Contacting the OSO for the first time

[MackOhare]

Hey guys, longtime reader, first-time poster; I must say this site is a great resource for aspiring military professionals. I am a few years out of my undergrad, non-prior, and decided that I want to go to OCS for a pilot or NFO slot. Now, I have not taken the first step of contacting my OSO yet, and that is my question. I’m curious to know how most of the OCS guys on here end up getting the process started, i.e. getting in touch with the OSO – did any of you go to an enlisting office initially for a referral? The only thing I’ve been able to find in my area for Navy is a phone # off the Navy’s website. There is an address given for an enlistment office only.

Additionally, how soon should I be prepared to take the ASTB and PRT after contacting the recruiter? Since these are big weeding out factors, I imagine they will push for me to take them ASAP so as not to waste the Navy’s time. I know other threads suggest getting started as soon as possible, but I want to give myself a least another month or two to prep for the ASTB and PRT. I am working on my PPL now and will be studying for the FAA written exams soon as well. I am comfortable that I can make Good Lows on the PRT as is, but I want to improve on this as well.

Finally, I am wondering if a pilot slot is even possible for me. I am 5 months from turning 26 and would need PRK to meet the vision requirements for pilot, and with the 6 month wait, I wonder if I would be able to submit my application, get waivered if possible, get selected, and graduate OCS (not sure how long the wait is after final select) before my 27th birthday? Perhaps I should forget the PRK and focus on NFO so as not to delay? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[SynixMan]

Sent you a PM with contact details. As for the other stuff:

You'll take the ASTB and PRT after you contact the Officer Recruiter. Studying is advised for the ASTB, use the forum here for a good start. There's a metric ton of ASTB knowledge on here.

Others will have to answer about PRK and age limits. Good Luck!

 

[blarged]

There's a metric ton of ASTB knowledge on here.

don't sell the site short Synix, its more like an imperial ton!

 

[HeyJoe]

Sent you a PM with contact details. As for the other stuff:

You'll take the ASTB and PRT after you contact the Officer Recruiter.

Try to go directly to an OR*. You may get unduly delayed (or distracted) going to Enlisted Recruiter who may try to convince you best path to OCS is by enlisting.

*Note: OSO = USMC and OR (Officer Recruiter) = USN

 

[Krafty1]

Additionally, how soon should I be prepared to take the ASTB and PRT after contacting the recruiter? Since these are big weeding out factors, I imagine they will push for me to take them ASAP so as not to waste the Navy?s time. I know other threads suggest getting started as soon as possible, but I want to give myself a least another month or two to prep for the ASTB and PRT. I am working on my PPL now and will be studying for the FAA written exams soon as well. I am comfortable that I can make Good Lows on the PRT as is, but I want to improve on this as well.

The application process and how quickly you complete it are entirely on your shoulders. That would be why people suggest to start as soon as possible. Every recruiter is different too, while a PRT and MEPS is not required for an application to be submitted, some recruiters will have you complete those before they submit your application. The application is much more than the ASTB and as I mentioned, a PRT may not be required by your OR to submit. You also have to get LORs and a complete a list of other things like gathering your medical records. That will take time and you can do that why you prep for the ASTB and PRT.

To sum it up, DON'T WAIT. Talk to a recruiter and get things moving.

 

[MackOhare]

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated. Btw, I guess thread should read OR -- apologies, wasn't aware of the difference between USMC and Navy recruiting titles.

 

[aey619]

Sent you a PM with contact details. As for the other stuff:

You'll take the ASTB and PRT after you contact the Officer Recruiter. Studying is advised for the ASTB, use the forum here for a good start. There's a metric ton of ASTB knowledge on here.

Others will have to answer about PRK and age limits. Good Luck!

Hello, this is my first post too! (Woo! Hoo!) I was wondering the same thing, I am a semester away from getting my degree. I am trying to get around to talk to an OR and find out when I can take the test.

 

[fltlll]

Personally, I just researched a career in the Navy as an officer on my own for about a week or two, keeping a list of questions in my head to throw at a recruiter.

I tried getting in touch with the number listed on the Navy site for my area, but to no avail. The OR was never there (or something) so eventually an Enlisted Recruiter gave me the number for someone that might have it... THEN that person gave me the number for my recruiter!

When I finally was able to talk to him, I just told him the facts; I was a recent graduate with a BBA and wanted to join the Navy as an officer. He set up a date for the OAR, emailed me a gouge, and that's it. I believe I took the test later that week. If I remember correctly, I went to MEPS about a week after that, and took the PRT about a week and a half after that (I had an insane cold that week and felt like total ass; I was still sick when I did the PRT).

As far as preparation goes, I think I just went through the gouge once to know which questions I knew and which ones I had to remember how to do (I hadn't done geometry or algebra in years). After that, I went through it again and timed it. I think this method worked for me, seeing as I got a 60 (supposedly a decent score... I wanted a 70 for shits). As far as the OAR goes, I totally didn't know I had to know the compound interest formula (which escaped me the day of the test; being a Business major, I should've had that etched into my brain). Also, the random physics questions caught me off guard.

To prepare for the PRT, I just did more cardio than usual and continued to do my regular workout. Did 100 push ups and 84 curl ups for the PRT, and did the 1.5 mile in about 11 minutes and change? Something like that.

If you're not confident with push ups or curl ups, I recommend doing pyramid sets and burn outs. They should boost your numbers by a good amount if you don't work out often.

TL;DR - Just call the recruiter and get the ball rolling. If you have your heart set on this, just blaze through all the paperwork and kick ass on the tests.

 

[ag74683]

sorry to push this back up, but I have a relavent question and saw no point in making a new thread...

When you do contact the OR, if they require a PRT test run before you submit your package and you do not pass it, are you automatically gone from contention? Ive been putting off contacting the OR because Im worried I will not pass the PRT without preparing for it for at least a month...