Possible Senator Interview Questions?

A

acho97

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I am preparing for my interview with my Senator, and was wondering what question they might ask.
Anyone who's been to one of these... please help!
 
I agree with the previous posters search the threads here. I would also look through the nomination forum.

The fact is it can be all over the place. Anywhere from the traditional why USAFA to what do you do on your free time when you are with friends, and then, with everything possible in between.

Somebody could be asked why USAFA during their interview and they may say that their grandfather served in the AF in Intel during Vietnam. The next interview question could possibly be: Do you believe we should have been in Vietnam, or maybe even how do you think you would handle our society treating you like they did to our returning Vietnam Vets?

Now, you walk in next and are asked the same question, and your answer is since I was 6 I wanted to be an AF fighter pilot after visiting an airshow. The follow up is going to be totally different. Probably the What if you don't get pilot, what would you want to do in the AF?

It can become free flowing depending on the question and answer.

The best way impo to prepare for the interview is what my DS did. He made sure to wear his blazer /shirt/tie the night before, so he was comfortable wearing it during the interview. Shoes were polished too. During the 4 hr car ride he put in his headphones and listened to music. We did not pepper him with questions, EVER, be it prior to the day or on the ride.
~ We only said this to him: They are not your enemy, they know you are young and will be nervous. Chances are they will have kids your own age, and if not they have met a ton of nervous kids over the course of years doing the interviews. If you get that as a fact, you will do fine.

He must have done well because the interview was on Sat. and he got the congrats letter on Tuesday.

My other suggestion is ask the folks to have their friends over for dinner or a social hour. Have them interview you somewhere along the night (do not dress up for it). They will probably pepper you with questions, starting with the:
~ Why USAFA, why not USNA or USMA
~ What do you want to do in the AF
~ What if you don't get that career field?

It will be a committee, just like that dinner party, and as I said earlier, depending on how you answer one of the questions, the next follow up could change. Just like, if the folks did 2 dinner parties in a row with different guests. The 2nd one could just accept the why USAFA and move on to what do you want to do, and now follow up there.

If you hang with friends after school, than ask them what they think about you going to USAFA. They probably will have their own opinions.
~ Bud, are you really ready to give 9 years of your life (4 at USAFA and 5 AD)?
 
I will give you one bit of info. The majority of the questions asked, will be the same questions that are asked of all of that ALO's applicants. There will be some that are situational based on the individual applicant, replies to other questions, current event, etc. But when I am interviewing 10-15 applicants, 90% of the questions will be the same for each. What I ask, you don't need to know. Just because I asked it doesn't mean another ALO will. However, there are quite a few questions that pretty much all ALO's will ask.

Don't worry about what type of questions. Worry about giving true, honest, sincere, answers; that are yours, not your parent's or something you think we WANT TO HEAR...... and you'll be find.
 
Practice thinking on your feet with family/friends asking you questions which make you squirm. That should be some good prep.
 
fencersmother said:
Practice thinking on your feet with family/friends asking you questions which make you squirm. That should be some good prep.
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Such as if you could be a Disney Princess which would you be? And here's a hint they don't care which once you pick. That question is asked to see if you'll pick one and give a reason why. They just don't want to hear Snow White without giving a reason why, and a side note if you answered Princess Leia you would get bonus points in my book.
 
Oh we could have some fun here (not to hijack your thread, or anything dastardly like that).

Which StarTrek character would you be? Well, if you choose Picard over Kirk.... maybe you aren't Academy material. hahaha

Which fastfood would you be? Obviously, I am Chick-fil-A all the way (DD is district manager for them!), but I'd be wary of someone choosing to be a trip to the salad bar.
 
The question that threw me for a second was "How are you going to handle having to give orders that will end up with one of your men dying?" (or something along those lines). However a key to remember is not so much "giving the right answer" as much as sounding confident and showing that you can handle the stress of the interview. Obviously there are answers that would be red flags, but a lot of the questions they will ask will not have a "right answer"
 
jwest182 said:
The question that threw me for a second was "How are you going to handle having to give orders that will end up with one of your men dying?"
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I think that one is pretty common, or at least something along the lines regarding death during a conflict. Our DS was asked: Since you want to be a pilot, how will you handle knowing that unfortunately with your mission there could be collateral damage and death?

I don't think that the question was asked so much for the answer, but to place reality into the candidate that this may be a part of their life, if they choose this path.
~ So many kids will say I have wanted to fly fighters since I was 6. They have a vision of flying fast planes, but may not necessarily connect the fact that those cool, fast planes have a mission and it typically is death and destruction.
~~ Heck, the 111 was called Whispering Death because you didn't hear it coming, but you heard it leaving.
 
Sure, they mostly want to see if you can think on your feet (though that's one of those cliches with no clear definition), if you are confident, make eye contact, ask questions that prove you've done your homework.

One of my twins was asked: Son, you may be called upon to do something very difficult, such as drop bombs close to a civilian area. Would you do it? without hesitation?

Now, back to my fun game.
 
fencersmother said:
Sure, they mostly want to see if you can think on your feet (though that's one of those cliches with no clear definition), if you are confident, make eye contact, ask questions that prove you've done your homework.

One of my twins was asked: Son, you may be called upon to do something very difficult, such as drop bombs close to a civilian area. Would you do it? without hesitation?

Now, back to my fun game.
Click to expand...

DS got a very similar question along the lines of following orders when one might be conflicted personally. All applicants: be ready for this line of questioning.
 
Some (but not all) MOC do ask 'off the wall' questions to see your thought process and if you have been heavily coached on how to answer 'standard' questions. Don't try to memorize answers to questions and don't try to answer questions with what you think they want to hear.....be yourself.

Certainly you want to be able to explain why you want to join the military but you are NOT expected to be an expert in military protocol. Search back on old threads for examples of common questions.
 
Hardest question I think ever asked was why the Air Force Academy and not Navy or Army? For whatever reason that question threw me the most off-guard, but luckily I came up with an excellent on the spot answer that I think really impressed the interviewers.
 
Hodge said:
Hardest question I think ever asked was why the Air Force Academy and not Navy or Army? For whatever reason that question threw me the most off-guard, but luckily I came up with an excellent on the spot answer that I think really impressed the interviewers.
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Hodge.....you gotta share with the forum what your answer was! You threw out the hook, now everyone wants to bite!
 
My DS would have said for the Navy what his Dad always would say that upon returning after a mission he liked that the runway was exactly where he left it when he took of a few hours earlier.
 
DD was asked, "Who is your favorite Disney princess?" (Answer: Mulan!)
 
Not trying to start a firestorm, but that was a tad bit sexist impo. I wonder if they asked any guy who was their favorite Disney prince/character?

Again, no flaming me. Maybe they turned to guys and asked something on the same level as Disney princess for the girls. Just to add levity to the interview, which I get.
 
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