How competitive? Navy vs. other

[IU_guy_07]

I graduated with my BS June 2006 and am currently in the process of applying to Navy OCS, i'll probably put my application in in May. My recruiter says that about 15% of those that he puts together an application for get accepted.

My OAR was only 50, my GPA is kind of less than impressive. I'll have some great references from some big-wigs in DoD though, but overall my recruiter thinks that my chances for selection are NOT astounding. Hasn't stopped my from putting all my energy into the application process though.

MY QUESTION IS THIS.... If i don't get in, i'm thinking do i want to try to join as an officer in another branch or go enlisted Navy. Navy is really what I want, but hell if i can be an officer elsewhere the financial benefits are expotentially greater.

I have a friend in the army (enlisted, no degree) who seems to think that the application process for army officer is a mere formality and that pretty much everyone who meets the stated qualifications, does in fact qualify. Is this true?

 

[zacharyj53]

I graduated with my BS June 2006 and am currently in the process of applying to Navy OCS, i'll probably put my application in in May. My recruiter says that about 15% of those that he puts together an application for get accepted.

My OAR was only 50, my GPA is kind of less than impressive. I'll have some great references from some big-wigs in DoD though, but overall my recruiter thinks that my chances for selection are NOT astounding. Hasn't stopped my from putting all my energy into the application process though.

MY QUESTION IS THIS.... If i don't get in, i'm thinking do i want to try to join as an officer in another branch or go enlisted Navy. Navy is really what I want, but hell if i can be an officer elsewhere the financial benefits are expotentially greater.

I have a friend in the army (enlisted, no degree) who seems to think that the application process for army officer is a mere formality and that pretty much everyone who meets the stated qualifications, does in fact qualify. Is this true?

I imagine if you go enlisted in the Navy you will be able to put in for officer and get accepted within the first year. Now nobody will promise you that but it shouldn't be too hard once you are in.

Your friend is correct. I talked with the Army recruiter he told me so long as I had all the minimum requirements I would be accepted.

 

[BigIron]

Try to apply for Navy OCS anyhow. I would suggest to you that enlisting in Navy and then trying to go Officer is extremely difficult as there are many applicants every year and it is extremely competitive. If you want officer, then apply for officer.

I haven't heard the thing about Army O's, but it doesn't sound right. I think any commissioning program is competitive.

 

[MasterBates]

I imagine if you go enlisted in the Navy you will be able to put in for officer and get accepted within the first year.

Dude, put down the bong, and if you are not sure about things of this nature, don't guess.

Going from E to O while on active duty is not gauranteed even with a degree in hand. I had an AZ2 in my squadron (who had been in while) and has outstanding evals, and its not a "you get accepted 1st year" situation.

 

[zacharyj53]

Dude, put down the bong, and if you are not sure about things of this nature, don't guess.

Going from E to O while on active duty is not gauranteed even with a degree in hand. I had an AZ2 in my squadron (who had been in while) and has outstanding evals, and its not a "you get accepted 1st year" situation.

I have seen many go enlisted to officer and do it quickly. Now I haven't been in during the past few years so I am not sure of it as of today.

 

[FMRAM]

I have seen many go enlisted to officer and do it quickly. Now I haven't been in during the past few years so I am not sure of it as of today.

It took me 4 1/2 years...and I'm still not an Officer.

 

[zacharyj53]

It took me 4 1/2 years...and I'm still not an Officer.

You had a degree going in and it took you 4 and a half years?

 

[BigIron]

Yes. There are many enlisted folks with degrees. They have to get outstanding evals, get quals, break out, etc to be competitive for O programs. A degree only is a check in the block.

I knew many an airman who had officer aspirations, who are now 2nd class POs still applying.

 

[FMRAM]

No degree...

In my opinion (someone else chime in here), if someone wants to go officer, than enlisting is not a good idea.

 

[raptor10]

Search around the site here, you will find that it is unanimously stated that if you want to go officer, do not enlist first...

 

[Kickflip89]

I graduated with my BS June 2006 and am currently in the process of applying to Navy OCS, i'll probably put my application in in May. My recruiter says that about 15% of those that he puts together an application for get accepted.

My OAR was only 50, my GPA is kind of less than impressive. I'll have some great references from some big-wigs in DoD though, but overall my recruiter thinks that my chances for selection are NOT astounding. Hasn't stopped my from putting all my energy into the application process though.

MY QUESTION IS THIS.... If i don't get in, i'm thinking do i want to try to join as an officer in another branch or go enlisted Navy. Navy is really what I want, but hell if i can be an officer elsewhere the financial benefits are expotentially greater.

I have a friend in the army (enlisted, no degree) who seems to think that the application process for army officer is a mere formality and that pretty much everyone who meets the stated qualifications, does in fact qualify. Is this true?

So you are probably somewhere between 22 and 24 years old, right? If this is the case, then you should definately commit at least 2 or 3 attempts at getting in to OCS before you think about enlisting.

My advice: Either apply with what you have or retake the ASTB and try to do better. If you get turned down, retake the ASTB (again?) and apply again. Rinse/repeat until you simply cannot apply any more...then consider enlisting.

Hopefully some of the saltier folks can chime in (Brett and Scoober, I'm sure can give you some good gouge about the enlsiting/commissioning path).

 

[BlackBearHockey]

I haven't heard the thing about Army O's, but it doesn't sound right. I think any commissioning program is competitive.

I'm not sure how it goes for commissioning, but for AROTC it's pretty much a sign up and start getting paid ideal. Don't take it for gospel, but I remember hearing about a few kids having that happen to them. However, it's just as easy to lose as it is to get. Every service operates on their needs, and the Army has a lot of need right now, so I would imagine them to be very accepting of candidates.

 

[kevoGTO]

DO NOT enlist if you plan to be an officer in a timely fashion. You mentioned the financial benefits of becoming an officer...although that should be a secondary motivation, consider getting E pay for 4 or 5 years, waiting and hoping for a shot at OCS, instead of waiting out your application process as a civilian and getting O pay 1-2 years later. Should be obvious which one gets the higher paycheck.

If you really want to become an officer, don't let a couple of rejections from the boards stop you. If you have less than stellar grades, retake the ASTB after you study your ass off. A competitive ASTB score makes you a competitive applicant.

Best of luck, and remember - you've got no shot at getting in if you don't apply.

 

[IU_guy_07]

So you are probably somewhere between 22 and 24 years old, right? If this is the case, then you should definately commit at least 2 or 3 attempts at getting in to OCS before you think about enlisting.

Yes i'm 24. When i first began the process i studied for a couple days, reviewed the type of questions and took the test and got a 50. Recruiter suggested I try and retake. So I took two months till I retook the test (the second month of which i focused on studied) got all the practice exam books i could, knew all the types of questions i felt i was unsure about the first time backwards and forwards. Took it again and got a 50 a freakin' second time.

I'm under the impression you can only take it a total of three times in your lifetime, so if i don't get it when i put my application in this time ... retaking it would def. be my last chance.

Also, the recruiter said that in order to apply to the board a second time their has to be some major changes in your application that would make them want to reconsider it. I mean even if i improved and got like say a 56 or so, i don't even know if that would qualify as a major change in my overall package.

 

[Flying Low]

I have to agree with the others. Do not enlist first. While your chances of getting picked up for a commissioning program would be higher then some of the other enlisted people solely based on you already having a degree, there is still no guarantee. Not to knock recruiters here, but you can't believe everything you hear. I'm not saying that they are lying, but some turn "What they heard" into "This is how it is". If you don't get accepted to OCS then get the instruction and see what it reads about reapplying. Might just be a 6 month wait. Manning changes all the time. As far as the other branches give it a shot. Apply to all of them and see what happens. Definitely try to go O first. It took me 2 tries to get picked up. Good luck.

Smoke