Ask an OR anything

[123412131]

For OCS, the fiscal year starts in July rather than October, since it's based on your commissioning date. Boards start filling those slots as early as the January before. It's designator dependent and affects SWO far less than high-demand communities like SNA, CWO, and Intel. It doesn't help or hurt you in any meaningful way.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Hello! I'm curious about how the turnover of the FY affects (if it all) the OCS selection and ship process for applicants.

I know the quotas for each # of officers allowed to commission are predetermined by congress annually. And the Navy divides up those numbers to fit the communities they need to fill between USNA, ROTC, OCS, ODS.

I guess i'm thinking of how for enlisted recruiting, waiting for October may give you a wider selection of MOS to choose from.

In my case, my OR submitted my packet (SWO i-sel) to the processor last week. And I wanted to know if applying this time of year is hurting or helping me in any kind of way.

The numbers historically stay pretty even for all commissioning sources.

Some people are already getting put in FY 27 spots.

 

[rvryry]

How are drug waivers handled at the board and also are motivational statements/LoR’s actually looked at? I put alot of effort in getting those LoR’s and writing my statement. Thanks! - Applied for SWO

 

[exNavyOffRec]

How are drug waivers handled at the board and also are motivational statements/LoR’s actually looked at? I put alot of effort in getting those LoR’s and writing my statement. Thanks! - Applied for SWO

If you have a waiver (non-medical) if they desire to consider you with the waiver odds are they will read statements, if you don't have a non-medical waiver for SWO most likely not.

 

[rvryry]

If you have a waiver (non-medical) if they desire to consider you with the waiver odds are they will read statements, if you don't have a non-medical waiver for SWO most likely not.

do you think a 59 OAR is sufficient enough to prove im not braindead from smoking pot in college and highschool xD

 

[exNavyOffRec]

do you think a 59 OAR is sufficient enough to prove im not braindead from smoking pot in college and highschool xD

They will evaluate the merits of your waiver by themselves.

 

[Lamb]

do you think a 59 OAR is sufficient enough to prove im not braindead from smoking pot in college and highschool xD

There is a 3rd "personal statement" block specifically for waivers on the application. From what I have seen, applicants put the normal "Requesting waiver for *category of waiver (age/drug use/etc.)* IAW *insert PA #/1420.1C* due to *factual reason you require the waiver*. I treated this block as if it were another motivational statement block and used my entire 250 words to expand on my waiver request (age waiver), provide insight to the situation, and explain how I had reflected on the situation, grown, and moved past those sort of activities (I had an NJP that occurred over 3 years ago at the time of application). Additionally, I spoke directly about how I intended on using my experience and lessons learned to help my Sailors in the future avoid making the same mistakes that I had.

I can't say that my decision to add this to my application improved my chances of selection (I was selected), but I do know that it gave the board the opportunity to see that I had taken full ownership of my past as well as more information about my specific situation than just the generic "I respectfully request that you make an exception for me because I would like to commission."

Best of luck to you!

 

[rvryry]

One more question. Anyone have an idea on the boards SWO quotas in the recent FYs? Seems about 235 SWOS have been picked up for FY27.

 

[sumorocky]

I was selected for IP earlier this year and was denied an investigation by the Navy. (So before it even reached the DoD or however does the official investigation). I'm not mad or upset as it happens. I have been selected for SWO and my OCS date is 3/7/27 which I am excited but also nervous about. I'm nervous because I realized that my status can change at any moment and was wondering if I have been given a ship out date, is there anything I should be worried about in terms of the Navy telling me that I am no longer a candidate? I understand any behavioral issues like getting arrested, drugs, and those type of things could change my eligibility but if I stay out of trouble and just kind of breeze through until my ship out date, could there be any other reason I get told I cannot ship out? My apologies if the question is worded terribly as I was not sure exactly how to phrase/ask.

Aside from that, I have asked my recruiter for a ship out check list, or just general information and he said he will send it over but I have not heard back in over a week. I'm sure I'm just overthinking it but as someone who's been selected then denied previously, I just can't help but think about it.

 

[rvryry]

I was selected for IP earlier this year and was denied an investigation by the Navy. (So before it even reached the DoD or however does the official investigation). I'm not mad or upset as it happens. I have been selected for SWO and my OCS date is 3/7/27 which I am excited but also nervous about. I'm nervous because I realized that my status can change at any moment and was wondering if I have been given a ship out date, is there anything I should be worried about in terms of the Navy telling me that I am no longer a candidate? I understand any behavioral issues like getting arrested, drugs, and those type of things could change my eligibility but if I stay out of trouble and just kind of breeze through until my ship out date, could there be any other reason I get told I cannot ship out? My apologies if the question is worded terribly as I was not sure exactly how to phrase/ask.

Aside from that, I have asked my recruiter for a ship out check list, or just general information and he said he will send it over but I have not heard back in over a week. I'm sure I'm just overthinking it but as someone who's been selected then denied previously, I just can't help but think about it.

what were your red flags?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I was selected for IP earlier this year and was denied an investigation by the Navy. (So before it even reached the DoD or however does the official investigation). I'm not mad or upset as it happens. I have been selected for SWO and my OCS date is 3/7/27 which I am excited but also nervous about. I'm nervous because I realized that my status can change at any moment and was wondering if I have been given a ship out date, is there anything I should be worried about in terms of the Navy telling me that I am no longer a candidate? I understand any behavioral issues like getting arrested, drugs, and those type of things could change my eligibility but if I stay out of trouble and just kind of breeze through until my ship out date, could there be any other reason I get told I cannot ship out? My apologies if the question is worded terribly as I was not sure exactly how to phrase/ask.

Aside from that, I have asked my recruiter for a ship out check list, or just general information and he said he will send it over but I have not heard back in over a week. I'm sure I'm just overthinking it but as someone who's been selected then denied previously, I just can't help but think about it.

Really you can’t let that distract you from every day life. Biggest thing is focus on the things you can control and that’s staying in shape and staying out of trouble.