How long would it take to get an Navy OCS review board and what to say?

Question

I am about graduate with a B.A. in Art from UC Santa Cruz and have already submitted by letters of recommendation to the recruiter. I have a 3.57 in the major and a 3.39 overall. The Art Department advisor has been very helpful in finding the right people to support my package. My package is for the NFO slot and I'm aware that only one out of five candidates are selected.

What am I supposed to talk about in front of the officers? In college, all I really focussed on was sculpting, painting and other forms of studio art. I was usually one of the lead speakers discussing the importance of post-modern art. Post-modern artists like myself reject the idea that only white men are artistic geniuses. Thus, Feminist art and minority art challenged canonical ways of thinking. My artwork like any other postmodernist rejects the philosophy that there is an inherent meaning to a work of art or that this meaning was determined by the artist at the time of creation.

My portfolio is mostly post-modern art, that is art that challenges the master narrative that all progress-especially technological is taken to be positive. My art embraces the local, contingent and the temporary. Do you think this is too abstract and way over the horizon for a job interview?

Answer 1

Strike One: a BA. Navy really only seriously considers BSs

Strike Two: crappy GPA in non STEM degree. with a BA, or BFA you need a 4.0 GPA. overall, not just not he major. seriously a 3.39 will not even make it past the first screening.

Strike Three: waaayyyy too hung up on art. the Navy does not give a damn about art, Post Modern or otherwise



you have ZERO leadership roles, in or out of school. you have ZERO community involvement, NO team Sport.



OCS selection boards are not even being HELD, and when they are they MIGHJT take 2-3 for each Designator. all the NFO slots were filled a long time ago via ROTC and USNA.

Answer 2

I think you need to find another career.



Seriously, I really don't think that's going to sit well with an OCS board. They're more lenient with Aviation in regards to major but all that just won't fly.

Answer 3

Okay, now that we have had all of the opinion and conjecture (guessing), I will be the "Bad Guy" former Naval Flight Officer who keeps current with Naval Aviation and answer truthfully. I guarantee you will not like my answer, but it will be factual.



If you are going for Naval Aviation they DO NOT care what degree you have no matter whether it is a BA or BS. They do not care what your major field of study was. They do not require a 3.7 GPA overall. Depending upon other factors which I will describe, your overall GPA is sufficient.



However, you do not want to discuss art history or emotional expression through art. If you intend to do that or think that ANYTHING about your art degree has anything to do with being a Naval Officer or a Naval Flight Officer then you need to stop the process NOW.



Your bullsh*t discussion about art and art history - and, yeah, I understood it 100% because not all non-artists are insensitive knuckle-draggers - will get you a short interview, a curt "Thank you," and an escort out the door within minutes. Accept now that no one gives a ragged rat's a** about your thoughts that, "Post-modern artists like myself reject the idea that only white men are artistic geniuses. Thus, Feminist art and minority art challenged canonical ways of thinking."



No one gives a rat's a** about how well you can do studio art, what you think you are expressing in your art, or what you think about art at all. If you are looking for deep-thought discussions about how using spoiled blueberry yogurt in a collage expressing the angst of minority physically disabled, emotionally disturbed, autistic, gay feminists with ADHD and their fight for artistic equality against "the establishment" then stay away from Naval Aviation and the military entirely.



What counts, and what is virtually the ONLY thing that counts for getting into Naval Aviation aside from having SOME college degree, is your performance on the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB - http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/Pages/ASTBOverview.aspx).



You need to study that website and thoroughly understand what is required. I had a BS in Psychology with a marginal GPA, but I scored a 9/9 and 8/9 on the two determining subtests, so I beat out a guy with a BS in Aerospace and a better GPA than mine.



I wound up being Electronic Warfare (EW) Aircraft Model Manager (ERA-3B), Aircraft Commander, Mission Commander, and Event Commander (the only Navy LT to be one at the time), and I was granted EW Warfare Subspecialty Code 0046S, so apparently the ASTB was right.



For the interview you want to discuss your desire to perform a high-stress, high-risk job under constant pressure to the absolute limits of your ability and still provide constructive support and leadership for those who are your subordinates. You need to spend the time to do some real research and reading about what military officers, Naval officers, and Naval Flight Officers actually DO and discard all thoughts of how your BA in Art and your perception of art applies to anything to do with the military, the Navy, or Naval Aviation.



From your silly-a** question you are totally clueless about anything to do with the military, the Navy, and Naval Aviation. If you want to email me from my profile and even possibly talk on the phone I will be happy to help you understand what you want to do, what is involved to try to get there, and what you can expect IF you manage to get into the program.



I won't coddle you or be sensitive to your "feelings," but I will give you an opportunity to decide if you really want to continue the effort.



Lose your freakin' "sensitivity." There is no room for "sensitivity" in Naval Aviation except when you are off-duty.