FY 18 IWC DCO BOARD

[FormerSquidCop]

I emailed my OR to check on my packet and was informed my packet is PRO-BOARD. Excellent news! Now, the waiting really begins. Is it just me, or does it seem as though time will slow down as the month progresses?

It'll definitely seem that way - thankfully my civ job isn't giving me a moment to breathe. This month, at least, I'm thankful for that.

 

[Igloojam]

Navy SNA here checking in for spouse. She's got a Masters in diplomacy/international affairs from Texas A&M. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Deleted member 67144 scul]

Thanks admins for approving my account. I've been lurking here for a while. And apologies in advance if this is the wrong thread for this sort of post. Also much thanks to fieldrat. Wonderful person.

I missed this board, as I only found out recently about some of my company's military leave of absence policies and about the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act. I know that the Navy DCO, especially IWC, is more selective than other branches are for reserve officers, so despite my qualifications I'm don't know how confident I am for next year. I'd like some opinions/feedback from people.

Age: 26
- Occupation: Software engineer at a tech corporation for the last 3 years
Education:
- B.S. - Computer Engineering (CS + a whole bunch of physics/EE) - 3.61 - UCSD
- M.S. - Computer Science - 3.86 - UCLA
- Leadership experience: In undergrad, I was the recruitment chair and a de facto executive officer for a science/engineering fraternity. During my time in industry, I was on the board co-running a very active 1000+ employee network for 2 years, and at various points I've led teams/personnel and projects, which is generally unheard of at this company for someone within their first 3 years out of school.
- Non prior service

Designator specific items:
CWO/IPO: I'm a CS-educated guy who works in software engineering which is highly technical, but I've heard (not sure if true) there's a preference for IT networking/infosec folks. I have no IT networking or infosec experience and no certifications. I'm studying towards getting Security+, but I wouldn't have the experience to back it up.
Intel: No past intelligence or analyst experience. I don't speak any foreign language well enough to pass the DLPT, either. My job is very analytical (as is any sort of engineering), but obviously it's not the kind of analysis they're looking for.

Questions:
- Given my qualifications, am I decently qualified to apply to DCOIC and how should I put down my designators for my 3 choices? I'm thinking 1825, 1815, then 1835 (or even putting 1835 first).

- My #1 concern is LORs. The people best positioned to write me an LOR are from my team at work. However, they won't be happy to potentially enable me to leave for months at a time. As a civilian, I don't believe I'm protected under the USERRA from retribution. What can I do in this situation? Should I ask members of past teams instead while keeping it hush-hush with my current team?

- I've been suggested it's very important to get an LOR from an officer O-4 or higher from one of the IW communities. I live in probably the #2 Navy city in the country so I'm sure these guys are around, but short of hoping an officer recruiter hooks me up, what can I do in this respect?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

You can apply, but the lack of IWC experience will hurt a bit.

The last two questions your OR can field or help out. You have a lot of time to apply.

 

[bubblehead]

Reminder: these comments apply only to the DCO selection process.. None of this sh*t matters once you are commissioned. That is, you do not need advanced degrees, language abilities, or certifications in anything to be a successful and effective Intel or IP officer.

CWO/IPO: I'm a CS-educated guy who works in software engineering which is highly technical, but I've heard (not sure if true) there's a preference for IT networking/infosec folks. I have no IT networking or infosec experience and no certifications. I'm studying towards getting Security+, but I wouldn't have the experience to back it up.

IMHO, I'm not sure how you would be even remotely competitive for IP. You have the education, but you have no certifications and have very little work experience. The folks applying for IP have advanced degrees (sometimes more than one), certifications, and significant work experience.

Intel: No past intelligence or analyst experience. I don't speak any foreign language well enough to pass the DLPT, either. My job is very analytical (as is any sort of engineering), but obviously it's not the kind of analysis they're looking for.

Same for INTEL. I don't see how you would be competitive at all. Applicants often have significant work experience, speak multiple languages, have advanced, relevant degrees, etc.

BT

I would re-order your preferences: 1815, 1825, and 1835.

Re, recommendations, etc. if you can find an O6 in the community that would be beneficial, but keep in mind, if they have never worked with you, the letter of recommendation will hold little weight. It's like these people who get their Senator - whom they have never met nor interacted - to write them a letter. The board can smell these tactics.

Also keep in mind that some Naval Information Force Reserve (NIFR) regional OIC's (the ones you will interview with) have bias's towards current enlisted Reservists. If you do not receive a perfect recommendation/endorsement from the regional OIC, you are toast.

I know of one regional OIC who previously only provided strong recommendations for INTEL/1835 to current Reserve Intelligence Specialists (IS). This happened to me when I first applied for DCO for INTEL/1835. OIC gave me a "luke warm" recommendation. The person transferred, I applied again, and the successor gave me a stellar recommendation and I was selected. When I was in NIOBIC-Res at the regional, the successor OIC told me what had happened and the back story, and said it was b.s. Times may have changed but that was my experience.

 

[Deleted member 67144 scul]

Thanks guys for putting it straight and for the valuable info. I had a good feeling from talking to people across various branches that the Navy Reserve, and more so than other branches' reserve components, really wants a one-to-one mapping from civilian job experience.

IMHO, I'm not sure how you would be even remotely competitive for IP. You have the education, but you have no certifications and have very little work experience. The folks applying for IP have advanced degrees (sometimes more than one), certifications, and significant work experience.

I have a Master's too, for whatever it's worth. IT certifications are not relevant to software engineering hence why I (or anyone in my field) generally don't pursue them. Even if I pick 1-2 up this year, what effect does it have on DCO selection considering I'm still a software dev? Also my work experience is not in info sec, so does that hurt too?

Sorry for getting nitpicky with these questions, but I'm really trying to understand what sort of chance a software dev has and to pass on this knowledge to others also interested in reservist service as officers.

Also keep in mind that some Naval Information Force Reserve (NIFR) regional OIC's (the ones you will interview with) have bias's towards current enlisted Reservists. If you do not receive a perfect recommendation/endorsement from the regional OIC, you are toast.

To be clear, these enlisted reservists have advanced graduate degrees, many years of experience in a tightly related civilian work field, and other things that would make them highly competitive even without being enlisted reservists?

I know of one regional OIC who previously only provided strong recommendations for INTEL/1835 to current Reserve Intelligence Specialists (IS). This happened to me when I first applied for DCO for INTEL/1835. OIC gave me a "luke warm" recommendation. The person transferred, I applied again, and the successor gave me a stellar recommendation and I was selected. When I was in NIOBIC-Res at the regional, the successor OIC told me what had happened and the back story, and said it was b.s. Times may have changed but that was my experience.

Congrats on that! Glad it worked out for you.

Just to get an idea of things, you speak foreign languages, work in intelligence/analyst work, and advanced relevant degrees?

And what majors count as relevant for intelligence? I've seen on this board that STEM degrees are preferred.

 

[Igloojam]

When are the results from this board going to be disseminated?

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

When are the results from this board going to be disseminated?

Late Jan - Early Feb

 

[Bmore84]

Just for those of you thinking of applying, don’t put in if you do not want to deploy or goto sea. Granted, as a reservist you’re not likely to goto sea, but still it’s the Navy. I spoke with some folks I was processing through with and a couple of guys were talking about what they hope to get out of the reserves. One guy wanted it to help him take that next step in his career, but hoped to never have to see a ship and the other didn’t have a strong interest in deploying at all.

As prior active duty enlisted for nearly 9 years with 6 years on ships and three in Africa, afghan, and Iraq as an E-6, I had to laugh and thought disappointedly about these conversation. You are joining the military and more specifically the Navy. If your mind is only on what this will do for YOU and do not want to deploy, then you might want to re-think this whole thing. Honestly, the last thing the Navy needs is disinterested Officers and leaders, because it impacts those below you and sets a bad example. It is true most deployments are land based for reservists these days, but it is not outside the realm of possibility to one day be deployed to sea.

I don’t intend to discourage people, but I feel a sense of ownership about the Navy. I have seen disinterested leaders foster toxic environments be it intentional or not. At the same time I’ve seen some fantastic leaders rebuild a culture of teamwork and get everyone working towards the betterment of the mission and those around them. If you do not have an interest in leading and serving sailors, the Navy, and other Officers, then I’d ask you to reconsider. I especially suggest this considering it’s a DCO Program for the reserves. Reality is you will not be given the time to remold your outlook like those going into active duty service.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

^ That falls on the recruiters and the IWC REGION OIC for not effectively mentioning this.

 

[FormerSquidCop]

One prior active guy to another, there's no shortage of "Sailors" who have no interest in those big gray floaty things, many of whom have successful careers in mostly non-seagoing rates. So no interest in going to sea I can see working out just fine for some.

In all my interviews with 1815s they made it very clear that the expectation was join, get qualed, mobilize.

 

[bldalton]

Just for those of you thinking of applying, don’t put in if you do not want to deploy or goto sea. Granted, as a reservist you’re not likely to goto sea, but still it’s the Navy. I spoke with some folks I was processing through with and a couple of guys were talking about what they hope to get out of the reserves. One guy wanted it to help him take that next step in his career, but hoped to never have to see a ship and the other didn’t have a strong interest in deploying at all.

As prior active duty enlisted for nearly 9 years with 6 years on ships and three in Africa, afghan, and Iraq as an E-6, I had to laugh and thought disappointedly about these conversation. You are joining the military and more specifically the Navy. If your mind is only on what this will do for YOU and do not want to deploy, then you might want to re-think this whole thing. Honestly, the last thing the Navy needs is disinterested Officers and leaders, because it impacts those below you and sets a bad example. It is true most deployments are land based for reservists these days, but it is not outside the realm of possibility to one day be deployed to sea.

I don’t intend to discourage people, but I feel a sense of ownership about the Navy. I have seen disinterested leaders foster toxic environments be it intentional or not. At the same time I’ve seen some fantastic leaders rebuild a culture of teamwork and get everyone working towards the betterment of the mission and those around them. If you do not have an interest in leading and serving sailors, the Navy, and other Officers, then I’d ask you to reconsider. I especially suggest this considering it’s a DCO Program for the reserves. Reality is you will not be given the time to remold your outlook like those going into active duty service.

Well said. I discussed deployments with each of the officers who interviewed me, as well as during my OIC interview. I was told about land based deployments like in Africa or the Middle East, and sea going. They each told me to expect to be deployed once I'm qualified. While not thrilled about being away from my family, it is what the job entails and I accept it wholeheartedly. My wife remembers my first stint in the Navy and is aware of the details. Honestly, I look forward to being deployed so that I can immerse myself in the job and become more familiar with it and improve my skills and knowledge to the betterment of the Navy and myself. I know what I said sounds a little on the corny side, but if I'm going to do this then I want to do this and that includes deployments. I remember sailors complaining about being deployed when I was in before. As a nuke, I preferred being underway as when we were steaming, we were doing what we were trained to do.

 

[bubblehead]

In all my interviews with 1815s they made it very clear that the expectation was join, get qualed, mobilize.

From CNRFC, the primary function of a Navy Reservist is to be mobilization ready. Period. All stop. The means earning your IDWO pin, getting your PQS done for your designator, and staying on top of your yearly admin crap: medical, dental, GMT, etc.

That's it. CNRFC could give two sh*ts if you spend your entire Reserve career doing nothing but being mobilization ready. And many do.

And if and when you do deploy, it ain't going to be to a ship. It will be to Afghanistan, Djibouti, Bahrain, etc.

 

[bryanteagle6]

Good luck to all!

 

[bubblehead]

From CNRFC, the primary function of a Navy Reservist is to be mobilization ready. Period. All stop. The means earning your IDWO pin, getting your PQS done for your designator, and staying on top of your yearly admin crap: medical, dental, GMT, etc.

That's it. CNRFC could give two sh*ts if you spend your entire Reserve career doing nothing but being mobilization ready. And many do.

And if and when you do deploy, it ain't going to be to a ship. It will be to Afghanistan, Djibouti, Bahrain, etc.

I wanted to follow upon the topic of mobilization, mods, please feel free to move to another thread.

Despite what the recruiters, the NIFR OIC's, et al. (i.e., the "rah, rah" b.s.) there is no guarantee that you will mobilize. I've been in the Reserve since 2009. First commissioned as an 183X/Intel and then changed over to 182X/IP. I've never mobilized.

Some will tell you, "there are no CONUS mobilizations..." Bullsh*t...
Some will tell you, "there are no GTMO mobilizations..." Bullsh*t...
Some will tell you, "you will not promote unless you mobilize..." Bullsh*t...

The new national mobilization list for January just came out. Here are some stats. I'll list the number of folks out of the total for each rank and designator who have never mobilized. Keep in mind, these are only the people on the list, which is organized by RATE/DESIGNATOR, Rank, Pay Entry Base Date, and IMS code, and IMS date.

In some cases, all have mobilized (e.g., 1825/IP O6's, so the list is further ordered by the individual's IMS date (date return from mobilization).

1805/OCEANO
O6- 6/6
05- 7/17
O4- 16/21
O3- 4/6
O2- 1/1
O1- 1/1

1815/CW
O6- 0/8
O5- 5/14
O4- 7/21
O3- 19/25
O2- 7/8
O1- 1/1

1835/INTEL
O6- 2/44
O5- 7/122
O4- 16/174
O3- 100/198
O2- 34/43
O1- 6/10

1825/IP
O6- 0/7
O5- 2/13
O4- 11/24
O3- 23/32 -< I am part of this 23
O2- 6/10
O1- 3/3

Unfortunately, the national list does not take into account people who volunteered for a mobilization.