2020 Branch Night

Some of those I spoke to who got their second choice were “beaten out” of their first choice by Cadets who chose to BRADSO. No unhappiness about the result as it’s part of the selection process. They could have volunteered for the extra time in service but chose not to.
I think the only lesson from it this year is that with the new branch selection system you may not be aware of how close you are to the “bubble” of your first choice without BRADSO compared to the past.
This will be especially interesting for the current Plebe class. Some of them already have a longer service obligation than their class mates as they are participating in a test program.
 
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What we are not seeing is the chart from every previous year with the Branches listed on the X axis and the Class Rank listed on the Y axis. It seems this is now an out of date way of looking branching.
 
For ROTC, was told 69% first choice, 89% top 3, and 94% top 5.

Congrats to the USMA class of 2021. My yuk is hoping no one trashes her room too bad in fall/winter 2022. :p
 
Army245bday said:
For ROTC, was told 69% first choice, 89% top 3, and 94% top 5.

Congrats to the USMA class of 2021. My yuk is hoping no one trashes her room too bad in fall/winter 2022. :p
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So, last year, the 'room trashing' was not permitted. Perhaps someone forgot to say it this year...ahem...or maybe with so many other restrictions, this seemed like an easy go. As a professor and parent, it seems that this wastes a lot of time the week before TEEs (final exams)--the cadets miss study time for the event and for the clean up. Cadets were SWAMPED last week with papers, projects, and other high ticket items all being due during the last week of classes. So, yes, there were a lot of great pictures...
 
DrMom said:
So, last year, the 'room trashing' was not permitted. Perhaps someone forgot to say it this year...ahem...or maybe with so many other restrictions, this seemed like an easy go. As a professor and parent, it seems that this wastes a lot of time the week before TEEs (final exams)--the cadets miss study time for the event and for the clean up. Cadets were SWAMPED last week with papers, projects, and other high ticket items all being due during the last week of classes. So, yes, there were a lot of great pictures...
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Definitely some room trashing last week. All in all, I think the distraction it provided was a welcome break from the endless monotony of the semester. Yes, I’m sure there were a few hours of clean up involved, but if let’s off some steam so that they can focus better afterwards, maybe it’s for the best. When my firstie called he sounded the happiest he’s been in months, even though his bed was filled with shaving cream and protein powder. 🤣
 
But why room trashing ? Confusing for someone who is non-military/non-USMA
 
I do t think it’s for us to understand. Whay does USNA toss printers? It’s a thing. Rally the troops? Tradition? @scrose, I’m Mids (especially the plebe) sounded happier...excited...energized than they had in a long time during these events.
 
Will be interesting to see numbers next year when Class of 22 branches from combined OML with ROTC.
 
We will never see it but am interested in distribution of aviation slots vs class rank vs last year.
I am quite certain a significant number of top xxx class rank that went A/V in past did not this year.
And now with 10+ year obligation BRADSO is far less impactful.
 
From my understanding, BRADSO is no longer available in branching aviation. If it was, the total commitment would be between 14-15 years. That will take you way beyond the Major's selection board.
 
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txfwindian said:
But why room trashing ? Confusing for someone who is non-military/non-USMA
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There are very few opportunities where the plebes get to mess with firsties, and branch night is a huge celebration day for most firsties. Historically branch night the plebes in a company or on a team will decorate the room of the firstie with congratulations notes or things celebrating the branch of choice. The list gets released to the company by the TAC officer to the plebes while the firsties are in the brief where they get their branching envelopes. Most of the time its done in good fun, just fun pranks that the usually fairly drunk firsties coming back will get a laugh from. Some plebes take is further than others and rooms can get destroyed. My team wrecked my room with all kinds of paper airplanes, turtled everything possible in the room, and left A LOT of glitter places besides leaving some cards that I still have in a memory box somewhere all over my door. When I was a plebe, we stole one of the firstie's mattresses because he was going infantry, leaving him his bedroll only. He had to go find his mattress...it may have ended up on the roof.
 
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