Service Selection

I believe the rule is 1% of graduating mids can go medical or dental corps. That would still work out to 10-11 slots, so it is strange. What I do know is A LOT of mids were assigned SWO or Subs who did not want it and were very unhappy. This happens every year but it happened to more mids than usual this year. I think this has to do with the smaller graduating class still needing to meet minimum targets for surface and sub communities.
 
There’s a memo (at least there was last year when my DD was applying) on the USNA website that talks about billets for medical school. It said up to max of 15 per year.

A buddy of mine went to medical school after USNA. He said only 6 were selected for his class.

At USMA, it’s up to 2% of the graduating class.
 
I really wouldn’t sweat getting into medical school straight out of the academy. I know many great military doctors who did a tour first, then got accepted to medical school. Personally, I think it makes you a better military doc as you actually understand your service.
My DW was an O-4 when she made the switch and went to medical school.
 
Class of 2020
1,184 on I-Day, and 1,021 Expected to commission. (Lost 163)

Class of 2019
1,191 on I-Day, and 1,052 Graduated. (Lost 139)

Class of 2018
1,192 on I-Day, and 1,042 Graduated. (Lost 150)

Class of 2017
1,206 on I-Day, and 1,053 Graduated. (Lost 153)

Class of 2016
1,206 on I-Day, and 1,076 Graduated. (Lost 130)

Class of 2015
1,193 on I-Day, and 1,070 Graduated. (Lost 123)

I write "graduated", because every year there are a handful of MIDNs who graduate but do not commission.
 
For a newbie, what disqualifies them from commissioning even after graduation?
 
txfwindian said:
For a newbie, what disqualifies them from commissioning even after graduation?
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It would mean they were medically disqualified from commissioning some time during their last two years at the Academy. Usually they’re allowed to stick around to graduate since they’ve already invested so much.
 
Also, that data looks skewed for c/o 2029, because it is just those who went through service selection. That number leaves out Midshipmen who are foreign nationals, those who will graduate with delayed commissioning, or those who will graduate with no commission. That number is usually around 20 or 25. So that puts the attrition rate for 2020 right in line with other years (around 140-ish)
 
These losses thru graduation are significantly below classes prior to 1980.

Class of 2020
1,184 on I-Day, and 1,021 Expected to commission. (Lost 163)

My Class
1,202 on I-Day, and 802 graduated (Lost 400)

My Class Attrition was typical of that decade.
 
usna1985 said:
Interesting that there were only 8 med school slots this year. In recent years, there have generally been 12.
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My son met with the person in charge of medical assignments to discuss his major and going medical a little while ago.

8 got selected ... there were only 11 that applied for medical this year.

Typically 15 or 16 apply and 11 or 12 get it is what he was told.
 
What I do know is A LOT of mids were assigned SWO or Subs who did not want it and were very unhappy.
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Out of curiosity, what was their first choice? Assume it was aviation or USMC ground. . .

At the end of the day, this is the US NAVY. Coming to USNA and then being "very unhappy" that you've been assigned to drive a ship/boat seems a bit odd. Just sayin' . . .
 
usna1985 said:
At the end of the day, this is the US NAVY. Coming to USNA and then being "very unhappy" that you've been assigned to drive a ship/boat seems a bit odd.
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I would suggest it's more that just "a bit odd". How about not fully understanding what they were getting in to or signed up for.
As you say, this is the US Navy, not some kids sports team where you say if I don't play QB or whatever, I'm going to be really upset. Too bad. They all whistle a different tune when tey get accepted or when they take the oath, but now now they're "upset". It's just me but not finding a lot sympathy for this.
 
Folks that don't get their first choice usually know why. They complain, but deep down they know why.

1. Weren't good enough (e.g. Leatherneck sucked, ASTB was borderline, grades were poor, one too many conduct/honor offenses).
2. Expressed ambivalence during a SARB ("I wanted Pilot, but I guess being an NFO is not that different").
3. Did not have the right skills/expertise. (i.e. economics major trying to compete for CW/IP).

Lateral transfers happen, and living the perspective of another warfare community for a while absolutely makes you better.
 
What happens next? Regarding service assignment? Do they start “getting recruited?” What actually happens between now and service assignment?
 
The most common scneario was folks wanting to go Marine Corps (Ground or Pilot) and not getting it. This happened to a few people in my company. I wouldn’t take their disappointment to be a sign of ungratefulness, entitlement, or regret. I’m sure for the most part they’re all still proud of what they’ll be doing post-graduation. It’s just that each different service assignment so profoundly influences every aspect of their life for the next 5-30 years, so when it doesn’t go the way they’d hoped, some disappointment is natural.

Most folks who come here have a very vague idea of what working in a ship, sub, aircraft, or in the MC would actually be like. That’s why we have summer cruises and mentors on the Yard representing each community. But yes, at the end of the day the needs of the Navy take precedence over individual desires. There are only so many slots for the Marine Corps, and very few slots for NSW and EOD. Trust me, this year there were some very qualified firsties that could have done great in those communities. However the service assignment committees have a tough job between the upper limits for the special communities and the quotas they have to meet for SWO and Subs.

I’ll compare it to something that comes up here a lot: Academy admissions. Every year there sre outstanding applicants who get denied even if they seemingly did everything right. It’s just an issue of numbers. Likewise there are some great midshipmen who have their heart set on USMC and are disappointed. It must really sting at first, and they have my sympathy so long as they dedicate themselves to excellence wherever they do end up.
 
Kierkegaard said:
The most common scneario was folks wanting to go Marine Corps (Ground or Pilot) and not getting it. This happened to a few people in my company. I wouldn’t take their disappointment to be a sign of ungratefulness, entitlement, or regret. I’m sure for the most part they’re all still proud of what they’ll be doing post-graduation. It’s just that each different service assignment so profoundly influences every aspect of their life for the next 5-30 years, so when it doesn’t go the way they’d hoped, some disappointment is natural.

Most folks who come here have a very vague idea of what working in a ship, sub, aircraft, or in the MC would actually be like. That’s why we have summer cruises and mentors on the Yard representing each community. But yes, at the end of the day the needs of the Navy take precedence over individual desires. There are only so many slots for the Marine Corps, and very few slots for NSW and EOD. Trust me, this year there were some very qualified firsties that could have done great in those communities. However the service assignment committees have a tough job between the upper limits for the special communities and the quotas they have to meet for SWO and Subs.

I’ll compare it to something that comes up here a lot: Academy admissions. Every year there sre outstanding applicants who get denied even if they seemingly did everything right. It’s just an issue of numbers. Likewise there are some great midshipmen who have their heart set on USMC and are disappointed. It must really sting at first, and they have my sympathy so long as they dedicate themselves to excellence wherever they do end up.
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Excellent post from one standing on the deckplates right now.
 
justdoit19 said:
What happens next? Regarding service assignment? Do they start “getting recruited?” What actually happens between now and service assignment?
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For many, it’s now a matter of picking dates for training start - flight school, TBS, EOD/SEAL pipeline, sub pipeline, and others requiring initial training. The ones going SWO will focus on types of ships and homeport, researching missions (cruiser-destroyer force or amphib? ship size? age?), deployment cycles (it’s no fun reporting to a ship headed to the shipyard for a long period, makes it challenging to progress on warfare qualifications), etc.
 
A1Janitor said:
My son met with the person in charge of medical assignments to discuss his major and going medical a little while ago.

8 got selected ... there were only 11 that applied for medical this year.

Typically 15 or 16 apply and 11 or 12 get it is what he was told.
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I think it was on the news that one of those selected for med school was the future Dr. Malcolm Perry. Congratulations to him!!!! Not only for that, but for yesterday's game result. :)
 
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