Branch Night at West Point

[jl123]

The numbers do get skewed - my understanding is cadets are not told they will not get a branch. They are given a list of the top five branches USMA thinks are the best fit. Thus they know that if they put one of those 1 or 2 they will likely get it.

Self selection happens when reality kicks in when you get your class ranking. Very few cadets that I've seen still put something #1 that they knew was completely out of their reach. If you didn't put in the work to rank in the top quarter of your class, don't expect to get your #1 if you're going for something competitive. Its also still the cool part of West Point. Even with the branch feedback and mentorship happening, the majority of the branch selection still lies on you as the cadet. The work you put in is correlated to how much you control your destiny.




Good luck to all the new Army Aviators! Your new branch is a blast!

You are referring to when class rank was the predominant factor in branch selection.

It still is. Yes, the aptitude tests and refences from officers play a role now but majority of the selection at school still relies on the individual cadet's class rank.

The role of class rank has decreased in the past 2 years. It is still quite important, but no longer predominant as Branch Commandant ratings have increased in influence.

Branches that were once a sure thing for those in the top 25%, no longer are. Likewise branches that, without BRADSO, were once out of reach by virtue of class rank are now possibilities. This may be a good thing, but we won't know for about 6 years.

 

[proudpop2]

We have our second aviator, who of course, is thrilled. That said, he was mentally prepared for several options. He said he didn't see anyone who was upset at branch night.

Congratulations! Do you happen to know the class rank position needed for this year's Aviation slots?

 

[billyb]

Does unit selection work like it used to based 100% on OML? I remember going into a room with all of the cadets that were going into FA with me and there was a board with unit patches on it. #1 in OML picked first and took down the patch they wanted. When it came to your turn you got to choose from the unit patches left. I thought it was a very fair way of doing it.

 

[jl123]

Congratulations! Do you happen to know the class rank position needed for this year's Aviation slots?

According to a Firstie I spoke with, they did not present a slide of a Branching Results bar chart as they did in past years.

 

[jl123]

Does unit selection work like it used to based 100% on OML? I remember going into a room with all of the cadets that were going into FA with me and there was a board with unit patches on it. #1 in OML picked first and took down the patch they wanted. When it came to your turn you got to choose from the unit patches left. I thought it was a very fair way of doing it.

Yes, as far as I know the process for unit/post selection has not changed.

I don't know about patches on a board though. We did it from a list. A branch representative called names off the OML list and as each cadet stood up and announced their selection, they crossed that unit/post off the list.

 

[cptenca]

There were some changes for 2018. Certain posts reserve slots for ADSO. Don't recall the exact numbers but for IN, Vincenza had approximately 8 total slots but 2 or so were ADSO. Other posts had similar distributions. So in theory number 7 on the OML had to pick between Italy with ADSO or Bragg/Campbell, etc. without an ADSO.

 

[billyb]

So you could choose ADSO after you get your branch if there's a unit you really want? I don't remember them even having ADSO at all in my day.

 

[cptenca]

Yes, at least for 2018, you could ADSO for your branch choice and also ADSO for your post. BRADSO (branch) and PADSO (post). I am not aware if you were allowed to do both or how that would work.