ProudDad2022
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2017
- Messages
- 270
When my Ensign-28 days son was a 2C, he was very close to failing a couple of classes and attending an Academic Review Board. Luckily, he D'd his way through and avoided it. However, I reached out to our resident expert @Capt MJ and she was dead on with her advice (of course). She gave me permission to share what she said. I figured I would post it for those who are in serious acadmic trouble. I hope it helps someone.
"Deep breaths all around.
I know this is hard for you as a parent and hard for him as a young man who has just had some things he thought he knew about himself get re-calibrated.
If the F happens…
From what I have heard over the years, the general outlines of the Ac Board have not changed since I sat in on them. The tech will be better.
The ac board has the full range of Supe, Dant, Ac Dean, others on it. The mid’s performance, trend lines, comments by profs, etc., are projected up on screens in the room. The mid faces them all. Definitely a “long green table” serious proceeding. These usually happen right before the start of next semester; he might have to come back prior normal Reform.
The company officer, senior enlisted and BattO sit in and are usually asked to comment, on whether they believe the mid should be retained. They give the “Bancroft eye view” of the mid. I will never forget Gunny Kirkendahl, when asked for his opinion and recommendation, say about one mid who had problems on many graded fronts, “Sir, I would not want Midn Door in charge of my Marines or any sailors.”
The totality of the mid’s performance is looked at - every graded area - to get a sense of how the mid is doing overall. As in, no conduct or honor or military aptitude problems, just academic struggles, a “good mid” overall.
Questions will be asked, about priorities, study habits, what efforts has he made to address the problem, what insights does he have, what is his response to a comment made by a prof in remarks shown on the screen, WHAT IS HIS DETAILED PLAN.
Your son should go in there prepared to express how deeply he wants to continue and gain his commission and serve, and most importantly, lay out his plan to recover. This could include:
- giving up summer leave period or fun stuff to re-take classes or lighten his regular year ac load
- dropping every ECA, swap club sport for IM, and non-mando activity to focus on his “must-survives”
- go see the EE prof (and any others) NOW, though the wound is raw, to learn exactly what his problems are, as awful as that may feel. The prof will remember determination and desire before the leave period even starts, and may reflect that in their remarks in the record.
- talking with his company SEL and company officer to learn about how the ac board works, their advice on preparation, affirming his desire to fight for his place and some of the action steps he is contemplating/taking
- proactively talking with his academic adviser to discuss whether a change of major is feasible or helpful, or any other matrix/scheduling options if retained
- taking a trip over to the academic skills center and asking for help to assess his performance weaknesses and strategize
- delaying post-exam leave a day or two to get on with the list above, demonstrating he is willing to do whatever it takes with a sense of urgency to prove his drive and ability to overcome this
The mid is usually asked to give a statement about anything he wants to say to the Board. He should prepare this thoughtfully. If he has taken some actions on his own, this provides more depth and power.
The Ac Board has years and years of experience doing this. They want your son to succeed, because they chose him. They have to determine if he can be given another chance and will recover, or whether he will likely face another Ac Board and it’s just prolonging the misery by retaining him.
Your son should allow himself a small, perfectly normal pity party, then get his a$$ in gear if he wants to be with his classmates on their Comm Day. He will feel a lot better if he takes some action NOW; otherwise, this is going to eat at him over the holiday if he has done nothing except mourn. He will feel better if he proactively engages as soon as possible - my two cents. “Yes, sir, the minute I knew I had failed X and received grade Y, I delayed going on leave 2 days and immediately…” This is no time for any shreds of pride or vanity, just a fierce dose of “I am an adult now, and I am responsible for fixing my mistakes and overcoming this.”
He needs to be clear-eyed and brutally candid about things he could have done better, what his plan is, what his goal is, how strong his desire is - if he shows all this, the board appreciates a mid who readily engages with the problem instead of passively waiting and vaguely pleading to stay.
Actions speak louder than words.
If he is retained, the rough outlines of a plan and follow-up will be worked out at the Board, with a session with his ac adviser afterwards.
This is top of head, please forgive typos. Please let me know how it goes."
"Deep breaths all around.
I know this is hard for you as a parent and hard for him as a young man who has just had some things he thought he knew about himself get re-calibrated.
If the F happens…
From what I have heard over the years, the general outlines of the Ac Board have not changed since I sat in on them. The tech will be better.
The ac board has the full range of Supe, Dant, Ac Dean, others on it. The mid’s performance, trend lines, comments by profs, etc., are projected up on screens in the room. The mid faces them all. Definitely a “long green table” serious proceeding. These usually happen right before the start of next semester; he might have to come back prior normal Reform.
The company officer, senior enlisted and BattO sit in and are usually asked to comment, on whether they believe the mid should be retained. They give the “Bancroft eye view” of the mid. I will never forget Gunny Kirkendahl, when asked for his opinion and recommendation, say about one mid who had problems on many graded fronts, “Sir, I would not want Midn Door in charge of my Marines or any sailors.”
The totality of the mid’s performance is looked at - every graded area - to get a sense of how the mid is doing overall. As in, no conduct or honor or military aptitude problems, just academic struggles, a “good mid” overall.
Questions will be asked, about priorities, study habits, what efforts has he made to address the problem, what insights does he have, what is his response to a comment made by a prof in remarks shown on the screen, WHAT IS HIS DETAILED PLAN.
Your son should go in there prepared to express how deeply he wants to continue and gain his commission and serve, and most importantly, lay out his plan to recover. This could include:
- giving up summer leave period or fun stuff to re-take classes or lighten his regular year ac load
- dropping every ECA, swap club sport for IM, and non-mando activity to focus on his “must-survives”
- go see the EE prof (and any others) NOW, though the wound is raw, to learn exactly what his problems are, as awful as that may feel. The prof will remember determination and desire before the leave period even starts, and may reflect that in their remarks in the record.
- talking with his company SEL and company officer to learn about how the ac board works, their advice on preparation, affirming his desire to fight for his place and some of the action steps he is contemplating/taking
- proactively talking with his academic adviser to discuss whether a change of major is feasible or helpful, or any other matrix/scheduling options if retained
- taking a trip over to the academic skills center and asking for help to assess his performance weaknesses and strategize
- delaying post-exam leave a day or two to get on with the list above, demonstrating he is willing to do whatever it takes with a sense of urgency to prove his drive and ability to overcome this
The mid is usually asked to give a statement about anything he wants to say to the Board. He should prepare this thoughtfully. If he has taken some actions on his own, this provides more depth and power.
The Ac Board has years and years of experience doing this. They want your son to succeed, because they chose him. They have to determine if he can be given another chance and will recover, or whether he will likely face another Ac Board and it’s just prolonging the misery by retaining him.
Your son should allow himself a small, perfectly normal pity party, then get his a$$ in gear if he wants to be with his classmates on their Comm Day. He will feel a lot better if he takes some action NOW; otherwise, this is going to eat at him over the holiday if he has done nothing except mourn. He will feel better if he proactively engages as soon as possible - my two cents. “Yes, sir, the minute I knew I had failed X and received grade Y, I delayed going on leave 2 days and immediately…” This is no time for any shreds of pride or vanity, just a fierce dose of “I am an adult now, and I am responsible for fixing my mistakes and overcoming this.”
He needs to be clear-eyed and brutally candid about things he could have done better, what his plan is, what his goal is, how strong his desire is - if he shows all this, the board appreciates a mid who readily engages with the problem instead of passively waiting and vaguely pleading to stay.
Actions speak louder than words.
If he is retained, the rough outlines of a plan and follow-up will be worked out at the Board, with a session with his ac adviser afterwards.
This is top of head, please forgive typos. Please let me know how it goes."
