OCS Application changes

[exNavyOffRec]

Ok here is another question my scores on the ASTB were 49/5/5/4 my OR said there are competitive for IDC and AMDO but I really only had a week or two to study, and I want to make my first shot at the boards a good one so should I re-take it or leave it the way it is and hope for the best? My GPA is 3.67 non technical , prior service ?

"Competitive" when it comes to non aviation jobs doesn't really apply to the ASTB, generally the ASTB follows the GPA, for example it is rare to find a person that has a good GPA with a poor ASTB, so when they select those with good GPA's it turns out they have good ASTB's as well.

IDC and AMDO look hard at degree and GPA, the newest stats I have show AMDO picks 75% from those currently on AD and from what the program mgr told me that they in general have an aviation background with maintenance experience, for those that were prior as well. They prefer Business degrees or tech degrees, but being on AD with the background can trump that. AMDO needs 4 more for FY13, I would bet to be safe they would pick 6 or 7 and any extras would slide to FY14.

IDC (Intel/IW/IP) picked almost 50% from AD for FY12, with the new guidance on Intel selecting 60% tech degrees not sure how that will change. for FY13 IP is now/still listed goal of 0, FY13 is closed it says goal identified, and IW shows they need 1 more, so for the most part any pro recs will be for FY14 (earliest July 2013 OCS for planning)

 

[fedman28]

So basically what im getting from that is even if I re-take the astb and score a 55-60 I still really don't have a shot at this thing because I don't have a tech degree and not on AD

 

[exNavyOffRec]

So basically what im getting from that is even if I re-take the astb and score a 55-60 I still really don't have a shot at this thing because I don't have a tech degree and not on AD

Getting your OAR up a few points isn't going to change what they are looking for or what they are selecting. The issue is OR's get focused on ASTB for non aviation, when they should be focused on degree and GPA's, I could not say you don't have a shot because you meet the requirements to apply, but when you look at what they are selecting now the chances are slim, you just need to know what you are facing when you submit.

 

[Beefalo]

NavyOffRec,

I am active duty and 1420.1b and the Fleet OCS check off list states you cant submit an OCS package of within three months of transfer. Are they talking about the time the Fleet OCS office receives and processes the package or are they talking about board dates? My PRD is May 2013 but the SWO and AMDO boards I am looking at are in Jan and Feb I believe.

Edit: The Fleet checkoff list says this.

"The 90 day period for Projected Rotation Date (PRD) timeline purposes will be computed from the day the package is received at our desk, confirmed as fully completed, and is ready for processing. The 90 day PRD timeline is computed to the first (1st) day of the PRD month. (Acompleted package is a package that is completed in accordancewith this form (NC 1131/56, to include all appropriate forms and waiver approvals.)"

So I guess the question is how long does it take for them to usually process a package?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

NavyOffRec,

I am active duty and 1420.1b and the Fleet OCS check off list states you cant submit an OCS package of within three months of transfer. Are they talking about the time the Fleet OCS office receives and processes the package or are they talking about board dates? My PRD is May 2013 but the SWO and AMDO boards I am looking at are in Jan and Feb I believe.

Edit: The Fleet checkoff list says this.

"The 90 day period for Projected Rotation Date (PRD) timeline purposes will be computed from the day the package is received at our desk, confirmed as fully completed, and is ready for processing. The 90 day PRD timeline is computed to the first (1st) day of the PRD month. (Acompleted package is a package that is completed in accordancewith this form (NC 1131/56, to include all appropriate forms and waiver approvals.)"

So I guess the question is how long does it take for them to usually process a package?

It really depends on the time of year, anything arriving until after the 1st will probably go slow, but it is hard to say, I have seen them take less than a week.

AMDO is Feb and SWO is Mar, AMDO is very picky and has very few spots, generally they look for aviation types with lots of maintenance experience and QA quals.

 

[Beefalo]

Ok thank you. I have been in touch with the Fleet OCS contacts. They said as long as its in by the application due date for that specific board it should be good.

I am AD have maintenance background but most of it is surface related. I am also looking at PAO but applications are due Dec. 10 it will be rush to put that one in which is totally my fault if the deadline passes. I guess SWO is too far out I will have to wait until my next duty station to submit for that.

In the next 12 months I am putting in a package for SWO, AMDO, PAO, and LDO. Also will be up for Chief. If I get picked up for any I will be extremely happy.

Im thinking about retaking the OAR. I got a 42 and the 1420.1b states IDC community requires 45 or above so I can apply for SWO options. Can I just retake the OAR or do I have to redo ASTB to?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Ok thank you. I have been in touch with the Fleet OCS contacts. They said as long as its in by the application due date for that specific board it should be good.

I am AD have maintenance background but most of it is surface related. I am also looking at PAO but applications are due Dec. 10 it will be rush to put that one in which is totally my fault if the deadline passes. I guess SWO is too far out I will have to wait until my next duty station to submit for that.

In the next 12 months I am putting in a package for SWO, AMDO, PAO, and LDO. Also will be up for Chief. If I get picked up for any I will be extremely happy.

Im thinking about retaking the OAR. I got a 42 and the 1420.1b states IDC community requires 45 or above so I can apply for SWO options. Can I just retake the OAR or do I have to redo ASTB to?

You should be able to put in for SWO for the Mar board the submission period is open now.

PAO historically only selects those that are MC's, they have picked one non-MC in the past several years.

the 1420 is wrong, that is a typo, it is supposed to be 35, the only officer program that is over 35 is AMDO and that is 40, and you should just have to retake the OAR unless you want to try for AMDO again.

 

[Beefalo]

As usual you are a wealth of info.

Spoke to the Fleet Processing people and the PAO board already happened in November. Thats kind of a relief so no pressure to rush a package.

I think the instruction came out in 2008 and in four years still no correction to a typo lol. Anyway to verify this to my COC? I guess I could ask the Fleet Processing folks but I have been bugging them alot lately..... Any other typos?

For Block 19 PFA information it only lists run/swim. What if I did the bike last cycle? Should I have the CFL just write in "bike" somewhere.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

As usual you are a wealth of info.

Spoke to the Fleet Processing people and the PAO board already happened in November. Thats kind of a relief so no pressure to rush a package.

I think the instruction came out in 2008 and in four years still no correction to a typo lol. Anyway to verify this to my COC? I guess I could ask the Fleet Processing folks but I have been bugging them alot lately..... Any other typos?

For Block 19 PFA information it only lists run/swim. What if I did the bike last cycle? Should I have the CFL just write in "bike" somewhere.

I would just submit, on the PFA I don't know, when we could give the PFA it could only be the run.

 

[Para]

I have a Sailor submitting for Supply and Intel, and some of these dates on board schedule are confusing for me. She has a O6 interview for Supply, and an O5 Intel interview set up, and will probably have another O3 or O4 interview. She currently has three LORs, (LCDR, LT, CMC), scored a 49 on her OAR, and has a GPA of 3.02. She has good evals, good PFA scores, has been in two years, and is 34 (needs an age waiver).

When does her package have to be there and when the boards convene?
Can she submit two packages so each application says that that community is her #1 choice?
How many LORs does she need or how many should she submit?

And last question, she really wants to retake the OAR because she thinks that she can score higher. Do you think it would be important for her to retake it considering that she got a 49 the first time?

Thanks in advance.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I have a Sailor submitting for Supply and Intel, and some of these dates on board schedule are confusing for me. She has a O6 interview for Supply, and an O5 Intel interview set up, and will probably have another O3 or O4 interview. She currently has three LORs, (LCDR, LT, CMC), scored a 49 on her OAR, and has a GPA of 3.02. She has good evals, good PFA scores, has been in two years, and is 34 (needs an age waiver).

When does her package have to be there and when the boards convene?
Can she submit two packages so each application says that that community is her #1 choice?
How many LORs does she need or how many should she submit?

And last question, she really wants to retake the OAR because she thinks that she can score higher. Do you think it would be important for her to retake it considering that she got a 49 the first time?

Thanks in advance.

The application submission is open for both as of tomorrow with the Intel deadline being first at Jan 7th and the board meeting a month later.
If you submit one package and then submit another one will be rejected due to the system that is used, probably the one submitted second or it could actually cause both to be rejected.
The number of LOR's would be dictated in the 1420 AD is different than non-AD so if it doesn't require them I wouldn't worry about it.
A 49 is pretty much right in the ballpark, an application isn't going to be rejected due to an OAR being a few points higher.

The big question is when does she turn 35, she is very close to the max age for Supply even with a waiver since it is "commissioned by age" so unless she recently turned 34 her application may not be able to go to board. The next Supply board results wouldn't be out to nearly April 1st.

 

[Para]

Thanks, she turned 34 in August of this year, so just a few months ago.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Thanks, she turned 34 in August of this year, so just a few months ago.

That would be tight but she might have one shot at it, she would have to be in a May OCS class.

 

[Daniel Parker]

Don't worry about the NRC being a ghost town, as long as it is sent in by your processor in time it will be ok.

Yes, only PAO and Supply require interviews, now reserve IDC requires interviews. However some NRD's have done bizarre things not in line with NRC directives, one NRD directed every SWO applicant needed to have a SWO interview and had people miss board because of it.

The OCS checklist DOES NOT require a single officer interview for the designators you are going thru, and if it is required the NRD has to set it up.

You are going thru NRD Denver so who knows what they are doing, or your recruiter thinking you are falling under the 1420.1b but you don't because you are active other service.

@NavyOffRec: I have been considering pursuing AMDO as well as pilot. I have a friend that not to long ago got picked up for AMDO. Do you believe I have a decent shot for AMDO? My ASTB was 48 4/5/5. GPA 3.88, majoring in Electronics Engineering Technology. I am active duty enlisted AT1 with 7 years of service and I have done both "I" and "O" maintenance so I have definitely have the maintenance background. I rescheduled a test date for my ASTB, but since the AMDO board is right around the corner I am considering just putting in for it real quick and see what happens before I retake the ASTB.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

@NavyOffRec: I have been considering pursuing AMDO as well as pilot. I have a friend that not to long ago got picked up for AMDO. Do you believe I have a decent shot for AMDO? My ASTB was 48 4/5/5. GPA 3.88, majoring in Electronics Engineering Technology. I am active duty enlisted AT1 with 7 years of service and I have done both "I" and "O" maintenance so I have definitely have the maintenance background. I rescheduled a test date for my ASTB, but since the AMDO board is right around the corner I am considering just putting in for it real quick and see what happens before I retake the ASTB.

I would apply you do have the background they are looking for