What NRC considers competitive

[Chippewa19]

No.

Not likely?

 

[Taylom32]

Hello All,

I am applying for the SWO option 11600. However, I do not know if I am very competitive. I need honest un-filtered advice, do not hold back if you do not think I have a chance. Below I hav listed my background.

Age: 25

Bachelors from Embry Riddle with a lowly 2.78 GPA. I completed the majority of my bachelors while in a deployable squadron on Active Duty (Deployed once in a four year period) which is not an excuse for my GPA but it impacted my GPA.

1. I am currently a Naval Reservist and a Aviation Structural Mechanic Second Class (AM2/E5). I have four years active duty and three years reserve. During that time I have had good evaluations, with minor eval continuity problems due to paperwork issues while in the reserves.
2. During my deployment with the seventh fleet, I received a Fleet Letter of Accommodation from a the commander of the 7th fleet R.L Thomas.
3. I am fully qualified in my rating in the navy and have serve as a work center supervisor to the airframes shop as well as the line shack.
4. I am currently a police officer as a civilian and have been for the past three years.
5. I completed four courses towards my MBA with western governors university.
6. I scored a 51 on the OAR and 5/5/5 on the ASTB, although, i understand it is not applicable to the SWO designator.

 

[Ad22]

a

To supplement what other have already stated about PAO: This is quite possibly the most difficult designator for non-priors to get into, even more so than Intel. It has very specific, additional requirements that the other designators do not have, one of which is interviews with three Navy PAOs. They would be able to quickly identify and weed out applicants who are not fully invested in the designator. Furthermore, it's a small community that typically has less than a handful of openings each year, most of which go to MC's (if not all). Accordingly, it should not be seen as an easy alternative for someone whose age or academic/ASTB stats fail to meet reqs for other designators.

I'm saying this from personal experience as someone who had been preparing a PAO package for the 2018 board. And it was my first choice, not a fallback. An O-6 PAO kindly took me under his wing and provided valuable advice -- I think the main reason why he did this is because 1) I am very passionate about the PAO community, and 2) I have 15 years of solid marketing communications experience. This includes 10 years overseas, where I directed multinational, multilingual teams on global-scale initiatives for top-ranked Global 100 companies.

Another factor to consider for those who think PAO could be a fallback option: The PAO board typically convenes only once a year, and it is not unusual for it to be canceled. This is what happened to the 2018 board, which is why I said "had been preparing a package." While this was very disappointing, I still found the experience extremely valuable. In order to find interviewers for my package, I cold called/e-mailed a number of O-5 and higher PAOs who were complete strangers. (At the time, I had no connections in any branch of the military). The astonishing level of support and encouragement they gave me provided firsthand insight into their community and made me even more determined to join their ranks one way or another, even if it means a lateral transfer after serving several years in another designator. I actually learned about the board cancellation before my recruiter because one of the PAO's e-mailed me immediately after he saw the BUPERS notice.

Bottom line: PAO is definitely not a community for disinterested or passive candidates.

any news on the results of the June 14th board? Last contact with OR was 2.5 weeks ago when he said they were not yet released

 

[delliott]

you can apply within one year of graduation

Does anyone on this thread know if the Navy has documented this regulation somewhere accessible online? My recruiter isn't convinced that I can apply this early, and I would like to be able to show him the document.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Does anyone on this thread know if the Navy has documented this regulation somewhere accessible online? My recruiter isn't convinced that I can apply this early, and I would like to be able to show him the document.

It is the prerogative of the Commander Navy Recruiting Command, probably via an email.

 

[sldm992]

I started working with my recruiter halfway through my Junior year of college

 

[ocsdetermined]

Hi does anyone know the average stats for SuppO? GPA/OAR/positive traits and experience/ etc.?

 

[Art Vandelay]

Hi does anyone know the average stats for SuppO? GPA/OAR/positive traits and experience/ etc.?

The link below is an old google doc with stats of people who have applied in the past.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aKnchxVcP89JOf3vaith5onYwGO5HRGDf8nH-IzZNXA/edit?ts=5c32be2b

 

[delliott]

It is the prerogative of the Commander Navy Recruiting Command, probably via an email.

Sorry to ask another question, but does this definitely apply to SWO proboards (not just boards for CEC, nursing, etc. where the applicant can clearly still be in college)?

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Sorry to ask another question, but does this definitely apply to SWO proboards (not just boards for CEC, nursing, etc. where the applicant can clearly still be in college)?

I can and does apply to any designator they want it to, it has gone from 6 mo, to 1 year, back to 6 mo, then back to 1 year, so it changes and you just need to hope it is in your favor.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Sorry to ask another question, but does this definitely apply to SWO proboards (not just boards for CEC, nursing, etc. where the applicant can clearly still be in college)?

Your recruiter could always ask the program manager for guidance. The rule of thumb has been a year, but that might have changed to encourage more folks who are closer to graduating/already graduated to be selected and shipped out sooner.

 

[jhaselti]

Hey all,

So I want to go for CW/IP... and 3rd but dont really want is intel

Age: 35 - aged out of a lot of things
BAS Information Technology with CyberSec focus - Cumulative GPA 3.2 Degree GPA 4.0 - I had previous schooling in early 2000's with different school than degree that i didnt finish my degree but ended with a gpa that heavily tanked my cumulative in relation to recent studies.
OAR: 59
LOR: Senior Lecturers from my recent school, former managers
I plan to have strong motivation statement detailing a bit about life struggles and how my recent schooling with 4.0 degree with IT shows i matured greatly since my younger days also detailing leadership and experience from civ job.

Civilian Experience: Worked as a network engineer for a major IT company for 5-6 years. Also earned some networking Certifications such as CCNA. Will be getting CompTIA Security+ within the next month.

Do you think im pretty competitive?

 

[AULANI]

Hey all,

So I want to go for CW/IP... and 3rd but dont really want is intel

Age: 35 - aged out of a lot of things
BAS Information Technology with CyberSec focus - Cumulative GPA 3.2 Degree GPA 4.0 - I had previous schooling in early 2000's with different school than degree that i didnt finish my degree but ended with a gpa that heavily tanked my cumulative in relation to recent studies.
OAR: 59
LOR: Senior Lecturers from my recent school, former managers
I plan to have strong motivation statement detailing a bit about life struggles and how my recent schooling with 4.0 degree with IT shows i matured greatly since my younger days also detailing leadership and experience from civ job.

Civilian Experience: Worked as a network engineer for a major IT company for 5-6 years. Also earned some networking Certifications such as CCNA. Will be getting CompTIA Security+ within the next month.

Do you think im pretty competitive?

If people on this forum answered "no", would you not apply?

 

[jhaselti]

If people on this forum answered "no", would you not apply?

No, im still applying because i think i have a competitive package and i would be a great fit, being a naval officer is something ive wanted to do for a long time but only recently finished off my Bachelors(had associates for awhile). Asking on this forum can provide me with some information that i dont have access to. Such as that from a recruiter or people with more knowledge on past and recent OCS board results. It may also help others who are thinking of applying compare themselves and give them motivation. Isnt asking what this topic thread is all about?

 

[AULANI]

No, im still applying because i think i have a competitive package and i would be a great fit, being a naval officer is something ive wanted to do for a long time but only recently finished off my Bachelors(had associates for awhile). Asking on this forum can provide me with some information that i dont have access to. Such as that from a recruiter or people with more knowledge on past and recent OCS board results. It may also help others who are thinking of applying compare themselves and give them motivation. Isnt asking what this topic thread is all about?

I think the original intention of this thread was for people who have been selected to post their stats in order for others (who have already applied) to gauge their chances of also getting selected.

It's sort of devolved into a "I'm kinda on the fence about this military thing but if anonymous people on the internet tell me I'm smart then I'll apply" thread.