March 2017 IWC OCS Board Thread

[RovingGent]

If you want to be an officer then you should go for SWO, grad school could help "a little" with Intel but with such low selection percentages, your UG GPA and with a non tech degree it is still a very low chance.

Grad school would be for Middle East studies and would also include Arabic proficiency. Are you telling me the navy only wants STEM people and not anyone who speaks foreign languages and has some regional knowledge?

 

[RovingGent]

You're 27. With most grad programs being 18 months - 2 years you risk aging out for SWO (you must commission before turning 29). I would honestly go with SWO as your first/only choice with what you have. If your overall goal is to be an INTEL Officer, do well as a SWO and submit a lateral transfer package (essentially changing career paths). I cannot guarantee you will get picked up, but if you perform and stand out during your SWO Division Officer tours it will certainly help.

Would lateral transfer add years to my contract?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Would lateral transfer add years to my contract?

Yes. I believe you have to commit to one tour (about 3 years) after completing Intel school.

 

[RovingGent]

Yes. I believe you have to commit to one tour (about 3 years) after completing Intel school.

Alright, thanks for the info.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Grad school would be for Middle East studies and would also include Arabic proficiency. Are you telling me the navy only wants STEM people and not anyone who speaks foreign languages and has some regional knowledge?

again, the USN doesn't need officers to speak a foreign language as they don't need to (except FAO), they also teach you what you need to know, and with overall IWC selection rates at about 10% with Intel itself between 4-6% they get to pick those with high GPA's, which is why the average GPA is around 3.5 for those selected.

 

[Anuj Kainth]

I am applying to the IP board this March. Anyone out there willing to give me some insight on how competitive I am?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I am applying to the IP board this March. Anyone out there willing to give me some insight on how competitive I am?

Well to be competitive for IP you should have a Tech degree (Calc I and II, and a year Calc based Physics) and a GPA that is high, over 3.5 is good.

 

[Anuj Kainth]

Well to be competitive for IP you should have a Tech degree (Calc I and II, and a year Calc based Physics) and a GPA that is high, over 3.5 is good.

Little back story, I have been in the Army for the last 12 years as a Medic. All my evaluation reports going to the board show top block ratings. I'm screwed on the Calc and physics part. I got my Bachelors in Computer Science with a concentration in network administration 3.73 GPA. I am 2 classes from finishing my Masters in IT Management concentration in Information Assurance, Security and Digital forensics same GPA. I also currently hold a COMPTIA Security+ certification. Does the board also look at awards?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Little back story, I have been in the Army for the last 12 years as a Medic. All my evaluation reports going to the board show top block ratings. I'm screwed on the Calc and physics part. I got my Bachelors in Computer Science with a concentration in network administration 3.73 GPA. I am 2 classes from finishing my Masters in IT Management concentration in Information Assurance, Security and Digital forensics same GPA. I also currently hold a COMPTIA Security+ certification. Does the board also look at awards?

The main items are GPA and degree, they IWC has a 60/40 split for tech/non-tech (STEM/non-STEM) degrees and STEM is defined as Calc and Calc based physic so while your degree may get you looked at it just depends what they have to allocate for non STEM degrees.

I would have had you put in for Intel as well.

most awards are very subjective, I have seen E-9's with minimal awards and E-5's with tons, so the board really won't care about awards.

 

[Anuj Kainth]

The main items are GPA and degree, they IWC has a 60/40 split for tech/non-tech (STEM/non-STEM) degrees and STEM is defined as Calc and Calc based physic so while your degree may get you looked at it just depends what they have to allocate for non STEM degrees.

I would have had you put in for Intel as well.

most awards are very subjective, I have seen E-9's with minimal awards and E-5's with tons, so the board really won't care about awards.

I can still add intel to my application. I don't finalize my packet until next week. I was hoping for IP or Cyber warfare originally.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Count me shocked if the IWC doesn't qualify BS Computer Science as STEM when evaluating applicants for 182x and 181x. I have been told the Calc/Physics req't is just a rough way to ensure degrees like BS Biology or BS Nursing are excluded from scope, while BS Engineering is included.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Count me shocked if the IWC doesn't qualify BS Computer Science as STEM when evaluating applicants for 182x and 181x. I have been told the Calc/Physics req't is just a rough way to ensure degrees like BS Biology or BS Nursing are excluded from scope, while BS Engineering is included.

The guidance we had before from the IWC was that they needed calc and calc based physics to be counted as STEM

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

Good luck everyone

 

[Nicholas Campbell]

Hello...I am 24 years old and have applied for an oceanography position for this board date. I obtained my Bachelors in Applied Mathematics with a 3.51 GPA and minored in Ocean Earth & Atmospheric Science. I scored a 58 on the OAR test. Anyone think I have a chance? I saw that only one oceanographer was accepted for the December board but am unsure how many applied.

 

[chaotic_quixotic]

Hey guys,

My recruiter sent in my application package for the March 3rd board I'll be applying for Intel.

Briefly about myself: I'm currently a 28-year-old International Relations Asst. Professor here in South Korea. My BA is in International Criminal Justice and my MA is in International Peace and Security (warfare law, intel, etc.) from a top tier university. My GPA is 3.9 and have some intel/research work experience in the government under my belt, as well as other relative overseas work experience. Speak Korean and academically studied Spanish, French, and Arabic throughout my undergrad and postgrad. I had to fly to Guam to do my MEPS and OAR back in late November due to my location.

I'm a bit worried about my OAR. Unfortunately, I got a 49 on the OAR; the mechanical comprehension portion just threw me off as I studied different things (in a short time) that didn't really apply. The test was completely different from all the practice tests I've done (including timing and total # of questions), where I got around 62. I was going to retake it, but my recruiter thinks with all the other factors on my resume/experiences, I should be fine (it also meant I had to fly back to Guam). I'm a lil bit concerned as I heard Intel is highly competitive to get into with others who have high GPAs, MAs and PhDs applying, so the OAR is a pretty important part. Hopefully, they won't be too hung up on it.

Also, if - big "if" - I do pass (which my recruiter says I should find out at the end of March), what's the average wait between acceptance and OCS date? My recruiter says it's only a couple of months, but it seems like it's longer from what I've read? I just want to have a good idea because I would like to move back home from Korea before OCS starts so I need to gauge my time correctly to tie up loose ends here. Also, would like to start working out so I'm not completely pathetic when I get to OCS.

Good luck to the other guys!