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Academy falls short of sub volunteers

Too few Naval Academy seniors opted to become nuclear-qualified submarine officers this fall, so the school’s administration has asked more students to make that their career path and, if necessary, will force them.

In a message to the Brigade of Midshipmen on Tuesday, the academy’s director of professional development, Capt. Stephen Evans, wrote that the academy this year was required to send 125 officers into the nuclear submarine training pipeline, but that only 92 had been accepted by Naval Reactors. That meant 33 midshipmen would be asked to volunteer or told to become sub nukes.

“If you are subsequently identified for a submarine interview, understand that you were released from your preferred community after serious consideration,” Evans wrote. “Be professional and focus on the positive aspects of serving your country in the submarine force.”

Naval Academy spokesman Cmdr. Joe Carpenter said it wasn’t uncommon for academy officials to move midshipmen from preferred warfare areas to areas where they were needed, although he said there weren’t records showing when or for which disciplines. The academy’s mission to provide the officers the Navy requires means the school must sometimes supercede mids’ wishes, he said.

Evans wrote to the midshipmen: “Although your personal desires are strongly and tirelessly considered, community assignments are ultimately grounded in Navy and Marine Corps requirements.”

In last year’s graduating class, 78 percent of midshipmen entered the warfare area they selected as their first choice, and 92 percent got their first or second choice, Carpenter said. The first midshipmen this year who will be urged to choose submarines are those who picked it as their second choice, he said. They are required to serve at least five years after commissioning.

....
Demand for nuclear-qualified submarine junior officers has grown over the past few years as more young officers leave the fleet to pursue civilian careers, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson told Congress in March.

Although he did not provide statistics, Ferguson said the Navy needed plenty of junior officers to grow into control-grade officers.
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Originally posted by Mrsjvb:
our Plebe last year did his sumemr cruise on a Sub and has expressed a temptation to steer away from his original intended career path of Medical doctor...

But since they expect to be sending women there soon, maybe that will help bridge the gap.

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Originally posted by FearlessFosdick:
I am aware of a female ROTC (soon to be) grad that got nuke training without it even being on her dream sheet.

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That meant 33 midshipmen would be asked to volunteer or told to become sub nukes.

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Originally posted by stumpx:
So much for subs being "All Volunteer". They better stop trumpeting the sub force as all volunteer if it is not. Sad sad sad.

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Originally posted by catherine0830:
Sub nuke officers are immensely short on recruiting and retention goals.