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Thanks, Seth. What is DOPMA and ROPMA?

I wonder also, if applicable in the Marines, which unit is similar to the Army Rangers, and which one is the rough equivalent of Army Special Forces (the guys that wear the Green Beret). My understanding is that Rangers are Special Operations, but are more like light infantry fighters. Army...

Thanks, Hot Dogs. Would a first LT. be able to apply for either MARSOC or Force Recon after an initial tour as a platoon commander (would such a tour normally last 2 years?). Is the entire MARSOC/Force Recon training about 2 years, including jump school, diver school, ranger school, SERE, etc?

Looking at some of the bios of Marine officers on various Marine Corps websites, it seems like it takes longer than most of the branches to get promoted as an officer in the Marines. Is this true? If so, it is because the Marines is a smaller branch? Thanks.

Is MARSOC the new Force Recon? Is this the Marine special forces? I know someone who served as a Marine officer years ago who said that the Marines do not really have special forces like the other services. I guess because the Marines are like special forces? How does a Marine officer get...

Thanks. Apologies, but what is SBT? Thanks. Apologies, but what is SBT? Yes, I have read that if one really wants to be a SEAL, that enlisted may be better route than OCS or ROTC. Is the same true for USNA graduates?

Hi, Is there any truth to the scuttlebutt that if one is a STEM major at either USNA or at a NROTC unit, one is encouraged to pursue a commission in the Navy rather than the Corps? Thanks.

then I guess being to big would be a disadvantage. I think for the Navy in general the height cutoff is 6'8". Are there any such official cutoffs for specific communities such as SEALs and Subs? I did find out that 6'5" is the max for aviators and that's helos.

Is there a height maximum requirement for the SEALs? Don't they need to fit in small spaces and submarines?

What are the potential shore flying tours? Are they all instructor pilot?

ThanksUOTE="Pags, post: 877256, member: 3998"]As an aviator no one will ever care if you have jump wings. it's not something that will make anyone go "ooh" or "aaah." Th Thanks, but not trying impress anyone.

Thank you. I appreciate all the useful replies/info sans the snarkiness.

Not at all. But, I not at all. Howeve

Not chasing a badge, but thanks for that lame and gratuitous remark. Go have a drink or something.

Good to know....Thanks.

Also, is Airborne something one requests at TBS or afterwards? Why do some Marine (or Navy, excepting SEALs).who are airborne qualified wear the silver Army wings and others wear the gold Navy parachutist wings?

I have jumped as a civilian and the experience piqued my interest about jump school. I don't think nrotc sends marine candidates to jump school anymore. If you do get treated like shit by Army, it's only for three weeks. I simply thought it be great to be both a Marine and airborne qualified. I...

Have y'all read this blog? I have a feeling it may have been posted here in the past. Anyways, here it goes. Any thoughts on how accurate it is? http://dave.purdone.com/2009/12/should-you-join-the-nuclear-navy-nupoc/

Any similar "prep" for officers? Or, do they go straight to BUD/S after commissioning?

[QUOdocument "RadicalDude, post: 867645, member: 21488"]You owe, I believe, 5 years minimum post commissioning. Winging adds to that commitment, currently 6 years for NFOs, 8 for pilots. I can't remember anymore, but I believe your winging commitment starts at date of winging. So altogether...

Yes, it helps. Thanks. Oddly, it seems that the liberal arts oriented students who happen to be good at math or science may get penalized for their aptitude by being forced to choose a major they don't want. Then again, if you're choosing a technically oriented school like USNA or a...

ha ha...I guess I deserved that. I actually think I have all the info I need for now and appreciate all the responses.

Yes, if you are referring to the NY Times piece. However, unless I am missing something, I did not see a reference to a shortened service commitment for athletes.

The only such case that I know is of the "Admiral" David Robinson, and I though the Navy let him go after two years because of his height. I otherwise though the minimum service commitment was 5 years after the academy, athlete or not?

Thanks...what happens to those mids who were athletes in high school, but would rather focus on academics at the academy? What exactly are their extracurricular obligations? I imagine they can't be as cumbersome as playing an intercollegiate sport.

It seems like fair points. But, do you feel that non-athletes who have the potential of making it through the academy with the help of a year at prep school are getting their fair shake? In other words, will the prep school admit that high school senior or seaman with a B average who may not...

BOTE="Flash, post: 865877, member: 4402"]Not so dated, I believe he railed against it again within the last month or so. But, is there truth that the prep schools mainly exist to support promising athletes who struggle academically, rather promising enlisted or high school students, regardless...

Do you think there is validity to this dated article? http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/opinion/nocera-the-military-prep-school-scam.html

Why do you feel that the prior college/prep school numbers will go down?

Good to know.

Got ya..thanks.

What kind of "leg up" are you referring to, please?

Makes sense. I'd imagine that USNA spends quite a bit of effort to vet the applicants to make sure the right candidates are accepted. The way the elite college admissions process is nowadays, I'd bet most of the accepted students have already taken a year or more of calculus in high school...

I am assuming the drop out rate must be high. I know a West Point grad who told me that (at least for her year) the drop out rate was pretty high. I guess this is also why service academy grads have a leg up on designator/location slots.

How do these guys and gals juggle all these hard core classes and participate in mandatory sports activities? How do the students who are part of the intercollegiate sports have time to even study? If you're not part of an intercollegiate team, don't you have to be on an intramural team? If so...

And, even history majors need to take and pass that electrical engineering class?

Thanks. So, I guess everyone who gets into USNA or gets awarded an NROTC scholarship should be prepared to major in STEM. At most colleges, each course is typically 3-4 credits. Is the same at the Boat School? If so, does that mean middies are taking 6 or 7 classes per semester?

Thanks for the replies. I was looking at the USNA website. Perhaps they were only displaying the required courses during plebe year. Based on your response, it'd probable that plebes take more courses than is required. 21 to 23 credits a semester, and in mostly technical classes, no less...

I see that there are certain classes required as a plebe at USNA. I also read that one begins major study in his or her second year. However, what if someone is a physics or engineering major? I do not see that physics or engineering classes are required the first year. I understand that USNA...

Are such officers then selected to be LDOs or sent to OCS?

No EOD straight from USNA/ROTC/OCS? Is that because that community values cultivating their own? Is EOD a smaller community than SEALS?

I assume between BUD/S and all the follow on schools, it's about 2.5 years or so before an officer actually gets to lead a SEAL platoon. Therefore, is it reasonable that most SEAL officers serve beyond the minimum 4 years from commissioning (5 from USNA)?

Much obliged to both.

Is there an additional service commitment that either SEAL or EOD officers must incur upon completion of their respective training? I see via the link below that the Air Force now incurs 6 years after completing their special warfare training. This seems a bit excessive. I assume special...

Thanks, Wink. Fair points.

So, are you saying it's better to fly for the Air Force? :)

Is it really that bad as an SWO? I get that this is an aviation oriented site, but these comments appear to make SWO the very bottom of the barrel. After all, isn't SWO the backbone of the Navy? Is all the apparent backstabbing and politics that is present in SWO due to the fact that most in...

Yes, Uncle Fester. I assume if one wants to go the airlines, for example, flying time and related assignments will take precedent. However, if one wants a star or command a carrier, being a well-rounded officer takes priority. Of course, I presume the needs of the Navy comes first in all...

Thanks for the clarification. So, generally, the three year shore is for the most part an instructor tour and therefore one has the opportunity to build up plenty of flight time?

Great info on this site. Much thanks. I assume super JOs are few and far between, as is obtaining a consecutive deployable squadron tour. What about those aviators who get to go to grad schools like Stanford or MIT on the Navy's time and then go to test pilot school? I would assume these are...