Applying while Active Duty or Civilian

[IUGUY]

I am active duty and in my first enlistment. I have applied for STA-21 twice and neither of them was able to get past the CO (Fully eligible, two different CO’s, both a long story and not important). After the second time and all the headache I decided to just finish my degree. I submitted OCS package to chain of command and asked for a sponsor to help coordinate appraisals. Six months later I have finally been able to get a board for appraisal and my package completed and submitted, if no more hang ups happen I should be on the next board in December. I have no letter of recommendations but feel I strong appraisals, am a "total person" with community service and leadership positions etc. Only thing I feel iffy about is my ASTB with I got a 48 on OAR and 5 6 5. Is being active duty that much more of a benefit to my package? With all the push back I have been getting from Chain of Command and the whole process is there any benefit to waiting until I’m a civilian in six months.


Looking at an EAOS in April. My ultimate goal from day one has been a commission. I’m trying to make an educated decision on whether to extend (rate is undermanned right now so I am not trying to reenlist until a conversion is available) or peruse my goals from the outside.

Some constructive help/criticism from the community would be really appreciated.

 

[Renegade One]

Okay..fair…some "constructive criticism", then:

I am active duty and in my first enlistment. I have applied for STA-21 twice and neither of them was able to get past the CO (Fully eligible, two different CO’s, both a long story and not important)...

Two different COs not willing to send you up? That part just MAY be important. Unless you think their job(s) isn't (aren't).

After the second time and all the headache I decided to just finish my degree.

Good call.

Only thing I feel iffy about is my ASTB with I got a 48 on OAR and 5 6 5.

Um…study and re-take?

Is being active duty that much more of a benefit to my package? With all the push back I have been getting from Chain of Command and the whole process is there any benefit to waiting until I’m a civilian in six months.

Dunno about that part. I have an opinion that it's better to apply from within than from without…but, I dunno.

 

[jg54170]

Definitely submit, you will find yourself moving the package through most the process. From my prior experiences applying with STA-21 I took it upon myself to arrange the interviews. Even this time applying for OCS I almost missed the deadline due to snags with the CoC and people taking leave. If you have a strong package, don't sweat the OAR, I got PRO-Y SWO with a 49.

Kind of curious about the push back and not being able to get past CO's, I have seen push back only for qualified people who are viewed as not officer material (not saying it's the case).

 

[IUGUY]

Okay Clarification on STA-21 Submissions. As a brand new airman, I submitted through chain of command as requested. Boards were arranged and completed all medical. Just before my boards I was given all paperwork back to work on something. At the time I was stationed in Japan and still living on the ship. I was working on my lap top and doing laundry at the Fleet Rec center in Yokosuka. My back pack was stolen with all package materials in while I left it unattended to change laundry (hard life lesson learned) and because I was overseas I was not able to get all original documents back in time for submission (to say COC or CO's fault on this one was unfair.)

STA-21 Submission #2 I had hurt myself (broke my foot playing basketball) and had to go limdu, got fit for full and went to a detachment in Yokosuka. I had complete and enthusiastic support from my immediate COC up to the OIC who arranged outstanding boards for me which I did really well on and all that other good stuff. However, when submitted up chain of command (CO was in Hawaii and i was at a detachment of that command in Yokosuka.) the CO said he could not sign the endorsement because I had only been at his command for 2.5 months. I never actually met him , it was what was passed to my by my OIC. I then decided to quit asking permission to go back to school and just went and finished my degree.

Fast forward to sea duty stateside. Finished school in April. The community I am in (AO) are all LDO's so most do not understand the submission process etc and keep wanting to either turn it into a STA-21 package or LDO package. To get a coordinated effort to get appraisals has been very difficult as I have had to play the, "be careful who you talk to and what you say as somebody will get their panties in a bunch game." Long story short, I got a board six months later and my package is in the submission process within the COC.

Now that, that is clarified, I do see the concern with COC not feeling I do not have officer potential. However, I do not feel my performance, evals, grades etc or COC opinion reflect that. I believe the biggest problem I have is trying to submit within a community (AO Ships Company) that does not necessarily see a lot of candidates for these programs and the generally frustrating process of getting anything done on an Air Craft Carrier have been the reasons for push back.

I hope that clarifies the process and where I am coming from.

Who knows, I might get selected, I have def not accepted no for an answer. I have started a masters program and am looking to complete that and make an educated decision on which way to do that, from the inside as active duty while I work towards being a Naval Officer or at least a rate conversion......... or Work on it as a civilian, continue the process of submission for OCS while having the opportunity to build a resume for the civilian work force incase I am never selected.

 

[IUGUY]

Oh, on the ASTB comment... First time taking ASTB I got OAR 49 4 5 5 Second time 48 5 6 5

 

[jg54170]

Makes sense, glad to hear that the package is with the chain of command. Track it to make sure it is continuing to make progress, use your command career counselor, LCPO, DIVO, or whomever is on your side with this fight to make sure it is getting where it needs to go. No one will make this a priority except you unfortunately.

From a career perspective, unless you are in a position where you are being HYT or PTS/career waypointed(or whatever) out of the Navy think about what you say to the skipper when you sit down for an interview. If you tell him you are planning on getting out, it may affect your endorsement. I only mention this because almost every interviewer has asked me a version of the "what if your not selected" question. Why do you want to be an officer? To take care of Sailors and better the Navy or to get a title or some other sort of self fulfilling desire? Just remember that even as a chief or E-6 and below you can impact Sailors careers. They are going to want to hear a good response.

One thing that will help you and your Sailors out is do a brief on enlisted to officer opportunities. This will educate both your Sailors and those above you and hopefully everyone will gain a better understanding.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

The one piece of info you don't say is your degree GPA, that is a big part of the application, if you are applying aviation then the ASTB is also a big part, if you hadn't you had retaken I would urge you to do so, but given your ASTB and OAR I would say your best bet is SWO, not too many people are selected for aviation that have scores 6 or below.

being AD or civilian while applying, well, in general those applying from AD have a lower selection rate, this very well could be that they enlisted with degrees and had low GPA's hoping to get picked up, either way it is what it is.

 

[IUGUY]

JG54170- I like the recommendation for the brief, ill set it up. I have thought alot about what I would say to the CO. Formally my plan is to STAY NAVY. I love being in the military and have a had a lot of fun and success with it. However, frustration over rate conversion (ole recruiter got me with the, "it doesn’t matter what job you pick, if you dont like it you can convert in two years speal." w/ a little bit of the frustration from the obstacles with the officer packages...... couple those things with the opportunity to get out in a foreseeable future, I just want to make an educated decision on the best way to move forward. These subjects are often mystified and muddied by opinion rather than fact...... just trying to get to the bottom everything.

NavyOFFRec- My graduation GPA is 3.05. The thing that makes me nervous about this is prior navy the 18-19-20 self was not the most mature/responsible person or student, so prior navy I had a 2.49 gpa. On all credits post navy I have a 3.86, washes out to a 3.05.

I’m hoping continued motivation and solid grades in the Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership program through Oklahoma University will bolster my case against academic and possible perceived academic instability/inability........

 

[jg54170]

JG54170- I like the recommendation for the brief, ill set it up. I have thought alot about what I would say to the CO. Formally my plan is to STAY NAVY. I love being in the military and have a had a lot of fun and success with it. However, frustration over rate conversion (ole recruiter got me with the, "it doesn’t matter what job you pick, if you dont like it you can convert in two years speal." w/ a little bit of the frustration from the obstacles with the officer packages...... couple those things with the opportunity to get out in a foreseeable future, I just want to make an educated decision on the best way to move forward. These subjects are often mystified and muddied by opinion rather than fact...... just trying to get to the bottom everything.

NavyOFFRec- My graduation GPA is 3.05. The thing that makes me nervous about this is prior navy the 18-19-20 self was not the most mature/responsible person or student, so prior navy I had a 2.49 gpa. On all credits post navy I have a 3.86, washes out to a 3.05.

I’m hoping continued motivation and solid grades in the Master of Arts in Administrative Leadership program through Oklahoma University will bolster my case against academic and possible perceived academic instability/inability........

You may be in luck with the GPA, we don't do the overall GPA that civilians do. I only submitted my most recent transcripts showing my grad GPA and degree conferred (after inquiring with the processors in Millington). I had a lower GPA prior to coming in and did exceptional once in.

NavyOffRec isn't there a work sheet for GPA for civilian applicants to figure an overall GPA?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

GPA is kind of so so, but your transcripts will show the jump once you learned what to do, when can you retake the ASTB? I would apply for Pilot/NFO/SWO and see what happens.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

You may be in luck with the GPA, we don't do the overall GPA that civilians do. I only submitted my most recent transcripts showing my grad GPA and degree conferred (after inquiring with the processors in Millington). I had a lower GPA prior to coming in and did exceptional once in.

NavyOffRec isn't there a work sheet for GPA for civilian applicants to figure an overall GPA?

Yes, it is a GPA calculation worksheet, the civilians used to just put graduating GPA on the application, then that changed, it would not surprise me if that change is coming to AD applicants as well, things tend to change first with civilian applicants, then get put in place for AD applicants.

 

[IUGUY]

I could retake the ASTB at any time for the last time (last time was in may).... Im not sure what else i can do to improve score. Any suggestions.......

 

[IUGUY]

I could retake the ASTB at any time for the last time (last time was in may).... Im not sure what else i can do to improve score. Any suggestions.......

 

[IUGUY]

JG54170- Who do I check with this to make sure that I can not submit all transcripts. I would love to just put my Excelsior Transcript in it. I feel the instruction clearly states that I have to submit with all transcripts.

Who do i Contact? where is the instruction?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

The checklist just says "collegiate transcripts" now the kicker is while one person may have their application make it thru one processor with just the graduating transcript, another may not as one may read it one way and one another, and the program manager may say he wants to see all transcripts associated with that degree.