How's 2014 look? / New ASTB question

[Tycho_Brohe]

Some JAGs never see the walls of a court room.

Can't let that one go...

"He successfully plea bargained 44 cases in 9 months."
"One more and I get a set of steak knives."

 

[Renegade One]

Being a Navy JAG is far from being a lawyer. From most of the JAGs I know, they tell me it isn't as procedural as being a trial lawyer, it's more about Law of the Sea and Uniform Code of Military Justice. You may want to sit down and talk with a JAG. Some JAGs never see the walls of a court room.

True dat. Ship/Staff JAGs also are personal advisors to the embarked senior officer(s) on ethics, Rules of Engagement, Admiralty Law, etc., and a whole host of other fairly interesting aspects of military service never seen my other lawyers. I expect you probably have to do your entry-level JAG tour in a NLSO as a prosecutor or defense counsel (think "A Few Good Men"), but the ones I worked with dealt with far more interesting aspects of the military.

True, I doubt that even that is for everyone...

 

[navy2014]

Even if all of this stuff about JAG sounded great, it has a reputation among people with law degrees of being extremely hard to get into unless you commit while in law school. So I'm not sure it would be any easier for me to get that than anything else. Interesting stuff to hear, though.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Even if all of this stuff about JAG sounded great, it has a reputation among people with law degrees of being extremely hard to get into unless you commit while in law school. So I'm not sure it would be any easier for me to get that than anything else. Interesting stuff to hear, though.

Yes it is hard to get into, but you have a high GPA, and have passed the bar. That is what the JAG recruiter told me they look for in regards to people that have graduated law school.

 

[navy2014]

So, since my recruiter does indeed say that I will have to take the whole ASTB to apply for intel, is it safe to say that doing poorly on the non-OAR sections won't negatively affect my application?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

So, since my recruiter does indeed say that I will have to take the whole ASTB to apply for intel, is it safe to say that doing poorly on the non-OAR sections won't negatively affect my application?

hmm your recruiter doesn't know the basic requirements, this is going to go well......

 

[DDE1990]

This is obviously something that's widely misunderstood, because my recruiter made me take the entire test as well. I wish he hadn't, too, because the spacial aperception section whooped my a**.

I would suggest using the other personnel in the office as much as possible in your situation mate. I was the first candidate my recruiter had ever processed, and without the two OPO's and a particularly awesome Sr. Chief at the office, I'm not sure what would have happened with my package. Obviously, don't be disrespectful about it, but discreetly getting a second, third, and sometimes fourth opinion about your application will only help you in the long run.

 

[navy2014]

This is obviously something that's widely misunderstood, because my recruiter made me take the entire test as well. I wish he hadn't, too, because the spacial aperception section whooped my a**.

I would suggest using the other personnel in the office as much as possible in your situation mate. I was the first candidate my recruiter had ever processed, and without the two OPO's and a particularly awesome Sr. Chief at the office, I'm not sure what would have happened with my package. Obviously, don't be disrespectful about it, but discreetly getting a second, third, and sometimes fourth opinion about your application will only help you in the long run.

Thanks for replying. Obviously, this thread has me doubting my chances, but I don't really see what I can do about doubting my recruiter. I don't live near the office and have no idea who else works there. I can't really see any respectful way of asking for the recruiter to check what she's telling me with other people. It's not a big deal, though, as long as the only disagreement is whether it's necessary / helpful to take the full ASTB. The bigger deal would be that she doesn't see anything wrong with my chances without a tech degree or prior service, unlike the consensus here.

Just out of curiosity, have you not heard anything yet? How long does that usually take? It seems like you won't have a problem, given the tech degree and references, right?

 

[DDE1990]

Thanks for replying. Obviously, this thread has me doubting my chances, but I don't really see what I can do about doubting my recruiter. I don't live near the office and have no idea who else works there. I can't really see any respectful way of asking for the recruiter to check what she's telling me with other people. It's not a big deal, though, as long as the only disagreement is whether it's necessary / helpful to take the full ASTB. The bigger deal would be that she doesn't see anything wrong with my chances without a tech degree or prior service, unlike the consensus here.

Just out of curiosity, have you not heard anything yet? How long does that usually take? It seems like you won't have a problem, given the tech degree and references, right?

For me the ASTB wasn't the issue really. I had issues later in the application process with trying to locate a DD-214 form, getting a waiver from N3M for my astigmatism, and a few other little things here and there. I sort of felt out who in the office had knowledge in specific areas and tried to take my questions to the person I thought would have the most knowledge. I live about a 45 min - 1 hr drive from the office, but I made the effort to get in there and get shit sorted out by any means necessary... More than one parking ticket was accumulated during the process lol. Definitely don't outright ask the OR to speak to someone else, but there should be an OPO (civilian in my case, maybe always?) who will eventually help organize and submit your package. Both of the OPO's in my office were EXTREMELY knowledgable, because they had been there for years doing recruiting... You should naturally come in contact with your OPO just by going through the motions of applying (this was my experience anyway).

As far as your chances go, it's my inclination that everyone's chances suck right now to some extent (unless you want to fly). That being said, you won't ever know if you don't apply

As far as my package goes, I have not heard anything yet. My top choice was straight Intel, and the only designator that ended up being reviewed in December was IW (as far as I or anyone on this forum can tell). My recruiter told me the board would convene on 6 Jan 2014, but consensus here is that everything is getting rolled into the 10 Feb board that was already on the schedule. Who the hell knows. It seemed like the guys that got pro-rec'ed for IW from the 2 December board only waited about 2-3 weeks to hear their decisions, but I was told to expect anywhere from a week to a month, and then God knows how long for an FS letter and an OCS date. I definitely am very lucky to have the references I have, but my major was actually non-technical (international studies), and my ASTB was on the higher end of mediocrity from what I've been told. Hard to say where things will fall. I ended up calling my recruiter and adding SWO to my submissions as a backup plan (despite vehement disapproval from my salty old intel officer father), but there are now even rumors of those rolling boards being stopped for the time being.

Get that package in, cross your finers, and try not to drink too much in the interim.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Both of the OPO's in my office were EXTREMELY knowledgable, because they had been there for years doing recruiting... You should naturally come in contact with your OPO just by going through the motions of applying (this was my experience anyway).

OPO is Officer Programs Officer and is always an officer (LT or LCDR) that term was phased out in favor of OPS and AOPS.

you are probably thinking of an officer processor who are often civilians.

 

[DDE1990]

OPO is Officer Programs Officer and is always an officer (LT or LCDR) that term was phased out in favor of OPS and AOPS.

you are probably thinking of an officer processor who are often civilians.

Ahh, apologies. So many acronyms. Yea my OP's were very, very helpful.

 

[navy2014]

The new ASTB is absurd, if anyone was wondering. Not sure what exactly I mean by absurd--it just is.

It's also substantially different for the OAR portions in some ways that I didn't expect.

 

[ea6bflyr]

The new ASTB is absurd, if anyone was wondering. Not sure what exactly I mean by absurd--it just is.

It's also substantially different for the OAR portions in some ways that I didn't expect.

So does that mean you've taken the test? How'd you score?

 

[navy2014]

So does that mean you've taken the test? How'd you score?

Yes, I took it. I got a 63 on the OAR, but know I would do better if I took it again today now that I know that it's a progressive test and not as much of a race against time. That said, that was information I easily could have found before taking it, I just didn't, and I don't think I'm going to be in the mood to take it again in 90 days. I don't have my other scores from it yet--I guess I can update when I get them.

 

[BusyBee604]

Yes, I took it. I got a 63 on the OAR, but know I would do better if I took it again today now that I know that it's a progressive test and not as much of a race against time.

You got a 63, and you're whining & beating yourself on the head over it??? Priceless! Not very much help to others...
BzB