Service assignments for 2020

HopefulDad3210

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Has anyone heard anything generally about the various service selections? Any thoughts on whether there will be a sub draft this year? Mostly just curious, but DS is a Firstie.
 
Heavy Sub Draft thread going on right now. My DS who graduated this past year said there are usually some slots that require some persuasion to get the Mids to accept. Lots of info in the thread
 
I’ll check it out. Thanks. Wouldn’t they have had to go before an evaluation board to be eligible, though? I don’t know much about this process.
 
I am sure they seek out the Mids that have a strong background in the areas they are looking for. I would imagine if they fit the basic criteria on paper that as long as they don't flat out tell them they don't want it they "pass" the interview. I asked my DS last year right before service selection if he was worried about getting drafted. He said, "I am not too worried about it Dad. I did just bad enough in physics, so I don't think they will be looking for me." :)
 
DD one summer block did BOOMER out of Kings Bay. Commander was same Annapolis Company so let her drive and dive. Great experience but said never SUB. It's like EOD. It takes special people.
 
DD spent time on a boomer. She drove and got to look through the periscope. She said the atmosphere was pretty laid back but the mission seemed more critical than SWO. She liked it and is one of those that they'd probably want. We'll see how it pans out.
 
Sub draft has existed every year in recent history to my knowledge. In my year, it was a "you will go x,y,z." There are some ways to get out of it, as I had a few friends that did. However, y'all sleepin on how lowkey being a sub officer will be post service.
 
VEGEP and service assignment Questions.

How does a Mid's participation in VEGEP impact service selection? Does the Mid select with his/her class, or does selection defer until completion of the grad program that the Mid is in?

Does VEGEP participation impact on service selection options? Does the fact that a given Mid is not immediately available to the USN make the VGEP mid less attractive in competition for a given service assignment? I suspect that "the Horse has left the barn" for CL of 2020, but I am curious.

As usual, thanks to all you good folks that know more about this than I do.

I other news; DD reports that the USAFA football game was the best NAVY game she'd ever attended. She is wrong of course, the best game she ever attended was Navy/Huston 2016. I'm thinking that the cold driving rain of the Houston game and a Plebe's-Perspective might have colored her view of a stellar NAVY win.
 
VEGEP and service assignment Questions.

How does a Mid's participation in VEGEP impact service selection? Does the Mid select with his/her class, or does selection defer until completion of the grad program that the Mid is in?

Does VEGEP participation impact on service selection options? Does the fact that a given Mid is not immediately available to the USN make the VGEP mid less attractive in competition for a given service assignment?

I can't speak to VEGEP directly, however, I'm going to assume it's not any different than any of the other post-graduate programs at USNA.

Example: my own DS is on a post grad fellowship. He service selected along with everyone else. It was not deferred , it did not impact service selection in any way nor make him more or less attractive for an assignment. When he's finished with his two years at grad school, he shows up to his service selection assignment. Being selected for grad school and service assignments are exclusive of one another.
 
Sydney has given good anecdotal advice, but think of VGEP as a particular class’ last cohort to hit the Fleet or Corps in their class’ cycle.

Service selection proceeds as normal.

VGEPpers graduate and get BS degree with their class, having started their grad work at a local school as a Firstie, usually second semester. They usually graduate from their Master’s program that December, and proceed to school or ship pipeline next possible date, as the “stragglers” of their class arriving at Fleet or Corps first duty station.

USNA would not let anyone do VGEP unless Big Navy and Big Marines thought it was a good idea. It’s not a huge number allowed to do it, and they have to be well ahead on their USNA matrix with top grades in academics, conduct, performance.


I have seen VGEPpers attend Georgetown, GWU, UMD, Johns Hopkins, American. I think it has to be a one-year Master’s, as I think that’s all I’ve seen, but that’s an educated guess.
 
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VEGEP and service assignment Questions.

How does a Mid's participation in VEGEP impact service selection? Does the Mid select with his/her class, or does selection defer until completion of the grad program that the Mid is in?

Does VEGEP participation impact on service selection options? Does the fact that a given Mid is not immediately available to the USN make the VGEP mid less attractive in competition for a given service assignment? I suspect that "the Horse has left the barn" for CL of 2020, but I am curious.

As other posters have mentioned, generally speaking VGEP does not have a huge effect on service selection, with one major caveat.

Typically the Marine Corps won't let its air contracts take IGEP or VGEP. The fact that they have to spend six months at TBS and often wait at least six months to even start flight school, coupled with the 2-3 years that it takes to get winged once you get started mean that a normal grad will already be approaching O-3 if not already there by the time they get out to an operational squadron (particularly jet pilots). Add on any more delay in there for grad school and there can have significant career ramifications.

We were told up through 2/c year not to expect VGEP to be approved if you wanted Marine Air. Then when service selection came around, our class had a 50 person shortfall for Air Contracts. The Marines were doing almost anything at that point to convince people to switch that I think they relented and let a couple people go to grad school in exchange for taking an air contract. I suspect that was a one off thing, and that they've returned to the normal policy, but I'm also no longer in the loop.

Edit: Career ramifications should also be considered for those interested in taking grad school and going Navy Air. The reason for this is that the longer you take before you get winged and get out to the fleet, the more unobserved fitreps you accrue. While promotions to LTJG and LT are automatic, anything after that is not. Also, the times for when you get looked at for promotion are based off when you commission, not when you enter the fleet. What this means is that while everybody is getting unobserved fitreps in flight school, the quicker you get to the fleet, the more observed fitreps you get and the more opportunity you have to be evaluated for promotion. So If you take a year off for grad school and I don't, we'll still be looked at for promotion at the same time, and I'll have more fitreps to be evaluated on than you will since I've spent more of that time out in the fleet doing aviation things. The grad degree, while definitely good for you and your future outside of the military, is generally speaking not seen as being AS beneficial to the community as actually spending time in that community as a pilot or NFO.

The above might be a bit beyond the scope of this forum, and is a topic that I'm still learning about myself as a young officer. However, I mention it becauseI think it is good to know that getting a grad degree right after graduation might not necessarily be the best for your career if you intend to stay in the Navy. Of course, if you are planning on getting out right when your commitment is over it might very well be the right decision for you
 
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Thanks to All; I have wondered about this stuff.

I know that DD filled out the paperwork for VGEP; I don't know if it was entirely DD's idea. I know that she is eager to get to the fleet and was wavering on the idea, before being told "you don't turn down VGEP".

I think it's an amazing opportunity and will fill in some of those very few things in a "Real College Exp." that USNA doesn't provide. She's honored and is looking forward to the course work, but if she learned that VGEP reduced her chances at the service selection she has been chasing she'd drop VGEP like a hot rock. Following up on Huff09's post, USNA+VGEP MA/MS+Med School or Law School sounds good to DW and me. That's just not how DD see's things these days. She is planning on a Navy Career. I've never been able to root against my kid....... and I am kinda wondering how ThanksGiving will go this year.
 
My $0.02 . . . there is PLENTY of time for DD to pursue med school or law school or anything else. As the Senior Medical Officer at USNA told BGOs many years ago, "Go do something FUN for a few years [before going to med school]." I would echo that for law school. Many, many successful lawyers have had prior jobs and even careers before attending law school.

I also think everyone should start their USN/USMC career as if it will be just that: a career. You don't want to start burning bridges as a JO only to find out you really love the military and want to make it a career. But, you really can't because you took the wrong jobs or didn't do very well b/c you were only thinking of "5 and dive." Give 100% for 5+ years and then see where you are and what you want to do.
 
DD did not consider seven years MC Officer fun but it was a great life experience with all the ups (FUN) and downs. Now studying for LSAT. That prior experience may help on the applications but who knows.
 
Now studying for LSAT. That prior experience may help on the applications but who knows.

Trust me, it SHOULD help for law school applications and it WILL help when trying to get a job. Most law schools like having people with prior life experience, especially military experience. Ditto with firms and companies. Those who don't . . . you probably don't want to go to school/work there.
 
My $0.02 . . . there is PLENTY of time for DD to pursue med school or law school or anything else. As the Senior Medical Officer at USNA told BGOs many years ago, "Go do something FUN for a few years [before going to med school]." I would echo that for law school. Many, many successful lawyers have had prior jobs and even careers before attending law school.

I also think everyone should start their USN/USMC career as if it will be just that: a career. You don't want to start burning bridges as a JO only to find out you really love the military and want to make it a career. But, you really can't because you took the wrong jobs or didn't do very well b/c you were only thinking of "5 and dive." Give 100% for 5+ years and then see where you are and what you want to do.


ABSOLUTELY: DW and I diid the quickest way possible to JD and MD. When DD was trying to figure out how her life was gonna mesh with a 5yr service commitment, both DW and I were "Hard Over" on the benefits of making those decisions at the age of 26-27 after you know yourself a little better and have gained some real world experience. With USN service those 5 years are time that is almost universally respected/valued, business, grad schools, Etc.. And I ought to be a really interesting 5 years+. Then, if DD/DS decides at the end of 5yrs that they want to stay in ---- Awesome its an adult decision (and they must be having a little fun.

When DD was thinking about accepting her appointment, the big undiscovered country were those 5yrs of service after school; I would have been looking at this thread-----so put me down for a big AH-MEN re those five years of exploration, and maturity. Plenty of time to be an Attorney-----MORE THAN ENOUGH.
 
These days, it’s more of a “5+3,” to qualify for 100% of that generous Post 9/11 GI Bill educational benefit. SA grads have to do 36 months after the 5 year is satisfied.
 
what does that mean?

He might've missed a word after lowkey but I think he's saying that subs will set you up well to make lots of $$$ once you get out of the military

It's not unheard of for people to pick subs just because they think it'll maximize their earning potential when they get out
 
He might've missed a word after lowkey but I think he's saying that subs will set you up well to make lots of $$$ once you get out of the military

It's not unheard of for people to pick subs just because they think it'll maximize their earning potential when they get out

Thanks, thats news to me :)
 
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