How competitive? Navy vs. other

[BackOrdered]

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.

I have to disagree too. Here and over at the usnavyocs.com board, everyone is at least E-4 before they give it a shot and all the guys I know that are STA-21 at my University have 4-5 years in at least. Shoot, my father tried his guts out and for reasons that vex me to this day, he is now a retired senior chief rather than an officer. So much is out of your hands. My understanding is you can't even pass go until you earn the trust of your CO and get his endorsement. All he need do is not like you and you can forget about getting an Officer Candidacy in your first year enlisted (degree or not). I can only imagine a seaman approaching his CO with barely a year in asking him for an endorsement. What real work and character can you display in such a short time worthy of the CO's reputation?

That's just me though. Apparently you wouldn't have posted that unless you've seen different. Do you have a specific example?

 

[Flash]

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

FMRAM is an excellent example of persistance paying off..... ....As someone who sat on several internal squadron STA 21 boards (including one of FMRAM's) that there is no garuntee that if you enlist with a degree that you will be selected for an officer program. I saw several very qualified sailors passed over or rejected for a variety of reasons, including failing to get the minimum SAT score, NJP and most commonly stiff competition from other sailors. There are a lot of hard chargers out there and I wished we could make a lot more of them officers but there are only so many slots. Officer programs were definitely one of the most competitive things that I saw enlisted folks apply for.

 

[flysupertomcat]

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.

From what I understand that is the case if you want to re-apply earlier than the 6 month period between applications. Of course I could be wrong but at least I hope that's the case...

 

[JD81]

Don't consider your ASTB scores to be bad. I had a 47 7/8/8 and got an NFO slotwhich eventually led to a pilot slot. Not sure what you are applying for but don't think you are not good enough. If there is one thing I've learned in my twenty minutes in the navy is that there are some serious retards that get accepted into OCS, not that you are one, but I was astounded at some of the 'candidates' I encountered. And for what its worth, I got picked up my first go 'round. Like everyone else here will tell you, all the boards can say is no and you try again (my close friend applied 4 times before getting accepted). Hope some of that helps, just .02c from a lowly, greenhorn Ensign.