I applied for BOOST twice, made it the second time. The first officer interview I had I think I looked pretty stupid. Mostly, becuase I was an E3 with no time on a ship and really had no idea what the difference between being an officer and a chief. My enthusiasm was good but just not enough knoweldge. After a year on the ship I had another board. This helped becuase I had a good reputation, they all knew me. Unlike at A school when none of the officers had ever met me. Just a side note, I was pissed when I didn't make it the first time. But going to the ship first was probablly the best thing that could of happened (looking back...it sucked while I was there).
Okay where do you see yourself in 5 years. Well your on this site so I would say, a degree, and a commission working through flight school.
Ten years? Think career! Do not say out flying civilialns for a major airline!
Why do you want to be an officer instead of a chief? My answer was becuase I wanted to have the oppurtunity to make a difference and I thought I could do that better as an officer than as a chief. Meaning I could effect more lives as an officer than as a chief. Another answer would be to fly. But think leadership issues on this one.
Whats the difference between a chief and an officer? Hmmm, thats kinda like whats the difference between a sports car and a pickup truck. Here is one analogy. A clock. While the hands of the clock would be the officer. Much more visable, easy to tell if the clock is telling the right time or wrong time. But who does all the work, the gears, the enlisted people (not entireley true but all the physical work anyway). Well without that spring or battery that makes those gears turn the hands of the clock will never show the right time. The chief is the battery or spring (I like spring better).
Hope this helps.