DCO Supply Chances and Selections

[Chop07]

Thank you for the feedback. My recruiter had a hard time finding interviewers. He sent out a lot of requests, but most either didn't answer back or replied they didn't have time. The only two he said were willing to interview lived at least 6 hours away so in person was out of the question.

Do they look over the APSR at the board? All of my awards/ribbons and warfare pin are on the APSR along with all of my volunteer activities.

What is the first thing the board looks at for a candidate? Do you they look into active evals? My evals are a good source of quantifiable numbers in terms of leadership.

I'm applying for Supply, but my recruiter put HR as a second choice. I don't know what good that will do since it won't be going to the HR board...I'm assuming that at least.

Thanks again for the feedback! Means a lot.

Yes, they look at the APSR at the board. As far as what they look at, they will look at your evals but they will most certainly look at your resume for what you're doing NOW in terms of leadership and what you're doing in your career field that aligns with the Supply Corps.

Both the HR and Supply Corps Reserve Boards are extremely competitive. Since the HR board just recently happened, the only thing squarely in front of you is Supply. Board deadline is in June so you have time to get those in-person interviews.

 

[Aaron Priest]

Yes, they look at the APSR at the board. As far as what they look at, they will look at your evals but they will most certainly look at your resume for what you're doing NOW in terms of leadership and what you're doing in your career field that aligns with the Supply Corps.

Both the HR and Supply Corps Reserve Boards are extremely competitive. Since the HR board just recently happened, the only thing squarely in front of you is Supply. Board deadline is in June so you have time to get those in-person interviews.

Thank you again for your feedback. It really does mean a lot for you guys to take the time to answer our questions and give us some valuable insight. Best of luck to everyone applying.

 

[TV2709]

Can time in service hurt your chances? For instance I have four years on active duty and another four years in SelRes. I'm 30 years old, if selected I could, theoretically retire in 12 years. I obviously wouldn't but is that something the board takes into consideration?

 

[Chop07]

Can time in service hurt your chances? For instance I have four years on active duty and another four years in SelRes. I'm 30 years old, if selected I could, theoretically retire in 12 years. I obviously wouldn't but is that something the board takes into consideration?

It can but in your case, my opinion is that it won't. Over 10 years, I believe it starts to raise more skepticism as you are a risk to punch out at 20 thereby worsening the deficit at the LCDR level that has existed for years. You can also be clear in your motivational statement that you intend to stay in...if in fact that is true.

 

[motleygunner]

Hi All,

I've thrown my hat in the ring to DCO as a Supply Officer. I really don't know if I have any chance of being selected, I have an MBA with a 3.95 GPA and manage a 250 employee department at a publicly traded company with letters of recommendation from multiple c-level executives here. I'm also already medically qualified with straight 1's on my PULHES and am a Mensa member. Just when I feel confident about my chances, I realize I am 40 years old non-prior service. Then the doubt kicks in and I am convinced I have no shot. This is my last and only chance of serving and waiting until July is going to feel like an eternity. Best of luck to everyone!

 

[Keaopolohiwa]

Hi All,

I've thrown my hat in the ring to DCO as a Supply Officer. I really don't know if I have any chance of being selected, I have an MBA with a 3.95 GPA and manage a 250 employee department at a publicly traded company with letters of recommendation from multiple c-level executives here. I'm also already medically qualified with straight 1's on my PULHES and am a Mensa member. Just when I feel confident about my chances, I realize I am 40 years old non-prior service. Then the doubt kicks in and I am convinced I have no shot. This is my last and only chance of serving and waiting until July is going to feel like an eternity. Best of luck to everyone!

How did your interviews go?

 

[motleygunner]

My recruiter is scheduling them now, I haven't had them yet.

 

[Keaopolohiwa]

That will be the key. All of the competitive candidates are smart and have experience. Any government contracting experience?

 

[Keaopolohiwa]

You are not medically qualified until we get a PQ letter from N3M and you need an open JPAS

 

[motleygunner]

That will be the key. All of the competitive candidates are smart and have experience. Any government contracting experience?

Some with local municipalities, but nothing beyond that. It's certainly one of my weak spots.

 

[ABMD]

Hi All,

I've thrown my hat in the ring to DCO as a Supply Officer. I really don't know if I have any chance of being selected, I have an MBA with a 3.95 GPA and manage a 250 employee department at a publicly traded company with letters of recommendation from multiple c-level executives here. I'm also already medically qualified with straight 1's on my PULHES and am a Mensa member. Just when I feel confident about my chances, I realize I am 40 years old non-prior service. Then the doubt kicks in and I am convinced I have no shot. This is my last and only chance of serving and waiting until July is going to feel like an eternity. Best of luck to everyone!

@motleygunner I have a fellow DCO in my unit that was just selected in 2016 and he is 40. I believe you can apply up to age 42. It took me two tries to get selected and the best advice I received was to quantify everything on your resume. List budget dollars you've managed, # of people under your leadership, etc. If you can put a number to it, include it. Also, make sure you get interviews with O5 or above reserve SUPPLY officers. From what I've been told the reserve officers interviews hold more weight with the boards than the active component officers.

 

[motleygunner]

@motleygunner I have a fellow DCO in my unit that was just selected in 2016 and he is 40. I believe you can apply up to age 42. It took me two tries to get selected and the best advice I received was to quantify everything on your resume. List budget dollars you've managed, # of people under your leadership, etc. If you can put a number to it, include it. Also, make sure you get interviews with O5 or above reserve SUPPLY officers. From what I've been told the reserve officers interviews hold more weight with the boards than the active component officers.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[AFDave1]

Hello Everyone,

After reading the board posts, I am finally posting as well. I am considering the upcoming Supply DCO board and wanted to get some advice/insight. It all seems simple, but coming from Air Force reserve, I still question everything because it is so unfamiliar to what I am used to.

Background:
Personal: 33 years old. Married. Located in Southern California (Los Angeles area).
Education: MBA in Marketing (3.9 GPA), BS in Supply Chain and Operations Management/BS in Management, and an AS in Transportation & Logistics. Graduate Certificate in Data Science from the University of Michigan.
Civilian Career: 10 years of Hospitality management, 4 years of engineering/technical experience with top automotive manufacturer.
Military: 12.5 years with Air Force Reserves as E-6 (E-7 Selected) logistician. Earned several medals (like most other candidates).

My questions are as follows:

1. Since I am in LA, where would be the likely bases I would drill out of?
2. Does anyone have any supply experience with the local bases? (such as work environment, management structure, deployment tempo)?
3. How do Navy reserves get assigned to deployments, sea duty, shore duty, etc.?
4. How is Supply training handled after DCOIC? Online information indicates that training is accomplished over 2-week annual tours and drills? no formal schooling?
5. Online information also states it takes about 3 years for a new Reserve Supply Officer to be fully trained. Does that mean you're not worldwide qualified until then?

Ultimately, I am more concerned with deployment/sea duty tempos. Coming from the Air Force Reserve, where I was deploying every 3 years, I would like to find a unit/position where I can either space them out a bit more OR just push a deployment back at least 2-3 years from now. I ETS'd from the AFRES because I was scheduled to deploy once again. I have a 6-month old and I would appreciate being home for the early years. I have been on many deployments and will gladly go again in a few years, but I am just not looking for another deployment now or for at least 2-3 years. With that said, can anyone provide insight as to how the Navy might fit my needs and if the Supply training schedule will buy me enough time to be home these early years.

* I will note that I understand the needs of the military and I could just stay out, but I have about 7 years left until retirement, and I really love the military, so I would love to find a happy medium where I can serve my country, work towards my retirement, and be home a bit more than before.

With that said, I thank everyone in advance for the input and advice.

 

[Aaron Priest]

Hello Everyone,

After reading the board posts, I am finally posting as well. I am considering the upcoming Supply DCO board and wanted to get some advice/insight. It all seems simple, but coming from Air Force reserve, I still question everything because it is so unfamiliar to what I am used to.

Background:
Personal: 33 years old. Married. Located in Southern California (Los Angeles area).
Education: MBA in Marketing (3.9 GPA), BS in Supply Chain and Operations Management/BS in Management, and an AS in Transportation & Logistics. Graduate Certificate in Data Science from the University of Michigan.
Civilian Career: 10 years of Hospitality management, 4 years of engineering/technical experience with top automotive manufacturer.
Military: 12.5 years with Air Force Reserves as E-6 (E-7 Selected) logistician. Earned several medals (like most other candidates).

My questions are as follows:

1. Since I am in LA, where would be the likely bases I would drill out of?
2. Does anyone have any supply experience with the local bases? (such as work environment, management structure, deployment tempo)?
3. How do Navy reserves get assigned to deployments, sea duty, shore duty, etc.?
4. How is Supply training handled after DCOIC? Online information indicates that training is accomplished over 2-week annual tours and drills? no formal schooling?
5. Online information also states it takes about 3 years for a new Reserve Supply Officer to be fully trained. Does that mean you're not worldwide qualified until then?

Ultimately, I am more concerned with deployment/sea duty tempos. Coming from the Air Force Reserve, where I was deploying every 3 years, I would like to find a unit/position where I can either space them out a bit more OR just push a deployment back at least 2-3 years from now. I ETS'd from the AFRES because I was scheduled to deploy once again. I have a 6-month old and I would appreciate being home for the early years. I have been on many deployments and will gladly go again in a few years, but I am just not looking for another deployment now or for at least 2-3 years. With that said, can anyone provide insight as to how the Navy might fit my needs and if the Supply training schedule will buy me enough time to be home these early years.

* I will note that I understand the needs of the military and I could just stay out, but I have about 7 years left until retirement, and I really love the military, so I would love to find a happy medium where I can serve my country, work towards my retirement, and be home a bit more than before.

With that said, I thank everyone in advance for the input and advice.

Welcome to the board AFDave1!

This is my first time applying, so I can't answer all of your questions. However, from what I've seen, a large percentage of supply officers are deployed, so I would expect a fair number (I know "fair number" doesn't say much) of deployments after you are fully qualified. As you stated, I believe school takes 3 years. You spend your two weeks a year at supply school and the rest is correspondence work from home and during drill weekend, if time permits.

Since you only have 7 years until retirement, I can't imagine the Navy wanting to spend all the time and money to train you to only get a few years of service, but that is just my opinion. Seems like I've read somewhere that anything over 10 years of prior service is unfavorable for that very reason. Again, this is only what I've read.

Good luck if you decide to proceed!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Hello Everyone,

After reading the board posts, I am finally posting as well. I am considering the upcoming Supply DCO board and wanted to get some advice/insight. It all seems simple, but coming from Air Force reserve, I still question everything because it is so unfamiliar to what I am used to.

Background:
Personal: 33 years old. Married. Located in Southern California (Los Angeles area).
Education: MBA in Marketing (3.9 GPA), BS in Supply Chain and Operations Management/BS in Management, and an AS in Transportation & Logistics. Graduate Certificate in Data Science from the University of Michigan.
Civilian Career: 10 years of Hospitality management, 4 years of engineering/technical experience with top automotive manufacturer.
Military: 12.5 years with Air Force Reserves as E-6 (E-7 Selected) logistician. Earned several medals (like most other candidates).

My questions are as follows:

1. Since I am in LA, where would be the likely bases I would drill out of?
2. Does anyone have any supply experience with the local bases? (such as work environment, management structure, deployment tempo)?
3. How do Navy reserves get assigned to deployments, sea duty, shore duty, etc.?
4. How is Supply training handled after DCOIC? Online information indicates that training is accomplished over 2-week annual tours and drills? no formal schooling?
5. Online information also states it takes about 3 years for a new Reserve Supply Officer to be fully trained. Does that mean you're not worldwide qualified until then?

Ultimately, I am more concerned with deployment/sea duty tempos. Coming from the Air Force Reserve, where I was deploying every 3 years, I would like to find a unit/position where I can either space them out a bit more OR just push a deployment back at least 2-3 years from now. I ETS'd from the AFRES because I was scheduled to deploy once again. I have a 6-month old and I would appreciate being home for the early years. I have been on many deployments and will gladly go again in a few years, but I am just not looking for another deployment now or for at least 2-3 years. With that said, can anyone provide insight as to how the Navy might fit my needs and if the Supply training schedule will buy me enough time to be home these early years.

* I will note that I understand the needs of the military and I could just stay out, but I have about 7 years left until retirement, and I really love the military, so I would love to find a happy medium where I can serve my country, work towards my retirement, and be home a bit more than before.

With that said, I thank everyone in advance for the input and advice.

ETS due to about to deploy sends the wrong message, especially since as a reserve supply officer you will deploy several times, one of the reserve supply officers I know has been deployed about 12 months over the past 5 years, there is always something you will miss with the kids, sacrifice is sacrifice.