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Chances of Being Selected for Navy Reserve Officer Programs

K

KCRUZ1

New Member
Hello! My name is Kenneth and I am Marine veteran. I served on active duty for seven years from 2013-2021 as a Supply Marine. I was honorably discharged as Sergeant/E-5 in 2021. I am currently back home in the island of Tinian, one of 13 islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in the Pacific. For the history buffs and geeks (like myself) out there, the atomic bombs was assembled and flown out of Tinian (up in North Field) unto the Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan during WWII.

Since my discharge, I have been taking online courses via Arizona State University and currently pursuing my bachelor's in History. I am expected to graduate by Fall 2023 or by Spring 2024. I have aspirations to be an officer in the Navy Reserves after I get my degree but I am at a crossroads at this point.

For one, I want to enlist into the Navy Reserves because the veteran benefits and services back home is limited or non-existent and I don't think my local or state government would not address the issues CNMI veterans are facing for years to come. I also want to enlist for the benefits of being in the military (medical, dental, etc.) because again these services are severely lacking in the CNMI. Plus, I hope that if I go enlisted and few years working on the Reserves, I would get a better chance on getting letters of commendation from my chain of command to recommend me for an officer role.

But there are lots of downsides to going enlisted if one wants to be a Navy officer. Just seeing public comments on social media and their experiences with enlisted putting in their officer packages, the chances of their packages being approved by higher is very slim. Now I understand each package is unique so there's no way I would know if my package would be disapproved if I didn't try, but that small % of packages being turned down or not being routed up properly just scares me.

Scrolling numerous posts in this forum and getting feedback from a few via social media platforms, the best recommendation for one interested in being an officer is to get your degree and apply, no enlistment.

I could use some advice on what I should in my case. I do have strong desire to be an officer because of the quality of life is better than enlisted and I also know that everyone's perspective on what's good or bad is different.

I want to enlist for the benefits and to get recommendations to be an officer but I know that enlisting may hurt my chances of that. I am 28 years old, in decent shape, not married, no kids. I'll be 29 (or 30, if my timeline to get my degree extends to another year) and I want to serve my country before I get any older.

Should I enlist and hope I get high marks to be recommended for officer? Or should I wait till I get my degree and apply when I do?

Thank you in advance and I hope I can get a response shortly.
 
FormerRecruitingGuru

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
KCRUZ1 said:
Should I enlist and hope I get high marks to be recommended for officer? Or should I wait till I get my degree and apply when I do?
Click to expand...

You asked the same question in multiple threads.

I gave you an answer in one thread.

At this time you’re probably an average if not below average candidate due to the education piece.
 
H

Hair Warrior

Well-Known Member
Contributor
I can’t decide your life for you. But here are some considerations, in no particular order:

- you’re at 8 yrs of service. If you enlist and keep at it for some years, at some point, you become ineligible for officer programs due to too much TIS.

- if you enlist, the Navy might want you to perform some sort of ADOS or Mob in your rate prior to commissioning you (uncertain). You also have to get your CCC to sign off on a DIRCOM application, which can present hurdles if you become perceived as a newbie and/or middle-of-the-pack performer (rightly or wrongly) by your Chiefs.

- you’re young. Most USNR officer programs are age 42 for non prior service, without a waiver. You have time to hone your civilian skill set.

- you are working on a bachelors. Most USNR DIRCOM officer programs want to see a masters, for competitiveness, although it’s not a PA requirement for SUPPO.

- outside of the USMC, what’s your leadership experience in logistics and supply? Most USNR DIRCOM officer programs want to see significant work and leadership experience in your field of expertise. Like, 10 years leading large teams (and large dollars, for supply).

- if you want to join for the benefits, they aren’t much better than GS federal employment. You will pay $2k for a new seabag of naval officer uniforms, while getting a $400 stipend back after ODS. Your O1E drill pay might be offset by some steep out of pocket travel costs (from Tinian?) unless you live near an NRC f.k.a. NOSC.
 
K

KCRUZ1

New Member
Hair Warrior said:
I can’t decide your life for you. But here are some considerations, in no particular order:

- you’re at 8 yrs of service. If you enlist and keep at it for some years, at some point, you become ineligible for officer programs due to too much TIS.

- if you enlist, the Navy might want you to perform some sort of ADOS or Mob in your rate prior to commissioning you (uncertain). You also have to get your CCC to sign off on a DIRCOM application, which can present hurdles if you become perceived as a newbie and/or middle-of-the-pack performer (rightly or wrongly) by your Chiefs.

- you’re young. Most USNR officer programs are age 42 for non prior service, without a waiver. You have time to hone your civilian skill set.

- you are working on a bachelors. Most USNR DIRCOM officer programs want to see a masters, for competitiveness, although it’s not a PA requirement for SUPPO.

- outside of the USMC, what’s your leadership experience in logistics and supply? Most USNR DIRCOM officer programs want to see significant work and leadership experience in your field of expertise. Like, 10 years leading large teams (and large dollars, for supply).

- if you want to join for the benefits, they aren’t much better than GS federal employment. You will pay $2k for a new seabag of naval officer uniforms, while getting a $400 stipend back after ODS. Your O1E drill pay might be offset by some steep out of pocket travel costs (from Tinian?) unless you live near an NRC f.k.a. NOSC.
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Hello @Hair Warrior, thank you for the advice and words of wisdom. During my time in service as a Supply Marine, I held multiple billets that relate to my MOS and some outside my area of expertise:

Sept 2016-January 2018*
-Supply Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge (as a Cpl then a Sgt)
-Defense Reutilization Management Office (DRMO- currently known as DLA-Disposition) NCO
-Motor Transportation NCO (Billet outside my MOS)
-Western Express Fleet Card (WEX) Program Coordinator

*Received Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Letter of Commendation

March 2018-November 2020**
-Supply Administrative Chief
-Training NCO
-Assumed multiple supply section billets to include: Property Management Chief, Serialized Small Arms and Light Weapons (CRANE) Manager, Financial Management Chief, Requisition Management Chief

**Received Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd Award)

On paper, I don't have much to go off on to make myself competitive. Given the TIS I have, minimal civilian work experience, zero civilian volunteer or leadership experience, working on my bachelor's, I am best below average compared to the competition.

I have yet to take the OAR/ASTB so I am not sure what designators I qualify for. What would you advice I do at this point of my career to improve my chances on applying to be an officer? Given my current stats, do you believe I have a small chance at qualifying for maybe one of the designators in the PA?
 
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RJS

RJS

Well-Known Member
KCRUZ1 said:
I have yet to take the OAR/ASTB so I am not sure what designators I qualify for. What would you advice I do at this point of my career to improve my chances on applying to be an officer? Given my current stats, do you believe I have a small chance at qualifying for maybe one of the designators in the PA?
Click to expand...
No OAR/ASTB for DCO’s. The suggestive action is to scour these forums for as much information as possible. Especially before asking questions that most may have already asked and received answers to. As expressed by RecruitingGuru, asking the same questions, in multiple forums, won’t get you different answers. Ensure to do your due diligence by gathering as much information on applying, qualifications, and the processes because it is guaranteed to be here.

Improved chances are getting an advanced degree after completion of your undergrad. Unfortunately, you may have a small chance at qualifying to any Reserve Officer designator. If you want confirmation, speak to a recruiter about your plans.
 
Rudy.30

Rudy.30

Well-Known Member
Straight up, your history degree won’t help you at all with Supply. You need a Business Degree and an MBA to be competitive. Of the 12 people in my Supply BQC class EVERYONE had an MBA.

You need to get officer type leadership experience. You have leadership experience but not at the officer level. Get a civilian job that is responsible for a lot of $$ and people or go become a contracting specialist with DAWIA certificates.

All your questions have been answered somewhere on this forum before I guarantee it. It took me 2 years to get selected to the SUPPO DCO program and I never once had to ask a question on this forum because it had already been asked and answered. Do yourself a favor and stop asking so many questions and start looking for the answers yourself.

You have a long way to go, keep at it and you will get there.
 
RJS

RJS

Well-Known Member
Rudy.30 said:
Straight up, your history degree won’t help you at all with Supply. You need a Business Degree and an MBA to be competitive. Of the 12 people in my Supply BQC class EVERYONE had an MBA.

You need to get officer type leadership experience. You have leadership experience but not at the officer level. Get a civilian job that is responsible for a lot of $$ and people or go become a contracting specialist with DAWIA certificates.

All your questions have been answered somewhere on this forum before I guarantee it. It took me 2 years to get selected to the SUPPO DCO program and I never once had to ask a question on this forum because it had already been asked and answered. Do yourself a favor and stop asking so many questions and start looking for the answers yourself.

You have a long way to go, keep at it and you will get there.
Click to expand...
Out of the 9 (I’ve seen) in this region, one selected has a PharmD and MBA with the rest having MBA’s. 4 are transitioning from enlisted and 6 (4 enlisted) looks to be DAWIA certified in Contracting. The competition is fierce.
 
FormerRecruitingGuru

FormerRecruitingGuru

Making Recruiting Great Again
Rtjenkins said:
I feel like you gotta be the CEO of Amazon to get doc supply
Click to expand...

I submitted three, unofficially four (close friend’s wife - helped her out but wasn’t her officer recruiter), here are their basic stats:

1. MBA + MS Eng. Worked 7+ years in a global supply chain firm.
2. MBA, prior enlisted MMN1 8 years. Worked 6+ years doing supply chain for a major brewery.
3. BS business. Former marine. Worked 20+ Years doing contacting at GSA.
4. MS Finance. Worked 8+ years in finance and supply chain.

All PROREC Y.
 
RJS

RJS

Well-Known Member
exNavyOffRec said:
It used to be even worse, there were a few years before they limited submissions where selection rate was 3-10% for DCO Supply.
Click to expand...
The ramp up seems unreal given the selection rate up to FY21. I remember seeing the FY21 numbers in considering 146 packages and making 18 selections. From those statistics alone, I feel like that’s exactly what they did with only 97 package submissions. Maybe the increased selection rate can be contributed to the vacant billets at NCHB’s?
 
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