Where are they now?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Naval Academy - Annapolis
1

<p>I have a question. Well, a few questions. What happens after a cadet graduates? Where do they go? Do they leave immediately or do they get to go home for awhile? Is there some place that one can see where each newly graduated cadet goes? For example, all of the class of 2007--where are they now? ...and where is the class of 2006? Are they still here in the U.S.? Are they spread out all over the world??</p>

<p>I'm so sorry but I'm a very concerned Grandma. Possibly my grandchild will be coming next year and I know where they'll be for the next four years but my heart aches for where they'll be after that?--straight to war?..</p>

<p>Thank you so much if there is anyone who can help me.</p>

<p>Bless you. By the way, should my granddaughter go Navy, they will be one lucky bunch to have her. I just don't think I will be able to take it though. Really, thank you for any help.</p>

2

<p>Dear GrandmaLynn,</p>

<p>I looked at usna-parents.org for the information below, which gives the process by which service selections (the "where do they go?" part of your question) are made.</p>

<p>The actual numbers of who goes where can be found for the class of ?2004?</p>

<p>here: <a href="http://www.usna-parents.org/resources/firstie.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usna-parents.org/resources/firstie.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<hr>

<p>Here is a sample of the service selections available to graduating Firsties. Students put in for the service of their choice. They list their top 6 choices and one must be Surface Warfare. For those who do not desire SW, it's not unusual to see someone make 2 or 3 preferred choices and then put in choices which they would not get, i.e. Medical Corps, Spec. Warfare, etc., with SW at the bottom. USNA grants service selections based on student preference and class standing. The top student gets their first choice. The second ranked student will get their choice too. This continues until there are no more positions. They only grant as many positions in a particular field as they have available. As they proceed down the class ranking, students may be granted their second choice selection. Those further down the list may get their third choice as the other slots have already been taken by those with higher standing. The anchor - the lowest scoring graduate - gets whatever is left over.</p>

<p>Although midshipmen submit their community and service preferences, many of the service communities (particularly the highly selective ones like subs, aviation, EOD, Marines, and spec ops) require midshipmen to prepare a packet and that may include an interview. Additionally, some of the communities require additional "screeners" such as aptitude, physical, and medical tests. Finally, some of the communities (like medical) have a whole different process for application and acceptance.</p>

<p>Good grades are important, but OOM is not necessarily the defining element in the final service selection. All of the branches are looking for the right combination of academics, physical readiness, attitude, and potential. You will see midshipmen fairly low on the OOM totum pole get one of the more coveted spots and others that are fairly high not
necessarily get their first choice.</p>

<p>Bottom line: The needs of the Navy.</p>

<p>Where the OOM comes into play is for training date/first assignment. Those at the top of the OOM in a particular community get first dibs at those.</p>

<p>It's actually a very complex process.</p>

<hr>

3

<p>Thank you so much for your informative reply. Can I please ask what is "OOM". </p>

<p>Thank you,
grandmaLynn</p>

4

<p>"OOM"</p>

<p>Order of Merit---basically where they rank in their class.</p>

5

<p>^^^^^
OOM = Order of Merit</p>

6

<p>A few more tidbits. Typically, mids (and, I assume, cadets at the other academies) get 30 days of leave following graduation. After that, newly-minted Ensigns typically report to a school (surface, sub, air, etc.) to begin learning their warfare specialty. Depending on that specialty, they can be in school from a year+ to two and a half years (certain aviation fields). After that, they receive their first assignment, which is usually to a ship, sub or squadron. That assignment usually lasts 2.5-3 years, more or less and could take them anywhere in the world (needs of the Navy).</p>

<p>USMC 2nd Lieutenants go to TBS (The Basic School) for about six months (if memory serves). I believe that they too attend typically additional schools (infantry, supply, aviation) depending on their MOS (military occupational specialty). Then they go to a unit or squadron.</p>

<p>Thus, few graduating mids go immediately to the fleet. Most spend quite some time in school first.</p>

7

<p>Bless you all for the information. </p>

<p>In my mind they had ships awaiting, and following the graduation ceremony they shipped them straight off to Iraq or somewhere. I know that's my old mind thinking the worst but with all that's going on in the world today, it's all I can think about. </p>

<p>I'm happy to hear that they do get at least a 30 day reprive after four years of very hard work. Thank you 1985 for that. It eases my mind and my heart. I still have to digest all of this and nothing is for sure yet but it's nice to know you all are here. My, what did folks do before the internet? How sad to think they just worried all alone.</p>

<p>Thank you all very much and may God bless every family that has a loved one serving our country.</p>

8

<p>Lynn,</p>

<p>You sound like an absolutely wonderful grandma. This message board is really helpful, please feel free to ask any questions at all. </p>

<p>The Academy takes incredible care with their mids, and they are in the best possible hands. Did you know, for example, that the plebes are weighed weekly during Plebe Summer, and if they've lost too much weight - their superior officers are held accountable? You may see a lot of talk about the food situation at USNA here, but I think it's because we're used to our mids being treated so incredibly well.</p>

9

<p>Thank you GoNavy2011,</p>

<p>It does sound like the Mids are very well taken care of. I saw on another thread somewhere about a complete stranger hugging a Mid with an injury. That just brings tears to my eyes. Well, actually I've had tears in my eyes for several days now but reading this forum has made me feel better. I know that I would hug anyone, ANYDAY wearing a uniform.</p>

<p>I love this great nation of ours but the true test of love is standing by and watching a loved one go off to serve. They must all be truly special people. I know my granddaughter is! These kids are our future and I pray they are being treated well.</p>