Can varsity athletes get leadership roles

alexlocnj

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I was talking to someone I know who was recruited to navy 8 or so years ago. He said he enjoyed it, but one of the biggest regrets he has is not getting a leadership role his first class year. I was wondering if the fact that he didn’t get a leadership role was because he played a varsity sport, or if the D1 athletes have the same chances as any other mid.
 
Absolutely they can. It’s a hard balance but possible. There have been Football players as Brigade Commanders even. I was Company XO. I was asked to interview for other leadership roles and declined to stay in company. I wanted to spend my last semester in my company around my closest friends. Plenty of articles about athletes and the roles they have taken on. It’s a hard balance but can be done. Often athletes will pursue spots that match up to their season. So football is more first semester, so it allows more time second semester to do leadership roles.
 
Ditto Hoops - plenty of the varsity athletes we have sponsored over the years have enjoyed leadership roles in company, battalion, regiment, Brigade and Plebe Summer Regiment. I also enjoyed seeing many varsity athletes in leadership roles, usually during their off-season, when I was a BattO.

Squad leader, platoon commander, company commander/XO/OpsO/Trng O/Adj, are some of the most realistic deckplate leadership labs I have ever seen, most akin to a new division officer’s role in the Fleet or Corps.

Where there is a will, there is a way, though anyone struggling with grades will be carefully looked at. The high-striper positions can be huge time-suck jobs due to meetings, and USNA will not let anyone get in any position that could threaten graduation, class standing or service selection.

Of course, serious performance/military aptitude or misconduct issues can negatively impact competitiveness for those roles.

Of course, I fondly remember a sponsor daughter, a bit of a black sheep her first two years (she met all her friends at restricted muster), a varsity athlete, who cleaned up her act the last two years, made Supe’s List - and successfully competed for a role on Brigade Adjutant Staff on the basis she knew the conduct and performance system from both sides of the podium. The Dant and DepDant just loved that. [emoji16]
 
Friends at restriction muster... what? Said the mod who spent lots of time on restriction. Restriction muster was always amusing. But it sucked. So was marching tours. How slow could we march and perform manual of arms at each turn? Make the best of any situation!
 
Current Mid Here,
The majority of my current midshipmen chain of command are varsity athletes. The sports they play include Football, Baseball, and Lacrosse. Its a tough balance but it is very feasible.
 
To echo others.... OF COURSE. Alot of the characteristics which lead to being a Varsity Athlete -- time management, perseverance, etc. contribute to strong leadership skills, and many of the athletes are recognized as leaders within their Class. Of course its difficult for some sports, like Football and Basketball, which are huge time committments, but its done alot.
 
I dont see how not having a leadership role the first year would be a bad thing. Arent they trying to learn their way through the academy. Grades etc? What is the benefit to have a leadership role their first year at the academy?
 
Leadership roles vary by company. Overall the Brigade is run by 1/C Midshipmen. So Brigade, Regiment, Battalion staff positions are for 1/C. There are some very limited positions for 2/C on these staffs, but very small. 3/C usually serve as mentors to Plebes in their squads. Every company runs things differently but there are always leadership opportunities in academics, PT, etc. 4/C truly are followers. Are there leadership opportunities for Plebes? Sure, usually amongst their peers to lead activities. It doesn’t take a formal title to be a leader or to take a leadership role. Volunteering to lead a training event, lead PT, set up a community service project doesn’t take a title to lead.
 
I dont see how not having a leadership role the first year would be a bad thing. Arent they trying to learn their way through the academy. Grades etc? What is the benefit to have a leadership role their first year at the academy?

@WTTW

A bit of confusion here, I believe.

“First class year” as used by the OP means a Midshipman 1/C (“First Class”), or senior.

A midshipman in his or her first year at USNA is a Midshipman 4/C (Fourth Class”).
 
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