Applications are down at the nation's military academies,

[jhain]

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_academy_112304,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl


WEST POINT, N.Y. - Applications are down at the nation's military academies, though administrators say the drop has been caused by factors other than any chilling effect from the war in Iraq.

West Point applications were off 11 percent as of Oct. 21 compared to a year earlier. The U.S. Naval Academy posted a 20 percent drop by the same week and the U.S. Air Force Academy reported a 9 percent drop compared to early October of last year.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. What could be causing this?

Well, when you consider that a sevice academy education is free, it isn't the costs. But then consider that graduates, upon commission in the officers corps, are a second louie or the equivalent, and that lieutenants are the officer group with the highest mortality rate in the time of war, that does not increas the jobs attraction quotient.

No, being a ringknocker ain't all that, especially in the beginning.

Notice, however, that the Air Farce Academy is only down 9%. Airedales don't see a lot of combat, overall and live pretty good, overall.

[RivetJoint]

2. And naval officers see so much more combat, how?

And yes, those smart enough to choose the Air Force do live better overall. The Air Force takes better care of its people in general.

[TahitiNut]

6. Annapolis also supplies Marine Corps officers.

... and Navy special forces, like Seals. :shrug:

[RivetJoint]

11. But it's a choice to go Navy or USMC

out of Annapolis...and the USAFA also supplies special forces guys...in greater number than the USNA supplies SEALS.

[TahitiNut]

17. Well, it's a "choice" as long as there're enough graduates ...

... who list the USMC as one of their preferences. If they don't get enough that way, they can take the low-end of over-allocated areas and assign USMC duty, afaik.

[RivetJoint]

18. You are correct ; the USMC must get their share

[newscaster]

20. As I understand it

The USMC gets its share of academy graduates from Annapolis thru a selection process I do not understand but many midshipmen find themselves commissioned as 2nd Lts rather than Ensigns even if they were hoping for a Navy Commission. Since the Marines are part of the Navy, they just pick from each graduating class but I dont know the criteria.

[RivetJoint]

21. They normally get enough from

Mids who WANT to go USMC.

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

14. And don't forget the Coast Guard. 8 < )

:hi:

Edit: I meant to say Coast Guard, not the Merchant Marines.
(In the class of 2004, one Annapolis graduate chose to go into the Coast Guard. I believe it was a young woman.)

[RivetJoint]

15. By that measure USNA also supplies Air Force offiers

as usually 5-8 cross-commission into the AF each year.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. It's the combat for sure

because it certainly isn't that booming private sector beckoning.

[moondust]

3. Permanent state of war could be a deterrent. eom

[liberal N proud]

5. Where are all those patriotic families that will voted for the SOB

They should be lining thier kids up for full military training from diapers through the the M-16 in hand.

[TahitiNut]

7. Again, they ignore the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

DoD-centric reporting.

[dArKeR]

9. My only Coast Guard post: The Sortis is in dock in Seattle. I sat

and watched the crew go ashore for leave. Of the 35, or so, who walked by me, I saw: 1 african by himself (all other crew went as groups. following are totals and they were in different groups of 2 to 5 crew.) 1 asian, 1 hispanic (looking), 1 woman, 5 white 30ish age looking, the rest were 18-20 looking.

[dArKeR]

8. That's okay, we can outsource/import more Communist Chinese

who will eventually attack our country from within.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Full article says applicants at historic levels

West Point's admissions officer, Maj. Dale Smith, said he's sure Iraq has convinced some young people that the academy is not for them. But, he said, it has not dissuaded enough people to affect application numbers, which were slightly above historical averages

I guess the effects of 9/11 are wearing off. And concidering how few of the applicants are actually accepted into the Academy. There probably won't be a shortage of new officers anytime soon.

[Divernan]

12. How are applications for the Texas Air National Guard holding up?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Now where was that "we're not sorry" site?

[yellowcanine]

16. Real question is, what is the quality of the applications? - There are

always going to be applicants. But are the best and the brightest applying? For example, what is happening to average high school GPA and SAT scores of the applicants?

[RivetJoint]

19. Probably still damn high