Anyone know how this works? Like when you finish Primary, do they say ok the navy has x-amount of slots for jets/ x-amount for props/ x-amount for helos...and then let the guy with the highest scores pick first and go down the line from there?
This is not a bad guess really. It does (sort of) work like that. You fill out your selection card and submit it. Then your squadron reads them and makes recommendations. Then it is sent to CNATRA and they make the final assignments. There is a best scores go first guideline. However, the only rule is that the needs of the Navy/Marine Corps come first, your preferences come second.
There is some flexibility in the number of slots for that week. For example, suppose a good student puts E-6 first. There are not usually any E-6 slots, nor people who want them. So they will (if they can) pull an E-6 slot from a later week. Likewise, if there are no students who are qualified for jets, they will redistribute those jet slots to later weeks. There are many factors, but they all weigh in behind closed doors. To a student, this how the selection process looks.
1. Complete program
2. Get score
3. Submit preference card
4. The Skipper informs you what you got.
