BILLET SELECTION, PART II

As you know, we will shortly be starting the annual billet selection process.  If you are a new cadet, or if you are unfamiliar with our process, it's fairly simple:  a cadet's rank is determined either by their class or by the job (billet) that they hold.  New cadets start as cadet recruits and can advance to the rank of cadet seaman by completing the PARS and PQS requirements and then taking a short practical test.  At the end of the third marking period, we will select five (5) member s of the 9th grade class to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of cadet third class petty officer. 

All returning NS 2 cadets are automatically promoted to cadet third class petty officer.  This is termed their class rank.  Juniors hold the class rank of cadet second class petty officer and seniors hold the rank of cadet first class petty officer.  Certain sophomores, juniors, and seniors are selected to hold a billet.  The selection is based on their stated interest in a particular job and, more importantly, by the faculty's assessment of their potential to perform in that job.  A cadet will hold their rank as long as they perform well in the billet they hold.  A cadet who does not perform will be removed from their job and revert to their class rank.  At the end of the year, a cadet reverts to their class rank or assumes the rank of their next job.  For example, a sophomore cadet who serves as an platoon guide may be assigned the rank of cadet first class petty officer.  Despite this, if they are not selected for a new billet for their junior year, when they return to school in the fall they would assume the rank of cadet second class petty officer--they do not retain the rank of their old billet.  Note also that a cadet who misbehaves may be demoted to cadet recruit or even separated from the program.

So, how do we decide who gets what?  First, we have you fill out a billet application.  They can be found on our unit website and are due on 25 March.  Next, we review the applications and put the applicants on a spreadsheet so we can easily see who is competing against whom for each billet.  Then we rank order all the candidates for each billet and decide who would be the best fill for each.  We then finalize our selections by checking that our potential selectees can all work well together--no matter how good you are are, you must work as part of the team.

Ask yourself:

1. What billets would I like?  (What billets do I think I could do best in?)
2. Are they appropriate for my class?  (Think:  we're probably not going to select a sophomore to be unit CO!)
3. Do I really rate my choice?  (Be honest with yourself.)
4. If you rate the job, that is, if you are good enough, is there someone else who might be better?  (Again, be honest.  We try to come up with the best match for the job, not someone who is good enough.)
5. Before you accept a job, make sure that you are really committed.  Non-hacker (those who don't perform) will be removed.

Once you are selected for a job, work hard.  Consider it a chance to prepare for the next job you want.  And remember that those cadets who hold rank should serve as good examples for everyone else.