Posted on Feb 7, 2019
Am I competitive for a Navy Reserve Officer position? If so, why can't I get a recruiter to call me back?
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Been having difficulty getting a hold of a Navy Reserve Officer Recruiter. Took several OAR practice exams and am scoring between 56 and 60. Undergraduate GPA was 3.0 in neuroscience. MBA in Accounting & Finance with a 3.5 GPA. Finishing a doctorate in Organizational Behavior with a 3.6 GPA. Plenty of extra curricular involvement, worked in corporate business operations for ten years. Physically fit. At 32 years of age I was hoping to enter Supply Corps, but have been told I'd be more competitive as an Intel Officer.
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm hoping to serve my country before the age requirements exclude me. Thank you ahead of time!
Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm hoping to serve my country before the age requirements exclude me. Thank you ahead of time!
Recruiter
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Navy)
Navy Supply Corps School
Intelligence Specialist "A" School Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC)
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 3
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They're called Accession Officers unless they changed things up after I stopped working with them 6 years ago. There should be one that covers your region and are usually on the web site. Of course they aren't hot about staff corps frankly because of your age. It's like insurance actuarial tables. What's the likelihood that you'll be competitive for the years of pedigree building. The Pork Chop side has 10-12 years of contracting development and that's the basic side. Yes you have a Finance Rug. But it isn't likely in Federal Finance, appropriation, and contract law. Intel crams you up front and you progress as you drink from the ever running fire hose. They're likely to get more bang for the buck on that path. Second, there's an issue in trying to figure out what to do with you education wise. You are all over the board with a BS that has no relation to the MBA and then another weird turn to a fuzzy PhD (aka non science, non engineering, non medical, etc.).
When I was skippering, I worked closely with reserve Accession Officers in interviewing and evaluating candidates. I then had to do a "likelihood of success" drill to determine if the candidate was a go-no go. The AOs relied on folk like me having a deep knowledge of what my staff corps needs and to scrub the candidate pool for best fits. I had a very good track record of good careers created if they got past me. So in briefly reading your spiel, there are red flags jabbing me up, down, and sideways. If you showed up on my doorstep, there's a whole set of other questions for me to probe. On the face of it, one could assume you've been trying for a long time to decide what you want to be when you grow up. I'd probe that hard. I'd also probe why you presumably took to 32 years of age to poke the beast. I learned early on not to assume anything is bad, but the probing is to reveal if given everything, the Service needs you for the Win-Win scenario. Nothing personal; just business. There is no right or entitlement in joining the Service.
The third thing is AOs rely on ROs and if none of them are biting on the bait, there isn't much they will do because it's their neck on the line.
One thing I saw frequently amongst "highly qualified" on paper folk in both MIL and CIV (did that a long time too). It's an entitlement attitude that says "I'm all this, so what's your problem?" Please don't fall in that category as I've seen flameouts and much worse. Your journey to date tells me you have an interesting story to tell. Good Reviewing Officers can figure out the jigsaw puzzle and can help steer you towards your goal IF they deem you're worth their and the Service's time. Problem is if there's enough fresh meat being hung on the hook, why take the time to sort out a horse that's been around the track a few times. Your Human Factors piece that should have been in your current run should provide some enlightenment. That said, I like challenges and would have jumped in the saddle on this one, but only if your were a graduate engineer or architect. But I'd be a minority of those who would. I"d presume the AO floated your paper around to his RO pool asking if anybody wants you because he/she wouldn't have a clue unless they've been doing it a long time. Good luck son.
When I was skippering, I worked closely with reserve Accession Officers in interviewing and evaluating candidates. I then had to do a "likelihood of success" drill to determine if the candidate was a go-no go. The AOs relied on folk like me having a deep knowledge of what my staff corps needs and to scrub the candidate pool for best fits. I had a very good track record of good careers created if they got past me. So in briefly reading your spiel, there are red flags jabbing me up, down, and sideways. If you showed up on my doorstep, there's a whole set of other questions for me to probe. On the face of it, one could assume you've been trying for a long time to decide what you want to be when you grow up. I'd probe that hard. I'd also probe why you presumably took to 32 years of age to poke the beast. I learned early on not to assume anything is bad, but the probing is to reveal if given everything, the Service needs you for the Win-Win scenario. Nothing personal; just business. There is no right or entitlement in joining the Service.
The third thing is AOs rely on ROs and if none of them are biting on the bait, there isn't much they will do because it's their neck on the line.
One thing I saw frequently amongst "highly qualified" on paper folk in both MIL and CIV (did that a long time too). It's an entitlement attitude that says "I'm all this, so what's your problem?" Please don't fall in that category as I've seen flameouts and much worse. Your journey to date tells me you have an interesting story to tell. Good Reviewing Officers can figure out the jigsaw puzzle and can help steer you towards your goal IF they deem you're worth their and the Service's time. Problem is if there's enough fresh meat being hung on the hook, why take the time to sort out a horse that's been around the track a few times. Your Human Factors piece that should have been in your current run should provide some enlightenment. That said, I like challenges and would have jumped in the saddle on this one, but only if your were a graduate engineer or architect. But I'd be a minority of those who would. I"d presume the AO floated your paper around to his RO pool asking if anybody wants you because he/she wouldn't have a clue unless they've been doing it a long time. Good luck son.
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Chris A.
Captain,
This is exactly what I have been looking for, thank you! It's been difficult to get straight forward guidance. Hoping you'd entertain a follow up response, it would be greatly appreciated sir.
Both graduate degrees are employee sponsored, they asked me to go back to school for them. In both cases there was some reluctance because I worried there would be a decrease in income. Also in both cases, the higher ups gave me a pep talk about having more potential than I gave myself credit for. This proved to be true with the MBA, it changed my life and how I view the world. The doctorate is more specialized towards efficiency, expanding, gap analysis, etc. In my opinion, it was an overpriced Six Sigma program. The VP of the company was adamant that I do it, so here I am. The undergraduate degree was in the hope of going a different career path, however the economy in 2009 required me to start working right after graduation to keep a roof over my family's head. We needed money, lots of it, and fast.
Ended up working in loss mitigation (aka loan modifications) for a veteran owned mortgage broker. Eventually became licensed as a loan originator and was successful when the purchase market started to pick up. We did have to deal with the ever changing federal regulations but I was definitely not handling anything near the scope of what you mentioned. The contracts were limited to purchases of real property and meeting investor underwriting guidelines. Gained good experience at a company with an ethical and disciplined management structure. The last four years with the company I was responsible for roughly $40 million a month in closings, while managing 60 employees at three branches. While it looks good on paper, it was a miserable existence trying to help family keep their heads above water. Toughed it out until I was offered the position I'm at now with John Deere. Similar responsibilities with less volatility.
It was my dream to enter the Marine Corps like so many of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. With a sinking family janitorial business, disabled parents, and sisters too young to legally work...I ended up being head of household. Surprised that I was able to complete undergrad. Grateful to have put my sisters through college, arrange for full time caretakers for my parents, and have maintained a stable career. The decision to enter was delayed because I feared the worst for my family. At 32, there are still many "normal" life experiences that have been delayed because of the duty to support them. To be my age in an Italian Catholic family and not be married with five kids is frowned upon. The guilt flows daily from my mom, and abundantly because she wants grand kids!
Definitely do not view serving as a right/entitlement. It would be an honor and a privilege to be accepted to the armed forces. At this point, I know I'm not as attractive because of the age but am determined to serve my country in anyway that she'll let me. Might not be as a Marine, and these are the consequences of the choices I made to forego entering, but all things considered I was able to pull family through a rough patch of years. If it's not in the cards for me, then I'll continue to support those who serve in uniform as I always have.
Thank you for your service to our great nation Captain!
This is exactly what I have been looking for, thank you! It's been difficult to get straight forward guidance. Hoping you'd entertain a follow up response, it would be greatly appreciated sir.
Both graduate degrees are employee sponsored, they asked me to go back to school for them. In both cases there was some reluctance because I worried there would be a decrease in income. Also in both cases, the higher ups gave me a pep talk about having more potential than I gave myself credit for. This proved to be true with the MBA, it changed my life and how I view the world. The doctorate is more specialized towards efficiency, expanding, gap analysis, etc. In my opinion, it was an overpriced Six Sigma program. The VP of the company was adamant that I do it, so here I am. The undergraduate degree was in the hope of going a different career path, however the economy in 2009 required me to start working right after graduation to keep a roof over my family's head. We needed money, lots of it, and fast.
Ended up working in loss mitigation (aka loan modifications) for a veteran owned mortgage broker. Eventually became licensed as a loan originator and was successful when the purchase market started to pick up. We did have to deal with the ever changing federal regulations but I was definitely not handling anything near the scope of what you mentioned. The contracts were limited to purchases of real property and meeting investor underwriting guidelines. Gained good experience at a company with an ethical and disciplined management structure. The last four years with the company I was responsible for roughly $40 million a month in closings, while managing 60 employees at three branches. While it looks good on paper, it was a miserable existence trying to help family keep their heads above water. Toughed it out until I was offered the position I'm at now with John Deere. Similar responsibilities with less volatility.
It was my dream to enter the Marine Corps like so many of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. With a sinking family janitorial business, disabled parents, and sisters too young to legally work...I ended up being head of household. Surprised that I was able to complete undergrad. Grateful to have put my sisters through college, arrange for full time caretakers for my parents, and have maintained a stable career. The decision to enter was delayed because I feared the worst for my family. At 32, there are still many "normal" life experiences that have been delayed because of the duty to support them. To be my age in an Italian Catholic family and not be married with five kids is frowned upon. The guilt flows daily from my mom, and abundantly because she wants grand kids!
Definitely do not view serving as a right/entitlement. It would be an honor and a privilege to be accepted to the armed forces. At this point, I know I'm not as attractive because of the age but am determined to serve my country in anyway that she'll let me. Might not be as a Marine, and these are the consequences of the choices I made to forego entering, but all things considered I was able to pull family through a rough patch of years. If it's not in the cards for me, then I'll continue to support those who serve in uniform as I always have.
Thank you for your service to our great nation Captain!
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So the demand for Officer accession is forever fluctuating. Make sure the are you are in has a need for a reserve officer in that specific job or check on a few others. If there is not a need or a specific job for your area, then check one near by that you would not mind making the commute for. I would also say keep contacting until you get an answer. If your local area is not being helpful then find one out of the area. Sometimes a certain area does not need to put in a specific entity like a naval reserve officer or maybe a specific field (not too savvy on naval officer accesion) There may be another area near by who desperately needs to put in naval reserve officer. If it is you dream, chase the dream and don't give up the fight. Good luck to you in your future endeavors.
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Chris A.
Gunny,
Thank you for your comment and encouragement, hopefully something pans out. Grateful for your service to our country!
Thank you for your comment and encouragement, hopefully something pans out. Grateful for your service to our country!
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