Need Some West Point Info

[alweiler]

Happy Fathers Day to all,
Have a grandson who has been offered a scholarship at West Point. He is interested, but only if he can select Aviation as his field (kinda makes a granddad feel good when the little ones want to follow the aviation path!). Anyway, can someone provide some info about how a graduate chooses or is awarded his branch coming out of West Point.

Thanks,
Al
SGDM

[kmc86]

Out of my lane here, but a couple of my buddies went to West Point and live I with some ROTC Cadets as well. As far as I know for ROTC, in your third year before going to LDAC you're given a wish list for your branch from 1-13. And depending on where you're at after LDAC and your ranking on the OML, depends on what you're going to branch. For Aviation I know that you have to put that as #1 if you're trying to get it, and that you have to get a flight physical and take the AFAST during your third year. To my knowledge West Point Cadets get the top pick for branches. Hope that helps.

[Max Power]

No experience with getting Aviation out of West Point, I took the ROTC route (Green to Gold). But from talking to West Pointers while I was in flight school, here's what I can offer -

Getting Aviation from ROTC is extremely competitive. For my year group, you pretty much had to be in the top 10%, without volunteering to serve an extra 3 yeArs to get it (branch for ADSO deal, you add 3 hrs to your ADSO to get the branch you want). However, even with the branch for ADSO contract, you had to be in the top 18%. So, extremely competitive.

As for West Point, and this is all from talking to people in my class, they get a lot fewer Aviation slots than ROTC. However, thay have said it is easier to get a slot because there is less demand. Most guys want Infantry, not too many want Aviation.

So basically, more slots in ROTC but more competitive. Fewer slots at West Point, but less competitive. And don't even think about OCS, unless you were an Aviation Warrant, pretty much not going to happen.

[alweiler]

Thanks guys! I've been out for awhile but what you said is pretty much the way things happens "back when".
Al

[kmc86]

And don't even think about OCS, unless you were an Aviation Warrant, pretty much not going to happen.

There were 3 that branched aviation from OCS class 303-10 and weren't former WO's.

[ribot0]

However, even with the branch for ADSO contract, you had to be in the top 18%.

That is not entirely the case. I do not have any experience with the West Point branching system, but for ROTC, Aviation fills up to 65% from the top half of the OML. The remaining 35% is filled from the bottom half of the OML, with an additional three year commitment, giving an additional opportunity.

If he has his heart set on being a commissioned Aviation officer in the Army, one route he can look into us ROTC with the University of North Dakota. They have a special program where he will fly helicopters during his time in college, and be guaranteed to branch aviation when he commissions. The scholarship covers flight costs as well.

[Meathead]

BA,

My son just got back from USMA SLS a couple of weeks ago. The impression he left with is that class ranking plays a huge part in Branch selection. The higher you are ranked the more likely you are to get your first choice.

Meathead

[sixgun]

Meat - You're making me feel old again. Your son off to WP? How the time do fly...

[Max Power]

There were 3 that branched aviation from OCS class 303-10 and weren't former WO's.

3 out of a class of how many? How many OCS graduates total in the FY2010 YG? You see my point? I didn't say that it will not happen, just that you can't count on it because the chances are so low.

Oh, and were those 3 Active Duty? Don't forget, states send guys to Federal OCS, too.

That is not entirely the case. I do not have any experience with the West Point branching system, but for ROTC, Aviation fills up to 65% from the top half of the OML. The remaining 35% is filled from the bottom half of the OML, with an additional three year commitment, giving an additional opportunity.

You're right, I totally forgot to mention that the original poster's son could do his best to finish at the bottom of his year group so he could get Aviation :rolleyes: But then he would have to play the "low, but not too low" game so he winds up just low enough to get Aviation but not so low that he winds up not being Active Duty. Yep, sounds like a great idea.

And yes, as a matter of fact, needing to be in the top 18% even with the ADSO extension "was entirely the case" for FY 2008 (you know, if you cared enough to finish in the top half of the Active Duty OML, really don't know the stats on people in the bottom half, really don't care).

Seriously, this goes to you both, put some more thought into your statements.

[gadget]

Not a West Point Grad but was Class Leader for a Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. Approx. 90 of the 164 in the class were fresh out of the "High School on the Hudson". Cadets are allowed to pick their branch (and initial post) based on their overall class standing. Class standing (or order of merit) is determined by three factors: military, physical, and academic accomplishment.

Meat - You're making me feel old again. Your son off to WP? How the time do fly...

[kmc86]

Roger, was confused by the context of your comment.

And don't even think about OCS

I'll also add that those guys also had previous fly time before OCS.

[leopardprey]

Congrads to your Grandson! Whether he can get aviation or not, he should still go to WP! That is an opportunity of a lifetime!!

[mrwill]

(West Point grad w/ many classmates up there as TAC's/Prof's/working in all areas).

He can not get guaranteed Aviation before going. In fact, whether he gets it or not on "branch night" depends 100% entirely on his class ranking (academics, military and physical overall scores/grade combined)

Statistically, if he is top 30% he should be fairly safe. I highly recommend he take this opportunity. Definitely once in a lifetime thing, and I have never heard anyone regret it. (I went the enlisted to West Point route myself). Good luck to him.

[Culvermilitary06]

I just graduated from the WP Class of 2010. I'm not near my computer that has the stastics, but (roughly) 111 people went aviation. Without ADSO, you had to be in the mid-300's in your class (out of 1000) and the last slot went right around 600 (with ADSO). If he's below 600 and is willing to ADSO, he should be ok. However, each year's branching is different, so its not a sure thing (for example, aviation went out in the 800's in the class of 2008). I'll also try to get more info from some of my friends the branched aviation. PM me if you have any more questions.

[alweiler]

Thanks to all who participated, you have been a great help.
Al Weiler
SGDM
NSDQ