• Please take a moment and update your account profile. If you have an updated account profile with basic information on why you are on Air Warriors it will help other people respond to your posts. How do you update your profile you ask?

    Go here:

    Edit Account Details and Profile

Age Limit(s) for DCO Application

k2fourever

New Member
DCOIC and Age, and other questions...

Hey everyone,

So, I'm currently starting down the road to try and receive a DIRCOM as Intel, a PAO, or a SuppO. Brief bio, I'm NPS, 25 y/o, graduating approximately a year from now with a JD and an MBA. My GMAT and LSAT scores put me in the 95th percentile, and I had a 3.33 undergrad GPA at a top school.

Anyway, although I'm just starting to talk to a recruiter, I have talked with a few O-3s and -4s I know in the Reserves and Active, and they believe I should be a strong candidate. My question is this: assuming I am selected, what is the general age range for JOs attending DCOIC? From what I've seen digging around, it looks like people are generally older than me. I figure, if things go according to the schedule others had on this forum, I should be reporting to Newport at age 26 a little over a year from now (obviously assuming no slip-ups and decent turnaround on quota control). Anyway, I would appreciate it if anyone could offer some advice. I'm going to ask my recruiter the same questions, but..."trust, but verify."

If people want to opine on my general eligibility, I'm more than open to hearing it, but I know the whole "what are my chances?" question gets old.

Last question, again assuming I am selected, how does training for intel generally work? By that I mean how do you specialize within the designator - whether you're deploying on the ground in the sandbox to brief guys going in after it, sitting in a cube typing a report, or interpreting satellite data for target packages? Is the training fairly basic, and it is assumed you can do all of the above, or do you volunteer, or is it randomly assigned? I completely understand if this question cannot be answered for security reasons.

Thanks in advance to all of you here. I've learned quite a bit just reading over some of these threads.
 

bucki4lyfe

Michigan Sucks
I can't speak for the training, as I haven't gone through it yet...but my understanding is that the average age for DCOs is about 28/29. I know of a few who were 31/32 when selected, but I was 24 (barely) when I was selected (and probably should have commissioned at 24 as well). You'll be on the younger end of the spectrum, but everyone is selected on their qualifications, and just getting selected is a big deal...so good luck with that...let us know.
 

HeyJoe

Fly Navy! ...or USMC
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
If people want to opine on my general eligibility, I'm more than open to hearing it, but I know the whole "what are my chances?" question gets old.

Last question, again assuming I am selected, how does training for intel generally work? By that I mean how do you specialize within the designator - whether you're deploying on the ground in the sandbox to brief guys going in after it, sitting in a cube typing a report, or interpreting satellite data for target packages? Is the training fairly basic, and it is assumed you can do all of the above, or do you volunteer, or is it randomly assigned? I completely understand if this question cannot be answered for security reasons.

Thanks in advance to all of you here. I've learned quite a bit just reading over some of these threads.

If you peruse the threads in DCOIC for last year alone, you'll see others have already asked these type questions or posted overviews like this one.
 

k2fourever

New Member
Thanks heyjoe - I guess I'm still trying to figure out this forum. The oldest post I can see under "Naval Reserves" is the one regarding when to wear the uniform. I'll see if I can play around with settings to find older ones.
 

HeyJoe

Fly Navy! ...or USMC
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Thanks heyjoe - I guess I'm still trying to figure out this forum. The oldest post I can see under "Naval Reserves" is the one regarding when to wear the uniform. I'll see if I can play around with settings to find older ones.

If you're not seeing older posts, then go to bottom left of page where you see this:

Display Options Sorted By Sort Order From The
Showing threads 1 to 6 of 6 Thread Last Week

Change the option in the "From The" box from whatever is there to either last year or beginning and you'll see a plethora of posts!
 

Navynewbie

New Member
Hey guys

I am Army prior service and want to Join Navy. I am 34 going on 35 in three weeks. I have seen several websites that say 39 is the age cap for non-prior service. Does that age cap also apply to prior service, and if not is there such a thing as a waiver for joining after age limit for prior service. My desire is to go active Navy but if I cant get Active for now I would like to go Reserves.

I REALLY want to be in Navy and any suggestions would be very helpful.

Thanks all
 

a-6intruder

Richard Hardshaft
None
Believe the age cap is now 39 (or perhaps 42). I recall a brief by a Flag saying it was tied to enabling a recruit to achieve 20 years prior to age 60 (mandatory retirement age), which in some cases has been extended to age 62.
 

goopscoop

New Member
Oldest Ensign at Newport?

Hey Devil Duck. Don't sweat it. I'm going in DCO at 37, non-prior. You'll be the second oldest living ensign. Just don't call me Papaw when we make it to Newport! :icon_wink
 

FFG7

New Member
Hey Devil Duck. Don't sweat it. I'm going in DCO at 37, non-prior. You'll be the second oldest living ensign. Just don't call me Papaw when we make it to Newport! :icon_wink

I think you'll need to settle for second oldest living Ensign, Goopscoop! I'm 48 and was selected for DCO last summer (10-years prior service). I'll probably be 49 by the time I make to to Newport for DCOIC. Most people wonder why I'd subject myself to the military lifestyle at this age. I just tell them that I'm getting a second chance to serve the country I love while in an organization I hated to leave. Devil Duck can call me "Papaw" in Newport, then we'll see who can do the most pushups! (smile)
 

FlyinSpy

Mongo only pawn, in game of life...
Contributor
I'm afraid you'll both have to take a number - I've known a 50 year old as welll as a 56(!) year old ensign. The former was a senior aide to the Speaker of the House (poliitically connected guys always get special dispensation in the DCO process), the latter was a guy who had worked his way from E-1 to E-8, became a warrant, worked up to CW4, and was (at the time in 2000) an O-1. Talk about your "Seaman to Admiral" program - the guy was well on his way to holding every rank in the Navy!!
 
Here is the deal with age limits for DCO programs in the Navy Reserve. If you want to be able to qualify for a non-regular retirement by age 62 you must commission by your 42nd birthday. You must be able to accumulate 20 credible years of reserve service by your 62nd birthday. The 62nd birthday maximum is stipulated by title X. However, each program authorization for each reserve program allows for members over age 42 to apply. If recommended by the professional review board, that is the de facto age "waiver". You must annotate that you acknowledge that you may not be able to accumulate 20 credible years of service by yours 62nd birthday by signing the Maximum Age Statement of Understanding. Bottom line is that members over age 42 can apply and they do get recommended for a Reserve Commission. Over the past few years I signed sever final select letters for members over the age of 42 when I was at CNRC HQ.
HR
 

IWC2021

Member
Here is the deal with age limits for DCO programs in the Navy Reserve. If you want to be able to qualify for a non-regular retirement by age 62 you must commission by your 42nd birthday. You must be able to accumulate 20 credible years of reserve service by your 62nd birthday. The 62nd birthday maximum is stipulated by title X. However, each program authorization for each reserve program allows for members over age 42 to apply. If recommended by the professional review board, that is the de facto age "waiver". You must annotate that you acknowledge that you may not be able to accumulate 20 credible years of service by yours 62nd birthday by signing the Maximum Age Statement of Understanding. Bottom line is that members over age 42 can apply and they do get recommended for a Reserve Commission. Over the past few years I signed sever final select letters for members over the age of 42 when I was at CNRC HQ.
HR
Can anyone confirm this gouge is still accurate? I'm a two-time 1835 non-select on the verge of popping the old 42 barrier. 10/10/10 interviews, no prior service, strong recommendations and demonstrated leadership, 14 years as a professional (lawyer/company exec), but only in the civilian world. I'm trying to figure out whether an age waiver is something that I'll be required to secure in advance of submitting a package, or if I'll simply need to continue to acknowledge zero retirement benefits (which is fine) by signing the Max Age Statement of Understanding. My recruiter is good but of course busy with higher priorities than the person going up to the plate for the third time. Thanks very much to everyone for all the great info on this site.
 

exNavyOffRec

Well-Known Member
Can anyone confirm this gouge is still accurate? I'm a two-time 1835 non-select on the verge of popping the old 42 barrier. 10/10/10 interviews, no prior service, strong recommendations and demonstrated leadership, 14 years as a professional (lawyer/company exec), but only in the civilian world. I'm trying to figure out whether an age waiver is something that I'll be required to secure in advance of submitting a package, or if I'll simply need to continue to acknowledge zero retirement benefits (which is fine) by signing the Max Age Statement of Understanding. My recruiter is good but of course busy with higher priorities than the person going up to the plate for the third time. Thanks very much to everyone for all the great info on this site.
Do you have any experience in the Intelligence field?
 
Top