I'm waiting to see the explanation of this year's branching system - from what I have seen, some high ranking cadets didn't get their top choice while cadets with worse class ranks got that same branch.
I think that was, in part, the goal - To spread the OML rankings more evenly throughout the services.
I read the related article. I think this is a terrible idea! The OML was a fair and honest method to determine branch and assignment. Did they have some data that showed that OML was bad? Doubtful. I was around 900 out of 1000 graduates. I got a Branch that I was okay with and did well. It would have been totally unfair for me to have gotten aviation ahead of a higher ranked cadet. It will take 4-5 years to see if the new system works? Really? Sounds like someone wanted bullets for their OER and really did not think this through. Also, we were forced to do a straw poll for Branch. This way people would put more realistic chooses on their Branch selection forms (made the numbers look better for the process also). I know ROTC does the 1/3 distribution. However, those people knew the rules going into the process and are not going head to head as easily as WP people.
Scout,
... I don't see how this system is any more fair, especially when a top-100 ranked engineering major doesn't get engineers (1st branch choice).
I know ROTC does the 1/3 distribution. However, those people knew the rules going into the process
and are not going head to head as easily as WP people.
The more interesting piece is that the new system attempts to match cadets' talents to branches. The testing that the article refers to, and the interview process would theoretically, for example, steer the introverted computer geek to a lab in Signal Corps and away from commanding an infantry platoon. But tough on those highly ranked who didn't get their choices.
When my son started ROTC 4.5 years ago, he knew that the branches would be distributed by OML (1/3rd rule) with a broken distribution based on how a cadet did in his third of the group. ROTC people come from a wide variety of colleges and the only common standard is LDAC.
Scout,
I don't have numbers to confirm this, but the OML does not seem to be striated by major. There is a healthy mix of engineers at the top and plenty of management majors in the comma club. I don't see how this system is any more fair, especially when a top-100 ranked engineering major doesn't get engineers (1st branch choice).
That's irrelevant. The issue is whether any one cadet has a better chance of getting the branch he wants if he chooses an easy major like EV or Dirt over a tough major like Aero or Juice. The answer is a resounding "yes" under the old system. Easy classes = easy grades = higher OML. My best friend had great GPA. He was a systems major. I was an econ major with a mech track. We both got the branches we wanted, but he didn't have to do near as much work. This new system, while imperfect, removes that gamesmanship component.
Regardless, basic branch will be the least of these cadets' concerns going forward.
What branch did this person get?
That's irrelevant. The issue is whether any one cadet has a better chance of getting the branch he wants if he chooses an easy major like EV or Dirt over a tough major like Aero or Juice. The answer is a resounding "yes" under the old system. Easy classes = easy grades = higher OML. My best friend had great GPA. He was a systems major. I was an econ major with a mech track. We both got the branches we wanted, but he didn't have to do near as much work. This new system, while imperfect, removes that gamesmanship component.
Regardless, basic branch will be the least of these cadets' concerns going forward.