Class of 2020 Shotgunned
- Thread starter MiddyB
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It's been a long time since that particular pendulum has swung. I think the last time was mid-90's. I wonder which variation: (a) all plebes from one company swap as a group with another company's plebes, or, (b) "the blast," when plebes are broken out of companies and scattered across the Brigade. B is harder, as some tweaking has to go on to ensure even spread of varsity athletes, prior enlisted, other discrete groupings. B is also more challenging because of complete roommate shuffle.
There are pro's and cons to both ways. An early lesson in, "I don't have control over this, so no sense in spending any energy on worrying about it."
There are pro's and cons to both ways. An early lesson in, "I don't have control over this, so no sense in spending any energy on worrying about it."
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One of the usual positives cited is that a "dirtbag" (Fleet term, self-explanatory) plebe/future youngster will get a chance at a fresh start in a new company, and that his/her detailers from the summer, and old company chain of command, won't poison the air for that youngster with new company upperclass. Some plebes are so legendarily bad, their reputation will no doubt precede them.
It also challenges leadership skills for the upperclass in the destination company, same as if they had just reported to a new duty station, and had to learn and evaluate all their new crew members.
For the future youngsters of '20, it's the sheer delight of learning even more new names, but theoretically, with a fresh start.
Everyone will have opinions on this. Classic military way to change things for X reasons, and change them back for Y reasons, then back again years later, for X.1 reasons. A lesson in itself.
Time for a "cheery aye-aye!"
Edit: My DH was shotgun/blasted out of 24th to 6th. He has lifelong friends in both companies. Like Hoops just said, it ended up better for him, as the captain of his varsity team was in his new company. He still has his 24th Company mug (I won't reveal what 20th c. vintage), with the company motto at that time: "Illegita non carborundum." Our sponsor mids use that mug every chance they get.
It also challenges leadership skills for the upperclass in the destination company, same as if they had just reported to a new duty station, and had to learn and evaluate all their new crew members.
For the future youngsters of '20, it's the sheer delight of learning even more new names, but theoretically, with a fresh start.
Everyone will have opinions on this. Classic military way to change things for X reasons, and change them back for Y reasons, then back again years later, for X.1 reasons. A lesson in itself.
Time for a "cheery aye-aye!"
Edit: My DH was shotgun/blasted out of 24th to 6th. He has lifelong friends in both companies. Like Hoops just said, it ended up better for him, as the captain of his varsity team was in his new company. He still has his 24th Company mug (I won't reveal what 20th c. vintage), with the company motto at that time: "Illegita non carborundum." Our sponsor mids use that mug every chance they get.
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I was shot gunned after Plebe Year. It honestly was a wonderful thing for me. I happened to be Shotgunned to a company and class of females I enjoyed so much more and therefore room assignments were much better. My old company despised varsity athletes no matter how well they performed. And my best friend and I randomly ended up in the same company!
I got to meet so many other people, yet still have those plebe year connections. It has it's pros and cons, but like most things in life... It's what you make of it.
I got to meet so many other people, yet still have those plebe year connections. It has it's pros and cons, but like most things in life... It's what you make of it.
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murfthesurf
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Hoops, do you recall why they did it to your Class? Did the next Class get it as well or was it a one-off?
I recall reading the Yak that Shotgunning was going to be done to 2019 this year, for sure.....due to some antics ..
I recall reading the Yak that Shotgunning was going to be done to 2019 this year, for sure.....due to some antics ..
GoNavy2020
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Are there any more details about this? Where/when/how was it announced? Have never heard this term, so was trying to figure out exactly how it works??
I know this rumor seems to pop up every year, and it's always preceded with "confirmed: the dant said this". Frankly, I don't think it matters that much. I don't know why the kids get so upset. It's how life works. You're gonna get shuffled in the fleet too, so just quit whining. If it doesn't happen, oh well. If it does, oh well. If that's the biggest tragedy of your young life, you're doing really well.
So, USNA doesn't have cadets. They are midshipmen.
And at least for more than the last few years this practice of shotgunning has not happened. I think if it were to happen, end of Plebe summer would be the logical time-before reformation of the brigade. There are random cases of mids switching companies but I have heard they are on a case by case basis and usually are the result of a love chit or a hate chit.
As mentioned by Capt MJ, this isn't something that has happened in awhile. It really depends on the leadership (Supt, Dant, Dep Dant). The normal time for it to happen is the end of the Plebe year. That is nothing new. It happened for a few times for the Plebes while I was there. It creates alot of heartache for a very short time and then it calms down. Mids don't like change and it freaks everyone out. It's hair part of how things work there. In all honesty I think the shotgunning is a good thing. It breaks up plebe year cliques. You meet and know more people this way also. It makes those who did well Plebe Year not rely on that reputation and keep working, prevents complacency. It lets those who maybe didn't do well Plebe Year get a fresh start. It's a chance to learn how to deal with new leadership. It lets upperclass work on leadership skills on how accept soon to be 3/C and forge the company identity.
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I have made the assumption that because of the phrasing, MiddyB personally heard the Dant announce a specific policy change at a Dant's Call, Plebe Summer Staff meeting, or similar first-person experience, so it is not hearsay, or has seen an instruction or policy promulgated that directs the change for 2020.
That is different from the regularly recurring rumor that springs from "I heard the Dant said...." I hope MiddyB pops back on and updates us as to the specifics. I may have to query mid sponsor family.
I had too many years writing and then poring over JAGMAN investigations, and it was drummed into my head about hearsay versus actually hearing something, as well as facts versus opinions.
murfthesurf
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What a list! Start at the top with the Red, place the Blue below it, as you please
Capt MJ, its' on good authority,
;>
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The companies who put even the tiniest effort into welcoming the new members, holding a meet and greet and getting to know those joining the company were overwhelmingly more successful as a company. Bottom line, this is a leadership experiment as much for the upperclass as it is for those joining a new company.
Candidates, appointees and parents, the yak isn't a good place to lurk. You don't understand the culture, cycnicism or humor yet of Mids. Parents you will never 100% understand it. They are venting, don't take anything at value on it.
Candidates, appointees and parents, the yak isn't a good place to lurk. You don't understand the culture, cycnicism or humor yet of Mids. Parents you will never 100% understand it. They are venting, don't take anything at value on it.
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Nope. It's exactly the same language used for the last two years. Everytime there is a Dant's call the word comes down that Zeus said the plebes or youngsters are being shotgunned. They convinced '19 that they were going to be, but again, who cares. '16 is about to get shotgunned anyway.
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I need popcorn now.
I briefed in alumnus DH on the conversation, and he laughed and said, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." I think it's time for a cup of Zen Tazo tea out of his 24th Company plebe year mug.
I briefed in alumnus DH on the conversation, and he laughed and said, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." I think it's time for a cup of Zen Tazo tea out of his 24th Company plebe year mug.
FWIW. Many of the Plebe parents on the Mid Moms And Dads Facebook page are saying their Plebes said it wouldn't happen to them, but that the Class of 2020 would be shotgunned. During a phone call a few weeks ago, my son said the Dant was considering itand asking the Mids for feedback. He said the Dant said his class was shotgunned, and he, like Navy Hoops, thought it was a good thing.
2020, that is 12 months away, so don't worry about it. A million things to deal with between now and then. Even if you do, not a big deal. Just deal with it like everything. You will learn to worry about what you can control and ignore what you can't. It's part of learning the military way.
My class - '87 - was scrambled after our Plebe Year. It was both good and bad for all of the reasons stated in earlier posts. For those looking for a new start, it was great. For the rest of us, it separated those who struggled through plebe year together. I'm probably closer to my plebe year company mates than those in my follow-on company. Everyone continues to perform - as either a dirt bag or stellar (or somewhere in between). I'm opposed to scrambling. We didn't scramble as a company, but were shotgunned. I ended up in a company where I knew no one. While I made friends - and life long ones at that - there were still clicks and the same old problems erupted not long into youngster year. People really don't change much.
Navy continued to scramble classes for a number of years after my plebe year. The current Dant is class of '90. I believe it went on for about 6 or 7 years before it stopped (Classes of '87 through '93).
Navy continued to scramble classes for a number of years after my plebe year. The current Dant is class of '90. I believe it went on for about 6 or 7 years before it stopped (Classes of '87 through '93).