USMMA Class of 2021 - Navy Active Duty Service Assignment Day

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USMMA Class of 2021 - Navy Active Duty Service Assignment Day

Today, USMMA seniors in the class of 2021 who applied for active duty US Navy upon graduation found out what service they were offered.

About 33 Midshipmen were offered active duty Navy commissions. All who applied recevied an active duty commission.

About 12-13 were offered Student Naval Aviator 1390.
About 4 were offered Naval Flight Officer 1370
About 2 were offered Intelligence Officer 1830
Around 9+ were offered Surface Warfare Officer 1160 and 1160N
 
Would've thought a couple more SEAL officers. Interesting.

It would be interesting to know historically...the breakdown of airplane type that midshipmen are ultimately assigned to.
 
COVID struck this year. About 9 midshipmen got an invite to Mini-Buds SOAS (Navy SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection) but it was cancelled just a few hours before they were supposed to depart. There are about 2-3 Class of 2019 at Buds now.
 
COVID struck this year. About 9 midshipmen got an invite to Mini-Buds SOAS (Navy SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection) but it was cancelled just a few hours before they were supposed to depart. There are about 2-3 Class of 2019 at Buds now.
How does becoming a SEAL from USMMA work?
 
It's a long process.

1) You have a get and pass a US Navy Dive physical.
2) You have to pass several SOAS PT minimum standard tests. You have to max the tests to be considered.
3) You have to apply to the program via the USMMA Navy Dept to admin the paperwork.
4) If you are selected out a pool of thousands for a slot of around 180 who get to go to Mini Buds.
5) You have to pass psychological and personal interview with staff there.
6) You have to complete Mini-Buds in Coronado.
7) Out of the 180 who get selected for Mini-Buds only 70-80 are offered a slot in BUD/S upon graduation/commissioning. This is still not a guarantee you will get your Trident.
 
It's a long process.

1) You have a get and pass a US Navy Dive physical.
2) You have to pass several SOAS PT minimum standard tests. You have to max the tests to be considered.
3) You have to apply to the program via the USMMA Navy Dept to admin the paperwork.
4) If you are selected out a pool of thousands for a slot of around 180 who get to go to Mini Buds.
5) You have to pass psychological and personal interview with staff there.
6) You have to complete Mini-Buds in Coronado.
7) Out of the 180 who get selected for Mini-Buds only 70-80 are offered a slot in BUD/S upon graduation/commissioning. This is still not a guarantee you will get your Trident.
I've wanted to be a seal my entire life and came to KP with the expectation of making that happen. The more I learn about the process and risk of taking this route, the more I see myself leaving the school, getting a degree and enlisting. I understand to most people the idea of proceeding with this plan seems ridiculous but I don't want to risk my potential serving in the teams for anything the school truly has to offer. Do you have any advis for me or other special operations candidates in my position?
 
The role of an enlisted sailor on a SEAL team is vastly different from that of an officer on a SEAL team. I have two sons in the SpecOps community, one enlisted and one (KP grad) officer, and they are both very happy with their jobs, both very successful, and both where they belong. I do not think either would do well if their positions were reversed. You need to learn more about the differences between the enlisted and officer roles, and the best source for that is finding active duty or retired special operators to talk to. There is a clear path from KP to Navy SEAL, but it is not easy. Only one applicant from KP was invited to BUDs this year. Good luck with your decision.
 
I've wanted to be a seal my entire life and came to KP with the expectation of making that happen. The more I learn about the process and risk of taking this route, the more I see myself leaving the school, getting a degree and enlisting. I understand to most people the idea of proceeding with this plan seems ridiculous but I don't want to risk my potential serving in the teams for anything the school truly has to offer. Do you have any advis for me or other special operations candidates in my position?
Let me preface this by saying that I have no experience at all in these matters, and this is entirely my opinion. If my ultimate goal was to be a seal and I got a shot by enlisting that may never come via the officer route. I would enlist. Eyes on prize.
 
If you #1 goal above all else is being a SEAL - then the degree, commissioning, etc, can wait. I tell that to many. They key part is to go at the right time. Most 18 year olds don’t have the maturity for it. Go to college and get an AA. Find a training plan and stick to it, then enlist at the right time. There are many spec ops and SEAL threads on other social media forums that provide great detail on this. There are many training programs that help prepare candidates. Stew Smith runs a great program and his candidates do well. Many move to Maryland and train with him for months to prepare. Regardless of the program, it is up to you at the end of the day when wet, sandy and miserable to never make the decision to ring that bell. Injuries can and do happen. You need to be prepared to finish an enlistment and not regret it if it doesn’t work out.
 
I appreciate every response and your willingness to share your opinion. I have been in contact with countless current and retired seals (both from KP and those from other careers). I know I am physically prepared for selection with a sub 600 pst score and I have time to develop my leadership/teamwork skills that the selection panel would evaluate. Once again, I just don’t want to risk my shot at this lifelong goal. Almost every SOAS candidate currently at the school seems to have a very similar perspective on this topic as myself... and those are the midshipmen who have been here for 3 years. Does anyone on this forum have or heard of experiences going from other branches or swo to NSW if I do not get the spot out of KP? I have done detailed research but haven’t read much other than that it is extremely difficult. Thanks again for anything you have to offer.
 
The path with the highest likelihood of a slot at BUD/S is to enlist on a SEAL contract. Every other path includes significantly more layers of maybes and potentially years between steps and decisions. If I wanted SEAL (not seal) my entire life I would be talking to recruiters not Academy admissions reps.
 
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