FY 18 IWC DCO BOARD

[MTRIO]

Thanks I appreciate. I’m definitely submitting a FOIA. No disrespect I need answers, I can’t get answers as to why I haven’t got selected.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Thanks I appreciate. I’m definitely submitting a FOIA. No disrespect I need answers, I can’t get answers as to why I haven’t got selected.

Did you just not read my previous post about the results. Chill the F—- out...

 

[MTRIO]

Did you just not read my previous post about the results. Chill the F—- out...

Relax. I’ve already been told I was a non-select period. So I think you need to watch your verbiage. No need to use the f word....

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Relax. I’ve already been told I was a non-select period. So I think you need to watch your verbiage. No need to use the f word....

Then why are you requesting a FOIA? The original message stands...

 

[Deleted member 67144 scul]

Officer and Enlisted are different classes. Officers look to select what they believe will be a certain caliber of person and the way they do that is a bit old fashioned. In all fairness to the board members, with kids just out of school, grades are all that you have to look at. For guys like you and me, it's small piece of the puzzle, ancient history, and too late to do much about it this late in the game. But people have blinders on with selections boards like this and metrics sometime.

That is my guess man. If I am right, and I think I am, it sucks for me because I really can't improve on much. I went to college working full time, with two kids, I was in the reserve, divorced, finished college went to grad school. I just kept scraping by, but being top student was not in the cards for me. But neither was food service so I did what I could and ended up okay. When I get the chance to go all in, I'm a top performer too, but I can balance a lot too and move forward. But for this, they want to see Officer pedigree. Very good grades with a fancy school too if they can. Just my take.

Wow... really sad to hear all this. I don't think the grades should be the make-or-break in your situation, because from your description, your achievements are extremely impressive.

But I'm really getting the feeling that GPA is very important. I was told over the phone today by an OR that 3.6-3.7 GPA is competitive for EDO DCO. That's crazy if you think about it. For many people at least, grad school tends to inflate GPA, so there's that. She used the "whole person" phrase, but still stressed the GPA. Even if you couldn't get into many of the classes you wanted to take in your Master's (because too many students and too few slots), the GPA and degree are still the GPA and degree.

 

[Kenneth]

Wow... really sad to hear all this. I don't think the grades should be the make-or-break in your situation, because from your description, your achievements are extremely impressive.

But I'm really getting the feeling that GPA is very important. I was told over the phone today by an OR that 3.6-3.7 GPA is competitive for EDO DCO. That's crazy if you think about it. For many people at least, grad school tends to inflate GPA, so there's that. She used the "whole person" phrase, but still stressed the GPA. Even if you couldn't get into many of the classes you wanted to take in your Master's (because too many students and too few slots), the GPA and degree are still the GPA and degree.

I have been in the Navy Reseves for about 2 years and prior to that I was in the Air Force. Currently I am a Intelligence Specialist (IS) and have some mobilizations under my belt but my degrees and civilian work experiences are NOT related to Intel. During my OIC interview, I was told that my chances will be limited due to my civilian job and my degrees not being related to Intel. I am hoping for the best but after seeing some of the candidates that were not selected, I’m not feeling very optimistic.

I am currently working with 6th fleet on a short mobilization. I am trying to gain more experience in the field and I am also networking to get more connections and possible recommendations while I am here. I hope that helps me for the next board if I don’t get selected for this one.

 

[bubblehead]

Wow... really sad to hear all this. I don't think the grades should be the make-or-break in your situation, because from your description, your achievements are extremely impressive.

There is a minimum GPA. Why? Because they need to filter out people due to the sheer number applying or wanting to apply and GPA is an easy filter.

This goes to show just how competitive this program is at this point across all designators. I have a SUPPO in my Reserve unit. In his day job, he is a Vice President of Worldwide Sales for a multi-billion dollar company, and he as a couple of degrees.

 

[shiner237]

IMHO, with a retention rate of DCO assendees as bad as they are, a hard look at the board process would be fiscally wise. A lot of money invested in training goes out the door when you have uber motivated individuals fall flat on qualification milestones.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

IMHO, with a retention rate of DCO assendees as bad as they are, a hard look at the board process would be fiscally wise. A lot of money invested in training goes out the door when you have uber motivated individuals fall flat on qualification milestones.

And how should the board select individuals? I would say the process is fine as is.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

The IWC DCO results were posted on the NRC SharePoint as of midday yesterday. Your OR should be able to access them.

 

[Reservist]

And how should the board select individuals? I would say the process is fine as is.

It RUFiO, but it works, but isn't perfect. Nothing is. I even agree it would be hard to come up with a way to objectively measure candidates based on attributes other than grades, age, ect... But it is not impossible to give more credit and bump scores for other attributes. When the Navy promotes people, they do not look back at college GPA's, they look at evals, awards, assignments.

The metrics based analysis used by big Navy and subsequently, the reserve, passes over a lot of important stuff and places too high a premium on grades to evaluate people in vastly different phases of life. This becomes most true when you are looking at candidates that range in age from early 20's to early 40's. People breath the word whole person concept in the same sentence as process works fine, age, grades, ect.... The process is not as open minded as many would like to think, myself included. The board's reliance on metrics like grades as oppose to, a guy was awarded a bronze star from an IA combat tour sitting as S2 and as an advisor to an afghan colonel got to count a little more than his college GPA that he can't change that was from 10 or 15 years ago.

Would you like your next promotion and everyone thereafter it, to be based off the GPA's of every officer you compete against for advancement for the rest of your career? What about the next job you apply for when you leave the Navy? Should where you went to school and your GPA be the first thing that separates you above or below your competition? You don't have to answer. If you are an older Officer applicant in this process, that is partially what happens....

I will broadly admit that most officers I've worked with were worthy of the rank on their shoulder based on metrics. I personally feel and that I exude and inspire more confidence and trust from the people I lead, than 85% or more of the junior to midl level officers I've worked with from O-4 and below. The ones that push past O-4, there's a some real magic there. I'd have to have direct knowledge of something or a really strong intuition to lack confidence in an O-5 or above. Somehow, the system does work. But I think it could be better. Fine is not perfect.

I'm going to call the enlisted re-cruiter Monday to try to re-affiliate with the Navy as an PO1 intel spec. I have till March to do so and not lose a stipe. I love the navy despite, the bureaucracy side of boards like this. So I'm willing to put up with it. But never forget, the E-6 with the bronze star, Afghanistan campaign ribbon, driving the VW Jetta to drill, that didn't have the easiest road to getting through college, or law school, might know he is snapping to salute and render respect to the rank and the process as opposed to the man in the khaki uniform who gets to don it everyday. Every person is worthy respect in Godly sense. But there are plenty of human characteristics that really don't merit the salute and plenty of O's getting them from guys like me. I respect the process and the rank carte blanche. Always will. But respect and rank should also at some point catch up in my opinion, and the way the selection process works for older applicants, that clearly is not always the case.

I think any hard charging officer recruiter would give a hooray and admit there's plenty of truth in what I'm saying. I appreciate you defending the Navy and the process. You work there so you should take your job personally. Remember, plenty of us are pissed we got passed over. You could just say sorry, say nothing, and move on. Whoever knows how to quit this blog, feel free to direct me there. I'll see the rest of you in fleet.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

IMHO, with a retention rate of DCO assendees as bad as they are, a hard look at the board process would be fiscally wise. A lot of money invested in training goes out the door when you have uber motivated individuals fall flat on qualification milestones.

not sure about right now, but several years ago a supply reservist I know said many retirement eligible reservist were putting in the papers because there didn't want to go on a mobilization again, they just wanted to stay in the reserves and drill, of course we know that wasn't realistic. This could have just been his unit, or maybe this was a bigger issue?

 

[devilbones]

Hey MTRIO - I'm not sure what you are doing wrong. You sound like someone I would have selected, but I was a non-select. From what I can tell, grades count a lot. I was prior service navy intel, combat tour, bronze star, left in 2011. Finished a law degree, passed the bar, got great LOR's too, my resume in flawless, my references impeccable, my board scores were very good and have little to no room for improvement. I have served in leadership roles in combat at the O-4 level. That's how I was awarded a bronze star. Just got lucky and fell into a role in war zone that was way above my pay grade, I ran with it and excelled.

So there doesn't seem to be much I can change. My records is basically set. My undergrad was state college 2.99, 3.01 if I do the math my way. My law school was 2.65. Seems to me these boards focus on metrics. They want to know your GPA, where you went to school. They want hard facts. Now, I'm going for Intel 1835 - you might be trying for something else. That other stuff seems more selective to me. My GPA can't change. If that is the first or second thing they look at to rack and stack candidates, that is why I'm out.

I had served directly with the O-6 who was at my interview. He reached out to me directly by e-mail and offered to help me in any way he could. I know I got the recommendations. He helped rewrite my resume. That can be tricky. BY the time it got to the board, it was incredible. So for me, I'm guessing grades has to be the issue. You might have really great grades, I don't know. Maybe its the non-prior service thing, but I will tell you that I'v met a lot fewer prior service ensigns than this blog would lead you to believe. Prior Service helps, but I suspect it pushes someone over the edge if they are looking at two candidates that meet other metrics like GPA.

Officer and Enlisted are different classes. Officers look to select what they believe will be a certain caliber of person and the way they do that is a bit old fashioned. In all fairness to the board members, with kids just out of school, grades are all that you have to look at. For guys like you and me, it's small piece of the puzzle, ancient history, and too late to do much about it this late in the game. But people have blinders on with selections boards like this and metrics sometime.

That is my guess man. If I am right, and I think I am, it sucks for me because I really can't improve on much. I went to college working full time, with two kids, I was in the reserve, divorced, finished college went to grad school. I just kept scraping by, but being top student was not in the cards for me. But neither was food service so I did what I could and ended up okay. When I get the chance to go all in, I'm a top performer too, but I can balance a lot too and move forward. But for this, they want to see Officer pedigree. Very good grades with a fancy school too if they can. Just my take.

Getting enlisted experience isn't that hard to do, but frankly, you are way over qualified for enlisted service. I was over qualified for enlisted service when I was enlisted and I might still re-enlist anyway. It's a tough call. I love the Navy. But there are parts of it like this that really aren't fair. Good luck man!

This may be part of your problem right here.

 

[bubblehead]

Some of you all on here have some serious chips on your shoulders. Jesus.

 

[Deleted member 67144 scul]

There is a minimum GPA. Why? Because they need to filter out people due to the sheer number applying or wanting to apply and GPA is an easy filter.

This goes to show just how competitive this program is at this point across all designators. I have a SUPPO in my Reserve unit. In his day job, he is a Vice President of Worldwide Sales for a multi-billion dollar company, and he as a couple of degrees.

Yep. My GPA is decent so I'm not worried in that regard. But I'm learning lots and some of the juxtapositions are astonishing and enlightening. So being told over the phone that a 3.6-3.7 GPA is needed to be competitive (minimum GPA to qualify is 3.0) is an eyebrow raiser, especially since I come from a very saturated and competitive industry where despite this, GPA is generally irrelevant (unless it's really low). I'm glad Navy OCS and DCO selection gives a lot of value to GPA as a filter and a competitive marker.

______

Another couple tips I didn't mention in my last post which I'd gotten from ORs. I haven't seen these often discussed on this forum but I was told it adds good value to an application. Disclaimer: I'm simply relaying what I was told, and while the discussion was regarding EDO, these were general tips for applicants regardless of designator. Take it as you will.

- Be a "servant leader". Get involved in community service. Giving up your time to serve your community for free speaks volumes, especially if you're individually motivated and you're already on a very hectic schedule.

- A motivational statement can't be skin deep. No one making a 6 figure salary and having a cushy life decides to join the military unless there's serious underlying reasons. Explaining why you want to be an officer and what you bring to the table for X designator is obviously important, but if there's others, make it known. Patriotic duty is a big reason, but that's everyone's reason. Examples of service and sacrifice are good things to mention.

My note: while I and probably you folks have heard stories of successful applicants (for OCS at least, in my case) who wrote the generic "I want to serve my country" or "I once taught girls how to ride horses for money, therefore I'd make a good officer" or one of my buddy's "I've always wanted to fly serving my country and there's no better place to do it than in the Navy", that doesn't really cut it as a competitive statement.