Smaller Numbers accepted

Vista123

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Aug 5, 2011
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Someone on here posted that the USMA was soon going to be taking smaller classes. Does anyone know the specifics of this?
 
I received a somewhat lengthy email from admissions.fw@usma.edu on 1 August that was essentially an update on everything. It basically stated that the Class of 2016's target will be 1,200 cadets. roughly 50 less from years past. Other updates included that LOA file considerations will begin on 1 September. There will be less LOAs this year. Everyone should have received a letter by DoDMERB by now, if not contact West Point directly. And finally, a warning to all: "If you do not work on your file between now and November 1st, we will close it." So, get your files completed!!!

Back on the smaller class size topic, I don't for sure know why they decided to make 2016 smaller. I doubt it has to do with the nation's debt issue, since cuts to defense spending will not happen unless the new bipartisan committee cannot come up with enough money by November.

Maybe West Point wanted to make our lives a little more stressful? I love it though!
 
It basically stated that the Class of 2016's target will be 1,200 cadets. roughly 50 less from years past.

Sorry to hear that but I'd encourage you to count your blessings. It could be much worse. The Air Force Academy has a target number of only 1,050 down from 1150 last year and around 1300 in years in the past. Word is that it was mandated that they get the cadet wing down to below 4,400 so for the next two years, the target number will be 1,050.
 
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Back on the smaller class size topic, I don't for sure know why they decided to make 2016 smaller. I doubt it has to do with the nation's debt issue, since cuts to defense spending will not happen unless the new bipartisan committee cannot come up with enough money by November.

Don't know for sure, but my guess is it has to do with the Army strength. The temproary increase (50K?) is disappearing within next few years, which means the Army will need less 2LTs. So someone very smart figured out West Point needs to accept 50 less cadets to produce required number of 2LTs from West Point in 2016.
 
Don't know for sure, but my guess is it has to do with the Army strength. The temproary increase (50K?) is disappearing within next few years, which means the Army will need less 2LTs. So someone very smart figured out West Point needs to accept 50 less cadets to produce required number of 2LTs from West Point in 2016.

That does make sense. I guess more people are considering staying in the military longer anyway because of job security, benefits, etc. Good for them... but it all trickles down to the academies.

And good point Blackbird. USAFA looks like they're getting hit hard. Yikes! :unhappy:
 
The Corps of Cadets is limited to 4,400 per Title 10 US Code.
The Corps has been over that number.

In the past, WP would bring in a class of about 1300 with the goal to graduate 1000. They could usually count on an apprx. 81% accept rate on the front end and through attrition they would graduate around 1000 each year.

Things changed with the 2014 class. The acceptance rate went up to 87% and because they were very aggressive with LOAs that year, the class size went in at 1375, 75 more than typically the norm.
Within the Corps, there has also been less attrition including lower CBT attrition.
More came in - less leaving.
Therefore, WP is making a concerted effort to bring the Corps back down to size.
Starting with the 2015 class, less LOAs were issued and less appts given.
The following classes will continue to be reduced until the Corps is back to the authorized strength of 4400 as mandated by Congress.

The 'over Corps size' has affected other areas.
There is some overcrowding with many 2 man rooms becoming 3 man rooms.
Within the Leadership Development area - the fluctuating class sizes have caused some issues too.
For example, Yearlings are team leaders to the Plebes. A Yuk per Plebe. But, the 2013 class has fewer cadets than the 2014 class. More Plebes than Yuks so some Yuks had 2 Plebes and conversely, some Plebes had to share a Yuk.

This coming year, the opposite will happen. These Plebes -now Yuks -number more than the incoming Plebes (2015). I don't know how that will be handled but could be that some Yuks won't get the opportunity to be a team leader.
I'm sure there have been other issues 'with over Corps strength' and lopsided classes. Maybe a current cadet can comment on that.
 
the corps of cadets is limited to 4,400 per title 10 us code.
The corps has been over that number.

In the past, wp would bring in a class of about 1300 with the goal to graduate 1000. They could usually count on an apprx. 81% accept rate on the front end and through attrition they would graduate around 1000 each year.

Things changed with the 2014 class. The acceptance rate went up to 87% and because they were very aggressive with loas that year, the class size went in at 1375, 75 more than typically the norm.
within the corps, there has also been less attrition including lower cbt attrition.
more came in - less leaving.
Therefore, wp is making a concerted effort to bring the corps back down to size.
Starting with the 2015 class, less loas were issued and less appts given.
The following classes will continue to be reduced until the corps is back to the authorized strength of 4400 as mandated by congress.

The 'over corps size' has affected other areas.
There is some overcrowding with many 2 man rooms becoming 3 man rooms.
Within the leadership development area - the fluctuating class sizes have caused some issues too.
For example, yearlings are team leaders to the plebes. A yuk per plebe. But, the 2013 class has fewer cadets than the 2014 class. More plebes than yuks so some yuks had 2 plebes and conversely, some plebes had to share a yuk.

This coming year, the opposite will happen. These plebes -now yuks -number more than the incoming plebes (2015). I don't know how that will be handled but could be that some yuks won't get the opportunity to be a team leader.
I'm sure there have been other issues 'with over corps strength' and lopsided classes. Maybe a current cadet can comment on that.

the corps has!!!!
 
Maybe a current cadet can comment on that.

For my class specifically (2014) there will be some of us that don't get Plebes. In my company there are 36 Yuks and 33 incoming Plebes. So three of us won't get one.

I don't know what our company is going to do with those who don't get Plebes, but other companies have made junior NCO positions, like Assistant Supply NCO, Assistant Spirit NCO, etc.

Also, I hear some companies are considering having two team leaders per Plebe, but that probably won't happen.

To be honest, I don't think it will be a problem for too much longer.
 
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