Which is exactly what I said. Are you implying there are other classroom ranks besides #1?
Mike
BZ is right about still trying to get good grades. It will pay off later when you might want to return to NFAS, NPS, or NPTU as staff for shore duty. Your grades are even part of a request form you fill out if you're on crew and want to be in OCTG.
This is IIRC the way it was done when we were in:
http://www.nukeworker.com/forum/index.php/topic,13493.msg74924.html#msg74924
So, yes success in GPA was the determining factor. They evenly split all the GPA's so ALL the prototypes got an even smearing of students.
So, you were competitive within your A/B/C/D category.
At least this is my recall on the matter.
Several things going on here and for the most part...you are all right.
Yes, GC, we do level load and each prototype gets their fair share of knuckleheads, chuckleheads and brainiacs. PB, the detailers really do try to satisfy the "desires" of the individual but truly at the end of the day, everyone gets detailed and some people get their last choice.
BZ, you are right as well. There isn't any other classroom rank than numero uno. The plaque we hand out for the second place finisher is lovely and looks just like the anchor's plaque (because they don't get one)
However, for the officer rankings getting good grades really does affect you. I will chronicle the flight of one Naval Officer who won't mind me
speaking typing about him. He's a very good friend of mine.
This officer was top ten percent in NPS but no where near number one. Then went to prototype and ran away from the pack. He got his beautiful AAA plaque and went on his merry way. Then a few years later did extremely well on his Engineer's exam. For his Dept. Head tour, the detailer really wanted him to be an Engineer but this guy really wanted to be a Weapons Officer on a boomer. Finally, cooler heads prevailed and the needs of the navy were met...
I got my orders he was assigned orders to a boomer for the Weapons Officer position. Two years into his tour, and completely unbeknownst to him or his CO, the detailers called one afternoon and they plucked him out of his sea tour and sent him to Prototype to be the XO. (This was not where he wanted to go!) After much kicking and screaming, the needs of the Navy were met...and he loaded up the truck and they moved to Goose Creek.
Moral of the story for O-gangers: Don't be number one at P-type and don't smoke your Engineer's exam unless you want to be considered for the worst job in the Navy.
P.S. Don't feel bad for my friend. I still keep in touch with him and it all worked out for him in the end. Last I heard, he got his dream job in East TN at a commercial nuclear power plant as an Ops Instructor.