My DD completed NSI in 2023 and knew a number of kids that quit. She is there now as an instructor and mentioned kids quit the 1st and 2nd day. It make me curious about the average number that quit and impressed with the kids who stick it out and can withstand the yelling and all the stress involved!
If you search “Navy ROTC Graduation Day on June 24, 2024 - Midshipman Ceremony” on youtube and the DOD site -
https://www.dvidshub.net/ you may see ceremonies from prior NSI Graduation ceremonies – they are typically brief, and since 2019 follow a similar format. Often, they will cover how many candidates started the rotation in the 3 companies, and how many are finishing. I don't recall a ceremony in which at-least a few candidates did not finish NSI.
My observation is that during the first NSIs there was an attrition rate of a few percent from those who DOR’d / rang the bell, and the number also included some with mechanical injuries who were unable to finish NSI, but were moving forward to be a part of NSO and NROTC at their host units in the late summer/ fall. Rough example 445 started, 408 are finishing. It varies, but I think less are dropping in recent years, though I'm sure "it depends".
One group that was DORing a lot in the beginning was NJROTC all-stars, who I think came in overconfident and underprepared. I had a few years ago a number of conversations with their then-centralized leadership, and implored them to shore up the gaps – very selfishly, I genuinely want the best standing shoulder to shoulder with my DS, cousin and others when they commission and serve, and I felt it was so unfortunate that this was happening. It was lose-lose. I think the then and current leadership, now under former aviator and NROTC alum Bruce Nolan has done an outstanding job to shore this expectations and preparation, so seeing less DORs from that NJROTC in recent years. I also know that some of the intensity from instructors from the first NSIs has been notched down a bit, which may also be contributing to less attrition. It was, um, not gentle for a while.
Overall, NSI is a great program and I think a win-win to gut-check the reality of ensuring those in this program are willing to “do the needful” and commit to a beyond normal boundary leadership role. It’s OK that people try it and learn it’s not for them – better now than later IMO.Hope that helps.