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Oct or Nov 2017 Aviation Board

Checking in for SNA only. I'm making one effort at Pilot while it's still on the table/hanging off the edge, but time isn't on my side. I should mention I'm not opposed to SNFO, but I've got another two years of eligibility to work with.

Age 28 (waiver to 01Feb18)
ASTB 8/8/7 62 (not -E)
BS Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle, 3.75 GPA
Experience: Active USN air traffic controller (2011-present). TRACON radar supervisor/approach controller. 30 single-engine student flight hours
MP EP MP EP EP MP
Personal Awards/Warfare: NAM, MOVSM, GCM, EAWS, ESWS
LoR: O-5, Civilian ATC Instructor
Previous STA-21 alternate x2
 

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
Checking in for SNA only. I'm making one effort at Pilot while it's still on the table/hanging off the edge, but time isn't on my side. I should mention I'm not opposed to SNFO, but I've got another two years of eligibility to work with.

Age 28 (waiver to 01Feb18)
ASTB 8/8/7 62 (not -E)
BS Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle, 3.75 GPA
Experience: Active USN air traffic controller (2011-present). TRACON radar supervisor/approach controller. 30 single-engine student flight hours
MP EP MP EP EP MP
Personal Awards/Warfare: NAM, MOVSM, GCM, EAWS, ESWS
LoR: O-5, Civilian ATC Instructor
Previous STA-21 alternate x2

You better hope the next Aviation board takes place in early October. You will need to be in either October OCS class (10/8 or 10/29), likely the former in order to commission before you age out.

I would advise, highly highly advise applying Pilot/NFO first second choice to avoid the hassle of applying again if Pilot doesn't work.
 
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HTR

Well-Known Member
pilot
Checking in for SNA only. I'm making one effort at Pilot while it's still on the table/hanging off the edge, but time isn't on my side. I should mention I'm not opposed to SNFO, but I've got another two years of eligibility to work with.

Age 28 (waiver to 01Feb18)
ASTB 8/8/7 62 (not -E)
BS Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle, 3.75 GPA
Experience: Active USN air traffic controller (2011-present). TRACON radar supervisor/approach controller. 30 single-engine student flight hours
MP EP MP EP EP MP
Personal Awards/Warfare: NAM, MOVSM, GCM, EAWS, ESWS
LoR: O-5, Civilian ATC Instructor
Previous STA-21 alternate x2
Why wouldn't you just put NFO as number 2? If you get pilot, then your good. If you just get NFO... well you're still good.
 
Why wouldn't you just put NFO as number 2? If you get pilot, then your good. If you just get NFO... well you're still good.
I understand it's a stretch. It's been quite a long process for me to get to this point--I enlisted with a few college credits six years ago and was all-in for STA-21. Is it smart? Maybe not. Still, I'd rather have a hard no for closure's sake. Either way, I'll have to assess when the board date is published.

@RUFiO181 I don't mean to be difficult. You're the expert and I wouldn't be posting here if I didn't want/appreciate the advice.

If OCS cuts to 10 weeks I'd have a little breathing room. Admittedly I know very little about that change besides a few rumors in some forum posts. Any truth to them?
 

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
I understand it's a stretch. It's been quite a long process for me to get to this point--I enlisted with a few college credits six years ago and was all-in for STA-21. Is it smart? Maybe not. Still, I'd rather have a hard no for closure's sake. Either way, I'll have to assess when the board date is published.

@RUFiO181 I don't mean to be difficult. You're the expert and I wouldn't be posting here if I didn't want/appreciate the advice.

If OCS cuts to 10 weeks I'd have a little breathing room. Admittedly I know very little about that change besides a few rumors in some forum posts. Any truth to them?

It's nothing more than a rumor. Most recruiters if you ask don't even have a clue about the change if it does happen.

Even if OCS changes to 10 you have to take into account the roughly two-week standdown OCS has during the holidays. So you might lose 2 weeks but it ends up evening out with the standdown.
 

amh1688

Active Member
checking in as well

1) NFO 2) SWO
Age: 25
OAR: 62
ASTB: 6/5/6
GPA: 3.0 double major business (U of South Carolina)
solid extracurriculars, leadership experience, and LoRs
negatives: possession of MJ in 2012 that was explained thoroughly and owned up to
 

cchopewell

Active Member
Checking in as well...any idea when we can anticipate having a date that is set in stone? I was told by my recruiter that my application will be sent to the board by the end of August?

Age: 23
1) SNA 2) NFO
OAR: 53
ASTB: 6/6/6
GPA: 3.1, BS in Political Science, 4 year collegiate athlete, academic-all conference and Dean's list student
LoR: O-5, O-3 Navy Flight School Instructor, Personal letter from Member of Congress
 

takeoff

Member
@cchopewell My recruiter said he expects to finds out within the next month.

Also, checking in -- sat for the test this morning.

Age: 22
OAR: 59
ASTB: 7/6/8
GPA: 2.6 (much higher major GPA, overall GPA due to some poor choices for electives/my work ethic at the time), BA Political Science, top 15 school

Working on letters of recommendation. I don't have many close ties with anyone besides family that were enlisted. Any suggestions for what other LOR's would look good? I have a few people I worked with volunteering that I could ask, as well as former employers. I'm unsure of how much weight these carry, and whether they need to be from military members.
 

justheretocreep

Well-Known Member
@cchopewell My recruiter said he expects to finds out within the next month.

Also, checking in -- sat for the test this morning.

Age: 22
OAR: 59
ASTB: 7/6/8
GPA: 2.6 (much higher major GPA, overall GPA due to some poor choices for electives/my work ethic at the time), BA Political Science, top 15 school

Working on letters of recommendation. I don't have many close ties with anyone besides family that were enlisted. Any suggestions for what other LOR's would look good? I have a few people I worked with volunteering that I could ask, as well as former employers. I'm unsure of how much weight these carry, and whether they need to be from military members.

From what I was told the best LOR's come from those in your desired field, such as interviewing and getting an LOR from a current Navy Pilot/NFO. I interviewed and received 2 LOR's from an O-3 and O-4 both being instructor pilots. My last came from my division officer. I know you said you do not know many people in this position but you'll find they are surprisingly willing to help you if you can find them. Try to get in touch with someone via your enlisted family or honestly maybe even ask your recruiter to find you some connections. The 2 instructor pilots I had I never met until the day of the interview. I got their contact info, called them up and they were more than willing to interview me and help me out.

Civilian LOR's are fine, but you really want someone who does the job you want to do to vouch for you. If you can't find military then next best would probably be bugging your government officials such as your district representative or even a senator if you can swing that.

Good luck!
 

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
@cchopewell My recruiter said he expects to finds out within the next month.

Also, checking in -- sat for the test this morning.

Age: 22
OAR: 59
ASTB: 7/6/8
GPA: 2.6 (much higher major GPA, overall GPA due to some poor choices for electives/my work ethic at the time), BA Political Science, top 15 school

Working on letters of recommendation. I don't have many close ties with anyone besides family that were enlisted. Any suggestions for what other LOR's would look good? I have a few people I worked with volunteering that I could ask, as well as former employers. I'm unsure of how much weight these carry, and whether they need to be from military members.

From what I was told the best LOR's come from those in your desired field, such as interviewing and getting an LOR from a current Navy Pilot/NFO. I interviewed and received 2 LOR's from an O-3 and O-4 both being instructor pilots. My last came from my division officer. I know you said you do not know many people in this position but you'll find they are surprisingly willing to help you if you can find them. Try to get in touch with someone via your enlisted family or honestly maybe even ask your recruiter to find you some connections. The 2 instructor pilots I had I never met until the day of the interview. I got their contact info, called them up and they were more than willing to interview me and help me out.

Civilian LOR's are fine, but you really want someone who does the job you want to do to vouch for you. If you can't find military then next best would probably be bugging your government officials such as your district representative or even a senator if you can swing that.

Good luck!

The boards don't even look at your LORs unless you need a waiver (drug, legal, etc.). If you feel you're GPA/ASTB isn't good enough and having to rely on LORs/Interviews to help you get selected, well I have some bad news for you...
 

exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
From what I was told the best LOR's come from those in your desired field, such as interviewing and getting an LOR from a current Navy Pilot/NFO. I interviewed and received 2 LOR's from an O-3 and O-4 both being instructor pilots. My last came from my division officer. I know you said you do not know many people in this position but you'll find they are surprisingly willing to help you if you can find them. Try to get in touch with someone via your enlisted family or honestly maybe even ask your recruiter to find you some connections. The 2 instructor pilots I had I never met until the day of the interview. I got their contact info, called them up and they were more than willing to interview me and help me out.

Civilian LOR's are fine, but you really want someone who does the job you want to do to vouch for you. If you can't find military then next best would probably be bugging your government officials such as your district representative or even a senator if you can swing that.

Good luck!

Like RUFIO said it is doubtful anyone past your command even read your LOR's or noticed that they were there.
 

takeoff

Member
I'm applying for an NFO slot and my package will be strong outside of LORs, so hearing they are a minimal factor is great news -- thanks for the info.
 
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