Greetings, and a question.

[Nemenik]

First of all, this is my first post and I would like to briefly introduce myself. My name is Matt and was just pro rec'd for SWO and Supply back on July 1st 2008.

So for the past 2 months I've just been sitting here doing nothing while awaiting my background check to be completed. I eventually got fed up with the wait and called up my recruiter to see what the problem was. Apparently the people at MEPS screwed up my paper work and sent my finger prints in with some other woman's profile and info, and vice versa. Has anyone heard of this happening before? This is really screwed me up because now we're not sure exactly when this is going to be resolved and I had really hoped to have OCS finished before the new year. Maybe it will still happen.

Also, I'm leaning towards accepting the SWO pro rec over the Supply pro rec. Does anyone want to weigh in on what they would rather do? And pros and cons from personal experience? Thanks again, please be gentle. :icon_mi_1

 

[Lobster]

Hey bud,

Congrats on getting pro rec'd I just did for pilot BDCP its a great feeling eh? If you search around here you should be able to find pro's and cons of both or members to contact who have taken either pipeline. The bottom line is that at the end of the day no matter what we tell you, you're going to have to make the decision for yourself and take the path that YOU want. Congrats again, welcome to aw, and good luck to you!

 

[jt71582]

First of all, this is my first post and I would like to briefly introduce myself. My name is Matt and was just pro rec'd for SWO and Supply back on July 1st 2008.

So for the past 2 months I've just been sitting here doing nothing while awaiting my background check to be completed. I eventually got fed up with the wait and called up my recruiter to see what the problem was. Apparently the people at MEPS screwed up my paper work and sent my finger prints in with some other woman's profile and info, and vice versa. Has anyone heard of this happening before? This is really screwed me up because now we're not sure exactly when this is going to be resolved and I had really hoped to have OCS finished before the new year. Maybe it will still happen.

Also, I'm leaning towards accepting the SWO pro rec over the Supply pro rec. Does anyone want to weigh in on what they would rather do? And pros and cons from personal experience? Thanks again, please be gentle. :icon_mi_1

The fingerprint thing is a fairly common occurance. My OR informed me upon completion of MEPS of how long I should wait until final select, "barring any screw-ups like them mismatching your fingerprints." I asked him if that happens a lot and he said yes - it's not a big deal - just takes more time.

Congrats on your pro-rec, I'm not in any place to comment on which you should pick. Good luck

 

[schwarti]

Is it even possible to pick? I thought that if you got pro-rec for multiple choices, they just made you go with whatever you put as #1. True?

 

[Junkball]

I don't know if it's a running joke on this site or what, but I keep reading posts decrying the horrors of SWO careers.

I had to resubmit some paperwork for my security clearance because it was lost or messed up. My recruiter wasn't happy about it and it feels like another month wasted but whatever. The application process is a waiting game. Get used to it... from my experience, and what others have said, you'll be doing a lot of "hurry up and wait."

Is it even possible to pick? I thought that if you got pro-rec for multiple choices, they just made you go with whatever you put as #1. True?

I'm pretty sure you can choose.

 

[BACONATOR]

Is it even possible to pick? I thought that if you got pro-rec for multiple choices, they just made you go with whatever you put as #1. True?

Why would they pro rec you for more than one designator, if you didn't have a choice. That would just give more uncertainty into filled designators and manning. You can be pro reced for multiple designators and choose one.

While I have seen the opposite on this board, my OR at the time said that you couldn't be pro-rec for two of the same type of designator (ie: two designators that would be decided upon by the same board, or same group of officers), so when I put SNA and SNFO, I was ONLY pro rec for SNA, since the board decided that I was good enough for SNA, and it was my first choice, they gave it to me, and didn't even consider SNFO.

I have heard since then of people getting pro rec for SNA and SNFO, so I have no clue.

 

[schwarti]

Ah, gotcha. Not sure where I picked that up, but thanks for clearing it up.

 

[Nemenik]

Hey bud,

Congrats on getting pro rec'd I just did for pilot BDCP its a great feeling eh? If you search around here you should be able to find pro's and cons of both or members to contact who have taken either pipeline. The bottom line is that at the end of the day no matter what we tell you, you're going to have to make the decision for yourself and take the path that YOU want. Congrats again, welcome to aw, and good luck to you!

Yeah, I hear you about the "choosing my own path". I guess I just want to hear from guys who have had hands on experience as a supply or SWO guy and what their take on it is. I will have to do some more searching on the forums.

Also, in regards to choosing which Pro Rec to accept, my recruiter told me I have a choice.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Do you want to spend a career pushing papers as a staff weenie? Or do you want to be a warfare officer.

SWO in a heart beat. Do something real and interesting vice sitting behind a desk.

 

[BlackBearHockey]

Also, I'm leaning towards accepting the SWO pro rec over the Supply pro rec.

On my 2/C cruise, the DISBO wanted to kill himself on a daily basis. It seemed as though literally EVERYTHING that went wrong on the ship was the DISBO's fault.

 

[Nemenik]

Do you want to spend a career pushing papers as a staff weenie? Or do you want to be a warfare officer.

SWO in a heart beat. Do something real and interesting vice sitting behind a desk.

I hear that. At the same time though, I wonder if supply would better serve me for experience in the civilian sector.

Also, in regards to this quote:

On my 2/C cruise, the DISBO wanted to kill himself on a daily basis. It seemed as though literally EVERYTHING that went wrong on the ship was the DISBO's fault.

Is that the supply officer? I googled DISBO and all I found was disbursion officer.

 

[skim]

Actually, a message was put out that there are no more DISBO's, but are now "Assistant Supply Officers" AKA "AS-O's". Now the screams of "Hey AS-O!! Whats up with Navy Cash??" "Hey AS-O!! Do we have any Ketchup??" etc. can be heard through the P-ways. Say AS-O fast enough and well, you see.

 

[BlackBearHockey]

"Hey AS-O!! Whats up with Navy Cash??"

I guess something happened with split pay/Navy cash and there was a bounty on the DISBO (or AS-O?)'s head. I was scared for him.

 

[Nemenik]

Seems like SWO would be the way to go. I appreciate all the replies guys. I hope to get a date for OCS ASAP... it really sucks being stuck in limbo at home while waiting for the background check to be completed.

 

[HeyJoe]

I don't know if it's a running joke on this site or what, but I keep reading posts decrying the horrors of SWO careers.

It was a running joke in the fleet (amongst brown shoes) long before this site was a twinkle in Steve's eye or the Internet vision sprung forth from Al Gore's forehead. That said, it's simple good natured ribbing and aviators are prone joke about other services, other aviation communities, opposing coasts, other like squadrons, dept heads, etc.