Oct 2013 IDC/SWO-IDC Options Board

[egiv]

No idea why, they give very specific guidance on what to say. I had no issue getting what I wanted to say in there. I think it eliminates fluff and gets straight to the point.

Our package also has a lot of information already included in our evaluations and such that we don't personally need to speak to those items and experiences.

"- Reason applying for a commission
- Personal and professional goals
- Strengths/personal characteristics you possess which will contribute to success in the program(s) to which you are applying.
Address any other relevant information or substantial accomplishments not already covered."

Gotcha, so it's really just a different application process. Makes sense, thanks for the clarification.

 

[jcharles]

Well good news/bad news on my front.

I was picked up for IWO, but that is strange as I only applied for Intel. I am super confused, and am waiting for my OR to get back in touch with me to clarify. I am happy I was selected, but I have zero background in IW.

Congrats! Now Stats pls...lol

 

[zdexter]

Congrats! Now Stats pls...lol

Age: 28
B.A. in Strategy and History Univ. of Texas 3.1 GPA
M.A. in Statecraft and Nat. Sec. Affairs specialization in Intel, The Inst. of World Politics 3.7 GPA
OAR: 62
LORS 3 O-6 (Intel, Aviation, Subs), 1 O-8 (Intel), Supervisor GS-15
Interviews 2 O-6 (Intel) 1 O-7 (Intel)
2 Years exp. as contracted DOD analyst
Active TS/SCI

 

[Ian Donaldson]

It would be nice if there was a little hint as to why you weren't picked up. Then you would know what you needed to work on to continue to apply or abandon ship and follow another career path.

 

[egriff25]

You'd be surprised, not exactly a plethora of good cleared jobs out there. I've heard rumors of DC in the post 9/11 IC expansion hay days... Automatic great six figure job if you had TS, not so much anymore...especially without intel experience.

Well TS with any experience in IDC (enlisted or O) will yield a a great job in the baltimore/DC area. Appx 70K Starting, add your degree and more experience and your sitting in a good spot.

 

[egriff25]

Not selected for IW or Intel. Now we wait for the SWO options board to meet. Anyone have any idea when that will be?

These options are at the same board, I had all of the options listed. Great thing I got a Pro-Y on the only one that mattered to me (IW)

 

[BusyBee604]

Well good news/bad news on my front...

Looks much more like good, than bad?

I am happy I was selected, but I have zero background in IW.

Congratulations ! Iff'n they want you, I'm sure they'll rectify that... when I was selected for SNA, I had never been in an airplane, nor met a pilot, now I are one!
BzB

 

[azguy]

Well TS with any experience in IDC (enlisted or O) will yield a a great job in the baltimore/DC area. Appx 70K Starting, add your degree and more experience and your sitting in a good spot.

$70-80k isn't great for the DC area, and it's a 20-30% pay cut for a LT getting out at their minimum service commitment. And the defense industrial complex is shrinking and will continue to shrink -- significantly -- for years to come. That means less money and promotion opportunities for all in the field. Still, it's interesting work and a good career but the 2001-2007 era is long past...

 

[azguy]

It would be nice if there was a little hint as to why you weren't picked up. Then you would know what you needed to work on to continue to apply or abandon ship and follow another career path.

It's not rocket science, all of these guys getting picked up have posted their stats. Do you have a masters in a relevant field? Do you speak a critical language? Have you interned/worked in the IC? Do you have flag officer LORs? Give your recruiter or the detailer a call and they should pick up pretty quickly on where you are lacking...

 

[Scaevola]

Who else is still waiting to hear their results? Just before 2100 here on the east coast and no word from my OR, so looks like another weekend in limbo for me.

 

[jg54170]

It's not rocket science, all of these guys getting picked up have posted their stats. Do you have a masters in a relevant field? Do you speak a critical language? Have you interned/worked in the IC? Do you have flag officer LORs? Give your recruiter or the detailer a call and they should pick up pretty quickly on where you are lacking...

Excellent point, the great thing about this site is that there are so many applicants on here. We all get a great snap shot of what the board is looking for. It is not written in stone but by doing a little searching through the profile and posts of those selected you can see what they had that you may not have had if you were not Pro-recd.

I see a lot of people say "well I had a great GPA" or "my OAR was amazing". The board is looking for what we call a "break out", what sets you apart from everyone else applying. The areas you mention...masters, critical language, etc. mean a lot when the board has to decide between two folks with great OAR's and GPA's.

You have to throw something out there that no one else is going to have. For example, for the SWO board I submitted my Coast Guard Captains License. I highly doubt anyone had he same thing but it shows my understanding of nautical rules.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

It's not rocket science, all of these guys getting picked up have posted their stats. Do you have a masters in a relevant field? Do you speak a critical language? Have you interned/worked in the IC? Do you have flag officer LORs? Give your recruiter or the detailer a call and they should pick up pretty quickly on where you are lacking...

Sometimes people don't like to hear the negatives in the applications, every person I ever had picked up for any IDC field had two things in common, high GPA and tech degree (or prior service in IDC field).

In dealing with IDC designators there are many of you with just outstanding stats and unfortunately with few spots not all of those outstanding people will get a spot, if you are able to apply for other designators and your main motivation is to serve then try those as well.

 

[Kory]

You are the first person I have seen picked for IW that didn't have calc and physics, you must have had some great LOR's from the state department or someone.

The IDC board is a combined board, it is very strange he doesn't have them all, or he looked in CIRIMS and that is updated manually.

I'm IW too, no calc or physics either.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

I'm IW too, no calc or physics either.

a bit surprised as you are an MC, but I have said AD is a wild card and the IDC designators tend to pick more from AD than the other designators, you do mention an Intel background I am not sure what you did though, I am guessing you mentioned that in your statement.

 

[azguy]

I'm IW too, no calc or physics either.

Don't brag too much about that. It's something the Navy Officer's Corps usually points to in order to set us apart from USA/USAF/USMC... In most cases, we are required to have, at the very least, a full year of calc and calc based physics. Point being, there are no dumb Naval Officers...