Just a little feedback please?

[DigitalCraze]

I would like to start off by saying thank you! This forum and everyone that is a part of it has been a tremendous help. Now here is my scenario...

I am an AT3 currently stationed at AIMD Point Mugu, CA. This is my first command and I have been in the Navy for almost 3 years now. I made a decision last year to apply for the STA-21 program and to apply for pilot or NFO.

I think I may have a chance at being selected, but I'm not quite sure.
For some reason I feel like my package is some what "thin", partly because I have very limited time in the Navy, and being that I received shore duty orders first, I don’t have all of the qualifications that someone on a ship can attain. Also, before I joined the Navy I actually dropped out of High School and took the path of the GED. It was a dumb decision I made when I was younger but since I have joined the Navy I have been attending college, and should have my AA in General studies finished by the end of this year. I have been doing plenty of volunteer work with MWR and also with the local Junior High School helping the younger Hispanic students learn English as a second language.
I recently took both the ACT and ASTB tests.
My scores were ACT: Math-25 Reading-25 Composit-25, ASTB: AQR-6 PFAR-6 FOFAR-7 OAR-53.
I should be receiving a letter of recommendation from a LT NFO from one of the local squadrons. I also have an LOC for being awarded Junior Sailor of the Quarter, second quarter 2005. That’s pretty much everything I have. I am currently working on my personal statement and as soon as that is finished I will be setting up my boards.

Does it sound like I will have a pretty well rounded application?
What are some areas that I should change/improve?

Any and all feedback it appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

DigitalCraze

 

[Ex Rigger]

Well first off....good on ya for taking the initiative.

I too was a drop out of high school. In fact, I joined without a GED.....got it on WestPac. I think it has little bearing on the decision of the board. You look like you have done well so far but I will admit that you being on shore duty can't help considering most of your competition will have warfare pins. Keep going to college in your spare time and try to get as much knocked out before you rotate out to sea duty. Once you transfer you should get to work on your warfare quals ASAP.

Main thing to keep in mind is to not give up if you don't get it the first time around. Sustained superior performance is the key.....keep it up.

 

[Brett327]

Also, before I joined the Navy I actually dropped out of High School and took the path of the GED.

Never stopped me - no regrets, in fact, GED (pronounced Jed) is my callsign, in which I take great pride. AS I've said on AW a million times, I was a "Weapons School" Prowler ECMO flying with a 10th grade education. Rock on, shipmate!

Brett

 

[MIDNJAC]

Never stopped me - no regrets, in fact, GED (pronounced Jed) is my callsign, in which I take great pride. AS I've said on AW a million times, I was a "Weapons School" Prowler ECMO flying with a 10th grade education. Rock on, shipmate!

Brett

so did you comission w/o a college degree? If so, how did that come about?
And for the original poster, I know that I can at least speak for the world of folks in comissioning programs that not everyone was exactly "focused" during high school. I know a couple other guys who are in similar spots w/ only GED's who made it through the system at the top....

 

[S.O.B.]

I got picked up and my grades in and High School and my first attempt at college were ridiculous. Less then a 2.0 in High School and a D- in racquetball at college. The fact that you almost have an AA and high test scores will look awesome. From what little I know about you it sounds to me like you have a great chance.

 

[Brett327]

so did you commission w/o a college degree? If so, how did that come about?

Sure did. The old legacy Seaman to Admiral program was designed to take enlisted folks with no college, send them through OCS, flight school (or other warfare area), and complete their first sea tour sans degree. For follow on shore duty (which I'm on now), my only responsibility is to attend a university which the Navy pays for. Best deal/scam in the Navy, which is why they decided to radically change it after three years. Anyway, I'm on my 8th year as a commissioned officer and technically, my only degree is a GED. How do you like that? Alas, all good things must come to an end, so when I graduate later this year, my namesake story won't quite have the same weight, but I suspect that my highly unorthodox path will continue to baffle.

Brett

 

[S.O.B.]

I know a Seaman to Admiral guy that’s an 04 flying Gulfstreams out of Hawaii and still doesn’t have his degree. He’s my hero.

 

[Brett327]

I know a Seaman to Admiral guy that’s an 04 flying Gulfstreams out of Hawaii and still doesn’t have his degree. He’s my hero.

How did he swing that? The way it is set up now is that if you fail to obtain your degree in the allotted time, for whatever reason, you'll get paper that effectively ends your upward mobility. Surprisingly, several of the other legacy guys here in SOCAL have lost their enthusiasm and just want to complete their next tour so they can retire at 20. Most of them are SWOs, so I guess I don't blame them. Sure, I'd much rather be flying somewhere in the fleet, but the way I look at is, "Hey, free college and free paycheck from the Navy for essentially doing zero Navy related work. Oh and BTW, here's some bonus money for you just in case you didn't have enough incentives already."

Brett

 

[S.O.B.]

How did he swing that? The way it is set up now is that if you fail to obtain your degree in the allotted time, for whatever reason, you'll get paper that effectively ends your upward mobility. Surprisingly, several of the other legacy guys here in SOCAL have lost their enthusiasm and just want to complete their next tour so they can retire at 20. Most of them are SWOs, so I guess I don't blame them. Sure, I'd much rather be flying somewhere in the fleet, but the way I look at is, "Hey, free college and free paycheck from the Navy for essentially doing zero Navy related work. Oh and BTW, here's some bonus money for you just in case you didn't have enough incentives already."

Brett

He started out as a helo guy spent three years in the VTs, picked up VT FTS, got a tone of hours in the T-34 and was selected for VR. Awesome deal really.

 

[Brett327]

He started out as a helo guy spent three years in the VTs, picked up VT FTS, got a tone of hours in the T-34 and was selected for VR. Awesome deal really.

How did he end up in the VTs in lieu of going to school?

Brett

 

[S.O.B.]

How did he end up in the VTs in lieu of going to school?

Brett

That's a good question. Honestly I don't know. His fleet squadron was in Corpus and he stayed in Corpus to instruct.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Sure did. The old legacy Seaman to Admiral program was designed to take enlisted folks with no college, send them through OCS, flight school (or other warfare area), and complete their first sea tour sans degree. For follow on shore duty (which I'm on now), my only responsibility is to attend a university which the Navy pays for. Best deal/scam in the Navy, which is why they decided to radically change it after three years. Anyway, I'm on my 8th year as a commissioned officer and technically, my only degree is a GED. How do you like that? Alas, all good things must come to an end, so when I graduate later this year, my namesake story won't quite have the same weight, but I suspect that my highly unorthodox path will continue to baffle.

Brett

awesome....I hope you are laughing all the way off into the sunset when you think about the rest of us newbies who are scrapping away for useless degrees while you are pinning on your first star.....because you are my new hero Too bad things aren't how they used to be.....

 

[Tuckster]

I dropped out too in the 9/10/11 grade I got my diploma from American Preperatory Institute in 2003, then my A.S. in 2005. I just got picked up this last cycle for NFO. Anything is possible.

 

[nateb]

Your stats look stellar to me, but many with outstanding packages have been passed over. However, they can't tell you yes if you don't apply. Just put in the package, hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. You never know, you could be selected first time up. Good luck, and keep up the good work.

P.S.
See if you can get help from people at your command giving you an idea of how your interview boards are conducted. This was one area where I feel I could have been better prepared.

Nate

 

[DigitalCraze]

Thank you very much for the help! I will def let you guys know how everything goes!