<p>I cannot speak to the “female” issue as being addressed at any public forums-
it was, however, mentioned in the BGO training briefs given by the admissions office this past summer.
The academy is still welcoming qualified female candidates- and while recruitment efforts continue to seek them out, the push to increase those numbers has been pulled back a bit as 1. they have enough of a good draw of female applicants from which to select qualified candidates and 2. they are at (if not above for 2012) the target number they wanted to reach (in this case, representative of the % in the fleet).</p>
<p>While in the past there has been special recruitment and consideration of female applicants, there has not been, as far as I am aware, any special “compensation” as you posted. As the academy has fullfilled the objective, there is no current need to push for more- meaning, there will continue to be a push for qualified applicants, but their number as a % of the Brigade is on target with what is felt to be needed… thus, the number given appointments from whatever the pool size should remain constant, if not a little less, than those of the class of 2012, which currently has the highest % of females of any class to date.</p>
<p>I do not believe the admissions board has gone to a “gender blind” process at this time, nor have I heard that mentioned as an objective. Quite frankly, I don’t see how that is possible considering the number of commission service lines currently not open to female candidates. Clearly the academy wants a good representation of female candidates- but to that end there is a limit as to that number as a percentage of the brigade. All I can tell you is that I seek out qualified candidates irregardless of gender or race, and encourage those that appear qualified to consider applying to the academy. The push as been, and continues to be, getting as many qualified students to apply and let the system work from there. </p>
<p>There are many objectives that have to be met in seeking to fill the class-
appointees from all 50 states and US territories
spread out equitably from every congressional district (the 5 max limit per MOC)
the targeted male / female ratio (aligned with the fleet %)
the targeted hispanic and african-american ratio (aligned with the fleet %)
Other special interest groups (blue chip athletes with a desire to serve)-
and new for 2013, the push for more Division-1 majors-
just to name a few of the considerations when putting a class together, and ALL dependent on what the projected needs of the Navy are at the time.</p>
<p>The Supe has gone on record in may forums re: the push for diversity for minority groups, and right now that is defined as African American and hispanic, as the strategic need is to mirror in the officers corps what is contained in the enlisted group. He has made that objective very public, and the progress report is a standing agenda item at the Board of Visitors Meeting, which for at least the first half of those meetings, are open to the public.</p>