FY18 STA-21 Applicants

[Clif_Hanger]

Command sent mine out on Tuesday. Now we wait.

It looks promising this year if you're going for NFO or pilot, good luck to all of you who did apply!

I'm curious if you've read something I haven't or you're just speculating? I am applying for Naval Aviator so that would be awesome news, maybe more than 2 slots for pilots this year.

Completed and mailed...........good luck everyone!

I have a newfound respect for everyone who completes one of these packages, regardless of the outcome.

Well, your signature block is certainly impressive! I wish I would have had time to take the ACT/SAT again on deployment to bump up my scores, hopefully the ASTB score will help.

Good luck all!

 

[MHasty]

Well, your signature block is certainly impressive! I wish I would have had time to take the ACT/SAT again on deployment to bump up my scores, hopefully the ASTB score will help.

Good luck all!

I think your ACT is still really good. Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but I imagine aviation options would care more about your ASTB as long as your ACT/ SAT show that you should be able to complete calculus and physics.

As far as my stats: I have tried to do everything I possibly can to overcome the fact that I'm requesting an age waiver. I'm not sure how that influences the board, but it's the only part that concerns me.

 

[DLWN64]

This year was my 2nd year applying. I applied for Oceanography last year, and IP this year. I felt I did better in my interviews than last year. I thought everything was going great until I found out I ranked on the bottom out of 5 other candidates this evening during my CO's interview.

Last year I had mostly outstanding marks and a couple excellents on my interview sheets. This year I had many outstandings but one good on posture. I made sure I wasn't slouching (I don't do that to begin with) but I caught myself leaning in a lot so I could hear the questions better. CO was honest and told me combination of that mark and my "welcome aboard P" which he said was normal is what got me ranked so low. I ranked lower then people that don't have a single college class completed while I have my associates degree. I've taken on leadership roles, volunteered many hours out in town, taking more rigorous classes, and made improvements over last years package where I got ranked 3/6 last year at the same command. My new eval at this command says I'm already performaning as a Chief. I get being ranked lower but 6/6 is surprising to me. I couldn't believe it. I ranked lower then the very people I've mentored that are also applying. It was a huge blow and a tough pill I have yet to figure how to swallow. I get nervous during these inteviews but not outrageously. Sucks.

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[DLWN64]

The ranking was apparently mainly evals and interviews. The CO told me the academics portion didn't matter so much because "you proved you can handle the college curriculum...great."

 

[exNavyOffRec]

This year was my 2nd year applying. I applied for Oceanography last year, and IP this year. I felt I did better in my interviews than last year. I thought everything was going great until I found out I ranked on the bottom out of 5 other candidates this evening during my CO's interview.

Last year I had mostly outstanding marks and a couple excellents on my interview sheets. This year I had many outstandings but one good on posture. I made sure I wasn't slouching (I don't do that to begin with) but I caught myself leaning in a lot so I could hear the questions better. CO was honest and told me combination of that mark and my "welcome aboard P" which he said was normal is what got me ranked so low. I ranked lower then people that don't have a single college class completed while I have my associates degree. I've taken on leadership roles, volunteered many hours out in town, taking more rigorous classes, and made improvements over last years package where I got ranked 3/6 last year at the same command. My new eval at this command says I'm already performaning as a Chief. I get being ranked lower but 6/6 is surprising to me. I couldn't believe it. I ranked lower then the very people I've mentored that are also applying. It was a huge blow and a tough pill I have yet to figure how to swallow. I get nervous during these inteviews but not outrageously. Sucks.

Best of luck to everyone!

Realistically you have a better shot at finishing your degree and applying for OCS.

I had a CO who would not endorse anyone that had not either earned warfare pin or re-qualified for their pin, so every CO has their "thing".

 

[MHasty]

The ranking was apparently mainly evals and interviews. The CO told me the academics portion didn't matter so much because "you proved you can handle the college curriculum...great."

That's interesting about them not caring much about your academic potential. My interviews focused on a balance of leadership philosophies, character, and academics pretty equally. But we all have to roll with what we are dealt. I would immediately start picking the brains of everyone in my chain of command about what they want to see out of me next time. If you don't have one I would recommend asking an officer from your desired community to personally mentor you. If they develop a vested interest in you, they will probably go to great lengths to help you with anything from your professional development to getting more senior and favorable interviewers.

Just my humble opinion.....but having both an internal and external mentor through the whole process really helped me.

 

[Clif_Hanger]

I think your ACT is still really good. Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but I imagine aviation options would care more about your ASTB as long as your ACT/ SAT show that you should be able to complete calculus and physics.

As far as my stats: I have tried to do everything I possibly can to overcome the fact that I'm requesting an age waiver. I'm not sure how that influences the board, but it's the only part that concerns me.

It's not terrible, but my ACT could be far better. I look on this forum everyone has an ACT in the 30's and have taken Calc, Physics, and are halfway done with their degrees. But it almost seems random who gets picked up for STA-21. I see people with no college and average scores get picked up and then a lot of superstars not get selected. I wish they'd put out the grading criteria for who gets selected as there seems to be this sweet spot between experienced and not. Just a thought.

Stay hopeful everyone, anything can happen!

 

[cbk412]

Good luck everyone. Put in my package for SWO since APEX4 decided to crash and burn out here for some reason.

 

[Brett327]

I had a CO who would not endorse anyone that had not either earned warfare pin or re-qualified for their pin, so every CO has their "thing".

That should be the bare minimum to be considered from my perspective. To be competitive, candidates should have attained every meaningful qualification they're able to get - build your resumes!

I've seen/interviewed some really great candidates over the years and I've seen some coming from people who are nowhere near ready to be an officer. The CO's job is to separate the chaff from the wheat, and give frank feedback to those who just aren't ready, or will never have what it takes. I also counsel my Sailors that if they're interested in being a pilot or NFO, STA-21 is a long shot at best.

For those of you who are aviation hopefuls, you had better be pursuing parallel options like OCS if you're serious about your goals.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I heard if you write down "I'm willing to give it all including getting assigned to @Brett327 's squadron" that it will help your chances of selection.

 

[Antman411]

Completed and mailed...........good luck everyone!

I have a newfound respect for everyone who completes one of these packages, regardless of the outcome.

I couldn't agree with you more. I felt a sense of accomplishment just completing the package before the deadline!

 

[MHasty]

I couldn't agree with you more. I felt a sense of accomplishment just completing the package before the deadline!

Welcome to the board, Antman! What option(s) did you apply for? Post stats?

 

[Michael Cundiff]

Hey everyone
I'm BM2(SW/AW) Cundiff. This is my first year applying and I have already submitted my package and just working one or two more LOR's for late submission. I am applying for SWO/ Core. I just want to give a big shout out to everyone that posts on here and gives out some great advice for first time applicants like myself. I did 95% of my package by myself and guided the other applicants at my command in completing their applications as well. Good luck to everyone that applied and hopefully October will be here sooner than it feels!

 

[Michael Cundiff]

RATE/RANK: BM2(SW/AW)
APPLYING FOR: SWO/CORE
EVALS: P(E5) EP (E4), EP(E4), EP(E3), MP(E2)
HIGH SCHOOL: 3.85
LEADERSHIP: WCS, Master Helmsman, Junior Officer of the Deck U/W, Conning Officer, Well Deck POIC, Foc'sle POIC, Boat Davit Captain, Helm Safety Officer, SWO ENG, Boat O, DIVO/LCPO 3M
AWARDS: 2x NAM, USO George Van Cleave Military Leadership Award FY17
TIS: 4 years
ACT: 21 Math / 23 English
WARFARE QUALS: ESWS, EAWS
PRT: Excellent, Good, Good
LORs: 06 PILOT (PRIOR CO), 06 SWO RETIRED (SWAS INSTRUCTOR), LT (PC XO/ PRIOR DIVO) 07 SWO (STRIKE GROUP), STATE REP (FAMILY FRIEND) CONGRESSMAN (FAMILY FRIEND)
Internal Interview: 1ST LT (LCDR SWO), NAV (LCDR SWO), AIR BOSS (CDR PILOT)
Nomination Board: LT SWO, LT Pilot, LT Nuke - Chair: CAPT Pilot
MISC: On a big deck amphib and I almost have OOD U/W. Only reason my E5 eval was a P is because they didn't want to show digression for anyone else and it says it in my eval. Finished CALC 1 in high school with an A.

Willing to show my package or portions of my package to anyone.
my email is michael.cundiff@lhd7.navy.mil

 

[Antman411]

Welcome to the board, Antman! What option(s) did you apply for? Post stats?

Thanks Hasty! I applied for the Pilot Option as well as Core. I've been kind of laying down low on the forums and just gathering information from everyone. I think I've updated my signature to show my stats like everyone else does as well.