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Applying to OCS, but feel stuck at a crossroad.

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GPD_435

New Member
Greetings,

I'm close to submitting a packet for OCS, but feel a little lost regarding some potential roadblocks and would greatly appreciate any advice.

Some background: 31 yoa with a B.S. in Computer Science (~3.5 gpa). Initial ASTB scores are 51 with a 5/5/5, but planning to retake on the 28th.

Originally SNA was my dream designator, but that has quickly become a pipe dream. I don't meet the vision requirements (-3.00 diopters), and even if I did get Lasik, I have a piece of medical history that the Aeromedical Waiver guide calls "CD, waiver not recommended ", which is maddeningly vague.

I would still be very happy with SNFO if I could get selected for it, but I'm worried about getting the "NAMI Whammy". Any information I've seen regarding redesignating at OCS is rather old and suggests the process is go SWO or DOR. Is that still the case? My recruiter didn't seem to have any clue.

The other option is eschewing aviation all together and applying for the Intel/CWO/MCWO board that also interests me.

I understand I'm getting ahead of myself a bit here, but I just want to have a plan and am unsure what is worth applying for.

Thank you for your time.
 
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exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
The max age for aviation is commissioned by 32, that means in OCS by age 31 and 9 months, not sure if you just turned 31 or not.

There have been times where it has been SWO or go home, there have been times when it isn't, a recruiter wouldn't be able to predict what will happen in the future.

You have a good degree and GPA to go for anything in IWC.
 
FormerRecruitingGuru

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
GPD_435 said:
Greetings,

I'm close to submitting a packet for OCS, but feel a little lost regarding some potential roadblocks and would greatly appreciate any advice.

Some background: 31 yoa with a B.S. in Computer Science (~3.5 gpa). Initial ASTB scores are 51 with a 5/5/5, but planning to retake on the 28th.

Originally SNA was my dream designator, but that has quickly become a pipe dream. I don't meet the vision requirements (-3.00 diopters), and even if I did get Lasik, I have a piece of medical history that the Aeromedical Waiver guide calls "CD, waiver not recommended ", which is maddeningly vague.

I would still be very happy with SNFO if I could get selected for it, but I'm worried about getting the "NAMI Whammy". Any information I've seen regarding redesignating at OCS is rather old and suggests the process is go SWO or DOR. Is that still the case? My recruiter didn't seem to have any clue.

The other option is eschewing aviation all together and applying for the Intel/CWO/MCWO board that also interests me.

I understand I'm getting ahead of myself a bit here, but I just want to have a plan and am unsure what is worth applying for.

Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

The bigger concern is your age, at 31, I don't think you have enough time to get LASIK, heal for about 6-ish months, then apply and then get to OCS... all while completing this before turning 32.

IWC and SWO are going to be your realistic options here.
 
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galacticragnarok

Member
Hey there!
I just graduated OCS in February so I can shine some light on this.
If you are not a prior enlisted member who came from active duty into OCS and if you DOR you can just get discharged from the Navy and carry on with your life. There was a guy in a class below mine who was an airline pilot and decided the military wasn’t for him so he DOR got sent home and is flying for the airlines again.

Now please know that before OCS (if you are not a prior) you will not get to do a flight physical. Your flight physical takes place within your first week at OCS and you won’t know the outcome (PQ / NPQ) until weeks or months later because the flight surgeon that evaluates you has to submit everything to NAMI and they are not fast by any means if you are not PQ by the time you complete the program you can walk graduation with your class but you won’t commission until you are PQ and you get to sit in student pool, I believe you can still take leave and whatnot while in student pool but you are just like in limbo, if you are found PQ, you will commission and get orders to get out of Newport. If you are found NPQ at the completion of OCS you have 2 options: redesignate or DOR, if you are found NPQ before you complete OCS I think you may have the same options but most people choose to DOR if they find out before they have completed OCS. Re designation is not really what you want. You got a say to an extent but needs of the navy play a huge part, so to say the least it will be a gamble.

Hope this was helpful!
 
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GPD_435

New Member
Thank you all for your input. I hadn't considered age to be the main concerning factor, given I was under the impression your 32nd year was included in that window. I will shift my focus on improving that OAR score for the IWC boards.
 
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exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
GPD_435 said:
Thank you all for your input. I hadn't considered age to be the main concerning factor, given I was under the impression your 32nd year was included in that window. I will shift my focus on improving that OAR score for the IWC boards.
Click to expand...
No need to retake the OAR as long as it is above the point of needing a waiver no one really cares what the score is.
 
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GPD_435

New Member
exNavyOffRec said:
No need to retake the OAR as long as it is above the point of needing a waiver no one really cares what the score is.
Click to expand...
Wow, that's news to me! I was under the impression they valued the degree being STEM and the OAR score heavily. Is there anything else I should work on then, or just submit and let it ride?
 
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CoolCorpsman1775

New Member
Understood. I applied to IWC and was selected as an alternate on this past board. I am wondering if it was my OAR score 46 that prevented me from getting selected out the gate. My GPA is 3.94 from my Poly Sci degree and 3 LORs one from my reporting senior (not CO) and one from an active member of congress who knows me on personal level. So do you think that my OAR could have been the deciding factor?
 
FormerRecruitingGuru

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
CoolCorpsman1775 said:
Understood. I applied to IWC and was selected as an alternate on this past board. I am wondering if it was my OAR score 46 that prevented me from getting selected out the gate. My GPA is 3.94 from my Poly Sci degree and 3 LORs one from my reporting senior (not CO) and one from an active member of congress who knows me on personal level. So do you think that my OAR could have been the deciding factor?
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The OAR probably sank you. Poli Sci Intel/IWC applicants are a dime a dozen, regardless of GPA. I would suggest you find some officer mentors, ideally in the IWC to help you out.

Congressional letters are meh these days too.
 
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exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
CoolCorpsman1775 said:
Understood. I applied to IWC and was selected as an alternate on this past board. I am wondering if it was my OAR score 46 that prevented me from getting selected out the gate. My GPA is 3.94 from my Poly Sci degree and 3 LORs one from my reporting senior (not CO) and one from an active member of congress who knows me on personal level. So do you think that my OAR could have been the deciding factor?
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You want to avoid waivers as those with waivers are accepted in limited numbers, and now you are not just competing against those who submitted but with a smaller pool of those that have waivers.

Retake to get above 50 and avoid the waiver tag.

How much TIS do you have?
 
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CoolCorpsman1775

New Member
exNavyOffRec said:
You want to avoid waivers as those with waivers are accepted in limited numbers, and now you are not just competing against those who submitted but with a smaller pool of those that have waivers.

Retake to get above 50 and avoid the waiver tag.

How much TIS do you have?
Click to expand...
Yeah that is what I figured. I asked some of the officers that interviewed about my test score and they said my chances of getting selected was about 60%. I hit 9 years on June 9th so I know I am getting close to the TIS cut off. Are evals looked heavily during the board or are they submitted to show proof that there has been no disciplinary issues? Like OP I am unsure what else I can do besides improving my OAR score.
 
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exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
CoolCorpsman1775 said:
Yeah that is what I figured. I asked some of the officers that interviewed about my test score and they said my chances of getting selected was about 60%. I hit 9 years on June 9th so I know I am getting close to the TIS cut off. Are evals looked heavily during the board or are they submitted to show proof that there has been no disciplinary issues? Like OP I am unsure what else I can do besides improving my OAR score.
Click to expand...
I worked with several reservist who were selected that had MP's and P's, most were a mix but I did have one that was selected for Supply that had straight P's for like 4 years. He did have a 3.9 GPA in Business Administration.

IWC is one of those that is impossible to give a percentage without knowing who else has applied, aviation in general is fairly easy as it all goes off of the ASTB.

Get above 50 and reapply so there are no waiver issues holding you back.
 
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