OCS 27JAN 25 IWC BOARD

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I'm actually aiming for the May/June boards for IWC, but I'm curious to see what you guys might think about my stats. I'm trying to shoot for Cryptologic Warfare Officer:

• Civilian with 3.5 years of professional IT experience
• 1 Waiver
• Bachelor's in Sociology focusing in Criminal Justice: GPA 3.67
• Master's in Digital Forensics: GPA 3.9
• OAR: 48
• Leadership experience: Lieutenant - Student Volunteer Firefighters (during undergrad)
• Activities: Created a cybersecurity homelab
• Four LORs - one of them is a former Navy JAG/retired FBI agent
• No Calculus or Physics classes taken

If you don’t get selected strongly encourage taking the calc/physics and/or improve your OAR score.

 

[Sethv42]

If you don’t get selected strongly encourage taking the calc/physics and/or improve your OAR score.

Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Karma18]

I'm actually aiming for the May/June boards for IWC, but I'm curious to see what you guys might think about my stats. I'm trying to shoot for Cryptologic Warfare Officer:

• Civilian with 3.5 years of professional IT experience
• 1 Waiver
• Bachelor's in Sociology focusing in Criminal Justice: GPA 3.67
• Master's in Digital Forensics: GPA 3.9
• OAR: 48
• Leadership experience: Lieutenant - Student Volunteer Firefighters (during undergrad)
• Activities: Created a cybersecurity homelab
• Four LORs - one of them is a former Navy JAG/retired FBI agent
• No Calculus or Physics classes taken

I would try to improve your oar, courses aside that seems like the easiest step to take.

 

[jishdotcom]

Seeing as everyone else is throwing their stats in, I will as well. This is my third time applying for Cryptologic Warfare.

- Passed MEPS with no issues
- I graduate this May in Computer Science with a 3.6 GPA
- 55 OAR
- I worked for a summer as a software engineer at L3Harris
- I have taken Calc 3 and Physics 2
- I have a letter of recommendation from my previous employer, a retired O6 Army Green Beret

What do you guys think of my odds? I first applied back in September, but I believe I didn't get accepted because I still had two semesters left until graduation. But now that I have less than 3 months, I feel like this should be the one. We'll see.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Seeing as everyone else is throwing their stats in, I will as well. This is my third time applying for Cryptologic Warfare.

- Passed MEPS with no issues
- I graduate this May in Computer Science with a 3.6 GPA
- 55 OAR
- I worked for a summer as a software engineer at L3Harris
- I have taken Calc 3 and Physics 2
- I have a letter of recommendation from my previous employer, a retired O6 Army Green Beret

What do you guys think of my odds? I first applied back in September, but I believe I didn't get accepted because I still had two semesters left until graduation. But now that I have less than 3 months, I feel like this should be the one. We'll see.

I would feel hopeful on your chances, somewhat surprised you weren't picked up on the last board even though you were 2 semesters away.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I'm actually aiming for the May/June boards for IWC, but I'm curious to see what you guys might think about my stats. I'm trying to shoot for Cryptologic Warfare Officer:

• Civilian with 3.5 years of professional IT experience
• 1 Waiver
• Bachelor's in Sociology focusing in Criminal Justice: GPA 3.67
• Master's in Digital Forensics: GPA 3.9
• OAR: 48
• Leadership experience: Lieutenant - Student Volunteer Firefighters (during undergrad)
• Activities: Created a cybersecurity homelab
• Four LORs - one of them is a former Navy JAG/retired FBI agent
• No Calculus or Physics classes taken

Is your waiver medical or non-medical? If medical that isn't taken into consideration.
I would start looking where you can take Calc and Physics to prepare.
Have those who wrote you LOR's seen you perform over time as that is important? A person that writes an LOR that is a family friend or someone that just met you doesn't hold much weight.

 

[Kevin_]

Seeing as everyone else is throwing their stats in, I will as well. This is my third time applying for Cryptologic Warfare.

- Passed MEPS with no issues
- I graduate this May in Computer Science with a 3.6 GPA
- 55 OAR
- I worked for a summer as a software engineer at L3Harris
- I have taken Calc 3 and Physics 2
- I have a letter of recommendation from my previous employer, a retired O6 Army Green Beret

What do you guys think of my odds? I first applied back in September, but I believe I didn't get accepted because I still had two semesters left until graduation. But now that I have less than 3 months, I feel like this should be the one. We'll see.

From my perspective, you have a solid chance. Your stats are in line with the 1810 program authorization thanks to your STEM major, GPA, OAR, calc/physics classes, and work experience.

It is possible that the board will be more favorable to you this time around and given that your graduation date is quite soon. I cannot speak on how they look at repeat applicants and whether that is a weighted factor. Has your recruiter told you to apply for anything else within IW or other communities? Do you have any second or third choice designators?

I wish you success and hope that you're selected!

 

[jishdotcom]

From my perspective, you have a solid chance. Your stats are in line with the 1810 program authorization thanks to your STEM major, GPA, OAR, calc/physics classes, and work experience.

It is possible that the board will be more favorable to you this time around and given that your graduation date is quite soon. I cannot speak on how they look at repeat applicants and whether that is a weighted factor. Has your recruiter told you to apply for anything else within IW or other communities? Do you have any second or third choice designators?

I wish you success and hope that you're selected!

Thanks for the advice! My recruiter has actually recommended that I apply for intel if I don't get it this time. I've been consulting with my father, an Ex-Seal, for advice and he recommended that I continue to apply for CW right up until graduation and one board after. If I don't get it then, I will apply for the SWO board so that I get some travel opportunities, and then given the right chance, I could laterally transfer to CW. But I'm praying that I get CW this time. I'm also 19 so I don't know if I'm seen as too young for the position but we'll see.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Thanks for the advice! My recruiter has actually recommended that I apply for intel if I don't get it this time. I've been consulting with my father, an Ex-Seal, for advice and he recommended that I continue to apply for CW right up until graduation and one board after. If I don't get it then, I will apply for the SWO board so that I get some travel opportunities, and then given the right chance, I could laterally transfer to CW. But I'm praying that I get CW this time. I'm also 19 so I don't know if I'm seen as too young for the position but we'll see.

@Kevin_ made me think you should try for IP as well. If you aren't picked up at the board the next one you will have the opportunity to apply for is the June board.

If you go SWO do so having no expectation of being able to lateral transfer, many things have to line up for that to happen.

 

[Kevin_]

Thanks for the advice! My recruiter has actually recommended that I apply for intel if I don't get it this time. I've been consulting with my father, an Ex-Seal, for advice and he recommended that I continue to apply for CW right up until graduation and one board after. If I don't get it then, I will apply for the SWO board so that I get some travel opportunities, and then given the right chance, I could laterally transfer to CW. But I'm praying that I get CW this time. I'm also 19 so I don't know if I'm seen as too young for the position but we'll see.

Last I checked, Intel's deadline appears to be May 23, 2025, for non-fleet applicants. That's likely for the June board, which @exNavyOffRec just mentioned. If you don't get CW right now, definitely apply with two designators for the May deadline and don't hesitate to remain flexible if you're exploring multiple options.

Your age might appear to some as the "younger" side but you are qualified according to their program authorization.

If you go SWO do so having no expectation of being able to lateral transfer, many things have to line up for that to happen.

Please correct me if wrong, but was there also a SWO - IWC track for midshipmen at the USNA? I do know a SWO (I believe O-2), who laterally transferred to Intel after completing two tours.

 

[jishdotcom]

Last I checked, Intel's deadline appears to be May 23, 2025, for non-fleet applicants. That's likely for the June board, which @exNavyOffRec just mentioned. If you don't get CW right now, definitely apply with two designators for the May deadline and don't hesitate to remain flexible if you're exploring multiple options.

Your age might appear to some as the "younger" side but you are qualified according to their program authorization.

Please correct me if wrong, but was there also a SWO - IWC track for midshipmen at the USNA? I do know a SWO (I believe O-2), who laterally transferred to Intel after completing two tours.

So interestingly enough, my sister is a first class midshipman at the naval academy. She was going to do the SWO-CW track until it got taken down last year. I believe there is still a SWO-IP track, but that's about all I know.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Please correct me if wrong, but was there also a SWO - IWC track for midshipmen at the USNA? I do know a SWO (I believe O-2), who laterally transferred to Intel after completing two tours.

That is the normal process for the SWO options, going SWO and then trying to lateral transfer is a different process and not guaranteed like the SWO option program. The only SWO option available for OCS currently is SWO-Oceano.

A person if qualified could apply for CW, IP, and Intel as they are all in the IWC group.

 

[Sethv42]

Is your waiver medical or non-medical? If medical that isn't taken into consideration.
I would start looking where you can take Calc and Physics to prepare.
Have those who wrote you LOR's seen you perform over time as that is important? A person that writes an LOR that is a family friend or someone that just met you doesn't hold much weight.

Gotcha, my waiver is a medical waiver. One of my LORs is my current boss, another one is my former Student Volunteer Firefighter Chief, and last one is my old football coach/high school teacher.

 

[BearlingBababeano]

Sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for results to drop for IP.

3.18 GPA in Mathematics w/ a Military Leadership Minor (likely a 3.23ish on graduation this may)
63 OAR
Was AFROTC for 3ish years, some research experience in graph theory. LORs from Regular Air Force O4 and O5, 3rd LOR from a coach. Some experience working with AI and networking from an old volunteer thing.

Anyone have any guidance on when results'll drop, and how quickly candidates will hear after they do?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for results to drop for IP.

3.18 GPA in Mathematics w/ a Military Leadership Minor (likely a 3.23ish on graduation this may)
63 OAR
Was AFROTC for 3ish years, some research experience in graph theory. LORs from Regular Air Force O4 and O5, 3rd LOR from a coach. Some experience working with AI and networking from an old volunteer thing.

Anyone have any guidance on when results'll drop, and how quickly candidates will hear after they do?

Officially NRC will say 2-10 weeks, often it is 4-6 weeks.