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Trying for DCO PAO Community?

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
I see threads for OCS boards and everything else, but I don't see one for DCO Reserves, so I thought I'd start one. Anyone else waiting for their boards to come up/hear back from the boards? Let's hear from you and what your package looks like.

I'll start. I'm a 26 year old female civilian with no prior military experience. I submitted my package yesterday for the 15 JAN PAO (public affairs) board.

I have a degree in advertising/public relations with an emphasis in public relations. I also graduated from my college's Honors College with a 3.7 (3.9 in my major).

Leadership/Volunteering
Big Brothers Big Sisters XXXX Chapter (2007-present)

  • Marketing Committee Member (appointed)
  • Big Sister to a 12-year-old

XXXX Hospital (2007-present)

  • Pet Therapy Volunteer

Public Relations Society of America (2003-present)

  • National Member
  • Local Member (<local chapter> PRSA)

Navy Recruiting District Advisory Council- <local chapter> (2008-present)

  • Recruiting Liaison Officer (RLO)

Compassion for Greyhounds (2005-2008)

  • Prison Program Director/Board Member
  • Public Relations independent counselor

Grand Valley State University (2000-2003)

  • Elected Public Relations Advisor for the Public
    Relations Student Society of America local chapter
  • Resident Assistant for freshman girls
  • College Ambassador
  • Elected Honors College Newsletter Editor
  • Elected Residence Hall Leadership Council
    Vice-President/President

XXXX High School (1997-2000)

  • National Honor Society
  • Spanish National Honor Society
    • Elected Vice-President

International Order of Job’s Daughters (1993-2000)

  • Elected local leader (Honored Queen) twice
  • Chosen to be member of state leadership twice

Letters of Recommendation
1. Retired Army Air Force Colonel
2. Former Supervisor
3. Current Co-worker (a deputy director)
4. Current CO of Navy Recruiting District Michigan and Indiana

Officer Interviews
1. Current Reserve PAO Captain (former active duty)
2. Retired Reserve/Active DutyPAO Captain
3. Current PAO Captain (Reserves, but is performing active duty at the Pentagon right now. I set this one up myself by being resourceful with heyjoe's help and flew to DC to interview with him at the Pentagon)

Motivational Statement
I think I hit it bang-on, but of course, I'm sure everyone feels that way or they wouldn't submit it!



Anyone else nervous and excited for any upcoming boards for FY09?


ETA: UGH, I mistyped the thread title and it won't let me fix it... that's embarrassing
 

cv2000

New Member
Also waiting for PAO board.

Savvy, I am also waiting on the PAO board. I have to be honest; I hope the other candidates are not as qualified as you. You make for tough competition.
I decided to put in for a reserve slot, but from my understanding both active and reserve PAO commissions are limited to 24 for the entire year.
I am prior military having served in the Army reserve straight out of high school. I did a tour in Iraq back in 2003-2004, and graduated a little later than anticipated from college with a dual major in Political Science and Public Administration.
I am a big brother too!
I currently work in the non-profit sector.
I have served on a few Boards for Latino based organizations and currently serving on the LADO of ri board working to get scholarships for deserving Latino students in RI.
I was interviewed by 2 CDRs and 2 LCDRs. From what the recruiter has said my evals were great, which is good because I do not have nearly as much PR/ marketing experience as someone like you. The good news, I truly believe you have a leg up on the competition; the bad news is I am the competition.
Good Luck
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
Savvy, I am also waiting on the PAO board. I have to be honest; I hope the other candidates are not as qualified as you. You make for tough competition.
I decided to put in for a reserve slot, but from my understanding both active and reserve PAO commissions are limited to 24 for the entire year.
I am prior military having served in the Army reserve straight out of high school. I did a tour in Iraq back in 2003-2004, and graduated a little later than anticipated from college with a dual major in Political Science and Public Administration.
I am a big brother too!
I currently work in the non-profit sector.
I have served on a few Boards for Latino based organizations and currently serving on the LADO of ri board working to get scholarships for deserving Latino students in RI.
I was interviewed by 2 CDRs and 2 LCDRs. From what the recruiter has said my evals were great, which is good because I do not have nearly as much PR/ marketing experience as someone like you. The good news, I truly believe you have a leg up on the competition; the bad news is I am the competition.
Good Luck

Thanks... good luck to you too. Being prior military, you have a leg up on me on that aspect! Who knows what the board is looking for... I've heard of people having lots more experience than I do and not making it. I've also heard of people with no experience making it.

My recruiter said 19-24 reserve PAO slots this year... usually it's less than five (and I've heard active duty PAO is only 1-2 slots a year and generally go to current MCs). Last year there were a lot of reserve slots as well, so I'm hoping we make it this go-around because they may have their fill after this year and next year may be a small number.
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
Submitting a package for the MAR2009 boards for Intel and contemplating SPECWAR.

Graduated from GW with a degree in Asian studies.

I took the ASTB in 2005 and barely passed; I am horrible at standardized testing and frankly just took it from all sides.

Does anyone know, or does anyone have any input as to how much weight the ASTB carries on your packet?

My experience and education are pretty damn relevant and I plan to go to active duty once I hit a certain age. I just don't want this to be dashed based on the ASTB.

Thanks and best of luck to all in the process.


I'm not sure on the ASTB as I didn't have to take it for PAO. I believe it's pretty important, but they look at your whole package so if the rest of your package is outstanding, you may have no need to worry. You'll probably find better gouge in the ASTB thread.

Good luck on your board!
 

cv2000

New Member
Savvy,
You make an excellent point. Last year I was pretty much
discouraged from applying for PAO slot by my recruiter even though that is the only thing I can see myself doing in the Navy. So when I learned that this year’s PAO board would award 24 slots I was happy, but apprehensive. Only time will tell and as the weeks go by am growing more anxious to see what they think of my potential.
My military background and my tour of duty really seemed to play a small role in my first interviews, but it was addressed at length with the PAO officers that interviewed me.
Were you interviewed by any PAO officers? Just curious.
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
Savvy,
You make an excellent point. Last year I was pretty much
discouraged from applying for PAO slot by my recruiter even though that is the only thing I can see myself doing in the Navy. So when I learned that this year’s PAO board would award 24 slots I was happy, but apprehensive. Only time will tell and as the weeks go by am growing more anxious to see what they think of my potential.
My military background and my tour of duty really seemed to play a small role in my first interviews, but it was addressed at length with the PAO officers that interviewed me.
Were you interviewed by any PAO officers? Just curious.


Yes, I interviewed with a current Reserve PAO Captain, a retired PAO Captain and I set up an interview myself (without my recruiter... but with her blessing) with a PAO Captain who is stationed at the Pentagon. I actually did the interview in the Pentagon with him, which was amazing... but there was a fire alarm going off so instead of being able to go into his office, we ended up doing the interview in the waiting area. Disappointing, but very exciting just to be IN the Pentagon.

Three days until the board meets! I feel like a little kid just before Christmas... wondering if Santa is going to get me that toy I've been dreaming about.
 

cv2000

New Member
Yes, I interviewed with a current Reserve PAO Captain, a retired PAO Captain and I set up an interview myself (without my recruiter... but with her blessing) with a PAO Captain who is stationed at the Pentagon. I actually did the interview in the Pentagon with him, which was amazing... but there was a fire alarm going off so instead of being able to go into his office, we ended up doing the interview in the waiting area. Disappointing, but very exciting just to be IN the Pentagon.

Three days until the board meets! I feel like a little kid just before Christmas... wondering if Santa is going to get me that toy I've been dreaming about.

That does sound exciting. I was initially offered a job in DC in May just to have it recinded a couple of days later. Just the thought of working blocks away from the White House was amazing, eventhough my freinds say you get used to the environment (I do not see how).
My recruiter tells me that I should here something in late February, is that what you have heard? Without compromising OPSEC, do you know about how far (in miles) you would travel? I may be looking at a long commute, but I hear some travel cross country for their drills. That pretty much is the only concern I have once accepted, or should I say if I am accepted.
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
That does sound exciting. I was initially offered a job in DC in May just to have it recinded a couple of days later. Just the thought of working blocks away from the White House was amazing, eventhough my freinds say you get used to the environment (I do not see how).
My recruiter tells me that I should here something in late February, is that what you have heard? Without compromising OPSEC, do you know about how far (in miles) you would travel? I may be looking at a long commute, but I hear some travel cross country for their drills. That pretty much is the only concern I have once accepted, or should I say if I am accepted.

Standard time to hear from the board is a few days up to a month... average is two weeks. You should definitely hear something by 15 FEB. After that, Navy says your COM DOCs come in 6-9 weeks... my recruiter said it's more like 9-12 weeks. But we have to wait on Congress. My thoughts are new congress + new President = even longer wait time... but who knows!

As for the rest, I'm PMing you.
 

bucki4lyfe

Michigan Sucks
Standard time to hear from the board is a few days up to a month... average is two weeks. You should definitely hear something by 15 FEB. After that, Navy says your COM DOCs come in 6-9 weeks... my recruiter said it's more like 9-12 weeks. But we have to wait on Congress. My thoughts are new congress + new President = even longer wait time... but who knows!

As for the rest, I'm PMing you.

Here's an update of the timeline for y'all.

Results for a board are released 2 weeks after the board date and recruiters can notify applicants from that point. If you need a security clearance for PAO (I don't know if you do) then the security clearance is initiated which could take a few-6 months. Also after selection, your medical appointments start, if it's the same as intel that takes 2 visits with the med folks. After the medical appointments, your recruiter forwards the medical docs to the recruiting command, who then determines your suitability for service. Once the security clearance (if needed) and medical are done, then the comm docs are drawn up - which depending on the busy-ness of the comm docs people, it could take 1-6 months. I hope that helps.
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
Here's an update of the timeline for y'all.

Results for a board are released 2 weeks after the board date and recruiters can notify applicants from that point. If you need a security clearance for PAO (I don't know if you do) then the security clearance is initiated which could take a few-6 months. Also after selection, your medical appointments start, if it's the same as intel that takes 2 visits with the med folks. After the medical appointments, your recruiter forwards the medical docs to the recruiting command, who then determines your suitability for service. Once the security clearance (if needed) and medical are done, then the comm docs are drawn up - which depending on the busy-ness of the comm docs people, it could take 1-6 months. I hope that helps.

Thanks for the gouge! Yes, I believe we need a Secret clearance and my recruiter said one day of MEPs medical appointments. Nice to know it COULD be as little as 1 month (though I'm planning on the longer end for sure).
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
PAO Board is supposed to meet today. I'm so excited/nervous. Hopefully they do and hopefully they let us know quickly!
 

SavvyPR

LCDR, Navy Reserve PAO
PAO board was supposed to meet today. cv2000... let me know if you hear anything from your recruiter about if the board actually met today (since a month ago they bumped it up by two weeks... was supposed to meet 02 FEB) or if you hear that results are out. I'll do the same.

Anyone else have boards that met today?
 
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