Service Selection Class of 2020 is Today

Kierkegaard, why the "rule" on the multiple special communities, especially SEAL and EOD, where there would appear to be natural overlap of interest and skills. Or someone who'd like to be a SEAL but, if that doesn't work out, would love to do Cyber. I can think of various reasons but would be interested in the company line, so to speak.

For many of those communities, since they are so selective, you kinda have to be all or nothing. Since there are so few spots, those communities won't even entertain somebody that doesn't desire it as their first choice.

I guess a question for a current a Mid... if someone puts SEAL first and anything but SWO second will they get SEAL? I ask because when I was there if anyone put anything but SWO behind SEAL they basically took themselves out of the running for SEAL. They took it as you aren’t dedicated to being a SEAL because you aren’t willing to go be a SWO and reapply. I know there are also double the amount of SEAL spots as when our class went through so that may have changed things.

I think this depends on who is running the SEAL program at the Academy at a given time. When I graduated, I knew people that put SEAL first and USMC ground second that still got NSW. Same with EOD.
 
I believe these days there are quite few successful lat transfers from SWO to SEAL officer, so if a stellar candidate couldn’t get selected out of the Academy, their odds are now even longer for a lat transfer. The folks I know who put SEAL or EOD at the top all put Navy Pilot second. They all got one of their top two. These special communities want people who are 100% dedicated to them, hence the stipulation of listing it as the first preference. Not sure I agree with it, but that’s what’s been done in recent years.
 
‘Back in my day’ (which wasn’t all that long ago, but not super recent) it was definitely all or nothing. With only 15 SEAL spots you can imagine how competitive it was. For those who wanted this path, they knew if they put pilot second it was end their SEAL dreams. It was definitely a tough decision.

I read an article about selection that was pretty good a day or two ago. Need to find that link. Gave the numbers and break down on a lot of this.
 
I believe these days there are quite few successful lat transfers from SWO to SEAL officer, so if a stellar candidate couldn’t get selected out of the Academy, their odds are now even longer for a lat transfer. The folks I know who put SEAL or EOD at the top all put Navy Pilot second. They all got one of their top two. These special communities want people who are 100% dedicated to them, hence the stipulation of listing it as the first preference. Not sure I agree with it, but that’s what’s been done in recent years.
I know this is an old thread, but I was just wondering... is it possible for someone that wants to be a SEAL to go to SOAS/other SEAL cruises and still participate in aviation summer cruises? I’m assuming you need aviation cruises in order to be selected as a pilot, so I was curious how people got in all the necessary summer trainings to be considered for aviation if they didn’t end up being selected for NSW. Thanks.
 
I know this is an old thread, but I was just wondering... is it possible for someone that wants to be a SEAL to go to SOAS/other SEAL cruises and still participate in aviation summer cruises? I’m assuming you need aviation cruises in order to be selected as a pilot, so I was curious how people got in all the necessary summer trainings to be considered for aviation if they didn’t end up being selected for NSW. Thanks.
An aviation tour is not a requirement to be selected for aviation.
 
^Yeah aviation cruises aren’t required to select aviation. The only SEAL “cruise” is SOAS and that’s a requirement for SEAL selection because it’s where midshipmen desiring to be SEALs are evaluated on their abilities and character.
 
^Yeah aviation cruises aren’t required to select aviation. The only SEAL “cruise” is SOAS and that’s a requirement for SEAL selection because it’s where midshipmen desiring to be SEALs are evaluated on their abilities and character.
Is it hard to be selected for aviation without an aviation cruise even though it isn’t required?
 
Class rank is a big part of it, but there are other factors. There is an aviation point system used that includes things like points for ASTB score, Powered Flight, Aviation Cruise, PPL, instructor rating, etc.
the idea is to identify those mids who have demonstrated interest and aptitude for aviation, and not just the ones that put it on the list.
 
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