Roommates scrambled

JCSDVM1

JCSDVM1

5-Year Member
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Mar 11, 2018
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DS son just texted and was notified the two roomies he requested were a no-go. The two new ones he doesn't know and one of them has a reputation for being a slob. DS is extremely disappointed. He's hearing of similar stories from other plebes who were placed with people they absolutely did not want to room with. Is this part of the whole plebe experience? Why do they even ask you for a preference if they don't seem interested in making an effort to fulfill it? Does anyone have any stories of a roommate scramble that turned into a good experience???
 
Welcome to the military! Having hired and worked with many former JOs, I can tell you that one of the top attractions is their adaptability — able to cope with change, roll with the punches, find a way, overcome personality issues, work with a variety of people. The training starts on day one, when they learn you can’t always get what you want.

By the time she’s done at USNA, DD will have cycled through seven different roommates. She’s learned that you somehow figure it out. You don’t need to be best friends, just able to share a room civilly, kindly and without drama.
 
MidCakePa said:
Welcome to the military! Having hired and worked with many former JOs, I can tell you that one of the top attractions is their adaptability — able to cope with change, roll with the punches, find a way, overcome personality issues, work with a variety of people. The training starts on day one, when they learn you can’t always get what you want.

By the time she’s done at USNA, DD will have cycled through seven different roommates. She’s learned that you somehow figure it out. You don’t need to be best friends, just able to share a room civilly, kindly and without drama.
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Yes, yes and yes.
 
JCSDVM1 said:
DS son just texted and was notified the two roomies he requested were a no-go. The two new ones he doesn't know and one of them has a reputation for being a slob. DS is extremely disappointed. He's hearing of similar stories from other plebes who were placed with people they absolutely did not want to room with. Is this part of the whole plebe experience? Why do they even ask you for a preference if they don't seem interested in making an effort to fulfill it? Does anyone have any stories of a roommate scramble that turned into a good experience???
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DD’s scramble was difficult and we got the ear full. However, after a couple of weeks, the three of them figured it all out and managed to get along just fine. Same will happen with your DS. Part of learning to adjust to uncomfortable living arrangements.
 
Our youngster and many others were 'shotgunned' at the end of last year. Not only different roomies, but different companies entirely. There was a lot of grumbling, but it works itself out. More opportunities to build lifelong friendships through adversity while surviving life at a SA.

And, it's great practice for the fleet. You certainly don't get to pick who goes on your ship with you or who you are stuck with in a nuclear sub! It stings initially, but my Mid is grateful and has grown from it and met more new friends and mentors.
 
This is typical and has been going on for years. Depending on who the Supe is, it changes. Sometimes, it is not done, sometimes happens after plebe year, or youngster. My class was shotgunned after plebe year. Built friendships over plebe year that I have to this day. Then, spent the next three years with a new set of people, with whom I also built lifetime relationships with. I think its great!
 
Plebes seldom get to request roommates, and if they do it is not usually taken into much consideration. I was in a four-man room until I was a second-semester yuk... with quite a few individuals that I didn't get along with. He will get through it.
 
Was roommate once called "wife" before (co-ed)? You'd need to have a good relationship with the "wife"
 
My 2/c DS has had 9 different roommates at USNA up to now. He expects to continue adding to that number over the next 3 semesters as well. He did happily reunite with plebe summer roommates for the year of covid plus one more. He has made great friends and has appreciated all. It seems harsh at the time, but learning to live with anyone is a great skill and another of the unique learning opportunities provided by service academies.
 
TXSUB said:
Built friendships over plebe year that I have to this day. Then, spent the next three years with a new set of people, with whom I also built lifetime relationships with. I think its great!
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This! Instead of 1-2 roommates that DS can call friends for life, she has 6-7. (Plus, between the end of 2/c year and the end of 1/c year, she’ll have lived in five different rooms. Builds character! And moving skills.)
 
DrMom is correct - expect different roommates every semester. Company policies differ, but generally as you progress your chances of getting room and roommate preferences get better, but expect it to be a different room and roommate each semester.

Note: there is a difference between a scramble/shotgun and changing roommates/rooms. Within each company cadets will change roommates and rooms every semester, but remain in the same company.

A scramble is when an entire year group of cadets is randomly redistributed to other companies through the Corps. This practice has gone in and out of favor, usually depending on the Commandant. Traditionally it was done after Plebe year, but has also occurred subsequent to other years. A few years ago a class was scrambled after Cow year, resulting in some very angry Firsties.
 
Shotgunned means that mids are dispersed individually to different companies, as opposed to an entire company of classmates moving to another company. Both have happened before. Shotgunned was the term we used at USNA in the 90s. Not sure if it is the same as scrambled, but sounds like it might be…
 
To my knowledge shotgunned = scrambled. Just different terms for the same thing.
 
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