met in Baltimore this last summer had a Naval Academy grad son who was in Flight Training at Pensacola. They called his entire group in one day and said "Adiós". Cutting back....his USNA grad status did not help him at all. He is now "out" of the service...they separated all of them...no choice give...waived his academy commitment years and bid them all well. Guy is trying hard to re-up in any service that will send him to pilot training including the Coast Guard. No luck yet. So, service academy grads, may or may not, fare better in any RIFs.
Also...acoording to "dad", the young ensign was doing great with his training...no problems at all, so was not a case of "not doing well"...whole group was "cut" not just this ensign.
So, yes, indeed...academic major and academic work while at any SA is VERY important.
I have heard the same for some in the Air Force, though in that instance they asked for volunteers, they made no distiction between AFA or AFROTC grads.
I have no reason to doubt what you say, it does seem odd though that they would release an entire Group at Flight School and then continue to bring in new flight students for following classes.
I have not heard of this happening in the Army as of yet.
I would have to agree with you the a SA grad will probably not be considered safe in a RIF, at least for the Army, since all commissioned officers through both WP and AROTC by law are Regular Army.