Would an O-3 or above be willing to conduct an interview for my Navy OCS package?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:49:48 -0500

Hi everyone! I am preparing an OCS package for SNA and was hoping to connect with individuals on this forum to help complete the officer interview portion. My application requires the interviewer to be an O-3 or above and serving on an AD or Reserve status. The interviewer can be from any branch, however someone from the Naval Aviation community would be a plus.

I am working with my Chain of Command and they have been very helpful throughout the application process, I just wanted to see if I could leverage this site to provide additional support.

Thank you for the help, please let me know if you have any questions.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Dec 2 at 2024 6:54 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:54:50 -0500

Could you be a little more specific to help draw in the right people? Does it have to be a Navy O-3 or above, or can it be someone from another military branch? Also, does it need to be a currently serving O-3 or above (AD, Reserves, NG) or can it also be a retiree?

Edited for small typo.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2024 1:08 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:08:46 -0500

While I appreciate taking the initiative, you really need to leverage the officers/Wardroom in your command to find names/points of contact for your interview. It can raise red flags for a complete stranger to reach out without having any sort of background information and even possibly raise the "concern" this person is bypassing their chain of command.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2024 2:02 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:02:06 -0500

Based on my career experience moving from E to O, this should not be 3 interviews...it should be 1 interview with 3 officers who are O-3 and/or above. They should interview you as a pannel and then there is a standard form that they each fill out individually.

While the 3 officer pannel does not need to be from your unit/chain of command, it would be helpful to you if they were and they knew you and your background and work ethic as a sailor. At least one of the officers should be from your command and serve as the chairman of the interview board.if you are not familiar enough with any of the senior officers in your unit to ask, then your XO should solicit this person from the cadre of officers from your command (the Wardroom), and the chair should then find the other 2 officers who will participate and schedule the interview. You might have some ideas who you want to be on the panel and share that with the appointed chairman...that should make life easy for them, especially if you approach the officers you want first and let them know. Here is the basic road map for how this should unfold:

1. Speak to your CO/XO and brief them where you are at with regards to assembling your application. Let them know/remind them of the interview requirement. Suggest to them that it would be helpful if an officer from the command was appointed to chair the interview pannel.

2. Reach out to the officer appointed as chair. Discuss with them where you are at with the application process, and bring up the names of any officers you would like to be a part of the panel. Set a time frame with the chair for approximately when the interview will happen. Let him know you will reach out to the other officers you want on the panel and that you will have them contact the chairman.

3. Reach out to the officers you want to interview you. Again, let them know what you are doing, what the timeframe is, and what you need them to do. Give them the contact info of the chairman.

4. Once you have accomplished step 3 with all the officers you want to contact, then take their contact info and provide it to the chairman. Let him know that you are "standing by to proceed at his early convenience".

5. Print copies of the interview forms and provide them in advance to the chair. Bring extra copies with you on the date of your interview.

6. The chairman of the board should collect the interview sheets from the other officers and then provide them to you either later in the day after the interview or later in the week. You need to include the interview sheets as part of your application package.

While it is important to show initiative with this, it is also important to know what your capabilities and limitations are. Leverage your chain of command to assist you in making this happen. They know where you stand, and that you will need their support for this. Figuring out that aspect and engaging with them to enlist their support to bring about your success will not only get you the support you need, but will win their respect as well. Also, don't fool yourself thinking that they know the process for your application and all the hoops you need to jump through....if they have not gone E to O or assisted someone else who has done this, they will not know. You taking the lead on things comes in the form of having and being familiar with the NAVADMIN and/or other instructions for your application, and briefing/communicating your intentions and needs to your chain of command.

Good luck with this endeavor.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2024 2:23 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:23:52 -0500

Hey IS2, it sounds like you want to commission as a 131X and don’t have any officers at your current command that are Naval aviators. If that is the case you can try leveraging the Wardroom’s contacts within the aviation community if you haven’t already. Having an interview from someone in your desired community will help make your package stronger, particularly if they know you or can speak to your abilities and potential as an officer. I do recommend starting in-house first. If efforts within your command are getting you nowhere, you can message me here. The IWC is small and I know plenty of officers who have served as squadron AIs, CAG spy, and other jobs that may have better leads.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2025 7:59 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:59:08 -0400

As others have said, leverage the Wardroom at your command as best as you can and become familiar with OPNAVINST 1420.1b. If you can find a prior enlisted who used OCS, that's even better. Most areas have a "Mustang Road Show" that will provide you with great information on how to build your application. If you have a Facebook, there is a group called "Future Mustang Mentorship" that I highly recommend. Everyone from E1 to O6 are in that group and willing to help where they can.

I am not familiar with the OCS requirements, but assuming it's similar to STA-21 interviews, Teams or command VTC is a viable option if you're unable to do them in person.