2019 Class Numbers
- Thread starter x1630s
- Start date
swotivated
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2015
- Messages
- 3
Do you know why attrition is expected to be lower for 2019? Interesting information.
V/r
V/r
2018midmom
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2013
- Messages
- 300
Attrition has been on a downward trend for several years. Theories include: better info about what it means to accept an appointment (you tube, social media, etc), the selection process as a whole, changes in plebe "training," and on. It's really hard to pin down an exact reason.
nodiva
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2014
- Messages
- 152
Does this mean that over the 4 years at USNA the class of 2015 has lost a total of 12%--over 140 kids?
I can't speak to total numbers of attrition beyond what was quoted to me at an USNA meeting last week. The percentage was given, not the total number or how it was compiled. 2018midmom is spot on as to why these numbers are low and getting lower. Better screening of applicants, social media along with the high prestige factor of the service academy, all contribute to the "Why". The old saying of "look left and now look right, one of the plebes standing next to you will be gone in four years" does not hold true anymore. Getting the nomination and appointment are very difficult, some would say even more competitive now. My hat and respect is for all those young men and women who even attempt this process. God bless them all.
'9' was in reference to Plebe summer, not graduation.
GoNavyPro
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2014
- Messages
- 93
Take this as you will:
For class of '17 AND in my company, 5 of my classmates dropped out during plebe summer and one dropped out during the AC year.
For the Class of '18 and in my company, no one dropped out Plebe Summer, but 6 have dropped during the AC year and I've seen similar patterns throughout the Brigade.
Some might say this is due to recent changes of how Plebe Summer is allowed to be ran by detailers. Whether this is the case or not, I do not know and I am not here to debate that. What I am saying is that 4 years at the academy alone will test if you should make it as an officer rather than Plebe Summer alone. To speculate what attrition rates will be for future classes, in my opinion, is unreasonable and unpredictable, because no matter how selective the selection board will be for future classes, even if on paper it's the best class yet, you'll never know how a person will react to all the variables of stress, camaraderie, honor, responsibilities, etc. until they actually go through 4 years here.
Like I said, take this as you will. I'm only a 3/C here and I can say there are people in every class, including my own, who I look at wondering "How did they get into this place?" and people who make myself wonder "How did I get into this place?" Though more times than not, the academy will sort out those who belong from those who don't.
For class of '17 AND in my company, 5 of my classmates dropped out during plebe summer and one dropped out during the AC year.
For the Class of '18 and in my company, no one dropped out Plebe Summer, but 6 have dropped during the AC year and I've seen similar patterns throughout the Brigade.
Some might say this is due to recent changes of how Plebe Summer is allowed to be ran by detailers. Whether this is the case or not, I do not know and I am not here to debate that. What I am saying is that 4 years at the academy alone will test if you should make it as an officer rather than Plebe Summer alone. To speculate what attrition rates will be for future classes, in my opinion, is unreasonable and unpredictable, because no matter how selective the selection board will be for future classes, even if on paper it's the best class yet, you'll never know how a person will react to all the variables of stress, camaraderie, honor, responsibilities, etc. until they actually go through 4 years here.
Like I said, take this as you will. I'm only a 3/C here and I can say there are people in every class, including my own, who I look at wondering "How did they get into this place?" and people who make myself wonder "How did I get into this place?" Though more times than not, the academy will sort out those who belong from those who don't.
Last edited:
I get that. I think we lost closer to 50 Plebe Summer. Believe it or not didn't lose any Plebe Summer and none Plebe Year. We had a Plebe who finished the year and then resigned, but that was as close as it got.
GoNavyPro you are so right on the last paragraph. More often than not I was always wondering "How did I get into this place?" and every once in awhile I would get the "How the hell did they get in here?" I saw many more leave or told to leave in the later years. The class a year ahead of mine in my company had so few Firsties I was actually a squad leader as a 2/C. I think they graduated 28 total. I think the amount of information available to applicants has helped reduce attrition. Allows applicants better access to BGOs, what goes on at USNA and what its about, and also access to other applicants and current Mids through different events.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2007
- Messages
- 199
The phrase "Attrition is the mission" no longer applies today as it did back in the day. But I don't know how they could estimate attrition could be lower for a given class size