<p>how are service academy class rankings calculated?</p>
<p>by gpa alone? or is it a combination of everything?</p>
<p>Combination of GPA, Military ranking, physical test rankings. They're weighted differently, though.</p>
<p>At least, that's USAFA.</p>
<p>do you know how they're weighted?</p>
<p>Currently OPA (your overall ranking) is only a combination of military and academic (about 30/70). However, they are changing that this, beginning when you all get here. While I'm not sure about the specific weights, I'd guess athletic would be about 10 or 15, with military making up the next biggest part and academics continuing to be weighted heaviest,</p>
<p>What significance, if any, does this ranking have besides telling you how you stack up with everyone else (UPT selection, etc...) ?</p>
<p>The top 10% are distinguished graduates and graduate by that order of merit. Everyone else graduates numerically by squad and alphabetically within each squad.</p>
<p>The order of merit used to rank and stack people for AFSCs (jobs after graduation) is actually a different one that takes into consideration your academics, military, and athletics but also commander input, disciplinary infractions, etc. You never find out what your ranking is by that - only what job you get as a result.</p>
<p>Does the AFSC depend on your majors as well?</p>
<p>It depends what you want to do in the AF. For example, if you want to be an aeronautical engineer, you can't be a biology major. Also, if they're short on people who choose a certain job (such as civil engineering) and you happen to be a civil engineering major, you may that job even if you don't choose it. Meteorology majors tend to go on to do weather. There are a few other examples, but in general, your major MAY be related to your AFSC but not necessarily (i.e. pilots can come from all majors).</p>
<p>and for the weightings, OPA for next year is 60% GPA, 30% Military PA, 10% Physical, starting next year</p>
<p>20 plus year into a career class ranking still comes into play. Your line number for promotions to major and beyond are affected. The monthly increments are determined by AFPC as others are promoted, retire or leave, openings are filled monthly. Line numbers for a year group are first done by day of commisioning-- Jan. are first (think OTS classes) then May comes when most folks are commisioned, order of merit even with ROTCs classes. </p>
<p>So if you are first in your class, you will be the first in your class to pin on a new rank and if you are tail end charlie you pin on last months later. So when the generals list comes out and your on it with your AFA classmates oder of merit still......</p>
<p>afa81, thanks really good to know. I had no idea it continued on so long.</p>
<p>what is "military" and how is that ranked?</p>
<p>Performance in "military" matters, such as keeping your room and uniform in inspection order. This is what I understand it is, anyway.</p>
<p>Military is the most arbitrary ranking you receive here, as there are very few objective measures of it.</p>