Some tips to help you cross over to the Dark Side. 
:icon_smil
To get started on the package, you should download OPNAVINST 1420.1A
Read it, including the checklist in the appendix.
Starting the Application
1. Review/Start the application, figure out which designators you qualify for and are interested in. A good source to go to for info on each community is the Bupers website under Community Managers. The requirements for your app/physical/scores will be dependent on what you choose, so decide before you get much further. Talk to the officers in your chain-of-command about your application to get their opinions on which designators will be best for you. Keep in mind, they will be biased toward their own community. This is also a great time to start hitting them up for letters of recommendation. Unless you are a complete dirt-bag, you will get tons of support from the officers in your chain-of-command, especially the former enlisted ones.
Pre-commissioning physical
2. Call Tricare to schedule a Pre-commissioning physical, this could easily take over a month to get done.
Taking the ASTB
3. Call the recruiters to set up your test, they usually have it at least once a month. Don't necessarily take the first available date. Give yourself some time to study. If you rush into it and do poorly you can retake it, but there is a mandatory wait period, 30 days for the first re-take I think. Find as much study material as you can for the test. Look at the ASTB forum on this site for some great info. There are study guides to download and discussion about other study materials and strategies. I used the ARCO study guide, the Navy's Basic Machines correspondence course, and a book called "How to be a Pilot" I picked up at a local bookstore. The Basic Machines course is available on the Navy Advancement Website. You will need to log-in to access it. I highly recommend this book for everyone, especially those without a technical degree. I initially took the ASTB 8 years ago for the Seaman-to-Admiral program and got a 54. I hadn't had any college at that point, and didn't take physics, trig, or calc in High School. It covers most of the mechanical comprehension questions I remember from the ASTB, including: levers, block-and-tackle, inclined planes, hydraulics, gears, work, power, force, etc.
Interviews
4. Look at the designators you want to apply for, and the officers available at your command to determine whether you will have to go outside for any interviews. The instruction says you need at least one in each desig. Make sure you involve your Chain-of-Command if you need outside interviews. Always make copies of your complete package and provide it to each of your interviewers at least one day prior to your board. This gives them time to prepare and gives you an opportunity to meet them in a less formal setting prior to the board. You don't want them to see your package for the first time when your interview starts, it's no fun to sit around for 10-15 minutes while the board members read your package (can happen if you trust the Career Counselor to deliver your package instead of doing it yourself :irked_125 ).
Transcripts
5. Order all your college transcripts; you don't want to be left holding your package for something as simple as this. If you are due to graduate and will complete all other items prior to your grad date, talk to your advisor or registrar about getting a letter ASAP in lieu of the pretty diploma. I submitted a certified "completion of requirements" letter with my package just to get the ball rolling, prior to sending my official final transcript.
These are some important initial steps, in the order that makes most sense to me based on the time it took for me to complete them. However, this is not set in stone! I actually took my ASTB over a year before I applied. Your scores are good forever, but if you retake it, the most recent counts.
You will need your command to get involved at some point (interviews, recommendations). So, painful as it may be, keep your CCC, and Chain-of-Command informed. Who knows, the system might actually work for you, and make your submission easier.
The first step at my command was to run a request chit to apply to OCS. This chit went through the CCC, and everyone else up the chain to the CO.
Good Luck! :thumbup_1
:icon_smil To get started on the package, you should download OPNAVINST 1420.1A
Read it, including the checklist in the appendix.
Starting the Application
1. Review/Start the application, figure out which designators you qualify for and are interested in. A good source to go to for info on each community is the Bupers website under Community Managers. The requirements for your app/physical/scores will be dependent on what you choose, so decide before you get much further. Talk to the officers in your chain-of-command about your application to get their opinions on which designators will be best for you. Keep in mind, they will be biased toward their own community. This is also a great time to start hitting them up for letters of recommendation. Unless you are a complete dirt-bag, you will get tons of support from the officers in your chain-of-command, especially the former enlisted ones.
Pre-commissioning physical
2. Call Tricare to schedule a Pre-commissioning physical, this could easily take over a month to get done.
Taking the ASTB
3. Call the recruiters to set up your test, they usually have it at least once a month. Don't necessarily take the first available date. Give yourself some time to study. If you rush into it and do poorly you can retake it, but there is a mandatory wait period, 30 days for the first re-take I think. Find as much study material as you can for the test. Look at the ASTB forum on this site for some great info. There are study guides to download and discussion about other study materials and strategies. I used the ARCO study guide, the Navy's Basic Machines correspondence course, and a book called "How to be a Pilot" I picked up at a local bookstore. The Basic Machines course is available on the Navy Advancement Website. You will need to log-in to access it. I highly recommend this book for everyone, especially those without a technical degree. I initially took the ASTB 8 years ago for the Seaman-to-Admiral program and got a 54. I hadn't had any college at that point, and didn't take physics, trig, or calc in High School. It covers most of the mechanical comprehension questions I remember from the ASTB, including: levers, block-and-tackle, inclined planes, hydraulics, gears, work, power, force, etc.
Interviews
4. Look at the designators you want to apply for, and the officers available at your command to determine whether you will have to go outside for any interviews. The instruction says you need at least one in each desig. Make sure you involve your Chain-of-Command if you need outside interviews. Always make copies of your complete package and provide it to each of your interviewers at least one day prior to your board. This gives them time to prepare and gives you an opportunity to meet them in a less formal setting prior to the board. You don't want them to see your package for the first time when your interview starts, it's no fun to sit around for 10-15 minutes while the board members read your package (can happen if you trust the Career Counselor to deliver your package instead of doing it yourself :irked_125 ).
Transcripts
5. Order all your college transcripts; you don't want to be left holding your package for something as simple as this. If you are due to graduate and will complete all other items prior to your grad date, talk to your advisor or registrar about getting a letter ASAP in lieu of the pretty diploma. I submitted a certified "completion of requirements" letter with my package just to get the ball rolling, prior to sending my official final transcript.
These are some important initial steps, in the order that makes most sense to me based on the time it took for me to complete them. However, this is not set in stone! I actually took my ASTB over a year before I applied. Your scores are good forever, but if you retake it, the most recent counts.
You will need your command to get involved at some point (interviews, recommendations). So, painful as it may be, keep your CCC, and Chain-of-Command informed. Who knows, the system might actually work for you, and make your submission easier.
The first step at my command was to run a request chit to apply to OCS. This chit went through the CCC, and everyone else up the chain to the CO.Good Luck! :thumbup_1
