Sta 2005?

[cricechex]

I just checked into my current command in Oct. It has a policy of not endorsing anyone for special programs for the first year. Has anyone ever gotten around one of these policies with their STA 21 packet since the boards only occur once a year?

 

[Crowbar]

Is that the CO's policy? Granted, I don't know any of the details, but sounds like it may worth taking to the CO for the final decision.

 

[etnuclearsailor]

Seems to me like the captain might be overstepping a little... but I don't think there is a policy that would require him to endorse anything he doesn't want to. Is there a CCC at your command?

Fortunately, the commands in the nuclear pipeline heavily encourage ascession programs, so I didn't face the problem you face.

 

[cricechex]

Actually, it was the CCC that gave me this information. They said that it is just the commands' policy. Said it would be unfair to me if they allowed me to get a LOR because they would put that they have had too little time to examine my work ethic, or something along those lines. Any ideas as to who I could contact in my command without getting into trouble for not using the "proper" chain of command. Our CMC is a really aproachable guy. Would it help to ask him about it? I know my first time trying for the program is a long shot but I want to learn the process so that if I need to improve on something for next year, I can.

I assume the biggest question would be, how long can I wait before I go before my command's board? I figure if I could waite until April to go before the CO, I would have at least a eval under my belt from the command.

 

[fc2spyguy]

I didn't have my board at my command until June. As long as you have all your ducks in a row with a review board set up for mid June it's fine. As far as not allowing for the first year here is what I would do. Submit a chit through your regular COC requesting permission to submit a STA-21 application. At all of the commands I've been at the only one who can bottom line no was the CO. So if they say this is not something you can do then it would have to come from the CO. If he authorizes it then they will pretty much have to work with you. This would be going through your entire COC so you wouldn't be back dooring anyone either. Keep in mind some of the single points of failure w/ the SAT and others and get them out of the way first.

 

[etnuclearsailor]

I would contact your old CO for a LOR. You are required to include your current CO's LOR to be eligible, but if you can get your last CO sold, then perhaps that will convince your new CO you're cool. Also, wait until the FY06 instruction before moving, the command cannot put a package together until they have instructions. In the FY05 instruction, CO's were directed to include in their LOR if the sailor was new and not observed, any discrepencies in the package, etc. Those were still eligible. Check the FY05 instruction for more information, but wait until the FY06 instruction before running on this thing.
Good luck!

 

[fc2spyguy]

No offense nuc, but the last thing I would do is wait for the annoucement to start moving. This year it wasn't until May that it came out leaving little time to get everything square. I would definately make sure everything is good to go and refer you to OPNAVINST 1420.1A CH. 8 for the instruction. Look at that and see what takes time and what is easy to get.

Get transcripts early from any schools you've been to. Get your SAT/ACT done now. There is absolutely no diference between having an SAT/ACT done now or until May, except you can take it again between now and then if you do poorly. Do not wait, there is absolutely no reason to. Take the time to start writing personal statements. Heck, even write up a CO's endorsement and submit it with your application to the CO as an example. Talk to the admin department and make sure margins, fonts and all the other stuff is how it is supposed to be. Can you get a package together in two months? Yes, will it be the best package you can submit? Probably not. Start now and you have all the time to look over your statements and anything else you have questions about.

Also, there are a lot of people here who submitted applications for more than one year and have a large knowledge base. Use it, ask us questions regarding anything. Also, if you get your application together send it to a congressman and ask for an endorsement. Again, give him a sample letter. This isn't a requirement, but I'm certain it didn't hurt me. Just a couple suggestions.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Some pretty good advice on here so far. Let me give you a divo's perspective. I've had run-in's with the CCC types who like to run their own agenda. This also applies to some CMC's too. They'll tell prospective applicants that you have to be onboard for a year....the CCC on USS First Ship told one of my guys he had to be onboard for two years before being eligible for applying. BS! It took me about two friggin seconds to fix that one.

The bottom line is that it is ultimately the commanding officer who gets to decide whether he is going to endorse a package or not. You said that "it" has a policy of not endorsing anyone for the first year. But where did that info come from? Typically, the O's are gonna have more access to the CO, so if you heard it from one of them, then you may be out of luck. However, if it came from elsewhere, beware of of bad gouge. Maybe the CO doesn't have an official policy at all. My experience with CO's is that they tend to listen to their JO's and Chiefs when making a decision to endorse a potential candidate. And believe me, it doesn't take very long for a divo or chief to figure out if someone is mature enough to put in a package.

To get a straight answer as quick as possible, I would route a chit....with something along the lines of "Respectfully request permission to submit STA-21 package for FY06." You should get the chit back within three working days.

Absolutely do not wait in getting your package together. Get copies of CO's endorsements from people who have been selected. There's a number of them on this board. Use them to write up a draft for your CO's endorsement. This is your package. You own it from beginning to end.

From a professional standpoint, make sure you are qualifying everything you can and then some. Start working on your EAWS NOW! And once you get that, start working on ESWS. Take classes if you have time. Your first priority is to establish yourself in the command as one who is there to contribute and be a functional member of the team. Find a collateral duty or two you are comfortable with and run with it/them. Make things happen and they will.

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[cricechex]

Thanks everyone for all the information. Wilkins, what does "collateral duty" include? Would volunteering for the base Color Guard apply?

FC2, I have current college and H.S. transcripts in my data record at PSD. It this sufficient or should I get new ones that are officially sealed?

 

[etnuclearsailor]

I had a new HS and college transcript sent in. The CCC would trust us to present real ones, he had to notorize them. I just wanted to make sure I sent legible originals. You will need to include them in your package, even if they are in your service record.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

[W]hat does "collateral duty" include? Would volunteering for the base Color Guard apply?

In my view, yes and no. I think being on the Color Guard is a great opportunity, especially for a new sailor. You will get many opportunities to be involved in number of functions, from changes of command, to parades out in town. Many base Color Guards have functions that they obligate themselves to on the weekends. But don't let that dissuade you....it's not a lot of time. I think I would classify being on the Color Guard as a collateral "activity"....or essentially volunteer work.

That reminds me. Try to find something out in the community that you can get involved in....i.e. community service, volunteer work.

To answer your question though, a collateral duty is simply something that you are responsible for ensuring gets taken care of. For example, your Command Fitness Leader (CFL)....aka PRT coordinator is typcially a collateral duty for someone. Don't go for that one, you aren't eligible....it's just an example. Go talk to your admin department and see if you can get your hands on the command's collateral duty list. If they look at you funny like they don't know what you're talking about talk to PNC or YNC. Use this list to see if there are a few different collateral duties you may be interested in and who is currently filling the role. Then go talk to those people to see what they do. I'm sure you will have no problem getting someone to shed a collateral duty. Most don't want them. Steer clear of the "Assistant" positions unless it will get you command level exposure. One of the purposes of getting a collateral duty is to expose you to leadership and managment challenges. You want some type of program that is your baby so that when time comes for your eval and STA-21 package, you can say you did X, Y, and Z with such and such program. Understand however, the real objective here to make the command better.

Hope this helped.

 

[nfo2b]

Again, some great advice from just about everyone here, but pay attention to Mr. Wilkins. He's given the best advice that I read here. Right now, the best things for you to do are these:
1) Get yourself (and your reputation) established quickly. The first and foremost way to do this is to do your job, and to do it well. If it takes extra hours, then so be it. That makes you stand out. Collateral duties, volunteer work, and LOC's don't mean much if you're not doing the primary duty that the Navy is paying you to do. If you finish your PMS early or quickly, go help someone else with theirs. DO EXTRA WORK!!!! If you're doing your job in a manner above and beyond what's expected, trust me, you'll get noticed. And if you're too new to know how to do any of the extra work, then get yours done, and then go learn how to do the other stuff. Ask questions. Get a reputation for being someone who WANTS to learn all he can. Once you get your primary job stuff taken under control, heed Wilkins' advice and go volunteer for a collateral duty. I don't know much about "airdale" c.d.'s, but ask your LPO to task you with one. And even though Wilkins suggested you go to your Admin Dept., I suggest you stick to c.d.'s within your division, or perhaps your dept. at first. Like I said, your primary duties are first and foremost to your own division and dept, not the command. However, a departmental c.d. would be nice, too. Again, work hard to do it right. Even if it's a relatively low profile c.d., a job done well will get you noticed, and they'll soon task you with more responsibility. All that extra stuff recommended (college courses, volunteer activities, etc.) are nice, but don't mean much (from your chain of command's perspective) if you're not doing your job well. And like Wilkins said, QUALS, QUALS, QUALS!!!!!
2) DO NOT go outside of your chain of command. Like previously mentioned, get your ducks in a row, and submit a chit through your coc. Your ducks include #1 above, your previous LOC's (the ones you mention in your profile bio), your SAT/ACT scores, LOR's from your last CO, and even a note from your Chief and DivO. Include all these things with your chit. Few young sailors know that you can submit "attachments" with request chits, but if they will help your case, then by all means, include them. You can even include a personal statement pleading your case as to why you should be allowed to apply. And like previously mentioned, your CO is the ONLY person who can bottom line it "NO." Going outside your coc by going straight to the CMC or anyone else will definitely earn you some bilge-scum points. You don't want these.
3) After you get 2 & 3 taken care of, then concentrate on everything else, like college/PACE classes, volunteer activites, extra-curricular (non-Navy) stuff. The stuff in 2 & 3 are most likely the only things that will have much impact on the final decision to let you even apply or not.
Trust me, this is experience speaking.
I have seen policies like this before, and Wilkins is right--this is often something formulated by the CCC in absentia of a formal CO's policy on the matter. However, even if it is the CO's policy, these things often aren't written in stone, and are always up to the CO's discretion. So if you QUICKLY prove yourself as a high quality AME with alot of potential (by concentrating on the things in #1), then the CO may recognize your potential and give you a shot. So don't get discouraged by what your CCC told you.
And then there's this: there's always next year. I know it sounds cliche, but you're young and so is your Naval career. I've read your bio and some of your posts, and you certainly seem like a competitive candidate. So if you don't make it this year, follow the advice here, and you'll be a VERY strong competitor next year. Again, trust me on this.
GOOD LUCK!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

I seriously thought about not posting this, but I think it needs to be said none the less.

Cricechex, I think you should go into this with the expectation that you won't get picked up for it for this next fiscal year. Why do I say this? Am I doing it to burst your bubble of enthusiasm and motivation? No, definitely not. Am I just being a pain in the ass or is there something else that is motivating me to tell you this?

Well, for one, I'm just being plain realisitic. And there are others here that will agree with that. STA-21 is a very, very competitive program. Guys and gals typically have a few years of fleet experience under their belt before being selected. Not all, but most. Not every enlisted sailor who applies for this program should be an officer. Not every sailor is even ready, from a maturity and professional standpoint, to make the next step to enter the officer training environment. The ones that are ready for the next step and who should become officers are the ones who get selected. I've sat on many of the three panel interviews that candidates have to endure before their packages get forwarded. It's pretty amazing how quickly that a 20 or 30 minute interview can absolutely destroy all the work and effort that the applicant has done up to that point. The number one reason in my view is because they weren't mature enough to make the next leap. Don't make any assumptions here...I'm not speaking about someone's age. You can have the best evals, all the collateral duties in the world, and a great personal essay, but if you come to that interview and conduct yourself as someone who is not ready for the next step, it shows through. So, to get to my point, you will probably not have the level of maturity required to make a great impression on the panel of interviewers. I could be wrong, but given your level of professional experience and time in the navy, chances are that you will appear to the panel as young, immature, motivated, but just not ready. That has a big impact on your package.

Next, I want you to expect not to get selected so that you don't lose your motivation for reapplying again. Expect to have to reapply! Boards do notice this. Interview panels notice this. Your COC will notice this. The worst thing you could do is to go through all this effort of making yourself look good and then for your performance to fall after results came back because you weren't selected. That will send a message to your COC like you wouldn't believe. Go through this application process trying to soak up and learn as much about the process as you can. This will make you better prepared for the following year when you apply again (if it is necessary).

I can't give you a cookbook recipe for getting selected for this program. I can only provide you with guidance and direction. It is up to you to figure out what works and what doesn't. Refer to my comments above regarding maturity. Again, I'm not trying to sound harsh. I just want you to hear the straight truth and not be hit by that Sidewinder that comes from your six o'clock.

Take care.

 

[fc2spyguy]

To follow up on Wilkins post. When I wasn't selected last year I was bummed for all of two or three days (I'm not going to lie, I thought I had an awesome package). However, when my eval came around that November and the counseling in May there was something my Chief and Divo said that sent it home. They told me they were expecting a drop in performance after the non-select. But, I surprised them and increased my performance. This made a very large impression on them. They were even more supportive of my application this year. They made sure that the OIC was aware of this. The OIC reccomendation was even stronger and I think that was a big factor in my selection. It was noted in the interviews with the Officers that I had continually improved since the non-select. Submitting more than one application isn't a bad thing. In fact I think it is definately considered in the selection. The board can see the motivation but they can also see dedication to the Navy with sustained performance. These are things that will make you stand out. Over all this was my third application to an Officer program. I tried for a straight NROTC application back in 1999 and was not selected. I waited a couple years (till 2003) to reapply. Mainly because my ship was headed to Japan and I wanted to go there. Basicaly I'm just echoing what Mr. Wilkins is saying. Don't be discouraged if you're not selected. A lot of us went through that process.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

My comments below are directed toward Cricechex specifically, but really apply to anyone who is about to be, or in the process of, applying for STA-21.

However, when my eval came around that November and the counseling in May there was something my Chief and Divo said that sent it home. They told me they were expecting a drop in performance after the non-select. But, I surprised them and increased my performance. This made a very large impression on them.

You bet your ass it does. Nothing worse in my book than a sailor who doesn't get selected for the officer program and decides he wants to have a bad attidude and do a 180 degree shift in his performance. On the flipside, I think it reflects highly on one's character when they get rejected by these types of opportunities only to turn around and light the afterburner. It's like the rejection motivates em even more. Those are the ones I like to see get selected. Those are the ones I want in my wardroom.

Submitting more than one application isn't a bad thing. In fact I think it is definately considered in the selection. The board can see the motivation but they can also see dedication to the Navy with sustained performance. These are things that will make you stand out.

It's called consistency. If you're a hot runner, then you're a hot runner. If you get rejected and decide not to be a hot runner, we'll know. On the flipside, if you continue to make progress and show you want to be a leader in this Navy, people will take notice.

Over all this was my third application to an Officer program.

This is pretty typical. Take heed and understand. This is a big step you are taking and I commend you for it. Here, you have a fleet sailor telling you his experience. It really isn't that unusual.

Don't be discouraged if you're not selected. A lot of us went through that process.

Keep the faith. Keep truckin. I don't care what it is that you tell yourself to keep your head in the game, just do it and realize you aren't inventing the wheel here.

Take care.