BGO interview Response?

anon2021

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Joined
Jul 21, 2016
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114
hi guys! This is a question for both the USAFA community and the USNA community, but I didn't know which one to put it under.

I have finished everything in my portal for both USNA/USAFA, except for the interviews. About 2.5 weeks ago, I emailed by BGO officer and the ALO, but neither of them responded. I double checked if they sent, and if they sent to the correct address. Sorry if this is a silly question, but should I contact my admissions counselor from both of the schools and tell them about my contact issue, or should I resend another email to the officers? I know that emails often get lost or put into the spam box, but just in case the officers are busy, I don't want to "over-spam" them with repetitive emails.

Thanks for your input!
 
Do you have their phone number? Should be listed in CIS.
 
I have finished everything in my portal for both USNA/USAFA, except for the interviews. About 2.5 weeks ago, I emailed by BGO officer and the ALO, but neither of them responded.

As an Area Coordinator, I would find this unacceptable -- at least of a BGO. I can't speak for ALOs. It's a little odd to me that neither the BGO nor the ALO responded. It makes me wonder whether there is a problem with your email address or email server.

In general, under no circumstances would I expect a BGO to take 2.5 weeks to respond to a candidate query. There are many instances where we get candidates who contact us to schedule interviews when they have done nothing or nearly nothing to advance their application. In those circumstances, I and my BGOs still respond, encouraging the candidate to complete elements of their application and get it to a more advanced state before expecting an interview.

If, as you say, you are 100% complete except for your interview, then your BGO is delinquent and s/he will start appearing on a report that we Area Coordinators receive from the BGO liaison officer. Under these circumstances, if your BGO is not responding, I would call him/her if you have their phone number. Lacking that, I would get in touch with your Area Coordinator for assistance.

Just one other comment. While I don't think that 2.5 weeks is satisfactory response time, I only speak for my own area. Please keep in mind that BGOs are all volunteers with busy personal and often times professional lives. Please do be respectful, even if you are being forced to press a bit for a response.
 
It seems odd that you have no response from either BGO or ALO.....I would respectfully resend
 
Patience is a virtue and, from my perspective, a job requirement both for this process and a professional career in the military.
 
^suddensam is right on. Time to go 90's style and use the phone in real life.
 
As an Area Coordinator, I would find this unacceptable -- at least of a BGO. I can't speak for ALOs. It's a little odd to me that neither the BGO nor the ALO responded. It makes me wonder whether there is a problem with your email address or email server.

In general, under no circumstances would I expect a BGO to take 2.5 weeks to respond to a candidate query. There are many instances where we get candidates who contact us to schedule interviews when they have done nothing or nearly nothing to advance their application. In those circumstances, I and my BGOs still respond, encouraging the candidate to complete elements of their application and get it to a more advanced state before expecting an interview.

If, as you say, you are 100% complete except for your interview, then your BGO is delinquent and s/he will start appearing on a report that we Area Coordinators receive from the BGO liaison officer. Under these circumstances, if your BGO is not responding, I would call him/her if you have their phone number. Lacking that, I would get in touch with your Area Coordinator for assistance.

Just one other comment. While I don't think that 2.5 weeks is satisfactory response time, I only speak for my own area. Please keep in mind that BGOs are all volunteers with busy personal and often times professional lives. Please do be respectful, even if you are being forced to press a bit for a response.

I do believe that both of their numbers are on my portals; however, I did not know when an appropriate time to call them would be. I know that each officer is generally a volunteer, and has a life of his/her own. I checked and double-checked again today, and BOTH of my emails were sent to the correct addresses, and they were both also "delivered" according to gmail. When I said both of my applications were done, I basically meant that.
For Air Force, i am 100% done. For USNA, I am waiting on my Math Teacher Rec, although he has finished writing it and has just simply forgotten to click submit ;)

Should I just resend the email or should I take a chance and call them?
 
My recommendation: go with your "gut." And it seems like your "gut" is telling you that something isn't right and you need to take action.

My daughter went through three ALOs when applying to USAFA...it was an issue with USAFA "filling the ALO billet." These things happen.

But, there was very poor communication with my daughter, and other candidates as well I'm sure, while the "musical ALO" process was unfolding.


She called her academic advisor who didn't realize there was a problem. Maybe that's your case as well.

The ALO relationship building process was very unprofessional, like amateur hour. I bit my tongue and encouraged my daughter as she fought through the challenge, and she did. Her "final" ALO was a great guy; moreover he was covering turf for multiple ALOs.

If you're worried about what folks on the other side of the phone call are thinking, here's how I did business when dealing with Marines applying for officer programs: if u are being a pest I'll let you know; but I will not cut you much slack when you should have acted and didn't.

Leaders develop a "6th sense" and you are clearly developing yours.

Semper Fi,

DTrain
 
Just checked, and I actually sent out both emails on August 5th....I guess a phone call is in the near future!

Thank you for your input, everyone. I really appreciate the help!
 
It makes sense to send a follow-up email. Type in the address again, just to be sure there was no typo the first time. I'm sure you will be super nice and respectful.....just following up on my previous email...i respect that you are very busy...I just wanted to be sure that I am sending this email to the appropriate person.... It really is too easy these days to lose track of emails in one's IN box or even to delete emails accidentally, particularly when accessing email on a smart phone. Okay, maybe I'm revealing my advanced age. It happens to ME despite my best efforts!
 
It makes sense to send a follow-up email. Type in the address again, just to be sure there was no typo the first time. I'm sure you will be super nice and respectful.....just following up on my previous email...i respect that you are very busy...I just wanted to be sure that I am sending this email to the appropriate person.... It really is too easy these days to lose track of emails in one's IN box or even to delete emails accidentally, particularly when accessing email on a smart phone. Okay, maybe I'm revealing my advanced age. It happens to ME despite my best efforts!
Haha thanks for the advice! Yeah, I just first sent a follow up email, and if in the next week neither of them respond, I'll call. I copied and pasted the address, and quadruple checked it anyway.

In this follow up email, I also included my progress in my applications. I totally understand that emails from Non-ordinary senders can oftentimes end up in spam, trash, or just blatantly ignored, so I'm not taking it as a huge problem!

Hopefully at least one of them will respond soon. :D

Thanks again, everyone!
 
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