What makes a good officer in Navy Reserves? Is it different from what makes a good officer in the Navy?

PO2 Lars Nielson — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 14:14:27 -0500

I spent 6 years in the Navy as Intelligence Specialist and 4 years in the National Guard as a Sergeant in the Infantry and I am applying for a commission in the Navy Reserves in the Intelligence Community. I am writing my personal statement, but I am not sure what traits I should focus on in my personal statement. I figure I would write how certain experiences taught me certain things that will make me a good Intelligence Officer in the Navy Reserves. When I search on the internet for this question, I get good amount of comments that I am sure is said in Rotc and the Naval Academy. However, I would like to know traits or experiences from people in the Navy Reserves makes a good officer. I know I have seen and done a good number of things, but I am trying to figure out what I should focus on.

Response by LT Charles Baird made Feb 11 at 2019 8:17 PM

LT Charles Baird — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 20:17:53 -0500

Focus on the traits that help your peers and subordinates accomplish the mission and rise up to their full potential; team work; giving credit where it is due; mentoring those junior to you; etc... Be Honest in your assessment of yourself and show how your past experience will transfer to your future position in both intelligence and leadership; your officer recruiter should be able to help with this.

In other words, don't make the whole thing about you and your accomplishments - we all know that the military is a TEAM environment not an I environment.

Hope this was helpful.