ALO meeting: dressy?

orangetorpedo

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
6
Hey again,

My ALO meeting was scheduled out of the blue for two weeks away... I haven't seen much on here about the interview process, and I was wondering how I should dress? I live in Hawaii, so what most of you consider "casual" would be laughed at as ridiculously stiffy here.

I figured a nice pair of shorts and a polo shirt... should it be pants and a tie instead?

(I should mention the meeting is in a mid-level fast food restaurant)

Thanks
 
I'm not familiar with Hawaii's dress standards, however, for an ALO interview it can't hurt to dress nice. I'd recommend pants and a tie.
 
I'm not familiar with Hawaii's dress standards, however, for an ALO interview it can't hurt to dress nice. I'd recommend pants and a tie.

Yea, there's definitely something about wearing pants when you visit with your ALO. If you don't wear pants, it could be a little awkward.

Seriously, the best thing for you to consider, is that this and your interviews with your MOC for nominations, is basically; "The Job Interview of your Life". Personally, giving you 2 weeks notice, isn't really "Out of the Blue". FWIW, my son's ALO met him at the Base Gymnasium to do his CFA. After he got done with the last part, (The Run), she asked him if he could come to her office right then for his interview. So, in jeans and a sweaty t-shirt, he did his ALO interview. Mind you, this was the ALO's idea, and was definitely "Out of the Blue". But if you have actual notice, e.g. 2 weeks, and it's something you can prepare for, then I recommend you treat it like the "Job interview of your life". How would you dress for such a job interview??? Would you wear jeans and sneakers, or nice slacks, button down shirt, and a tie??? Maybe even a jacket??? Same when it comes time for your MOC interviews. Best of luck to you. Mike.....
 
You only get one chance to make a good first impression and it's always better to be overdressed vs. underdressed. I recommend at minimum a shirt and tie. Best of luck!
 
Yea, there's definitely something about wearing pants when you visit with your ALO. If you don't wear pants, it could be a little awkward.

Seriously, the best thing for you to consider, is that this and your interviews with your MOC for nominations, is basically; "The Job Interview of your Life". Personally, giving you 2 weeks notice, isn't really "Out of the Blue". FWIW, my son's ALO met him at the Base Gymnasium to do his CFA. After he got done with the last part, (The Run), she asked him if he could come to her office right then for his interview. So, in jeans and a sweaty t-shirt, he did his ALO interview. Mind you, this was the ALO's idea, and was definitely "Out of the Blue". But if you have actual notice, e.g. 2 weeks, and it's something you can prepare for, then I recommend you treat it like the "Job interview of your life". How would you dress for such a job interview??? Would you wear jeans and sneakers, or nice slacks, button down shirt, and a tie??? Maybe even a jacket??? Same when it comes time for your MOC interviews. Best of luck to you. Mike.....

On the contrary my ALO said he likes to do the exact opposite when interviewing candidates. He told me that instead of making them think all about what he will ask, he gives them a list of questions he will ask. About 90% of questions he asks are on that list then the other 10% are “out of the blue”. He told me that this makes it so if they come unprepared they have NO excuse because he even said what he will ask. So it test preparation, along with the skills it already test. Just a different perspective, and I think it’s interesting how that works.

Although, assume he is in uniform. Its never a bad thing to be over dressed, and over prepared.
 
On the contrary my ALO said he likes to do the exact opposite when interviewing candidates. He told me that instead of making them think all about what he will ask, he gives them a list of questions he will ask. About 90% of questions he asks are on that list then the other 10% are “out of the blue”. He told me that this makes it so if they come unprepared they have NO excuse because he even said what he will ask. So it test preparation, along with the skills it already test. Just a different perspective, and I think it’s interesting how that works.

Although, assume he is in uniform. Its never a bad thing to be over dressed, and over prepared.

What is "ON the Contrary"? We were talking about how to dress. You're talking about what questions the ALO is going to ask. You definitely bring up a good topic, but what "Opposite" are you talking about when it comes to how to dress?
 
Thanks for your help, I'll go with pants and a tie.

I would like to mention that by "out of the blue" I meant that my ALO contacted me first with the time and place set... I thought I was going to have to call and set it up.
 
What is "ON the Contrary"? We were talking about how to dress. You're talking about what questions the ALO is going to ask. You definitely bring up a good topic, but what "Opposite" are you talking about when it comes to how to dress?

Well, it wasn’t fully related to just dress. But I thought it would be worth saying, maybe bad word choice though.
 
No, definitely a good topic, and well worth talking about. I was just a bit confused because you quote me and said "On the contrary". I thought I was brain dead and posted something that was incorrect. No problems. mike....
 
I went to my ALO interview in a white dress shirt, black slacks (with a belt), and black dress shoes. No tie. My ALO was in a polo shirt and khaki dress pants. I didn't notice shoes (hey, I'm a guy lol).

I think each ALO is different, but you definately SHOULD dress up for the interview, but its not a tuxedo or full on suit type thing. No blue jeans or shorts. Unless you Hawaiians have something equivalent of the Scottish kilts that is seen as dressy :shake:
 
J Unless you Hawaiians have something equivalent of the Scottish kilts that is seen as dressy :shake:[/QUOTE said:
That would be the lava lava, but only Samoans wear those. Think a sarong. For guys.

I think I'll stick with a dress shirt and pants ;)
 
Twin A met his ALO in a local casual restaurant and wore khaki pants, short sleeved dress shirt, and tie, with dress shoes. No jacket, no sneakers.

Twin B met his ALO at the mall and had a similar outfit.

"Interview of your life" about covers it. Shorts and T-shirt, even in Hawaii, just wouldn't cover it (aside from occasions as ChristCorp describes).
 
When do you meet with your ALO for the official "Interview"? Because I'm currently a junior and I haven't applied for anything yet, but I would like to meet with him if he chooses to. Just want to make sure we decide to meet and all of a sudden it's my ALO Interview and I show up in a t-shirt!
 
I met mine last year (Freshman year for me) just as a casual information meeting, not the official interview. So we met in a deli, and then walked to Starbucks to eat, and talk. Most of the talking was my mom learning about AFA, since I already had done a fair amount of research. Regardless I wore khakis and a white polo. He immediately approached me and my mom, and greeted us, and said “I know a USAFA Candidate when I see one” I guess that was a correct choice in clothes.
So I suggest something at least that. You want a good first impression!
 
When do you meet with your ALO for the official "Interview"? Because I'm currently a junior and I haven't applied for anything yet, but I would like to meet with him if he chooses to. Just want to make sure we decide to meet and all of a sudden it's my ALO Interview and I show up in a t-shirt!

The "Official" ALO meeting is really only after someone is officially a candidate for admission, and has been so identified by USAFA. In other words, that will be in their senior year after they have a nomination OR the AFA has "tagged them" with a "presumptive" nomination. They do that if they initially like what they see and believe a student has "potential."

As a junior, your focus re: ALO would be (IMHO) this:

a. Contact them and inform them that you are VERY interested in applying to USAFA, that you're a junior, and you just wanted to "say Hi!"

b. Let them know that you are interested in applying for the Summer Seminar. That will get a little more attention at this point because around December/January...that's going to start to become a focus item for ALO's. Knowing that you're an early "interested student" will give them someone to contact.

c. Let your counselors/teachers/coaches/etc., know that you're interested in this and that you'd like their recommendations/support if that comes up. Early "lining up" of your support base is always a good thing!

d. SAT/ACT...start on them now...both if you can; get a good baseline score, determine which you do better on and keep after that!!!

e. FITNESS, FITNESS, FITNESS!!! If you don't run, START! If you don't do pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups/crunches, then START! You have a year to prepare for the CFA and to setup a routine of fitness that will be MANDATORY for your entire military career! This is the ONE area that most folks really regret NOT being properly prepared!

There's a candidate on this forum who may regret I tell the story...but a year ago...couldn't do a pull-up. We discussed this and the workouts began, the determination was/is THERE! TOTAL DEDICATION!!!!

Oh...now? 8 pull-ups are routine for this lady! Oh, didn't I tell you this was a young lady? I won't be surprised if she's not doing 10 by CFA time!!!!

THOSE should be your focus areas right now, IMHO.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
WOW Steve! Brilliant reply as always! Thanks for the info, and i'll probably do exactly as you suggest. I've started pushing like a demon since I joined NJROTC, but I do have to work on pull-ups. If you could possibly PM me with some suggestions on how to straighten that out, I'd be very greatful!

As for meeting with my ALO, thanks for the tip, FutureAFA. I'd love to make an impression on him like that!
 
WOW Steve! Brilliant reply as always! Thanks for the info, and i'll probably do exactly as you suggest. I've started pushing like a demon since I joined NJROTC, but I do have to work on pull-ups. If you could possibly PM me with some suggestions on how to straighten that out, I'd be very greatful!

As for meeting with my ALO, thanks for the tip, FutureAFA. I'd love to make an impression on him like that!

Get an iron gym, I bought one at walmart for like 30 bucks a while back, works great.
 
Back
Top