AVAILABILITY OF BILLETS      

The Director of Cadet Shipping is responsible for obtaining cadet shipping billets.  STUDENTS MUST NOT OBTAIN THEIR OWN TRAINING BILLETS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CADET SHIPPING.

This is an Academy administered training program requiring direct contact between the Academy and the cadet shipping sponsors.  We will be contacting the sponsors to request training billets for the upcoming year after we receive your billet preference forms.

       ASSIGNMENT OF CADET SHIPPING BILLETS    

1.     Qualification Point Total (QPT)
   Your QPT (not to be confused with QPA) will determine your assignment rank number and  the order in which you will exercise a choice of an available billet.  Each member of the 
   sophomore class (and students cruising out of sequence) will receive an assignment number indicating the order in which he or she will placed.  The following elements will be used in calculating your QPT:

A.     Academic Standing (QPA):
Your cumulative QPA at 31 December will be used in calculating your qualification point total. (50%)

B.      Disciplinary Record (demerit count):
The total number of demerits that you have received as of 31 December will be used in calculating your qualification point total.  Please note that any demerits accumulated after this date may also be considered.  (50%) 

NOTE: The director of Cadet Shipping reserves the right to assign rank numbers 1 & 2 Deck/Engine for outstanding academic performance, superior disciplinary record and/or special meritorious service to the Academy.

2.      Institutional Needs
Institutional needs include NROTC, regimental, sailing, football, summer school, and maintenance programs.  These variables considerably complicate the administration of the Cadet Shipping Training Program and may require the Director of Cadet Shipping to assign you arbitrarily (without choice) to a billet that will help you to satisfy your other obligations.

3.      Billet Preference Forms
You will be issued a billet preference form, which you should complete, sign and submit, to the Director of Cadet Shipping before you leave for Spring break.  Failure to submit this form constitutes your acceptance of assignment without choice by the Director of Cadet Shipping regardless of your assignment number.

Before submitting your Billet Preference Form, you should have done your homework.  The cadet shipping reports from previous classes are on reserve in the library.  You can also make a point of talking with upper class students about their cadet shipping experiences.  

We cannot accommodate vacations, summer work or other special needs of each individual student.  Our main concern is with the training program.  We do not have control over shipping schedules and must adapt to the requirements of the cadet billet sponsor and particularly, the dates on which billets are available for our use.  Their vessels run without cadets and therefore, we are dependent upon their goodwill to support our program.

4.      Academy Bills
Students who have not paid or made satisfactory arrangements to pay their Academy bills will not be assigned to specific cadet shipping billets until clearance is received from the Finance Office.

5.      QPA 2.0 Rule
Any student with a cumulative QPA of 2.0 or less, at 31 December, may not be assigned to a billet of his or her choice.  Assignments will be made on a conditional basis, and are subject to reconfirmation after the Academic Board meets (following final exams) in May.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Vessel/Training ]