Just hung up with my son so hopefully you will hear shortly!
LDAC 2013
- Thread starter mariner116
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Just hung up with my son so hopefully you will hear shortly!
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I posted on the big changes on page 5 of this thread. Big things were the elimination of the dead zone/use of DABM and garaunteed active duty programs for those in certain degrees with a 2.75+ so long as they ADSO for a certain branch. The accessions rep also mentioned the AD mission for 2014. I forget if it was the same as last year, but it was just shy of 3,000. I have the exact number written down somewhere.
e: to hit on the way the dead zone change is supposed to work, it was explained that you get your three branch looks the same as last year. The dead zone after the branch fills to (55% capacity? I forget) and then opening back up for the bottom half of the OML is gone. Now, that remainder goes to the DA branching model.
So say I'm at the 45th percentile of the OML. My top three are AV, IN, and AR. Say all of those close out at the 40th percentile. So I get my three looks, and get tossed into the DABM. Now how it works from there was somewhat murky. Supposedly the model looks at your first three choices again, so you get another bite at the apple.
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Saw the stuff about the change in the dead zone (there still is one - just different size), but at least you can get one of your top 3 choices if you go through DABM.
I have heard rumors about an EOD signup, but not about a degree/2.75/branch option - I am assuming this is for STEM types for Engineering and Signal Corps, but are there others?
Mission size has a lot to do with how many slots and where a cadet stands, as the more you cut off the bottom, the lower the remaining cadets rank in percentile and the fewer slots in the branch... Denominator is critical...
Details...
Bull, you're cruel. I think you really meant to leave us hanging!
I think I know what happened to bull...
Unless he logs in in the next hour or 2, I'd say we won't hear from him until he is home...
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I think I know what happened to bull...
Unless he logs in in the next hour or 2, I'd say we won't hear from him until he is home...
I'm sure you're right.
I'm not going to dig for the number he gave right this moment, but if it wasn't the same as last year's then it was very close. And given our current personnel challenges anything can happen between now and accessions.
Yes, there was an EOD prescreening/signup during branch orientation. The accessions briefer also mentioned slots for EOD school for those branching OD who wanted it.
e: woops, forgot to answer part of your post. There are seven (I think? Sounds about right) branches this year that will garauntee AD to cadets with a 2.75+ enrolled in certain degrees. I didn't ask for the list that broke this down, but they supposedly had it in the accessions tent during orientation day. From the way the briefer made it sound each branch had it's own list of targeted degrees, but I could have misunderstood. In order to take advantage of the program the cadet had to adso for that branch.
Yes, there was an EOD prescreening/signup during branch orientation. The accessions briefer also mentioned slots for EOD school for those branching OD who wanted it.
e: woops, forgot to answer part of your post. There are seven (I think? Sounds about right) branches this year that will garauntee AD to cadets with a 2.75+ enrolled in certain degrees. I didn't ask for the list that broke this down, but they supposedly had it in the accessions tent during orientation day. From the way the briefer made it sound each branch had it's own list of targeted degrees, but I could have misunderstood. In order to take advantage of the program the cadet had to adso for that branch.
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Full Metal Bulldog
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What was the primary criteria used for selecting cadets who wanted EOD? Usual suspects like grades and PT scores?
The biggest controversy my school has with LDAC is the branch selection system being too objective. Not enough emphasis is being placed on true leadership potential or competency. Some cadre at my unit said this was being looked at this year, is this true at all? Seems so far like meer scuttlebutt.
The biggest controversy my school has with LDAC is the branch selection system being too objective. Not enough emphasis is being placed on true leadership potential or competency. Some cadre at my unit said this was being looked at this year, is this true at all? Seems so far like meer scuttlebutt.
The way the briefing made it sound was that anyone branching OD who wanted a shot at the school would get it. But there were so many moving pieces this year the briefing was like drinking from a fire hose. I have to be honest and inform you that, not being the most gifted chemist, I wasn't paying the closest attention to the EOD portion of the briefing.
As far branch selection goes, I don't quite follow you. The Accessions Model for FY 2014 is available online now. There are changes that put more weight on campus performance, if that's what you're getting at.
As far branch selection goes, I don't quite follow you. The Accessions Model for FY 2014 is available online now. There are changes that put more weight on campus performance, if that's what you're getting at.
Thanks!
It actually sounds like quite a large change from past years. Perhaps this will end the jokes about cadets with critical degrees being branched without regards to their potential contributions.
And that 2.75 minimum could play some games with the where the bottom of the OML for AD will be set... The opportunity to ADSO for a needed degree may be critical in keeping a few cadets from falling below the cutoff line. Interesting.
"True leadership" is a very subjective quality and very difficult to rate and rank consistently. As much as the evaluations at LDAC are supposed to be about this, with the limited opportunity for observation, it is difficult to give much weight to a small sample. These qualities should also be going into your BN ranking, as the cadre have a much longer perspective on the cadet. There are plenty of cadets who don't get the support of cadre for AD for those very issues. That is where this is most important.
SMC folks don't have much to worry about for Active Duty as long as you show that "true leadership and competency" - you will get AD if you pass muster with a 2.0 and a minimal passing score at LDAC.
Full Metal Bulldog
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Thanks for the info, as I'm strongly considering Ordnance Corps and EOD interests me.
Goaliedad, I was mostly referring to branch selection rather than AD selection. The issue my school has, as an SMC with virtually guaranteed AD, is a lot of "unbalanced" cadets receiving very sought after branches. Mostly these are cadets with a 4.0 GPA but a very low APFT receiving combat arms branches (especially Infantry). Sometimes it's vice versa, but rarely since GPA has such a high weight in branching score. Some cadets couldn't lead an army out of a wet paper bag, but receive a sought after branch due to otherwise good scores and a lack of weight in commander's ranking.
However, I still do agree that GPA should be the most important factor in branching for now. As a cadet, you are still first and foremost a student.
Goaliedad, I was mostly referring to branch selection rather than AD selection. The issue my school has, as an SMC with virtually guaranteed AD, is a lot of "unbalanced" cadets receiving very sought after branches. Mostly these are cadets with a 4.0 GPA but a very low APFT receiving combat arms branches (especially Infantry). Sometimes it's vice versa, but rarely since GPA has such a high weight in branching score. Some cadets couldn't lead an army out of a wet paper bag, but receive a sought after branch due to otherwise good scores and a lack of weight in commander's ranking.
However, I still do agree that GPA should be the most important factor in branching for now. As a cadet, you are still first and foremost a student.
-Bull-
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I think I know what happened to bull...
Unless he logs in in the next hour or 2, I'd say we won't hear from him until he is home...
I'm sorry guys, I'm still in a leadership position so I'm a little busy and I head to CTLT immediately after this, but once I get there I will be able to access a computer. For now I'm trying to answer as much as I can when I can. I took a lot of notes and observed all month so I'm more than willing to answer anything.
Also, the changes to accessions were lengthy so I don't really want to say too much if I'm not positive I remember the answer from the briefing. It should appear online at some point, I'd think. From what I've seen in this thread, the answers look right so far.
EDelahanty
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Congratulations, Bull, on your success at LDAC and best wishes for your stint at CTLT. When you have time, we look forward to reading whatever comments you may share about your experience.
For anyone interested in LDAC graduation ceremonies, they are live-streamed and last about 45 minutes. The 7th and 8th regiments' graduation will occur tomorrow beginning 12 noon Pacific time.
Here's a link to the official LDAC Facebook page, which will post a link tomorrow to the live-stream connection.
https://www.facebook.com/LDAC13
Last I checked, a commander at an SMC had the ability to deny AD to any cadet they thought lacking the skills necessary for the job. If the cadets who can't lead an army out of a wet paper bag are getting past the commander, I suggest that either the commander is not getting adequate feedback up the food chain from his subordinates, or has a reason to boost the number of AD commissions that is not known to you nor I. I suspect the former. And that would be a leadership failure up and down the CoC, unfortunately.
Full Metal Bulldog
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I bet Bull's comment of reality just completely crushed the plans of several SMC cadets and prospectives. Funny but sadly true.
And yes, an "N" at LDAC would be another way to filter out problems that the commandant doesn't catch.
Of course, this begs the question of who the candidates are who didn't beat out the "leadership failures" that slipped by and what their deficiencies were...
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When you go to camp, the only cadets you have ever interacted with by and large are within your batt. Within the first week I was already scared for the sake of the Army. Not only did you have completely incompetent cadets who were going to pass camp you had others who possessed very very toxic personalities and you knew they would only be a liability to the Army.
Let's put it this way, if this cadet was the future PL/CO of my son/daughter I would be pulling every string in the world to get them transferred somewhere or better yet ANYWHERE else.
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I do not doubt what you are saying but I would sit and marinate a couple years when you have a better perspective of ROTC-land and it's purpose before deciding if someone is a bad leader or not. Sometimes unfamiliarity and nerves make people appear incompetent or can alter their personalities when stressed. Not saying that this is an excuse but the people who I thought were terrible my frosh year ended up being very competent and are doing great things in the Army currently. I know as a MSI/II the qualities of what makes a good leader were still unknown to me and even now I am still learning everyday.
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