APPRAISAL INTERVIEWS

[SailorJohnson32]

Hello everyone,

I am currently in the process of submitting my package for Air Vehicle Pilot (737x). The only thing I am missing right now is Appraisal interviews, everything else for my package is complete. However, my OCS coordinators onboard my ship are dragging their feet regarding the scheduling of my appraisal interviews and I have already missed one submission deadline for the program. I am currently located in Yokosuka, Japan where we have multiple air wing squadrons and an air craft carrier.. I would like to know if it is possible to schedule my appraisal interviews some other way either on my own or through another coordinator since mine are dragging their feet.

I really want this and have been hassling them everyday about my appraisals and all I keep getting is “I can’t find any pilots” for the last year almost. For AVP I need at least 2 pilots and a mustang or Warrant Officer for my appraisals. Since the program is still new, no air vehicle pilots for my designator are available to the fleet yet.

Any guidance, advice, help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hello everyone,

I am currently in the process of submitting my package for Air Vehicle Pilot (737x). The only thing I am missing right now is Appraisal interviews, everything else for my package is complete. However, my OCS coordinators onboard my ship are dragging their feet regarding the scheduling of my appraisal interviews and I have already missed one submission deadline for the program. I am currently located in Yokosuka, Japan where we have multiple air wing squadrons and an air craft carrier.. I would like to know if it is possible to schedule my appraisal interviews some other way either on my own or through another coordinator since mine are dragging their feet.

I really want this and have been hassling them everyday about my appraisals and all I keep getting is “I can’t find any pilots” for the last year almost. For AVP I need at least 2 pilots and a mustang or Warrant Officer for my appraisals. Since the program is still new, no air vehicle pilots for my designator are available to the fleet yet.

Any guidance, advice, help would be greatly appreciated.

Have you engaged with your DIVO, DH, or even XO/CO?

If you’re not getting support, you need to escalate this to the right folks. I can’t speak on behalf of every officer or leader, but I can say most do truly care about their Sailors to include special programs.

Being that you’re surrounded by aviators either on base or afloat, there’s plenty of resources right under your nose. You just have to find and use them.

 

[ScottL]

You can absolutely reach out to people on your own. I got an appraisal from the DIVO of my friend who is part of the squadron, who I just reached out to and asked for help. You can get the forms yourself from MyNavyHR. I was honestly just about to ask one of the officers that live in my apartment building before I reached out and asked. Part of the process is demonstrating that you can create connections and get things done.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with letting your CoC help you, but you have to remember that nobody wakes up thinking "What can I do for Johnson today?"

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Hello everyone,

I am currently in the process of submitting my package for Air Vehicle Pilot (737x). The only thing I am missing right now is Appraisal interviews, everything else for my package is complete. However, my OCS coordinators onboard my ship are dragging their feet regarding the scheduling of my appraisal interviews and I have already missed one submission deadline for the program. I am currently located in Yokosuka, Japan where we have multiple air wing squadrons and an air craft carrier.. I would like to know if it is possible to schedule my appraisal interviews some other way either on my own or through another coordinator since mine are dragging their feet.

I really want this and have been hassling them everyday about my appraisals and all I keep getting is “I can’t find any pilots” for the last year almost. For AVP I need at least 2 pilots and a mustang or Warrant Officer for my appraisals. Since the program is still new, no air vehicle pilots for my designator are available to the fleet yet.

Any guidance, advice, help would be greatly appreciated.

Who is this coordinator? A career counselor or an officer designated to help those with officer applications? Maybe the person just doesn't know and so it isn't so much dragging their feet but just not sure where to go?

I would second engaging your DIVO, odds are your DIVO knows someone that can help or can get you pointed in the right direction.

 

[Po2baum]

I just hit up Officers personally via email. I didn’t run into any issues doing this. Just make sure your package is mostly done before your interviews because they will probably want to review it. Also, I would have all your supporting documentation available for the interviewer to review.

 

[ea6bflyr]

The airwing is located at MCAS Iwakuni when not deployed aboard the Aircraft Carrier, so that's a non-starter. There are plenty of other aviators around the base on CFAY Yokosuka. CSG-5 onboard the Aircraft Carrier (CVN) has several aviators attached to the staff as well as several aviators attached to the CVN. Seventh Fleet Staff (ashore and onboard Blue Ridge) has a few as well. You may want to talk a walk over to the ships and rustle up enough to get your appraisals scheduled and complete. Like others have said, no foul in taking care of yourself. I have a former student that's aboard the BHR. PM me and I might be able to help.

​

 

[SailorJohnson32]

Have you engaged with your DIVO, DH, or even XO/CO?

If you’re not getting support, you need to escalate this to the right folks. I can’t speak on behalf of every officer or leader, but I can say most do truly care about their Sailors to include special programs.

Being that you’re surrounded by aviators either on base or afloat, there’s plenty of resources right under your nose. You just have to find and use them.

Apologies for the late response, I haven't been able to log back into here for a bit.

Since my initial post I did end reaching out to my CMC and another Chief and was instructed to reach out to the carrier for potential appraisers. I also got in touch with two pilots, one at my current command and another else where. Progress is finally being made on my own accord.

 

[SailorJohnson32]

You can absolutely reach out to people on your own. I got an appraisal from the DIVO of my friend who is part of the squadron, who I just reached out to and asked for help. You can get the forms yourself from MyNavyHR. I was honestly just about to ask one of the officers that live in my apartment building before I reached out and asked. Part of the process is demonstrating that you can create connections and get things done.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with letting your CoC help you, but you have to remember that nobody wakes up thinking "What can I do for Johnson today?"

Thank you so much for your response! I am taking that last sentence to heart way more now after the conversation I had with my OCS coordinator about branching out on my own for appraisals. He is more focused on the ship right now and I am 100% focused on my package so I am tacking the neccessary steps to reach out and find appraisers and so far so good at the moment. At the start of my package I was under the impression I couldn't reach out to my appraisers and I wasn't trying to step on my OCS Coordinators toes by going around him in unfamiliar territory.

 

[SailorJohnson32]

Who is this coordinator? A career counselor or an officer designated to help those with officer applications? Maybe the person just doesn't know and so it isn't so much dragging their feet but just not sure where to go?

I would second engaging your DIVO, odds are your DIVO knows someone that can help or can get you pointed in the right direction.

Thank you so much for your response. I had a conversation with my OCS Coordinator and another Chief concerned about me wanting to branch out on my own to find appraisers. To cut it short, it was made clear to me that preparing the ship to get back out to sea from SRA was more important and that I can most definitely start looking for my own appraisers because he can't find anyone from my program which I told him he wouldn't be able to directly find someone from my program because they are still training. Surrounded by all these pilots and aviators here in Yokosuka I will get the job done for sure.

 

[SailorJohnson32]

I just hit up Officers personally via email. I didn’t run into any issues doing this. Just make sure your package is mostly done before your interviews because they will probably want to review it. Also, I would have all your supporting documentation available for the interviewer to review.

Thank you for your response! I am currently doing the same, package is good to go with all supporting documents. Just need to get the appraisals done, finish up my commissioning physical and route up to the CO then it is good to go.

 

[SailorJohnson32]

The airwing is located at MCAS Iwakuni when not deployed aboard the Aircraft Carrier, so that's a non-starter. There are plenty of other aviators around the base on CFAY Yokosuka. CSG-5 onboard the Aircraft Carrier (CVN) has several aviators attached to the staff as well as several aviators attached to the CVN. Seventh Fleet Staff (ashore and onboard Blue Ridge) has a few as well. You may want to talk a walk over to the ships and rustle up enough to get your appraisals scheduled and complete. Like others have said, no foul in taking care of yourself. I have a former student that's aboard the BHR. PM me and I might be able to help.

​

Thank you so much for your response! I am going on board the carrier sometime this week to see what I can gather up for appraisers, I am now currently in contact with a pilot from another airwing in the area. I will definitely PM you now! I am open for any and all forms of help.

 

[Swanee]

There are a few traditional gold wing wearing naval aviators around here who are flying drones these days.

They may or may not fit the requirements for your interview but they probably would be willing to give you some of their time.

The drone community is a good community for the right people.

 

[Rowelfabs]

Just wondering does it have to be 1 pilot or 2 pilots for the appraisals? What are the appraisal requirements for AVP? Based off the April 2023 PA 106A for AVP it stated "minimum two Reference letters" does that mean LOR's?

 

[SailorJohnson32]

Just wondering does it have to be 1 pilot or 2 pilots for the appraisals? What are the appraisal requirements for AVP? Based off the April 2023 PA 106A for AVP it stated "minimum two Reference letters" does that mean LOR's?

Correct, you need 2 LOR’s (Letters of Recommendation) minimum. I got one from a CO and another from a LCDR whom is a pilot. O3 and above is gold for you LOR’s. For the interviews I had 2 pilots ( 1 Mustang and 1 P8 Pilot) conduct mine and for my 3rd one it’s my base CSO whom also as aviation experience and expertise in the Navy.

 

[ea6bflyr]

Correct, you need 2 LOR’s (Letters of Recommendation) minimum. I got one from a CO and another from a LCDR whom is a pilot. O3 and above is gold for you LOR’s. For the interviews I had 2 pilots ( 1 Mustang and 1 P8 Pilot) conduct mine and for my 3rd one it’s my base CSO whom also as aviation experience and expertise in the Navy.

Once you have your package together, go to your admin/personnel department and have a senior YN/PN review your package for completeness and correctness. My admin department helped me dot the i’s and cross the t’s when I applied back in the early 90’s.