Can anyone explain how ship selection works at the Naval Academy? I'm curious about how students get assigned to ships and what criteria determine their placements.
Sure, happy to explain. Ship selection at the United States Naval Academy is primarily for students in the surface warfare community. It's basically a process where seniors (known as midshipmen first class) at the Naval Academy choose the ships they'll serve on after graduation, and it's one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Midshipmen preference their ship choices based on a variety of factors, including the location of the ship, its type, and its mission. It's a time of both excitement and nerve-wracking anticipation as midshipmen decide where in the world they will start their naval careers.
The order of selection, often revealed in a large ceremony, is determined by the order of merit, which is a class rank calculated based on academic performance, physical fitness, and military performance. However, some midshipmen with specific service obligations, such as those in the Nuclear Surface Warfare community, are given their ship assignments in advance and do not participate in the traditional ship selection process.
So, in summary, ship selection is a process driven by the merits and preferences of each graduating midshipman. It's an exciting milestone in the Naval Academy experience.
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