Any help would be great

[gromit]

Hello everyone

My husband is a prospective officer for the U.S Navy. .. I have been reading the forums for a few weeks now, and I am now ready to ask some questions.

1) My husband’s GPA is 2.77 in BIOLOGY
2)His test scores are 7/7/7 56
3) Motivational statement includes… Low GPA topic, wants to become an officer and very patriotic
4) References: not too impressive

I need some help with reference ideas. We don’t have any friends in the military who are officers. Can anyone recommend some alternatives?????

Also, what jobs would my husband be considered for given his scores? No luck in find websites regarding this info..

Regarding the fitness requirements, what should my husband shoot for? I have been reading other posts regarding personal fitness achievements-pull ups, pushups and running. However, I cold not find the Navy’s basic goals.


Any advice, websites, or links would be great.

kitty

 

[Slammer2]

I can help out with one part:

http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/navfitness/blmale35-39.htm

check out that site. It will give you the PRT standards. When I searched for it, the one for males ages 35-39 came up, but towards the bottom, there are links for the other age brackets. It gives you some charts of the different levels of PRT standards and sort of explains how some of it works.

 

[gromit]

Thanks, that's what I was looking for.

Kitty

 

[Schnugg]

I would recommend your husband read this site as well as you.

Do not take that comment as a slam. It is meant seriously, he should be doing this research as well in order to make an informed decision.

r/
G

 

[snow85]

any one want to ring in on the GPA as part of the motivational statement?

i'm not sure that that's the correct place for it, and you should know that if he has a strong package, that GPA shouldn't keep him out. after all, a low GPA isn't his motivation for joining, is it? he may want to consider things like family military history, or an event that has has further defined his commitment to our country. (.... London Attacks, a specific bombing in Iraq/Afgh. etc., 9/11, or perhaps something earlier in history.)

ref's: employers/ coworkers; church/civic leaders; any professors that he had, that he liked (and who liked him)-- w/a 2.77 not ALL his grades were low; etc. you absolutely do not have to have a military officer's referral.

has he taken the exam? his score on that is pretty important.

hope this helps, keep searching the site, and keep those questions coming. that's the reason why we're here.

 

[BigIron]

I tend to agree with snow85.....I'd work around the low GPA issue. It is what it is. He is going to have to submit an official transcript anyways, which will give the board further insight into his grades. However, if grades were the only predictor of how a Naval Officer develops, we would be hosed. He should focus on what is motivating him to pursue a career as Naval Officer in the motivation statement. I think it also depends on the time period it has been since he has graduated from college and how successful he has been since graduation. He needs a third party somebody (reference letters) to essentially vouch for his character. He is going to have to run a physical fitness test and pass well as part of the process (at least I did back in '97). If he is serious, he should get in shape now.

 

[bch]

With regards to the references. I did not have a single military member write a recommendation for me. I had employers/teachers and family friends write out rec's. I cannot with any certainty say that it does not matter if your ref's are military or not, but I do know that it is more important to have people recommend you, that actually KNOW you well. IMHO a LOR written by someone in the know is better than one by Officer X where in the letter it is apparent that he/she does not really know the individual well.

hope this helps... and if I am wrong, hopefully some of the saltier guys will chime in.

 

[gromit]

GREAT ADVICE:
1) Take GPA out of motivational statement. Thanks for the info!
2) Motivational statement should include family members who are in the military and what motivates one to join the U.S Navy.
3) References from teachers and friends of the family are good too..
Someone asked what my husbands age is; he is 25 years old....

I have found this website to very useful- thanks for all your help guys..

kitty

 

[gregsivers]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry too much about the GPA, like others have said. My GPA coming out of HS wasn't too good but I got a ROTC scholarship, and my GPA incollege certinly wasn't stellar, 2.67, and I was fortunate enough to be awarded a pilot spot. So yeah, work around it like others suggested. Its all about the overall picture, and good luck.

 

[wink]

All the above is great advice except for one point. I am in the minority but I am pulling rank and experience. The GPA must be addressed. The test scores are very good and largely off set the GPA, especially in a science major. However there will be a dozen other guys with his test scores and a better GPA. Competition is very strong. Every weakness must be addressed. A lower GPA may be explained by the number of hours worked during school, early immaturity or poor self discipline that has been overcome, etc. He can point out the higher average grades in certain key classes or in the semester when work or home distractions were less. This isn't making an excuse. It is an explaination that allows the board to make a qualitative decision between a guy that worked 25-35 hours a week, or had to deal with an illness and death in the family one semester and got a 2.8 and a guy that didn't work at all and pulled down a 3.2. Strictly speaking, the motivational statement may not be the place for addressing the GPA and it would be nice to save the space in the motivational statement for just that. But there is no other place for it. Talk to the recruiter. ask what he recommends. Maybe he will permit a seperate attached statement addressing the GPA. All that said, if there is no other reason for the lowish GPA then too much time partying, I would follow the advice above and ignore it. Oh, and ditto what schnug said!

 

[snow85]

...Strictly speaking, the motivational statement may not be the place for addressing the GPA and it would be nice to save the space in the motivational statement for just that. But there is no other place for it. Talk to the recruiter. ask what he recommends. Maybe he will permit a seperate attached statement addressing the GPA....

AGREED. my gpa was okay, but def not a 4.anything. there are other facets of your life that will offset it, (i was 22-23 at the time), but they want to make sure that you've got what it takes, the aptitude, for all that aviation learnin'. (or intel. they take the same exam.) i didn't address mine in my statement, and it was never a problem. i had a few supplemental contintuation pages, however, i don't remember if i mentioned it there. your recruiter should know. one thing about that-- if you do write it in, or add a supplemental page, don't harp on it. discuss the reason it's less than stellar, (extenuating circumstance, etc.), while still portraying youself in the best possible light*, and what you have learned/ why that won't happen again.

*have someone who doesn't know you well read this to make sure it doesn't come off as you inviting the board to a pity party.

explain what happened, why it happened, discuss future preventative measures, then drop it. short, sweet, to the point.

 

[ip568]

Re: GPA: it matters more how it was spread. I did well in my major (3.7) but French killed me. It took me four years (including summer school) to pass two years of college French and left my overall GPA in ruins. One or two other Fs (Can you say "applied statistical modeling/integral calculus?" I thought you could!) and your good work in most classes is dilluted. The Navy (in my experience) looks more favorably on one or two subjects depressing an otherwise good performance vs. all C-s across the board.

Re: references: the Navy (in my experience) likes community service and extra-vocational service. If you can get some letters from honchos on town boards and volunteer organizations, the Navy likes that.

MOTIVATION! More than any other single factor, the Navy is looking for extremely strong motivation. If your husband is rejected, he has to apply again. And again. Let them see it.

Good luck.

 

[Ryan237]

I need a little help as well

I have been following the forum for about six months and need some advise on what you guys would do in my situation. I am not basing my decisions off of any one source but it is always good to get as much input as possible.
I am currently getting ready to contract to submit my package on monday for OCS 190 as an air slot. I am 22 years old and just graduated from college. This has been something that I have wanted to pursue for sometime even though many of my relatives and friends feel that I am crazy. The reason I am in need of some advice is that my small business that I started during college to supplement my income has suddenly become not so small. Long story short, I have the opportunity to make nearky 100K next year and be my own boss if I stayed in the civilian world. Because I do not know many marines, all the advice I am revieving seems to be that it would be crazy to not take this opportunity in my first year out of college. I am having a tough time setting aside my dream of being a Marine and possible a pilot to make some money. I was wondering what your guys thoughts would be about this situation if you had the opportunity that I have right now. I have always wanted to be a Marine, but many people seem to feel that I am not making the smartest decision by doing so because they say the military is not what it is cracked up to be.
Thank You for any advise you are willing to give

 

[Gatordev]

Hey, Ryan, watch the threadjacking. You already have another thread going for you. I think this one was first, but still...

 

[wink]

Tough decision. I think it is notable that you say you don't know any Marines yet people are telling you that the military is not what it is cracked up to be. So I have to assume these wise salty sages of all military have never been in the military. How the heck do they know? Their counsel may be useful in some aspect in making your decision, but not as to what the Marines are like or how it would suit you.
Can't make this decision solely on money. You may make more money in your business but the Marines will provide much more stability and probably better benefits. Remember, to compare military pay to your prospective business income you must fund your own retirement and pay for medical and other benefits out of that 100K. Military pay includes all that plus a tax break on some of the income. When looking at the money keep that in perspective. The business may provide a personal challenge, managment and leadership experience, but so will the Marines. The challenge will be decidedly different in the Marines, and the reward very different. The monetary reward will be smaller, especially in the first couple years, but the personal reward will likely be higher. You will do and see things no one can experience except as a Marine, especially if you fly. There are lots of small business owners in America, but not that many Marines and fewer that fly.