Two separate issues, attrition during Swab summer and attrition during the 4 year academy experience:
Most of the Swab summer attrition is cadets dropping by request (DOR), not being washed out. The Cadet Battalion staff oversee the summer attrition issues, not the Cadre who are essentially the front line trainers. For most concerns the cadet receives progressive counseling allowing them time to improve. Honor violations are also taken very seriously. Don't lie or cheat, and your summer will go much better.
Kids show up overweight, unable to run the mile and a half, colorblind, etc. Those issues are addressed with some being allowed to improve and others discharged. There are always a few random unfortunate medical issues like appendicitis, that have nothing to do with training but just happen and would have happened anywhere the cadet attended. The first week or so, it is just yelling, no pushups etc. until everyone clears medical screening. Around the second week when everyone is past medical, the push-ups start, but by then, you have already got the hang of the basics and are making less mistakes. The physical training sole purpose is to improve your PFE score so you successfully complete Swab summer.
Now for attrition during the school year, it is always present. Everything from medical, to low GPA, to conduct and discipline, honor violations, criminal conduct, and drug use. The cadets are young and like any cross-section of 275 people, now matter how well screened, there will be incidents. The key is to break it down into innings, like baseball. First, get accepted, next successfully navigate swab summer, next realize you are now in college and don't tank your GPA freshman (1/c) year, and so on. Each year the class will get smaller until graduation. The strict covid protocols were difficult for all and extremely difficult for some. There is so little freedom the first three years, that when senior 1/c year comes, some let loose a little too much, and get in to trouble. There is also a good amount of kids admitted to an engineering degree, who for a variety of reasons struggle and they begin the process of changing majors and attending summer school or transfer to less technical majors putting themselves in a better position to be successful. At least 3-7 each year take an extra semester or two to graduate, mainly due to GPA issues.
Spoke to a few 2023 cadets and to the person, they all regretted not prioritizing their GPA freshman year which came back to haunt them on billet night. Freshman 4/c year chemistry, calculus, physics and statics are especially tough. The academy operates in phases, understand what phase you are in and the expectations that go with that phase.
It's a journey. Many have done it before you. The academy has operated for over 100 years, they know what they are doing. Take it one day at a time and enjoy the good days. If you are really lucky, there will be a person struggling tremendously in your platoon who will soak up the cadre attention and make your individual life easier. Be happy to have this person, and try to say a kind word to them when you can, as they tend to end up being some of the most interesting people you will work with and they did you a favor by being a cadre magnet for a while. Everyone struggles in some area or another, try to help a shipmate out and you will be rewarded.
Good luck!
Curious as to what makes you say that? My daughter said week 3 Echo started with 32 and by Monday or Tuesday was down to 26 I believe.