OCS 11AUG25 IWC BOARD // Nerd Thunderdome 2025

[exNavyOffRec]

This may be a positive sign

Navy hits historic recruiting numbers with more ads, tattoo approvals

Fiscal 2025 was the best recruiting year for the Navy since 2002. The head of Navy recruiting credited the feat, in part, to streamlining tattoo approvals.

www.navytimes.com

"In a roundtable discussion with reporters Monday prior to the end of the fiscal year, Rear Adm. James Waters, head of Navy recruiting command, revealed that the service had achieved surpluses in every recruiting category, including officers, enlisted and Reserve — with enough in the Delayed Entry Program to make up about one-fourth of the recruiting mission for fiscal 2026."

"In total, the Navy brought in 44,096 future sailors in fiscal 2025, the service announced on Wednesday — nearly 3,500 more than its target of 40,600. That’s more than any year since 2002."

He mentions officers but this is 99% all about enlisted, there isn't an issue hitting officer recruiting goals.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

The job market is in the toilet. When I went to MEPS, I a lot of people were there because they couldn’t find work—some were even re-enlisting.

I am in corporate recruiting and I get weekly numbers on layoffs, unemployment, quits, etc... and I can tell you that your statement is incorrect. On the corporate side we are seeing less qualified applicants for open roles. The filing for unemployment is steady, the unemployment rate is steady, the quit rate is steady and it has been that way for a while. The hiring timeline is slower which can be attributed to taking longer to get qualified applicants to apply to open roles.

IT is the one that is having issues thanks to AI becoming more prevalent.

Recruiter jobs are on the rise and that indicates hiring is ramping up.

The career events I go to are filing up with employers faster then they have before as they are needing to hire people and the last career fair I was at 2 weeks ago saw a dramatic drop in people looking for jobs.

What I am seeing is many people applying for jobs they aren't qualified for, recent college grads with business degrees thinking they are going to step into a 100K job with no experience and surprised when they are told what they are qualified for is quite a bit less than 100K.

 

[OceanBlue]

My recruiter stated that the shutdown will not impact the release of results. The military personnel involved in the bureaucratic process for releasing results are still coming into work and recruiters are still in the office.

Hopefully we hear back this week!

 

[hclark1821]

Hopefully we hear back this week!

Still not holding my breath but fingers crossed!!!!

 

[010011000100111101001100]

Tis the season.

 

[Gaburieru]

Airwarriors is turning into a mental health support group for autists nervously awaiting lifechanging information

 

[rabbitoperator]

Airwarriors is turning into a mental health support group for autists nervously awaiting lifechanging information

A truer statement has never been said.

 

[WhiteShiningTin]

Airwarriors is turning into a mental health support group for autists nervously awaiting lifechanging information

It’s commonly known as “group therapy” dawg.

Since I’m waiting anyway, I “deviated” from my OR’s advice against taking more courses. I just enrolled in a business/management college course that my company recommended for every mid-management. Might as well invest in myself and it might meagerly pad my transcript

 

[Gaburieru]

Well if we're sharing coping strategies, I just got back from two weeks in France visiting my friends and family. Now that I'm back, I'm doing some fall cleaning and pursuing volunteering, and looking into some additional classes myself. I want to do something like painting, drawing, or architecture, french or japanese, and boxing, BJJ, or MMA to round myself out. Potentially pursuing personal training too. Biggest limitation is moolah but I got a solution. Also getting a massage today. Just some ideas just in case you guys are looking for something to do to pass the time :^)

 

[rabbitoperator]

While we wait, let's get into a more positive mindset. When we get into the Navy, does anyone here have anywhere they'd prefer to be stationed? I don't really care at the end of the day, but it would be nice to be...anywhere in the Pacific. As someone whose lived in a landlocked area for my entire life, the allure of the ocean is pulling me like a siren.

 

[Beastmode1776]

While we wait, let's get into a more positive mindset. When we get into the Navy, does anyone here have anywhere they'd prefer to be stationed? I don't really care at the end of the day, but it would be nice to be...anywhere in the Pacific. As someone whose lived in a landlocked area for my entire life, the allure of the ocean is pulling me like a siren.

Hate to be a buzzkill, but seeing as people have notifications turned on to receive news for this board, and perspective candidates will use this to gather information, it would be nice to limit discussion to things related to that.

 

[rabbitoperator]

Hate to be a buzzkill, but seeing as people have notifications turned on to receive news for this board, and perspective candidates will use this to gather information, it would be nice to limit discussion to things in-line with that.

That's fair enough, my apologies

 

[Shod]

While we wait, let's get into a more positive mindset. When we get into the Navy, does anyone here have anywhere they'd prefer to be stationed? I don't really care at the end of the day, but it would be nice to be...anywhere in the Pacific. As someone whose lived in a landlocked area for my entire life, the allure of the ocean is pulling me like a siren.

For me if im selected im hoping for Japan, Spain or Italy

 

[Gandalf_Actual]

…seeing as people have notifications turned on to receive news for this board, and perspective candidates will use this to gather information, it would be nice to limit discussion to things related to that.

Not for nothing, if false alarms and trawling through heaps of seemingly irrelevant information irritate you that much, I’ve got some bad news for you about the Intel life, mate.

This thread’s intended purpose isn’t to be anyone’s personal bell for when results are published either - you have a recruiter/CoC/BOL for that.

 

[Rainold]

I for one appreciate the conversation. It's a good reminder that I'm not alone in my impatience lol.

In my research it seems like IP JOs mostly go to either Norfolk, Hawaii, Japan, Italy, or Bahrain for their first station. Definitely hoping for Hawaii, Japan, or Italy. Bahrain sounds too hot and desert-y for my taste, and a lot of people seem to dislike Norfolk (and it'd be too close to home).