12 APR 17 SNA/SNFO Board

[Hammer10k]

Thank you.
It's tough when there's conflicting info coming from official sources.

So my recruiter seems to think my application was submitted fine, but the other guy I talked to says he looked and does not see my name up for this board. My recruiter is going to look into it tomorrow and get back to me (or so he says).

Do you by chance know what he meant by saying the SWO board banked my package for the next board? He says it's because they had all the SWOs they needed, but the other guy I spoke with says they don't have all the SWOs they need yet for FY17. He said he thought I'd be competitive for intel and I know there's another IWC board coming up, but intel for FY17 is already filled up.

Man this is such an agonizing process. By now I'd be willing to take Officer of Water Carrying if they offered it to me.

I'm not sure what banked means. @NavyOffRec and @RUFiO181 are good sources of info who might know better.

The application boards are a tough process but it will come together if you stay persistent. Research the missions and lifestyles for SWO, Intel, and IWC and focus on the one you think will be the best fit. This is because you will be most competitive for whatever you put as #1 on your application, and exponentially less likely to be picked up for whatever you put after that. SNA/SNFO is a little different since you'll often put both those and can be picked up for either.

If you're still eyeing SNA/SNFO, I'd recommend to post about the age waiver on airwarriors. Someone may chime in and say that they were selected after their 27th birthday. If this is the case, your ASTB scores are competitive so you could be picked up. Aviation seems to do its own thing, so even getting picked up with SNA/SNFO listed as #2 or #3 is not beyond possible if you throw it on your app.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I was in your exact position and turned 27 two weeks after OCS graduation. Work hard not to roll by preparing for the PRT and studying ranks/insignias, general orders of a sentry, articles of the code of conduct, and chain of command if you can get a hold of it.

It was not told to me nor my recruiter, and it is certainly a "needs of the navy" deal thats subject to change and probably not the norm, but as long as you start OCS before your 27th birthday then you should be ok. Thats even if you roll. I say this because a buddy of mine rolled into my OCS class (we graduated OCS last summer) after RLP and received an age waiver, and another buddy started OCS at 26 1/2 and was given a waiver off the bat (this was in January).

I would not count on this. I only bring it up because I was hesitant about quitting my job and going to OCS since I figured a roll would cost me my SNA slot, and I was preparing to graduate law school with a decent job. So if anyones on the fence as I was, know that the Navy may work with you on age waivers. However, work your tail off before and during OCS so you do not roll.

yeah, we had a guy age critical was rolled in OCS, graduated a week or so after turning 27 and had to redesignate.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Is the 27 age cap for all programs? Because I had just turned 27 when I started this whole process and this is the first I've heard of it. My recruiter told me he submitted my package for this board, but another recruiter tells me he thinks it was kicked back because I'm 27. My recruiter also told me my package was "banked" by the SWO board and will be considered by the next one, and when I told him what the other guy said, my recruiter insisted the NFO age cap was 29.

Do any of you have any idea what the hell is going on?

If you submitted over 27 it would be pro X'd for SNA and SNFO, what position did you put SWO?

The last board was to get in mostly age critical people that met the muster.

If you have a high GPA and tech degree then IWC could be an option, but they need to be listed number 1, with IWC "competitive" is a subjective term since they have a 10-15 percent selection rate it is so hard to get in very few would be considered competitive.

 

[Robiedog]

If you submitted over 27 it would be pro X'd for SNA and SNFO, what position did you put SWO?

That's strange. My recruiter spent over an hour on the phone with HQ today, and he says my application wasn't pushed back because I'm 27, but because someone somewhere didn't know that SNFOs don't need 40 arc second depth perception. The lady, my recruiter says, left him a message at his office that he'll relay to me tomorrow saying whether they were able to put my name back up for this board or not. My recruiter seemed absolutely certain after speaking with them that the 27 thing isn't a factor at all.

I put SWO last, but I think my recruiter moved it up to third. I can't find any info about what it means to have a package banked, but my recruiter says they told him they want me but their quota was full and they pushed my app to the next SWO board.

Meanwhile Army wants me for intel and says I'd actually be able to use my Chinese with them. I'm trying to give the Navy more time here since that's where I'd rather be.

 

[Robiedog]

Research the missions and lifestyles for SWO, Intel, and IWC and focus on the one you think will be the best fit. This is because you will be most competitive for whatever you put as #1 on your application, and exponentially less likely to be picked up for whatever you put after that. SNA/SNFO is a little different since you'll often put both those and can be picked up for either.

Thanks for the info. I'm basically reliant on my recruiter at this point to structure the choices for me based on the board, since he's in Virginia and I'm in Florida. Honestly I'm just trying to lead sailors and serve my country. Like I said, officer of water carrying will do, just ship me off already. Sure I had high hopes for aviation, but if I'm too dam old, not much I can do there except go to a different service.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

That's strange. My recruiter spent over an hour on the phone with HQ today, and he says my application wasn't pushed back because I'm 27, but because someone somewhere didn't know that SNFOs don't need 40 arc second depth perception. The lady, my recruiter says, left him a message at his office that he'll relay to me tomorrow saying whether they were able to put my name back up for this board or not. My recruiter seemed absolutely certain after speaking with them that the 27 thing isn't a factor at all.

I put SWO last, but I think my recruiter moved it up to third. I can't find any info about what it means to have a package banked, but my recruiter says they told him they want me but their quota was full and they pushed my app to the next SWO board.

Meanwhile Army wants me for intel and says I'd actually be able to use my Chinese with them. I'm trying to give the Navy more time here since that's where I'd rather be.

If he moved it up to 1 or 2 you will be ok, if 3rd NRC will not consider you, SWO needs to be 1 or 2

I think your recruiter is blowing smoke, they won't even review an application until the board is held so they couldn't have said they want you but they didn't have a quota.

The depth perception doesn't fly either, N3M issues a letter saying if a person is or is not qualified for the programs, they do that every day, something as simple as depth perception misunderstanding wouldn't happen, in fact the NRD would see the letter from N3M so it would say not qualified for aviation programs which would be a red flag that would be caught prior to being submitted to NRC.

Many things you are being told are not making sense.

 

[Robiedog]

Many things you are being told are not making sense.

Here's what I think is going on.

My recruiter didn't realize the 29 age cap for SNFO was only for people with prior, and my package didn't make it up top because of that. Rather than admit he screwed up by not telling me about that little detail and to prevent me from running to Army or Air Force, and knowing I'm almost certain to be taken up for SWO if he sends up my package with SWO at 1, he's trying to get me to wait it out until that board convenes and I sign the paper.

That sound accurate? Jeez I mean I'm fine with driving ships. All I want is to know what's going on.

What would you do here? Take SWO or go fly with someone else?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Here's what I think is going on.

My recruiter didn't realize the 29 age cap for SNFO was only for people with prior, and my package didn't make it up top because of that. Rather than admit he screwed up by not telling me about that little detail and to prevent me from running to Army or Air Force, and knowing I'm almost certain to be taken up for SWO if he sends up my package with SWO at 1, he's trying to get me to wait it out until that board convenes and I sign the paper.

That sound accurate? Jeez I mean I'm fine with driving ships. All I want is to know what's going on.

What would you do here? Take SWO or go fly with someone else?

Strangely enough I have seen a similar scenario play out a few times, so I would say it could be accurate.

If you want to fly then see if you can fly for the Army, they have higher age limits and they take people via OCS to fly at a better rate than the USAF, if you want to be in the USN then be a SWO.

 

[cookie_monster]

Strangely enough I have seen a similar scenario play out a few times, so I would say it could be accurate.

If you want to fly then see if you can fly for the Army, they have higher age limits and they take people via OCS to fly at a better rate than the USAF, if you want to be in the USN then be a SWO.

Speaking of USAF, I was thinking about applying for their OTS or whatever you call it. They recently put out a statement that they need pilots.

 

[Robiedog]

Strangely enough I have seen a similar scenario play out a few times, so I would say it could be accurate.

Well I thought this was cleared up, but I was wrong again. My recruiter called again and wants me to redo depth perception at a local MEPS or military hospital.

I mean I asked him again very bluntly about this 27 age cap and he again assured me it wasn't a problem. I also told him flat out I'd be happy with SWO. If he were just jerking me around to try and push me towards SWO, it wouldn't make sense for him to mislead me about NFO when I've already told him I just want to be in the Navy.

If I redo depth perception and pass, and he is somehow right about the age cap, I qualify for SNA. I've got to give it a try, but I'll keep in mind that it's unlikely.

 

[Robiedog]

Speaking of USAF, I was thinking about applying for their OTS or whatever you call it. They recently put out a statement that they need pilots.

Everyone needs pilots. All you need to do is make it past the bureaucracy part.
That's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to switch branches. I'd have to do MEPS and all the tests over again.

 

[AJ18]

Everyone needs pilots. All you need to do is make it past the bureaucracy part.
That's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to switch branches. I'd have to do MEPS and all the tests over again.

Just an extreme FYI....According to the Line Officer Application for the Air Force, Page 7, paragraph 2 states; "If you are selected for OTS/OCS and decline your commissioning offer, it will ALSO disqualify you from future commissioned services in the Armed Forces." so you better say yes to the dress Thought this was interesting....especially for anyone else applying to other branches.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Just an extreme FYI....According to the Line Officer Application for the Air Force, Page 7, paragraph 2 states; "If you are selected for OTS/OCS and decline your commissioning offer, it will ALSO disqualify you from future commissioned services in the Armed Forces." so you better say yes to the dress Thought this was interesting....especially for anyone else applying to other branches.

I wouldn't say that is accurate information...

 

[AJ18]

I wouldn't say that is accurate information...

Was hoping not...

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Everyone needs pilots. All you need to do is make it past the bureaucracy part.
That's one of the reasons I'm hesitant to switch branches. I'd have to do MEPS and all the tests over again.

The other service will just pull your MEPS physical, those physicals are good for 2 years.