How does ship selection work at the United States Naval Academy?

I've read about ship selection at the United States Naval Academy and I'm wondering about the process. How do midshipmen get to choose their ships and what factors influence their options?

At the United States Naval Academy, the ship selection process takes place during the midshipmen's senior or first-class year. This occurs usually in late January, and it pertains to those midshipmen who are serving in the Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) community after graduation. It's an exciting milestone that marks the transition from the Academy to active service.

The event is often held in a ceremonial fashion with senior naval officials present. The ships available for selection differ annually, based on the needs and deployment schedules of the U.S. Navy. They generally include destroyers, cruisers, littoral combat ships, and amphibious ships stationed at homeports in the United States and overseas.

The order in which the midshipmen select their ships is predominantly based on their Order of Merit, which ranks all first-class midshipmen. This ranking is a cumulative score that considers academic performance, physical fitness assessments, and military performance throughout their time at the Naval Academy.

The highest-ranked midshipman gets to choose their ship first and so on. They will select a ship from a list that includes the ship's homeport and type. Options for overseas deployment, such as Japan or Spain, might be available and are often popular choices.

It's important to note that the process is highly strategic. Midshipmen need to weigh their preferences against their ranking position. They may have to decide between the type of ship and its location based on how soon they will be able to choose. For instance, a midshipman interested in destroyers but ranked lower might choose a cruiser if it's docked in a preferred location, assuming that the destroyer options might be taken by the time they get to choose.

Once the ship selection is made, midshipmen will then receive further training and eventually report to their selected ships after graduation and commissioning. Additionally, between graduation and their reporting dates, midshipmen usually have a few days to weeks of free time, often referred to as 'leave.'

Remember that this process is unique to the United States Naval Academy and may vary significantly at other service academies or ROTC programs.