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"Checklist" for BDCP selection

A.E.

Registered User
Hello

I've been interested in serving for years, but you all probably don't recognize my name since I joined this forum a while back and I don't post much.. I think that's good because I read once that God gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason. I gathered information about different commissioning programs. As a middle school / high school student, the USNA and NROTC looked like the most suitable options so I looked into those before pretty much tossing aside the idea of an Officer career in the U.S. military because of my foreign citizenship. Recently I've learned quite a few lessons in life, including "if there's a will there's a way; I recalled speaking to a BDCP SNA select in January 2006 and I began to look into this program.

I can't tell you how excited I am to learn of the application process for BDCP. It has always been my goal to give back to the country that gave me so much, and by the time I am eligible to apply (2 yrs prior to college graduation, so summer of 2013) I will be a naturalized U.S. citizen. I want to make sure that I have the right mindset as I enter college so that hopefully I may earn a spot as a BDCP SNA final select.

I will really work hard to bring in good grades from my classes, and I'll get involved in extracurricular activities (do intramural sports count?), volunteering, and academic research. Also I will try to take the ASTB this summer while high school math and physics are fresh in my head. All of this is easier said than done - but do you think that if I follow through with my plan, I will be a competitive applicant for BDCP?

Thank you for your time. I'm sorry if this post is too wordy.
 

Immy

New Member
A.E.,

If you're graduating in 2015, I'm assuming you're a high school senior or a college freshman.

If so, and you're not doing NROTC, you have some time before you'll even be eligible to apply to BDCP. You could talk to an Officer Recruiter and have him spell out what you'll need to do to have a competitive package come application time, but I can tell that you seem to have the general idea.

1.) Best grades you can have. The closer to a 4.0 the better.
2.) Solid E/Cs (this is what I lack). Try to attain a leadership position in a group and show commitment to it over a long period of time.
3.) Volunteering never hurts, obviously. This is a big plus.
4.) Stay out of trouble with the police and away from drugs. Minor legal problems and drug usage impacts an application negatively. So, be smart.

I doubt you'd be able to take the ASTB until you can actually submit a package, which for you won't be for a while, but I could be wrong.

Sounds like you have a solid plan. Stick to it and try to have as good of a time as you can in college. Also, I remember reading a post on here (can't remember where exactly) saying that someone was told by his Officer Recruiter that BDCP is closed for the next two years. Again, I don't know if that's entirely true, but I do know that getting into OCS on the whole has become more competitive as of late. Hopefully things are in a bit better shape by the time you're applying.

Good luck
 

gstapes12

BDCP FS Pilot
what immy said haha

he pretty much got everything in the checklist, it never hurts to contact a recruiter now and ask for the official word on BDCP.

best of luck
 

OccamsRazor

Final Select BDCP Intel
I'm working OHARP right now. BDCP is currently closed, and it's unclear when (or if) it will reopen. That said, if you're class of 2015 it might very well be open by the time you're eligible; planning as though it will be can't hurt you, since everything that'll help for BDCP will also help you if you decide to apply for OCS after graduation. Immy covered most of the salient points regarding what makes an applicant competitive. Languages are always good (if you're a foreign national you might speak one or more?) but get your citizenship stuff hammered out early; I know a guy whose BDCP selection got held up by an issue with his renouncing his citizenship. Best of luck.
 

GreenLantern330

Active Member
About the ASTB, my OR told me the scores are only good for 2 years. So make sure that you don't take it too far in advance; if you take it now, it most likely won't be good by 2013.
 

AllAmerican75

FUBIJAR
None
Contributor
About the ASTB, my OR told me the scores are only good for 2 years. So make sure that you don't take it too far in advance; if you take it now, it most likely won't be good by 2013.

Since you can only take the ASTB three times in a single lifetime, I don't believe this is true. You might be confusing the ASTB with the ASVAB; the ASVAB being required to enlist in the armed forces.
 

ahernandez

New Member
Just to let you know and not to smash your hopes and dreams, but BDCP is currently closed as a program for this and from what I've heard, next fiscal year. That being said, this would be my advice to you in the time that you have between now and the time that you're a sophomore in college:

1. I agree with Immy - grades are very very important. Technical degrees are preferred, but do what you love most of all.
2. Stay PHYISCAL - get involved in a sport, or a club team, or whatever you can.
3. Stay away from drugs, or anything illegal.
4. ASTB...eh. that's hard to say - you want to take it cold the first time, and if you don't do well then study up for it. It's not supposed to be a hard exam if you already have the skills necessary to take it, which you won't have right now - you'll have after two years of college. Also, remember that you can't take your scores early, so taking it now would be pointless.

Not to sound cynical or anti-motivational or anything, but you're young. You don't know what you're going to want 6-8 years down the road - so don't think about it much. For right now, be a college student. Work hard, be a leader in clubs/sports/etc. to set yourself up correctly for this road if you choose it, but don't lock yourself in right away. Just because you think you want it now doesn't mean your interests won't change in a few years. So be FLEXIBLE - it's the best quality to have after leadership.
 
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