What are some good techniques for oral Boards (Like EIDWS)?

2016-02-29T01:26:30-05:00

I tend to be really bad with public speaking and blank out about things during presentations or boards. Trying to find suggestions to calm my nerves when I go up for oral boards.

Response by PO1 James Mason made Feb 29 at 2016 1:49 AM

2016-02-29T01:49:59-05:00

Get a walk through with your board members if possible. It will help you to be prepared for the type of questions that you'll be asked. Being prepared goes a long way to calming nerves.

Response by CPO Frank Coluccio made Feb 29 at 2016 2:55 AM

2016-02-29T02:55:04-05:00

Keep your answers short and to the point, if you reached the oral boards you KNOW the material. My Chief gave me this bit of advice when I was an E-4 going for my ESWS qual; Think of the question as shovel handed to you, the longer you keep talking, the deeper the hole gets. His meaning was; the longer you talk, the better the chance of saying something wrong.
LISTEN to each question, and the best advice...BREATHE!!!

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Feb 29 at 2016 4:38 AM

2016-02-29T04:38:23-05:00

Don't think of it as public speaking. It's an exam where you don't have to do any writing.

Answer the question that's asked, don't go further. Talk to your board members before hand and ask them to pre-board you to make sure you're ready. If you don't feel ready, study some more - you shouldn't be under the gun for time.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Feb 29 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-02-29T10:28:22-05:00

As a nuke submariner, I've done my share of boards, both inside and outside the Navy. I've done my share of sitting on oral boards, too.

CPO Frank Coluccio is dead-on with his post, and I would add the following:

0. THERE IS NO QUESTION SO URGENT YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO THINK!!!!!!
1. If you have (EDIT) a good idea, but are not 100% sure, say so. "I'm not sure, but I believe..." (Sometimes, a board member will tell you not to do this. OBEY!)
2. If you pure and simple don't know, say so. Don't try and BS a group of old salts.
3. Always ask for feedback at the end. "When the evaluation is complete, I would really appreciate some feedback on how I did, and how I can improve."

One last thing - and maybe this is ONLY for nukes and bubbleheads (and maybe doesn't apply anymore... I am, after all, a dinosaur). Don't be afraid of follow-up questions. That usually means you got the answer right, but "they" want to know how much you actually know, and if you're going to try and BS the board.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 10:39 AM

2016-02-29T10:39:41-05:00

If you know the material and the public speaking/blanking out portion is the main issue here, see if there is a local "toast masters" class at/near your command. This can give you the opportunity to learn some public speaking techniques which can help you with not only your board, but a life-long skill that you can put in your tool belt for any further pursuits.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 11:29 AM

2016-02-29T11:29:21-05:00

When I was finishing my qualifications for ESWS and later on EAWS and preparing for the board - I studied my butt off after hours and had 2 other guys who were going for their ESWS around the same time - so we would drill one another with questions from the PQS books for hours at a time. My command had a required "murder" board first, that you had to pass before being able to go in front of the actual board. All of that studying paid off, during my ESWS board - I had answered all of my questions and offered answers to the questions that the other two had missed. After about 3 hours - I was the only one who passed on that board.

My EAWS was much more relaxed - as we sat in lawn chairs in a circle in the hangar bay, as they took turns asking me questions.

Just study - once you know the information...you'll be fine - you might be nervous, but after the first few questions...the nerves will leave and you'll do fine.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 29 at 2016 12:38 PM

2016-02-29T12:38:31-05:00

Make sure you completely listen to the question, and process for a bit before answering. If you don't understand the question, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. And once you understand the question, answer that question; nothing more, nothing less...

Response by SGT Richard H. made Feb 29 at 2016 12:38 PM

2016-02-29T12:38:39-05:00

Start each answer by repeating the question. It will help you control the flow of the questions as well as give you time to phrase your answer properly...you most likely studied in this manner also, so it may help with memory triggers.
Example:
1SG: What is the maximum effective range of an M4 rifle?
You: First Sergeant, the maximum effective range of the M4 rifle is 500m for point targets and 600m for area targets.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 10:02 AM

2016-03-01T10:02:06-05:00

1) get to know your board members beforehand if at all possible. Get them to sign off on a section or two in your book.

2) remember that it's not public speaking in front of your classmates like in high school. It's a question-and-answer session.

3) remember that even though it's called "murder board" it is not actually meant to be very adversarial. Every board member has sat in your seat before. They knew nothing until it was taught to them as well. It's tough, no doubt, but every warfare program from SEAL to ESWAS to EAWS to EIDWS to submariner dolphins is designed to lift you up to the standard as long as you put forth the effort. Nobody comes into the Navy knowing this stuff. It's not to the Navy's benefit to set people up for failure. Do your woodshedding and one day you just might be on someone else's board.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 2:48 PM

2016-03-02T14:48:45-05:00

Answer the question. Only the question. If you spit out more, they'll dig.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2016 12:50 AM

2016-06-24T00:50:44-04:00

I studied, and the night before I went through the entire qual and only wrote down questions that I got the answer wrong on or didn't know. The day of I only reviewed the questions I didn't know or got wrong.. On the board I felt fresh and ready to go. Remember to BREATHE!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 20 at 2023 4:11 PM

2023-10-20T16:11:54-04:00

Find a Toast Master’s club. A few were even in Iraq! Practice your public speaking there.
Do not say: “And uh”!