Likelihood of lateral transfer success: RL(Intel) to URL(Seal)

[jtorres]

I originally wanted to apply for the SEAL officer program, but there were a few obstacles that I failed to navigate through. I understood the package was due by the last week of February 2017, and I knew that one of the most significant pieces of the package is the PFT. That said, my last semester of school was fall 2016. I was only taking three final courses, but they were all very demanding, being an economics senior project class, calculus III, and a calculus-based probability course. Along side of this, I also worked 24 hours a week, and I had extra curricular activities. Despite my work load, I PTed 4-5 times a week that only consisted of push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, etc., and running. I failed to budget time for swimming, and I thought that I would be able to learn the swim for the last 2 months (January and February), being free of my largest time obligation of school. I did a mock PT test with the SPEC OP mentor very early on in training, around November, and I scored well, except in the swim because I did not know how to perform it. I was not too concerned because I was going to have plenty of time in January and February. However, I was informed the board for the SEAL officer program was being pushed earlier, and my package would need to be submitted by January 11. I was not ready for the final piece of my package, the PFT, because of the swim. Therefore, I was unable to submit the package. This left me with a decision to either resubmit next year (because the board only meets once a year), or to apply for another community.

I first told my recruiter that I wanted to wait because I wanted this badly, but he recommended that I apply for other communities. I continued to press on and explain that I will indeed wait, and it will be better because I can try to establish relationships with those already in the community to better my chances in approval, but he still advised me to apply. He explained that it does no harm to apply, and that is what I ultimately did. I now applied for Intel and Supply. I only wanted to apply for Intel when he suggested this, but a Supply Officer and my recruiter suggested that I apply for Supply. My recruiter and I have a great relationship, and he understands what I want and do not want, and he knows that I will not accept Supply if I get selected for it. However, I understand Intel is difficult to get into, and if I am selected I may accept it, but I want to know if there is a possibility, with a decent amount of certainty, that I can make a lateral transfer to SEAL in two years; or, should I wait it out to apply for next year. I appreciate any comments or advice! Thank you!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I would not put money on a lateral transfer happening, I would put money on the fact that if you turn down either of these should you get picked up that you will almost zero chance of being selected by another board.

I have had 2 candidates that applied for SEAL officer and both were picked up, both had very high GPA's, both maxed out PU and SU, both had run and swim around 8 minutes, both essentially had no life while preparing to apply, they would work out in the morning, go to work, work out in the evening, sleep then repeat. They both had this schedule but neither knew each other and applied at different times.

If you get a N from the 2 you applied for then try for SEAL and strive for the numbers I posted, how do you stack up against what they did?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

If I were you, I would go with the recruiter's advice and try supply and the other designstors first. I don't know your stats but be advised Intel primarily wants STEM majors, high gpas, and high OAR scores. Many without STEM either had masters degrees or are active duty/prior service with related Intel experience. Supply is somewhat similar but they want STEM or business related degrees.

Everything else @NavyOffRec already mentioned.

 

[jtorres]

I would not put money on a lateral transfer happening, I would put money on the fact that if you turn down either of these should you get picked up that you will almost zero chance of being selected by another board.

I have had 2 candidates that applied for SEAL officer and both were picked up, both had very high GPA's, both maxed out PU and SU, both had run and swim around 8 minutes, both essentially had no life while preparing to apply, they would work out in the morning, go to work, work out in the evening, sleep then repeat. They both had this schedule but neither knew each other and applied at different times.

If you get a N from the 2 you applied for then try for SEAL and strive for the numbers I posted, how do you stack up against what they did?

Thank you for the response. As far as stacking up against what they did, I would not be able to apply for SEAL until February 2018. As of right now. I can max the push-ups and pull-ups. I can get sit-ups in the high 70s and run is in mid 9s and swim I'm still learning. But now I have the time on my hands to train until the next board as your applicants did. I graduated with an OK GPA of 3.63. It's an economics degree, not necessarily a STEM degree, but I took some stem courses. I have 6 additonal math courses that I took as electives not required by my degree, being 4 calculus classes, as well as additional chemistry that was not required. I was also president of a peer leadership organization that was school sponsored. I also have 4 strong letters of Rec. I'm 22 years old right now. My plan was to meet people in the community here in Hawaii at SDVT-1 to establish some kind of relationship with them to better my chances of acceptance. I am curious what you meant in regards to me applying for another board, that it would be unlikely that I would be selected. Also, i know you mentioned that it is highly unlikely to get a transfer, but is that a possible route from the restricted line? Or would it be better to go SWO first?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Thank you for the response. As far as stacking up against what they did, I would not be able to apply for SEAL until February 2018. As of right now. I can max the push-ups and pull-ups. I can get sit-ups in the high 70s and run is in mid 9s and swim I'm still learning. But now I have the time on my hands to train until the next board as your applicants did. I graduated with an OK GPA of 3.63. It's an economics degree, not necessarily a STEM degree, but I took some stem courses. I have 6 additonal math courses that I took as electives not required by my degree, being 4 calculus classes, as well as additional chemistry that was not required. I was also president of a peer leadership organization that was school sponsored. I also have 4 strong letters of Rec. I'm 22 years old right now. My plan was to meet people in the community here in Hawaii at SDVT-1 to establish some kind of relationship with them to better my chances of acceptance. I am curious what you meant in regards to me applying for another board, that it would be unlikely that I would be selected. Also, i know you mentioned that it is highly unlikely to get a transfer, but is that a possible route from the restricted line? Or would it be better to go SWO first?

Networking doesn't really help with the SEAL Officer application. PST scores are key to get you to Mini-BUDS in San Diego and from there it's how you perform physically and mentally during the panel interview process. From the last few boards, SEAL community will select roughly 10-12 folks, most of them being active duty or prior-enlisted SEALs.

If you're willing and wanting to wait until 2018 to apply for SEAL officer, go on ahead. Be advised it will be a LONG wait and even then the odds are against you getting selected. Personally speaking, I would apply Supply/SWO first and second choices.

 

[jtorres]

Networking doesn't really help with the SEAL Officer application. PST scores are key to get you to Mini-BUDS in San Diego and from there it's how you perform physically and mentally during the panel interview process. From the last few boards, SEAL community will select roughly 10-12 folks, most of them being active duty or prior-enlisted SEALs.

If you're willing and wanting to wait until 2018 to apply for SEAL officer, go on ahead. Be advised it will be a LONG wait and even then the odds are against you getting selected. Personally speaking, I would apply Supply/SWO first and second choices.

Thank you. I understand. As for your suggestion, are you saying that I should apply for those communities first, then transfer? Or are you just saying that you would apply for those jobs to stay within them?

 

[HAL Pilot]

If you really want to be a SEAL, then enlist vice going officer.

 

[pilot_man]

Thank you. I understand. As for your suggestion, are you saying that I should apply for those communities first, then transfer? Or are you just saying that you would apply for those jobs to stay within them?

Your recruiter, and every recruiter, is going to tell you to just do something else. They may like you but they don't really care about your dreams. If you really want to be a SEAL, then hold off and work your ass off for the next year. And be ready to apply in 2018 knowing it's a crapshoot. If you just want to join the Navy then take whatever.

I could not think of 2 designators that are further away from SEAL officer than Supply and Intel. If it was me, and I wanted the trident, I would wait.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Your recruiter, and every recruiter, is going to tell you to just do something else. They may like you but they don't really care about your dreams. If you really want to be a SEAL, then hold off and work your ass off for the next year. And be ready to apply in 2018 knowing it's a crapshoot. If you just want to join the Navy then take whatever.

I could not think of 2 designators that are further away from SEAL officer than Supply and Intel. If it was me, and I wanted the trident, I would wait.

Unfortunately he said his application is already in, so if he gets picked up by either of those boards and turns down the commission he will essentially kill any chances of being picked up again.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Thank you for the response. As far as stacking up against what they did, I would not be able to apply for SEAL until February 2018. As of right now. I can max the push-ups and pull-ups. I can get sit-ups in the high 70s and run is in mid 9s and swim I'm still learning. But now I have the time on my hands to train until the next board as your applicants did. I graduated with an OK GPA of 3.63. It's an economics degree, not necessarily a STEM degree, but I took some stem courses. I have 6 additonal math courses that I took as electives not required by my degree, being 4 calculus classes, as well as additional chemistry that was not required. I was also president of a peer leadership organization that was school sponsored. I also have 4 strong letters of Rec. I'm 22 years old right now. My plan was to meet people in the community here in Hawaii at SDVT-1 to establish some kind of relationship with them to better my chances of acceptance. I am curious what you meant in regards to me applying for another board, that it would be unlikely that I would be selected. Also, i know you mentioned that it is highly unlikely to get a transfer, but is that a possible route from the restricted line? Or would it be better to go SWO first?

What is your definition of "max" pull ups, based on your situps and run you are not close to competitive physically for SEAL, if you don't get picked up by Intel or Supply then apply if you can get all your physical test to be competitive for selection, but then even if you get selected only 25-30% of officers who go to BUD/S actually make it, one reason that percent is so high is that they only pick those who have very high physical scores.

If a person is selected at turns down a spot it is a huge black mark against you.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

If you really want to be a SEAL, then enlist vice going officer.

The OP will need to DEP-in with a regular Navy job (CS, AT, undes SN, etc.) before he can take the physical screening tests and ultimately be offered a SEAL/NSW contract. @NavyOffRec made a good point that I completely missed upon, the OP isn't close to having competitive scores to being considered for both enlisted and officer SEAL. "Still Learning" isn't the right answer for taking the PSTs.

 

[pilot_man]

Unfortunately he said his application is already in, so if he gets picked up by either of those boards and turns down the commission he will essentially kill any chances of being picked up again.

I guess you missed my point. If he wants to be a SEAL then that is what he should work for. If he just wants to join the Navy then those other options are fine.

If he does want to be a SEAL though, going the Intel / Supply route and hoping for a transfer seems like a really bad idea. It seems very unlikely to happen and he will be stuck in Intel / Supply jobs. Which couldn't be further from being a SEAL Officer.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I guess you missed my point. If he wants to be a SEAL then that is what he should work for. If he just wants to join the Navy then those other options are fine.

If he does want to be a SEAL though, going the Intel / Supply route and hoping for a transfer seems like a really bad idea. It seems very unlikely to happen and he will be stuck in Intel / Supply jobs. Which couldn't be further from being a SEAL Officer.

I agree, if he wanted to be a SEAL then he should have worked for that, but instead he applied for Supply and Intel, so if he gets picked up by one of those boards the SEAL ship has sailed since if you turn down a commission the odds of getting another shot are slim and none, and slim is walking out the door.

Trying to lateral transfer is not a good plan.

 

[pilot_man]

...... if you turn down a commission the odds of getting another shot are slim and none, and slim is walking out the door.

Is that really true? When I applied I was given a NFO spot due to some MEPS / eyesight crap. Got it straightened out and then re-applied for the pilot spot I wanted. That was a bit ago though.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Is that really true? When I applied I was given a NFO spot due to some MEPS / eyesight crap. Got it straightened out and then re-applied for the pilot spot I wanted. That was a bit ago though.

yes, it is more of a one and done mentality now with the communities, the only one that is forgiving is SNA/SNFO, if a person turns down a spot then tries for SNA/SNFO and they have great ASTB scores they can sometimes get picked up, ASTB is king for aviation.