Attrition Rate

TXHopeful

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Jan 20, 2016
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I have noticed in some posts recently the statistic that 30 to 35% of kids entering KP drop out along the way and do not graduate. That seems really high to me, especially compared to other SAs. I would appreciate comments explaining why this is, and how to help our kids avoid being part of that statistic. Thanks for insights...
 
Some of the non-academic reasons I saw people quit
  1. They never wanted to be there in the first place and only went because Mom and/or Dad wanted it. (Personally know one who did this, ended up failing out after first quarter and later graduated from the school he always really wanted)
  2. They just don’t like or don’t gel with the Regiment (saw a guy quit within the first hour)
  3. Behavioral problems, be it serious rule violations, criminal offenses and/or honor violations (I’ve seen all three and have some good stories)
  4. The maritime industry is not what they want. (My plebe year roomate just never came back from sea year)
For some KP just isn’t the right place and they really will be better off somewhere else. The best thing you can do as a parent is help in their own decision process.

There really isn’t anything wrong with being a part of that statistic. I am still friends with some of my classmates who didn’t graduate. Some left of their own choice and some not. All of them went on to lead happy and productive lives which is more than I can say for some who did graduate.

For academic issues. I recommend to minimize extra-curricular activities and focus on academics. You don’t want to be a hermit, so you should do something as an escape from classes and the regiment but I saw kids fail out because they were involved in a sport, color guard, drill team, honor board and class president. “But sir, I’m in color guard, drill team, honor board and class president!” isn’t going to cut it when you are standing in front of the man and he’s looking at your 1.0 GPA.
 
my son just visited with a mid he knows from HS who was home from KP for a few days before heading out for Sea Year (Hawaii to CA route /nice huh?) He told my son about a classmate that went out for his first gig at sea and just never went back to KP because he preferred his job on the boat!
 
my son just visited with a mid he knows from HS who was home from KP for a few days before heading out for Sea Year (Hawaii to CA route /nice huh?) He told my son about a classmate that went out for his first gig at sea and just never went back to KP because he preferred his job on the boat!

There is that. I know that I was tempted to do much the same after my sea year, but thought better of it and went back out with that piece of paper in the rack just over a year and a half after I signed off my last cadet ship. Much as KP Engineer stated above. . . I found in my year that we lost some once they got wind of the regimental program. Others suffered with the academics. The last big drop in class size was during sea year. Some just couldn't handle it, and a rare few, as you stated above, stayed at sea. I can tell you that it is uncommon. A first engineer that I sailed with as a cadet (and later worked with when he was a Chief Engineer and I was an ABS Surveyor) did the same and never went back after sea year.

And CA to HI? Yeah, not a bad route, but oh, man. . . there are better ones, or at least were. . .
 
You probably wouldn't mind a Louisiana to Puerto Rico route either. . . did that for a few years. . . .
 
You probably wouldn't mind a Louisiana to Puerto Rico route either. . . did that for a few years. . . .

For visiting the boy I sure would! But DS will go anywhere on the water or under it. He was fascinated by the video of the Navy Sub USS Hartford breaking through the arctic ... "Mom, wanna see something cool!?" Sometimes I wonder where this kid came from. ;)

 
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