March 2015 IDC Board

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

N for IDC. Next up will be SWO. @NavyOffRec and @RUFiO181, If I applied for SWO for third option and we all know that they dont look at that, can I submit a package for SWO now as number one option? or do I have to wait until 6 month from today?

Technically you never applied for SWO (it automatically gets removed if it's your third or beyond choice) so yes you don't need to wait.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

pro rec NO third time

I don't get why you put Intel/IP as your second and third choices and AMDO as first when you don't have any enlisted aviation maintenance experience. SWO might be an option if you're 30 years old or younger. Another option might be SWO Nuke or any of the Nuclear Field programs which tie closer to your academic and professional experience.

 

[LukeS]

Technically you never applied for SWO (it automatically gets removed if it's your third or beyond choice) so yes you don't need to wait.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[spideyflygirl90]

I've been out of phone/internet service for the past 2 days. Apologies! CONGRATS to everyone hearing back with good news! For everyone else, keep your head up! It's not over yet!

Results aren't out yet, so it's not like you don't have a shot. I just figured I'd restate the odds (based on recent selection percentages) for everyone here.
What seems to happen often is, applicants will take the shotgun blast approach when applying, choosing a variety of designators. Then, afyer seeing high selection rates for other programs like SWO (when selections are high), and expect the same here.
My only advice to you would be to look through past threads, specifically those ones for more recent IDC boards, and just read. You can get a feel out what selection rates are like for each designator, and compare package results of those picked up to get an idea of what the board might look for, as well as how you might improve your package.
Other than doing extensive research here on your own, my only other advice would be to apply for one of the primary IDC designators first, its SWO-option equivalent second, and then rework your package to commit to that particular designator (ex. "If selected for OCEANO..." in your essays and "Spidey girl is by far the best candidate for OCEANO..." in LoRs written by current OCEANOs). I just used OCEANO as an example there BTW.

@usnavymle I applied for IW, IP, and Intel, in that order. I wasn't even aware of SWO-options (as opposed to just general SWO) until very recently.

It can take a while and sometimes a person can link the post with the information. I wonder why your recruiter steered you to IDC when it is the toughest designator to get into? you do have a degree that is a preferred degree but what is your GPA? In general though if you get a "N" the odds of being picked up on a subsequent board for the same designator are slim, the nice thing is you meet the age requirements for several other designators.

@NavyOffRec My degree is in Computer Science from Regis University (which is considered one of the NSA CAE - Center of Academic Excellence - which my understanding is basically that it holds more merit over other schools....I only know this because I applied for CWE and your degree has to be from one of the CAE schools). I graduated with a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale. In comparison to humanity, I know that's high. How that ranks compared to other IDC applications, I don't know. I was given a letter of rec by the district CO, scored a 59 on my OAR.

She's a product of NRD Portland... HEY-OH! Shots fired!

@RUFiO181 Hey! What's wrong with Portland?!?!

Seeing everyone replying saying they got their results makes me anxious being a civilian and unable to check for myself...

@pdt_192 I'm with you there! I'm going to be useless for the next few days until I hear something!

Thanks for that clarification. I know CWE is a different process but I/we have always thought that this board looked at them since CWE doesn't have a board date/deadline/etc. on the schedule. Good gouge to know...so thanks!

@Chop07 The way they were explained to me is that it's a rolling board. Basically, applications can be submitted at any time but they won't be reviewed until there are a certain number of applicants. There was a CWE board held Dec 14.

 

[Chop07]

Is your number one goal to be an officer? If so try SWO. If your number one goal is to stay in IDC then be prepared for the possibility that you might stay in IDC but might not be an officer, the chances of being selected by a designator after already being turned down by them before are not good.

This is spot on for what recruiters should ask applicants and precisely what I ask...almost verbatim. SWO is hiring and "most" who apply and are competitive for anything in IDC are very competitive for SWO and stand a great chance for selection given the current trends from the SWO boards. IDC is simply a tough nut to crack right now. HOWEVER, I fully leave this on the applicant to make the choice. It is up to them and if SWO won't be #1 or #2 on the application, then scrap it from consideration...because NRC will if you don't.

 

[Aluroon]

This is spot on for what recruiters should ask applicants and precisely what I ask...almost verbatim. SWO is hiring and "most" who apply and are competitive for anything in IDC are very competitive for SWO and stand a great chance for selection given the current trends from the SWO boards. IDC is simply a tough nut to crack right now. HOWEVER, I fully leave this on the applicant to make the choice. It is up to them and if SWO won't be #1 or #2 on the application, then scrap it from consideration...because NRC will if you don't.

That's pretty good advice.

I wish my recruiter had asked me this, unfortunately he was a bit wet behind the ears. After getting bounced between two different recruiters I landed in front of someone brand new to the job. Very optimistic and enthusiastic, but not as seasoned as someone longer on the job. I was gung-ho for intel, and he thought I could list SWO as 3rd. I should have done some more homework here before moving forward and submitting for Intel / IW as 1+2.

Got results today. Not selected, but frankly the best news I've gotten all year. Now I can turn around and resubmit for SWO with a quickness. After having the board sit on an application for 5 months I'm pretty excited to move forward with the process. Wish I could have made Intel, but we live with the choices we made in the past, and for the first time in my life it caught up with me in the form of my GPA here.

Congratulations to everyone who was selected. I wish you all the best!

Special thanks to others (NavyOff and Rufio in particular) for their advice and guidance here. Really helped open my eyes to the process and where I needed to go to move forward with my future.

 

[Chop07]

Now I can turn around and resubmit for SWO with a quickness.

Awesome attitude to have Aluroon! You only need to change one thing to reapply and switching your application to SWO as #1 does it. I recommend freshening up your motivational statement to speak to SWO and get that package uploaded ASAP. The last SWO board was early February so I expect one within the month with the cut on incoming packages sooner so the sooner the better for you. Given your OAR score and GPA (and assuming all else is top shelf), you are very competitive for SWO. Best of luck!

 

[Aluroon]

Awesome attitude to have Aluroon! You only need to change one thing to reapply and switching your application to SWO as #1 does it. I recommend freshening up your motivational statement to speak to SWO and get that package uploaded ASAP. The last SWO board was early February so I expect one within the month with the cut on incoming packages sooner so the sooner the better for you. Given your OAR score and GPA (and assuming all else is top shelf), you are very competitive for SWO. Best of luck!

Thank you, I appreciate it, especially the tip off for the motivational statement. I suspect my original one was a mess that went all over the word count and which didn't have as much focus and direction as it needed as a result.

As for attitude, I started this process in November of 2013, and I've stuck through it with every hiccup and headache on the way towards getting my package submitted in the first place. Frankly, it's been both the best and worst experience of my life, and no matter what happens I expect it to have longstanding effects.

On the one hand, its been waiting, and waiting, and waiting. For me it was also the constant idea that the payoff was just over the horizon. Just one more month till the board. Just one more piece of paperwork. Just one more this or that. It wasn't until fairly late in the process that I came to understand the full complexity of it, and that selection is only the first hurdle on your way to OCS. What this meant was that it was month after month of thinking my life was about to change... and then having it remain the same. It's a very frustrating experience to stay locked in the same life you had in college while everyone else moves forward, and doing it for months that turn into a seasons and into almost a year and a half is rough. Mentally challenging, because I was fully committed to the process fairly early on. The waiting has cost me friendships, employment opportunities, and even a personal relationship. I kept holding off on moving forward personally and professionally because I thought I was 'about' to leave for the Navy and dramatically change my life. As it turns out that was a mistake, but I think it'll make me appreciate whatever comes next more.

On the other hand, there's been growth from this. I'm on the best shape of my life. I went from being a guy that had never run even half a mile flat out in his life to the guy who gets up every morning to do a minimum of four. I never appreciated what it was to be fit, but I don't think that now I could ever go back. I missed a week running with a cold last week and was itching for the gym every day. I went from a guy who wasn't really sure what he wanted to do with his life to someone committed to a process. It was also a brutal learning experience in terms of consequences, but again, I feel for the best. Most of my life I've been able to get by doing the bare minimum. School was never difficult, and frankly I spent a lot of my college career goofing off, never expecting there to be a price for it. Having two recruiters here summarily shoot down any hopes I had for Intel / IW while also telling me that with my GPA I shouldn't have even bothered submitting for it was a tough pill to swallow, but the best I think. Learning that because I hadn't done my homework here I'd missed several SWO boards and had to resubmit was a tougher pill on the followup, but a reminder about attention to detail. An hour or two a week when I was in school might have gotten me an Intel billet. An hour or two poking around the boards before submitting in the first place might have saved me six months of my life. Actions have consequences, and in this I cannot blame anyone but myself.

Anyway, I'm hopeful, I feel like I'm in the best position I've been in since the process started, and after putting a year and a half into this I'm not willing to give up because of one rejection. This matters to me as much as anything ever has in my life. I want to be a naval officer. I want to serve my country, and also myself. I want a challenging, demanding job in which every day there is something new to learn, some new challenge to overcome, and most of all some purpose to what I do. If that doesn't work out, if I can't get SWO, then either way I'll have emerged from this crucible stronger and more tempered.

 

[usnavymle]

I was Pro-Rec-Y for 1830! Now it says "Next, Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) will now send your medical documents through the medical review process here at NRC for commissioning standards. Once Physically Qualified (PQ) letter is issued we will forward your recommendation to the director of OCS Accessions here at NRC for final review and final vote." Any idea how long this takes???

That's another AD INTEL applicant picked up. I guess they were taking AD for INTEL after all.
@Jcodyr19, please post your stats here for other hopefuls to compare.

 

[Chop07]

Congrats, ET2!!! You are proof that it's not all about the OAR score. Those Intel LORs, your EPs, and your top notch Naval career to date got you selected. Curious...what is your degree in?

 

[Chop07]

My degree is in Homeland Security with a specialization in Sensitive Infrastructure Management!

Well that's one you don't hear of every day! Sounds very much inline with Intelligence. Congrats again!

 

[usnavymle]

Here are my stats:

ET2 (EXW/IDW/PJ)
GPA: 3.67
5 LORs- O-6X1, 0-4X3, CWO4 X1 (All intel community, most were intel instructors or DH's at the intel schoolhouse)
8 years Naval Special Warfare Experience
All EP Evals
2 x AA, 2x JA, 1x AC, 1x VC, 1x CAR
5 Deployments
2 JSOQ, 1 SOQ
Collaterals- DAPA, EXW Program Coordinator, NEC 9613 Program Coordinator, CFL, ACFL
Outstanding PFA
OAR: 48

Things that probably put you ahead of other candidates are in bold and italics above.
There are plenty of applicants who are already part of the IDC, but there aren't many who have combat experience. Having LoRs from program instructors also likely helped a ton.

 

[Brett Collins]

I hate that my full name is on here, but I suppose I'll post my stats as well.

PRO-REC-Y 1830 (Mar 15 IDC)
IS1 (IDW/SW)
3 LORs: 1x O6 (NST Director) / 1x O5 (NSWDG Intel Dir) / 1x O3 (OIC on Deployment)
6 years experience (Fleet Deployment, NSWDG experience, COCOM experience)
All EP Evals
3x NAM / 1x JSAM / 1x JCOM
2 Deployments
CENTCOM Nomination for Intelligence Specialist of the Year // NGA Geoint Certified
Collats: Scholarship Board Chairman
Excellent PFA
OAR: 51

I want to note something, as it was a huge worry of mine during this process - I have an Article 15. I thought this would ruin my chances and was thrilled when I realized it didn't. Apply if you are interested!

 

[usnavymle]

For those that were selected, is it common to have the medical screening conducted by NRC?? What was the point of the medical screening that was conducted when I submitted my package if another is required?

I believe that's how it works, at least for all of the AD I've spoken with. So, you've got your 2808 and 2807, right? Well, even though you submitted those with your application, the application was the only thing reviewed. Your medical documentation won't be looked at until you've been professionally recommended. Now that you have, NRC will send off the aforementioned forms and whatever other paperwork you've provided to their medical folks. If you had a picture-perfect 2808 and 2807, you'll likely receive your PQ letter with no other issues. However, if you've got any medical history, no matter what kind, Medical will likely require you to submit recent paperwork (within the last one or two years) stating that you're good to go for a commission, and whatever ails you will not affect your ability to complete OCS and follow-on schools.

 

[usnavymle]

I want to note something, as it was a huge worry of mine during this process - I have an Article 15. I thought this would ruin my chances and was thrilled when I realized it didn't. Apply if you are interested!

That's great to hear. Nowadays that's a death sentence for enlisted careers, forget about trying to get a commission. I guess it all depends on when it happens, what it was for, and if you've outperformed it sense.
When in your career did you receive it and what for, if you don't mind me asking.