My DS is NROTC graduating/commissioning December 2024. He has always dreamed of being a Navy aviator since he was a child. He has done well, high GPA, excellent STEM course load, aviation points (and in addition, outside school, he has all his hours for private pilot license, just needs written test), ASTB 7/7/7, high in leadership for his unit. He just got his service assignment and he is drafted nuc subs. He did not even list subs as a choice. He is devastated. He is planning on going to the interview and being honest he does not want this assignment. He is ok with SWO, obviously not his first pick, but acceptable. Any other suggestions on getting a change of assignment?
DS wanted aviation, Drafted Nuc subs
- Thread starter BBNavy
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I have no answers. But, I wanted to say there are several sub draft posts on here, usually around USNA's service selection time each year. Many discuss that they later grew to love the assignment.
I can't say your DS will. But, even if there is no reassignment, maybe there is still hope for an enriching AD career.
I can't say your DS will. But, even if there is no reassignment, maybe there is still hope for an enriching AD career.
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Sub draft momma here, same story as your sons. Hang in there!!
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It is what it is. He has to embrace it (easy for me to say). As a BGO, during USNA candidate interviews I try to make it clear that he/she may not get that Pilot or SEAL slot. He will make it work. Good luck to him.
I am sorry this happened to your DS. I would say give your DS some time to mourn. At some point he will have to turn to the future and embrace what it holds. As he starts to explore this path he should gain some excitement. Hopefully he can find a mentor who went through this that he can turn to.
GO NAVY 2029
USNA ‘29
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Aren’t subs supposed to be all volunteers?
So long as he doesn’t “volunteer “in his interview I don’t think they can actually force him to go submarines. ( but I also don’t know)
Yes, they can. The ‘sub draft’ exists. Some years it’s much more prevalent than other years. Needs of the Navy is real and comes first.
You'll see "needs of the Navy" often on this site. My 1/C's signature is on several documents throughout his time in NROTC acknowledging his acceptance and service obligation of any community the Navy places him. He was fortunate to get his #1 choice, and I feel empathy for those that do not. I encourage you to copy justdoit19's attitude for her son. These young men and women can all look forward to a terrific adventure!
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For those lurking and considering the path to a commission: Remember that you're signing up to be a naval or Marine officer, not for aviation or subs or infantry or any other specific role. Most candidates mention some version of "be part of something bigger than myself" when applying. Gracefully and graciously accepting your warfare assignment is a great example of that. The needs of the nation always come first.
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And I’m sure @MidCakePa isnt saying that it’s not Ok to be disappointed. Or that it may take a minute to pivot. We are all human, emotional creatures.
What a successful appointee will possess is the ability to adapt and overcome changes in life’s trajectories. In fact, as a BGO, that’s one of the most significant qualities I am trying to see in a candidate: someone who has had disappointments/difficulties/failures and has gotten through them. It’s ok to be bummed. It’s not ok to stay bitter, sour and mad. It’s not healthy.
Fact of the matter is upwards of 90 pct receive their 1st or 2nd choice of service selections. That’s pretty impressive.
I was at a family wedding this weekend. Lots of catching up with a big family full of similar aged cousins as my own kiddos. There are probably 15 ‘recent college grads’ looking for employment. None of them doing their ‘1st or 2nd’ choice of career. Most living at home, job hunting. Same with my ‘24’s friends. Most not employed in their field of their degree.
90’s pct is pretty darn impressive.
If someone is super super set on a specific community, OCS is a good route for them. Officer candidates contract as a certain designator before Navy OCS begins
USMC offers air contracts to some going into OCS
Some years they require everyone to put nuke (subs or SWO nuke) somewhere on their dram sheet. So even if it’s #5 that technically counts as “volunteering”
Ihavenoidea
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This really sucks, and I feel for him not reaching the goal he obviously has worked hard for. Totally understand that he is disappointed and low right now. After the initial mourning period and shock has passed, maybe you could recommend he do a pro con list for Sub officer. He probably really does not like anything sub right now, but maybe he doesn't know enough about it because he was so focused on aviation. After some time, he might find that sub is not the death sentence he thinks it is right now.
"Grow where planted" type mindset. Doesn't help right now I know, but time does heal old wounds. Congratulations to your DS for doing well at college and graduating this December. What a exciting accomplishment!!
Herman_Snerd
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I too have empathy for anyone with such a clear goal - I'll share 2 things.
1. A sub draftee's years of service after commissioning is literally now half or less than a naval aviator who owes wings plus eight years, and as of recent memos, maybe a bit longer to finish their service commitment. .
2. He'll get multiple bonuses as a sub draftee - cash in hand- imo serious cash in hand. More huge bonuses if he stays on as ____ Dept head I believe. Stay in 8 years, take the bonuses, and train on your own time and dime. If he's set on being an aviator he should use those during the months of breaks between phases of nuc school/ training and finish that PPL, then get into an organized flight program so that when he's cycled off the boatr, he can dive back in and earn instrument, commercial ratings, get his CFI. Live like a pauper while off the boat in the next few years, save his money- - earn hours when he's off the boat - all the while discussing options to pursue being a naval aviator with the navy, too. Maybe to retain him as an officer they'll support his path. There are carrier leadership positions that require some nuc school, even for formal aviators - maybe his training and interests could align? Pursue it!
Point is - if his heart is set on flying, he will have the means to earn his certs if he gets a plan together. Can't say whether that will be in or out of the military. My son is a CFI and helped one of his sub buddies solo/ earn his PPL in the months between graduating and reporting to their first duty stations. IF he wants to fly he doesn't have to think of his dream as "over" - delayed, maybe expensive, maybe commercial v military, but not over unless he wants it to be.
Hope that perspective may help - good luck to your son and family. Overall, I'm sorry for your son - I'm just pointing out his dream doesn't have to be totally over, necessarily. given his circumstance I'd take the bonuses and the sub path vs 5 years feeling lost as a swo. Hard training, hard studying but look at those bonus benjamins and what they can do for his flight dreams.
1. A sub draftee's years of service after commissioning is literally now half or less than a naval aviator who owes wings plus eight years, and as of recent memos, maybe a bit longer to finish their service commitment. .
2. He'll get multiple bonuses as a sub draftee - cash in hand- imo serious cash in hand. More huge bonuses if he stays on as ____ Dept head I believe. Stay in 8 years, take the bonuses, and train on your own time and dime. If he's set on being an aviator he should use those during the months of breaks between phases of nuc school/ training and finish that PPL, then get into an organized flight program so that when he's cycled off the boatr, he can dive back in and earn instrument, commercial ratings, get his CFI. Live like a pauper while off the boat in the next few years, save his money- - earn hours when he's off the boat - all the while discussing options to pursue being a naval aviator with the navy, too. Maybe to retain him as an officer they'll support his path. There are carrier leadership positions that require some nuc school, even for formal aviators - maybe his training and interests could align? Pursue it!
Point is - if his heart is set on flying, he will have the means to earn his certs if he gets a plan together. Can't say whether that will be in or out of the military. My son is a CFI and helped one of his sub buddies solo/ earn his PPL in the months between graduating and reporting to their first duty stations. IF he wants to fly he doesn't have to think of his dream as "over" - delayed, maybe expensive, maybe commercial v military, but not over unless he wants it to be.
Hope that perspective may help - good luck to your son and family. Overall, I'm sorry for your son - I'm just pointing out his dream doesn't have to be totally over, necessarily. given his circumstance I'd take the bonuses and the sub path vs 5 years feeling lost as a swo. Hard training, hard studying but look at those bonus benjamins and what they can do for his flight dreams.
USMC Crayons
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DS (he's Marine Option) shared with me that the Navy peeps are running scared about being "voluntold" into the Sub community. He mentioned that several 4/C are trying to pivot into the Marine side of the house. I won't share much since this is a public forum, but definitely interesting all of the talk from the higher ups on the "pivot" the Navy is working on and what the next couple years are going to potentially look like. IYKYK.
Love this. I think this is the way he is leaning
Herman_Snerd
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Good for him. One other thing, if eventually he gets his wings as a naval aviator, there still is no guarantee on what airframe he will fly - fixed v rotating wing (helos) or an osprey etc. there too you file your top preferences , then it’s a you get what you get and you don’t get upset / needs of the navy mantra. Hang in there. Be glad he’s bright enough to be swallowed Up by the silent service.
CO_HockeyMom
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Thank you for sharing/reminding of the need to pivot, and of "recent college grads" living at home, job hunting or working jobs that don't require a degree as they look for something "in their field." I have several teacher colleagues "hosting" their college kids at home again. As a parent of a HS junior who wants to go that aviation route, planning for those Plan B - Plan F scenarios if he can't get into academies, it is still heartening that at the end of the initial tunnel (academy or ROTC), there will still be an opportunity to serve a higher purpose. No disrespect intended for those college grads you mentioned, as I was one of those who struggled for years to figure out what was next.
Hello BBNavy.
A great poster here (justdoit19) delt with the same thing. When she was ready to talk about it, this board produced a pretty good thread; including guidance from a few submariners. I don’t know how to link a thread here, but I found the thread and if you past the title (below) in “Search" (top right) you will be one click away
I hope your son is able to make subs work. He was picked to serve with exceptional people engaged in a critical mission
My best to your DS.
A great poster here (justdoit19) delt with the same thing. When she was ready to talk about it, this board produced a pretty good thread; including guidance from a few submariners. I don’t know how to link a thread here, but I found the thread and if you past the title (below) in “Search" (top right) you will be one click away
A discussion about submariners
I hope your son is able to make subs work. He was picked to serve with exceptional people engaged in a critical mission
My best to your DS.
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A1Janitor
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A discussion about submariners 🐬 ⚓️
Discussion about the aviation pipeline process and challenges pops up every now again. Stories about ‘back in the day’. General discussion about the community. How about Subs? How did you end up there? Memories? Nuke school, boat assignment, post AD employment, etc, etc. I’m seeing a lot...
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