FY06 Package Question

[STA-21NURSE]

Hi all,

First, let me start by offering my gratitude for all of the information you have provided over the last year. I feel fortunate to have found this web site when I did.
With that said, let me introduce myself. I have been in the Navy for almost 11 years. I am a Hospital Corpsman currently assigned to instructor duty at the Naval School of Health Sciences in San Diego. I am applying for the Nurse Corps option.
My package demographics are as follows:
-SAT 1260
-Evaluations: EP, EP, MP, EP, EP
-HS GPA 2.86 (ouch, but it was a long time ago. I was a different person!)
-Currently have 26 credits from City and Mesa College in San Diego. Enrolled in nursing undergrad pre-requisites
-2 CLEP courses
-FMF Warfare Qualification
-Q1 2005 Junior Sailor of the Quarter
-Navy Com, 2 x Navy Ach, 6 x Flag LOA
-My letters of recommendation are from a Surgeon/Director of Surgery (CAPT), Surgeon/Director of The DoD Special Orientation Center (CDR), Nurse/Department Head (CDR), Nurse/Division Officer (LT), Nurse (GS-13) and CMC (HMCM)
-Collateral duties: NEC Enlisted Technical Leader, BUMED appointment to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Department Supply Petty Officer, Command Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Command Marketing Team Secretary

Assuming I nail my interview boards next week (I will!) and get a very favorable recommendation from the CO, how do you think my package rates? I have been working extraordinarily hard the last year to polish my package and make myself as attractive as possible, but I wonder if I could do more. Any suggestions?
I have completed a dozen or so leadership correspondence courses on NKO.
I have a lot of community service, from the Designated Drivers of San Diego to coaching my son’s T-Ball team. I have documented leadership positions for the last 5 years.
As the submission deadline approaches, I find myself questioning the worth of my package compared to the other applicants. I would appreciate any feedback you all can offer.

I almost forgot, I will not mail my package until I have finished my Master Training Specialist qualification. I should be done in early June.

Thanks!

 

[etnuclearsailor]

I know it is possible to be selected with zero college credits; it is possible to get a degree in 36 months.
The board is important. The rest of your package rocks- there's an FMF Corpsman here with a GED, so I know the HS GPA can be gotten past, but be prepared to talk about it. Explain your single track goal through STA 21.
I recommend this being about a commission and a command, not a target option and leadership, because, as you undoubtedly learned with Marines, you don't need a commission to be a leader. I know a guy who got thrown off course during his board because he kept talking about leadership. He was asked why he couldn't lead as a chief.
Be ready to talk yourself up without bragging, and explain away that one time you didn't get an EP (just kidding).
Try to make sure your CO's letter of recommendation actually has something purposeful to say about you.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Your personal statement. You can have the rockinest package there, but if you say in your statement you want to be a Navel Officer, or have an incoherent essay, it's all over. Have that personal statement poured over and over again. I took my personal statement to a military message board and had it reviewed over and over. I also brought it to officers around my command to take a look at it.
Good Luck!!!

 

[fc2spyguy]

Don't worry about the HS gpa, I had a 2.06 when I graduated. Eleven years in the Navy should wipe that away, especially considering the rest of your package.

Size of command can help but it won't hurt. I was 1 of 1 at a command of 36 sailors total (just replying to dtirey there).

I would say you definately have a good shot assuming you do well on the boards. Keep in mind though nothing is guaranteed. I wasn't selected my first go around and was selected my second. The only diference was a few college credits and another eval. Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions.

One other thing to note. Keep in mind that the board only spends approximately 10 minutes on each application. With that in mind 5 LOR's seems like a lot to me. I'm not saying that they won't help but if you need to trim something I would look at one or two of those. Definately keep the HMCM in there. Senior Enlisted saying they would serve under you goes a long way. There was an article in the OCT-DEC 02 Link that mentions some lessons learned and has a lot of good info from that board.

I can't get the article on the web so I pasted this from a previous post that I made last year.

October-December 2002 Page 11 LINK Perspective
The following correspondence represents one board member’s
observations from the FY03 Seaman-to-Admiral 21 (STA-21)
Board. It is intended to provide additional insight for COs, supervisors,
and applicants as they compile and submit STA-21 packages
for future boards. Some recommendations may appear to state
the obvious, but are provided as a result of packages encountered
during the board. 1,438 sailors applied for selection in the FY03
board, including 14 Intelligence Officer applicants. Selection results
should come out in a NAVADMIN by mid-Oct. STA-21 program
details are available in references (a) and (b).
Commanding Officer Endorsement
This is probably the most important document in the package,
it needs to be clear and make a strong impact in the opening lines.
Important points to consider or to communicate to the board include:
• Keep recommendations clear, concise, and incontrovertible.
• Don’t hide your strong recommendation in the last paragraph.
• If the applicant is not ready for commissioning, tell the board.
• Don’t make board members read between the lines of neutral
verbiage.
• Consider screening applicant out at the command level with
appropriate feedback.
• Ensure the CO endorsement reflects the intended strength of
support.
• Stating “Forwarded” sends an unmistakable (neutral or negative)
message.
• “Forwarded, with my strongest personal recommendation” sends
another.
• Provide breakouts of both total applicants submitted from your
command and of those competing for a specific program option
(e.g., Intelligence Officer).
• Let the board know if there is little difference between your #1
and #2 applicants.
• Speak to your desire to have the applicant back as a member of
your wardroom.
• Highlight leadership experience – especially for junior sailors
whose evals may not yet reflect this important trait (can also
include high school experience).
Personal statement
This is the one part of the entire application package over which
the applicant has total control – make it count!
• Keep it concise.
• Ensure it meets content requirements provided in the STA-21
instruction.
• Emphasize personal strengths, goals, and motivations. Discuss
how they will influence future contributions in applicant’s specific
designator choice. This requires knowledge of the STA-
21 program and specifics about the officer program desired.
• Avoid a “me-centric” focus (i.e., acceptance into the program
clearly benefits the individual, but also provides a foundation
to improve leadership opportunity, share enlisted experience
with future shipmates, have a broader impact on the Navy, etc.).
• Highlight high school and non-Navy leadership positions and
experiences that don’t come out in other parts of the package.
• Have a mentor review the statement - misspellings, typos, and
grammatical errors detract from the package.
Evaluations
• Gaps are unacceptable, ensure continuity or provide an explanation
to the board.
• Include recommendations for commissioning programs where
appropriate.
• Rank top “must promotes” – breakout in a large group can still
come across as a positive.
Feedback from the FY03 Seaman-to-Admiral 21 board
see ‘Feedback,’ page 12
Transcripts
• Good or bad, all are required.
• Better to include the good/bad/ugly and
explain poor performance.
• Demonstrate improvement via off-duty
education where possible, especially for
those who fared poorly in high school/
early collegiate experience.
Officer interviews
• Carry a lot of weight with the board.
• More credence was given to comments
since most grades were two-blocked to
the left.
• Sheets marked with all “10s” with no
amplifying comments were not useful.
• Interviewer comments regarding willingness
to serve with the applicant, potential
as an officer, and relative ranking
against previous applicants for commissioning
programs are particularly helpful.
• If the applicant is not ready for commissioning,
tell the board – don’t make
board members read between the lines
of neutral verbiage.
Letters of Recommendation
Take to time to include letters of recommendation
from former supervisors, CO,
etc.
Particularly favorable were letters from
Chief Petty Officers currently in the chain
of command, CMCs, and others with close
knowledge of the applicant’s performance.
Miscellaneous
• Include letters/certificates to support
unique qualifications or achievements
not documented elsewhere (e.g., OOD
In port, Conning Officer, etc.).
• PRT score counts – speaks to initiative
and the “whole person” concept.
• Applicant should ensure the package is
complete and professional looking.
• Explain any negative marks/comments
(e.g., poor transcripts, 2.0 mark in Military
Bearing due to a failed PRT, NJP,
etc.) in the personal statement or CO endorsement
letter.

 

[STA-21NURSE]

Thanks for the great info.

So far, I have banged out almost all of my nursing pre-reqs.
Bio 107
Bio 107 Lab
Chem 100
Chem 100 Lab
Psych 101
Currently enrolled in:
Organic Chem 130
Organic Chem 130 Lab
Nutrition 100
Work Experience Elective (hey, it's 4 free credits!)

Thank you for the info FC2. I am shocked that the selection board spends so little time on each package. Heck, I have spent 2 years on mine; trying to make myself look as good as possible. It is sad to think that the future of so many people is decided in 600 seconds or less.
I am working on another draft of my CO's endorsement. When I finish, I will post both here for some feedback. Like I said, my boards are on Friday with the CO's interview immediately following.
So, the golden question is this: What ELSE should I be doing between now and June? I don’t want to be sitting in my office in August and have it dawn on me that I forgot something.

Thanks again! Keep the feedback coming.