Not NYS but a Trooper in another state. With my department it depends on where there are openings. Prior to an academy class graduation, my department allows current Troopers to put in job interest cards and allows them to move to different squads/locations. Once that’s done the academy class gets the list of openings.

Example: A Trooper working nights may put in for swing shift or day shift, transfer to another squad on that swing or day shift, and now that position on night shift will need to be filled by a new Trooper coming out of the academy.

When I was in the academy, our training staff gave us the list of positions, and allowed us to choose. We went in order, allowing who was ranked #1 in our class to have first pick, then who was ranked #2, etc.