Commissioning

jiller59

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Nov 3, 2011
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DS commissioned as an Ensign last week. He reports to Nuclear Power School in June. His class started with 32 midshipmen and 18 received a Navy/Marine commission, 1 switched to Army and received his commission also. 2 marines need to attend OCS this summer and plan to commission at the end of summer. So that leaves 11 who started the program but did not commission. I am unsure whether this is typical.

I thought some posters would be interested in the assignments received. Of the 18 midshipmen who were commissioned last week, there are 2 nurses, 3 2nd Lts, 3 are going surface, 5 aviation and 5 submarine.

We have DS home for a week, then he will be a "stashed ensign" for a month before going to Nuke School.
 
Congratulations to your DS once again. That attrition rate sounds somewhat typical or maybe even a little low.
DS started with 45 at freshman orientation and came out the other side of orientation with about 35. Eventually 6 commissioned as Marines and 9 as Navy, for a total of 15. Ignoring the orientation drops that's still an attrition rate of over 50%. It's not an easy path and only the determined make it to the end.
 
Congrats to all involved. My son was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the Army today. He was sworn in by his sister, a 1st LT Army Nurse and his first salute was from his cousin, an E-6 in the Air Force. I almost lost it when my daughter was reciting the oath for my son but knew I had to hold it together since my wife and I had the attach his 2nd LT shoulder boards on after the oath. He was chosen to be the Gold Bar Recruiter for the university so will start out on May 31st and he is eager to start getting paid!! He'll then be off to BOLC in September before he gets to his first duty station at Ft Hood, Texas in March 2017....unless he gets the opportunity to go straight to Ranger school which is what he desires.

The university had a very distinguished US Navy Admiral (Ret) from the Nuclear Sub branch deliver the commence meant speech and he told some great stories about being interviewed for the position back in the day by THE Admiral Rickover. very interesting gentleman.
 
The university had a very distinguished US Navy Admiral (Ret) from the Nuclear Sub branch deliver the commence meant speech and he told some great stories about being interviewed for the position back in the day by THE Admiral Rickover. very interesting gentleman.

Oh, the Admiral Rickover stories are legendary. Many of the guys I knew who went through the interview wouldn't tell you anything (they may have been sworn to secrecy) but over time they shared more and more.
 
Congrats to all involved. My son was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the Army today. He was sworn in by his sister, a 1st LT Army Nurse and his first salute was from his cousin, an E-6 in the Air Force. I almost lost it when my daughter was reciting the oath for my son but knew I had to hold it together since my wife and I had the attach his 2nd LT shoulder boards on after the oath. He was chosen to be the Gold Bar Recruiter for the university so will start out on May 31st and he is eager to start getting paid!! He'll then be off to BOLC in September before he gets to his first duty station at Ft Hood, Texas in March 2017....unless he gets the opportunity to go straight to Ranger school which is what he desires.

The university had a very distinguished US Navy Admiral (Ret) from the Nuclear Sub branch deliver the commence meant speech and he told some great stories about being interviewed for the position back in the day by THE Admiral Rickover. very interesting gentleman.

Congratulations! A proud moment for your entire family. If he's going to IBOLC or ABOLC, then he will probably go directly into Ranger School. If you're thinking about an excursion to Austin for barbecue when you visit him at Ft, Hood, I suggest you get in line at Franklin Barbecue first thing tomorrow.
 
Congratulations! A proud moment for your entire family. If he's going to IBOLC or ABOLC, then he will probably go directly into Ranger School. If you're thinking about an excursion to Austin for barbecue when you visit him at Ft, Hood, I suggest you get in line at Franklin Barbecue first thing tomorrow.

I haven't found the patience to wait in line at Franklin's yet. My Dad's side of the family is spread out all over Texas so I've been sampling the BBQ since the early 70's. My go-to stop is in Lockhart, the BBQ capital of Texas where you have your choice of Black's, Kruez & Smitty's.

Oh, the Admiral Rickover stories are legendary. Many of the guys I knew who went through the interview wouldn't tell you anything (they may have been sworn to secrecy) but over time they shared more and more.

My favorite story was when Admiral Clemins said he didn't remember Admiral Rickover's first question but the second one was "are you stupid or are you a liar". Clemins said he froze and was essentially put in a closet for almost two hours "to think about your answer". Needless to say, he recovered and passed the test.
 
Yes. Some of the anecdotes I have heard include the "time in the closet." I have also heard the candidates chair had one leg shorter than the other so you had to balance to sit still and level. I have heard he asked someone to make him mad and the candidate went over to his credenza, grabbed a model ship and smashed it apart. Stuff like that...
 
For the high school class of 2012, ~6100 applied for the nrotc scholarship, ~1600 were awarded a 4 year scholarship and ~840 commissioned. That's what my CO said at our commissioning last week.
 
For the high school class of 2012, ~6100 applied for the nrotc scholarship, ~1600 were awarded a 4 year scholarship and ~840 commissioned. That's what my CO said at our commissioning last week.
Wow, interesting information!

DS received his oath from a Lieutenant from his unit - an officer who was tough, but ended up being a great mentor for DS. DH, DD and family and I attached his shoulder boards. My father, retired Navy Chief E-8 was DS first salute (sob). My uncle, retired Army Lieutenant, and graduate from the same University many years ago, was able to attend as well. It was a great day.

Congratulations to the midshipmen and cadets who received their commissions recently, or will receive them soon. The roller coaster ride continues - we just got off one ride and onto another!:bounce1:
 
Well, commissioning is tomorrow and we'll be getting on the road any minute now. DW and I will try to hold it together while DS takes the oath. I'd like to thank everyone in this digital community we all share but particularly Kinnem, PIMA, Bull, Scoutpilot, Clarkson and Jcleppe. You've all been a tremendous help to my family over the years and we are grateful. Some advice, for parents DO NOT call your DS or DD's battalion. It's time to pass your questions through them and let them get you the information you need. To cadets/mids, show up in shape, pay attention, participate and work hard. Don't overthink this, you can do it. If you can do 70+ push-ups in 60 seconds you're probably not practicing good form. Practice your form this summer...and don't get that tattoo.
 
Have a great time! Don't leave us... give back!!! :)
 
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