Loosing Hope 😔

[Ivy22]

Fair enough. You guys know better with respect to that. I was going by what my kid was sharing from his experience in both NROTC and at the Academy. USNA service selects before NROTC, and the bar seems to be set lower for the ASTB for the Academy versus NROTC. It might be the same actual value (4/5/4) on paper, but everyone in his unit said that if you aren't up near the 7/7/7 range, you are probably not going to get a slot. While at the Academy, it you hit the min, you have a solid shot. Maybe because there are more NROTC students each year than Academy kids??

For OCS, I had heard it was "needs of the Navy" where there could be many slots, or none. If they hit their numbers for retention and new from USNA/NROTC, then OCS takes a hit.

Again, just going by his gouge after seeing both sides.

I'm certainly no authority, so take everything I write with a huge grain of salt.

NROTC 1/Cs often service select in September or October each year using a completely different pool of slots set aside for us. Our service selection is all done through NSTC and NETC. Around the same number of 1/C mids each year across the country as the Academy. ASTB scores vary from year to year, but usually 5s and 6s is at least good enough for SNFO, often good enough for SNA too. Some years it could be higher if an unusually high number of people are going for aviation. If Big Navy needs to reduce the amount of aviation slots in a year, they will cut down the USNA and NROTC slots equally and not favor one or other.

For Pensacola report dates, we have our own slots too from late May until whenever it ends for the year (usually in November), and you get to request a month to go down, and then they give you a week in that month to report during. Check-in group and NIFE classes in Pensacola will be a good mix between OCS, NROTC, and USNA, along with USMC, USCG, and internationals. Same with primary classes.

SWO ship selection is similar, and they happen around the same time, Big Navy has different slot pools set aside for NROTC and USNA. Like half the Rota slots go to USNA, other half to NROTC, and so on. We don't just get "what's left" from USNA. NROTC mids can also get a "blue chip" during their 1/C SWO cruise.

OCS aviation slots can ebb and flow a little bit with the amount of slots, but they likely won't drop that number down to 0 because they want a mix of commissioning sources in the community. If the aviation pipeline starts to get backed up, they'll usually just assign later and later class dates for people, but they don't cut off OCS completely.

 

[Boymomof3]

NROTC 1/Cs often service select in September or October each year using a completely different pool of slots set aside for us. Our service selection is all done through NSTC and NETC. Around the same number of 1/C mids each year across the country as the Academy. ASTB scores vary from year to year, but usually 5s and 6s is at least good enough for SNFO, often good enough for SNA too. Some years it could be higher if an unusually high number of people are going for aviation. If Big Navy needs to reduce the amount of aviation slots in a year, they will cut down the USNA and NROTC slots equally and not favor one or other.

For Pensacola report dates, we have our own slots too from late May until whenever it ends for the year (usually in November), and you get to request a month to go down, and then they give you a week in that month to report during. Check-in group and NIFE classes in Pensacola will be a good mix between OCS, NROTC, and USNA, along with USMC, USCG, and internationals. Same with primary classes.

SWO ship selection is similar, and they happen around the same time, Big Navy has different slot pools set aside for NROTC and USNA. Like half the Rota slots go to USNA, other half to NROTC, and so on. We don't just get "what's left" from USNA. NROTC mids can also get a "blue chip" during their 1/C SWO cruise.

OCS aviation slots can ebb and flow a little bit with the amount of slots, but they likely won't drop that number down to 0 because they want a mix of commissioning sources in the community. If the aviation pipeline starts to get backed up, they'll usually just assign later and later class dates for people, but they don't cut off OCS completely.

My DS will find out next - has been early Oct. at his Unit in previous years. We are already excited/nervous/wondering etc. He’d love a pilot slot but is also “on the Nuke Power draft radar”. He just took the test & received 8/8/8. He’s going to one and done it due to the risk of getting a lower score on take 2. I know nothing is guaranteed but I liked reading your stats above . We’ll see…. He’s prepared to accept whatever he’s assigned….

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Thanks for education. Learning is a good thing!

 

[Ivy22]

My DS will find out next - has been early Oct. at his Unit in previous years. We are already excited/nervous/wondering etc. He’d love a pilot slot but is also “on the Nuke Power draft radar”. He just took the test & received 8/8/8. He’s going to one and done it due to the risk of getting a lower score on take 2. I know nothing is guaranteed but I liked reading your stats above . We’ll see…. He’s prepared to accept whatever he’s assigned….

I would keep the 8/8/8 scores, not worth risking lower scores because they take your latest no matter what. GPA also plays a big factor for selection. Same with CO's rec/class ranking. PRT and major tier also weigh in, but not as much to my knowledge

Gouge (so take it with a grain of salt): The "nuke draft" works a little differently in NROTC I think. Someone else (like GWU PNS) can also chime in with more info on it I'm sure. The way my unit described it to me when I asked about it is that each unit/school has a "nuke quota" that they need to get each year based on the size of the Navy Option 1/C class. If there are enough qualified volunteers from your unit, then no one else gets "nuke drafted". They'll draft people from a unit if there are not enough qualified volunteers from a unit. It could be a problem at bigger units that have a lot of people wanting aviation and not nuke (Embry-Riddle comes to mind, and I've heard a lot of Nuke draft stories from ERAU grads). My year, our unit quota was 1 and we had 2 volunteers. All of us (single-digit number) got our first choice. A couple years before me, the nuke quota was really high for us because several people got drafted even though we had quite a few volunteers. I'm not sure what they count as "drafting" because technically putting nuke ANYWHERE on your sheet, even if it's #5 is "volunteering". I did not put nuke (SWO-N nor subs) anywhere on my preference sheet, but some years, that is not allowed.

I think at USNA, since it's just 1 school, then they have a set quota each year they need to hit

There's also a "up-screen" and "down-screen" process for nuke based on your GPA and major tier. Even though I was a non-STEM major, I had a super high GPA so they "up-screened" me for nuke and made me submit an application during my junior year. People wanting to go nuke can early select submarines or SWO-N their junior year with the up-screen process in NROTC too. They also can try for Naval Reactors (NR) if they want, which is very hard to get.

 

[Boymomof3]

I would keep the 8/8/8 scores, not worth risking lower scores because they take your latest no matter what. GPA also plays a big factor for selection. Same with CO's rec/class ranking. PRT and major tier also weigh in, but not as much to my knowledge

Gouge (so take it with a grain of salt): The "nuke draft" works a little differently in NROTC I think. Someone else (like GWU PNS) can also chime in with more info on it I'm sure. The way my unit described it to me when I asked about it is that each unit/school has a "nuke quota" that they need to get each year based on the size of the Navy Option 1/C class. If there are enough qualified volunteers from your unit, then no one else gets "nuke drafted". They'll draft people from a unit if there are not enough qualified volunteers from a unit. It could be a problem at bigger units that have a lot of people wanting aviation and not nuke (Embry-Riddle comes to mind, and I've heard a lot of Nuke draft stories from ERAU grads). My year, our unit quota was 1 and we had 2 volunteers. All of us (single-digit number) got our first choice. A couple years before me, the nuke quota was really high for us because several people got drafted even though we had quite a few volunteers. I'm not sure what they count as "drafting" because technically putting nuke ANYWHERE on your sheet, even if it's #5 is "volunteering". I did not put nuke (SWO-N nor subs) anywhere on my preference sheet, but some years, that is not allowed.

I think at USNA, since it's just 1 school, then they have a set quota each year they need to hit

There's also a "up-screen" and "down-screen" process for nuke based on your GPA and major tier. Even though I was a non-STEM major, I had a super high GPA so they "up-screened" me for nuke and made me submit an application during my junior year. People wanting to go nuke can early select submarines or SWO-N their junior year with the up-screen process in NROTC too. They also can try for Naval Reactors (NR) if they want, which is very hard to get.

Good info! Thank you! He’s definitely sticking w/ his scores. He’s a total PT stud & GPA is good. Could be better but it’s solid (I honestly don’t know the exact # but have a good idea - we are hands off parents). There will be only 5 commissioning from his Unit in 2025 (I have my theory why but that’s for another post). He did mention the quota. For his Unit, the one Nuke Engineer major is actually requesting something else (non flight related) & it looks like this individual is on track for that (don’t want to share other folks 411). So…. that leaves 4, one who is a Marine Option…. Now we are down to 3…. We get it’s a #s game & it’s not looking necessarily favorable for him - he’ll do everything that is under his control but has come to terms that Nuke Power may be in is future. About 7 more months until he finds out!

 

[justdoit19]

I would keep the 8/8/8 scores, not worth risking lower scores because they take your latest no matter what. GPA also plays a big factor for selection. Same with CO's rec/class ranking. PRT and major tier also weigh in, but not as much to my knowledge

Gouge (so take it with a grain of salt): The "nuke draft" works a little differently in NROTC I think. Someone else (like GWU PNS) can also chime in with more info on it I'm sure. The way my unit described it to me when I asked about it is that each unit/school has a "nuke quota" that they need to get each year based on the size of the Navy Option 1/C class. If there are enough qualified volunteers from your unit, then no one else gets "nuke drafted". They'll draft people from a unit if there are not enough qualified volunteers from a unit. It could be a problem at bigger units that have a lot of people wanting aviation and not nuke (Embry-Riddle comes to mind, and I've heard a lot of Nuke draft stories from ERAU grads). My year, our unit quota was 1 and we had 2 volunteers. All of us (single-digit number) got our first choice. A couple years before me, the nuke quota was really high for us because several people got drafted even though we had quite a few volunteers. I'm not sure what they count as "drafting" because technically putting nuke ANYWHERE on your sheet, even if it's #5 is "volunteering". I did not put nuke (SWO-N nor subs) anywhere on my preference sheet, but some years, that is not allowed.

I think at USNA, since it's just 1 school, then they have a set quota each year they need to hit

There's also a "up-screen" and "down-screen" process for nuke based on your GPA and major tier. Even though I was a non-STEM major, I had a super high GPA so they "up-screened" me for nuke and made me submit an application during my junior year. People wanting to go nuke can early select submarines or SWO-N their junior year with the up-screen process in NROTC too. They also can try for Naval Reactors (NR) if they want, which is very hard to get.

The Nuke bonus was also doubled this year. So that’s nice.

 

[Boymomof3]

The Nuke bonus was also doubled this year. So that’s nice.

Good to know! Thank you! I think I saw that on one of your other posts. If that’s where he lands, he’ll be ok & I’m sure that bonus would come in handy. Like so many of these kids, he’ll be student loan free - it wouldn’t be a horrible place to be financially at 22 years old .

 

[justdoit19]

Good to know! Thank you! I think I saw that on one of your other posts. If that’s where he lands, he’ll be ok & I’m sure that bonus would come in handy. Like so many of these kids, he’ll be student loan free - it wouldn’t be a horrible place to be financially at 22 years old .

As long as they are financially responsible. I know of a couple situations that didn’t go so well.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

$35k/year.



(I'm old, I can't make a .gif work).

 

[Boymomof3]

As long as they are financially responsible. I know of a couple situations that didn’t go so well.

Good point! Need to keep that in mind. So far he does ok & said he’d like to get a Civic for a car, no matter which job he gets. We are pretty frugal - maybe some of that wore off on him. Our boys have a Civic they all share - and he’s ok w/ zipping around in it. Just said he’d like a little upgrade in the model (theirs is the most basic Honda offers).

 

[IronmanDaremo]

During my dad's XO tour in Charleston, we lived in the Naval housing (doesn't exist there anymore) and my dad had a party for the officers from his ship at our place.

Recent Academy grad Ensign was there with his career-starter-loan Mercedes SL, which he summarily parked ........ on ......... our ......... grass ........ in the front yard. If you have ever lived or been in Naval housing, they would get on you if even your grass wasn't cut and edged properly. Imagine if there is a frickin' car in the yard! Yeah, dad was not real happy with that one. (I believe I was in 9th or 10th grade, so around 1985-86).

Karma is a b-tch. The kid totaled it a few weeks later, my dad said. Talk about poor financial planning!!

 

[blinkus]

$35k/year.

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(I'm old, I can't make a .gif work).