Service Selection

Jimdlt19 said:
Just a side under the fine print of “Medical Corps” (7) these are Logistics and Human Resource types assigned to support the Navy’s Medical Mission. They are NOT healthcare providers Dr., Nurse, etc.
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I believe they are indeed going Medical Corps, as a handful are allowed to do every year. Unless the infographic meant to say “Medical Service Corps.”

There are usually half a dozen to 13 or 14 who are allowed to go to Medical Corps each year, via USUHS or civilian med school, out of USNA. I assumed these 7 were those mids selected for this opportunity, pending their acceptance into an accredited U.S. medical school.
www.usna.edu

Premedical/Predental Opportunities

Premedical/Predental Opportunities page for Chemistry Department at USNA.edu. Updated Tue Apr 16 12:50:14 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu


I don’t think I have ever seen anyone go Medical Service Corps (the admin/logistics or specialty folks such as Physical Therapists, etc.) or Nurse Corps from USNA. Not that it couldn’t happen, if needs of the Navy intervened. Medical Corps is MD, of course.






I looked up the last several years of service assignment stats, and it was a range of 6-13 midshipmen for Medical Corps each year. Found a nice clip on 2 USNA Class of 2021 midshipmen in that year’s group; they should be 2 years into med school by now.
 
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Capt MJ said:
I believe they are indeed going Medical Corps, as a handful are allowed to do every year.
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^ Concur with CAPT MJ (of course ) . The numbers are generally consistent with history, and I've never heard of anyone going to MSC from USNA.
(Of course anything can happen, but given that the numbers line up, remember Gibbs Rule # 39 -- there is no such thing as coincidences).
PS -- I am not that big a geek that I remember Gibb's rules...I had to look it up.
 
8th Wing Refugee said:
Favorite story I heard was from a Nuke Draft year. Oceanography major who didn't want to be there was asked by Rickover "What can an Oceanography major tell me that a Mech E major can't". Mid reply was "What kind of mud the USS Thresher is laying in." Needless to say, he was out of there pretty quickly and free to go where he pleased.

And there was supposedly a wooden block on the front of the desk and he wanted to see if you would take it and put it under the sawed-off chair leg to avoid the balancing act.
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Ahh, the Rickover stories. They never get old.
One brother was in a year group where you had to walk the razor. Do well enough to get flight school, but not too well to earn Rickover’s attention.
Great news as the “person” I’m following got flight school.
For those who didn’t get their choice, don’t despair. There are many ways to achieve your goals in life.
 
Mine early selected Nuke SWO, last week (not quite early but....) He was thrilled, it was his first choice. I think there was still a lot of pressure as company mates didn't get their first choice. It is emotional for them all.
 
Jimdlt19 said:
With Aviation at over a 1/3 average between Navy and USMC, look for this trend to continue in future graduate years as the F/A-35B/C are fully integrated. Senior Aviators and NFOs (O3-O5) are leaving their beloved F/A-18s en mass for greener pastures in the Civ Airline world, not willing to transition into the F/A-35B/C. The Navy saw a similar issue with the F-14 community in the late 90s into early 2000s.
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I was thinking they would take less pilots since there is such a big back log but I guess not! Maybe your explanation is why they took their normal numbers of pilots.
 
I got my first choice- Navy Pilot!
My company was generally very happy with the outcome.

Jimdlt19 said:
Just a side under the fine print of “Medical Corps” (7) these are Logistics and Human Resource types assigned to support the Navy’s Medical Mission. They are NOT healthcare providers Dr., Nurse, etc.
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These 7 will indeed be doctors.
 
Skipper07 said:
I got my first choice- Navy Pilot!
My company was generally very happy with the outcome.


These 7 will indeed be doctors.
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So pleased for you! You may exhale now. Time to start scheming abut Pensacola report dates, fun stashes, that sweet apartment with a pool that’s an easy ride into base for night hops.

Appreciate your confirmation of what I was 99.99% sure was the case WRT Med Corps 7.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
^ Concur with CAPT MJ (of course ) . The numbers are generally consistent with history, and I've never heard of anyone going to MSC from USNA.
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Just about all of the Medical Service Corps folks that I ever met were ex-enlisted. I recognize that Physical Therapists in particular do
often come into the MSC from college but the administrative/logistics/pest control types are often former enlisted.
 
DS called and was so happy for his firsties. One in particular that did get their first choice.

That person has been an incredible friend and mentor and has become like a daughter to me. Seeing her get her first choice left me in tears. Pretty sure my DS shed a few on her behalf.

He also said it really rang his bell in terms of this being real for them now. They are 2/C and time has flown. They are next.

Happy to all who got their first choice. My heart is sad for those who didn’t but I am hopeful that the Navy chose a path for them that will provide personal growth and bring out skills and aptitude they may not have known they had.
 
Skipper07 said:
I got my first choice- Navy Pilot!
My company was generally very happy with the outcome.


These 7 will indeed be doctors.
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Congrats to you!!!! I so appreciate your input here over the years and hope you continue to share as you progress in your career.
Pro tip, avoid buzzing the tower!!!
 
My son's early morning professor is brand new and a civilian. Apparently many professors cancel early AM class the day after Selection Day, knowing about the generous amounts of alcohol being consumed tonight. My son's class wasn't canceled. Ooooops... Hope she isn't annoyed by the bloodshot eyes and snoring tomorrow!
 
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Has anyone gone Dental Corps out of USNA recently? I know Medical and Dental Corps are considered the same (as far as USNA is concerned) for selection, but I only saw people go the med school route as a mid.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
Has anyone gone Dental Corps out of USNA recently? I know Medical and Dental Corps are considered the same (as far as USNA is concerned) for selection, but I only saw people go the med school route as a mid.
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Unicorn cousin.
 
Results posted by USNA official site highlights of Thursday’s service selection below.

OBTAIN CAREER ASSIGNMENTS
POSTED ON: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2022 2:27 PM BY MEDIARELATIONS@USNA.EDU

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – More than 1,000 midshipmen in the Class of 2023 received their service assignments yesterday in Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy.

Midshipmen may select from 24 different career choices in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and submit their service assignment preferences (up to six) in late August of their 1st Class (senior) year.

Assignments are based on specific requirements provided to the Naval Academy by Department of the Navy leadership and consider both a midshipman’s aptitude and preference for a particular assignment. The Naval Academy endeavors to match personal preferences with aptitude and ability, placing midshipmen in the community best suited to their strengths to set them up for successful careers of naval service. Roughly 93% percent of 1st Class midshipmen (seniors) in the Class of 2023 received their first or second assignment preference. Midshipmen who will be commissioned as Surface Warfare Officers will select their first ships in the academy’s annual Ship Selection Night, typically held in January.

The culmination of four years of challenging study and training as a Naval Academy midshipman is graduation and commissioning as a Navy or Marine Corps officer. Throughout their four years at the academy, midshipmen are exposed to the various career paths offered in the Navy and Marine Corps.

The Class of 2023 service assignment breakdown:

Community

Assigned as of 18 Nov. 2022

SWO (Surface Warfare Officer)

212

SWO (Nuclear)

36

Navy Pilot

231

Submarines

136

Navy NFO (Naval Flight Officer)

55

SEAL (Sea, Air, Land)

29

EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)

16

CW (Cryptologic Warfare)

13

Intel

11

IP (Information Professional)

8

Medical Corps

7

CWE (Cyber Warfare Engineer)

6

Supply Corps

4

CEC (Civil Engineer Corps)

2

Oceanography

2


Navy Total


768

USMC Ground

179

USMC Pilot

75

USMC Cyber

6

USMC Total

260

TOTAL

1028
 
Curious about the numbers for Maine Corps pilot. How competitive compared to Navy pilot and what do they look for in a mid who selects Marine Corps pilot ? I see the Marine Corps takes fewer pilots - guess I’m for looking for an idea as to why a Mid would choose Marine over Navy. Thanks.
 
DMV1962 said:
Curious about the numbers for Maine Corps pilot. How competitive compared to Navy pilot and what do they look for in a mid who selects Marine Corps pilot ? I see the Marine Corps takes fewer pilots - guess I’m for looking for an idea as to why a Mid would choose Marine over Navy.
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Depends on how you define “competitive.” One angle is that the Marines have fewer aircraft than the Navy — born of being a significantly smaller force — hence the need for fewer aviators. Not sure what the relative interest is, however, which is a way to measure competitiveness.

Another angle is that a mid must first choose to become a Marine, then an aviator. It’s not as simple as saying “I want to fly,” because you’ll first be screened to determine whether you’re a good fit for the Marines. It says a lot that newly minted 2LTs first attend TBS (i.e. learn to be a Marine), then attend flight school (i.e. learn to be an aviator).

There are stories told in SAF about mids who chose Marine air more because they wanted to fly than because they wanted to be a Marine. If the mismatch becomes apparent, it can detrimental to one’s career.

The question is less about competitiveness. Instead: Do you want to be a naval aviator or a Marine who’s also an aviator?
 
DMV1962 said:
Curious about the numbers for Maine Corps pilot. How competitive compared to Navy pilot and what do they look for in a mid who selects Marine Corps pilot ? I see the Marine Corps takes fewer pilots - guess I’m for looking for an idea as to why a Mid would choose Marine over Navy. Thanks.
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Two different cultures, identities, mission settings and many other factors. I would say the Marine Corps has the strongest “brand identity” of all the armed forces. They are significantly smaller, which translates to fewer of everything, with a warrior ethos of “every Marine a rifleman.”
United States Marine Corps General Alfred M. Gray stated, "Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary."

The Marine Corps doesn’t have many of the Navy’s Staff Corps or Restricted Line communities - they get their healthcare from Navy providers. They are lean.

Generally speaking, Marine vets seldom refer to themselves as “ex-Marines” or “former Marines.” Once a Marine, always a Marine. You can see them standing, ramrod straight in their civvies, and wherever and whenever the Marines’ Hymn is played. They are indeed “the few, the proud.” That resonates with some midshipmen who want to be part of that culture. The Marines want someone who wants to be a Marine first and is willing to undergo that transformation. If they want to serve as a Marine while flying, that is a secondary consideration.

I love the Marine Corps. I didn’t want to be one, but I admire, appreciate and respect who they are and what they aspire to be.
 
Can someone speak to this piece as well? It’s my understanding that even though assigned Marine aviation, that they still may not actually become the aviator part. That there is still some sort of assignment, selection or award that happens beyond TBS. They may ultimately be ground, not air. Marine first, aviator 2nd!
 
justdoit19 said:
Can someone speak to this piece as well? It’s my understanding that even though assigned Marine aviation, that they still may not actually become the aviator part. That there is still some sort of assignment, selection or award that happens beyond TBS. They may ultimately be ground, not air. Marine first, aviator 2nd!
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I'll speak to both. To select Marine Corps, as everyone has said above, you need to want to be a Marine before anything else. You are selected as a Marine with one of three types of contracts: Air, Ground, and Ground with a guarantee of a Cyber MOS. Everyone will go to TBS for basic rifle platoon leadership training. Ground contracts will then select their MOS at (or near) the end of TBS. The methodology of selection is beyond the scope of this particular post. Air and Cyber contracts already know what they will be doing IF they remain qualified and they don't give their contracts up. If one gets injured as an Air Contract, then they might no longer be qualified to go Air, so then they'll select a Ground MOS. Other times, people may voluntarily give up their Air Contract if they feel that a Ground MOS would more suit them. There are also competitive Air Contracts. Ground Contracts can get select one and go to Flight School if they are qualified (ASTB, medical, etc.).

I will caveat the word "select" as it means the same thing as it does with Service Assignment (You put in your preferences, but ultimately you are assigned).
 
noco said:
Mine early selected Nuke SWO, last week (not quite early but....) He was thrilled, it was his first choice. I think there was still a lot of pressure as company mates didn't get their first choice. It is emotional for them all.
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My DS went SWO(N) as well. NROTC not USNA though. He’s been on his first ship out of Japan for just over a year and is hoping to finish his SWO quails during the current underway. He’s loving life so far. Expects to report to nuke school next summer.
 
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