nomination interview

I've only heard of limited recruiting w/ Navy swim/dive...very light, as compared to Army. Army was like fraternity rush! The argument could be made that USNA doesn't have to recruit (i.e. they are kicking butt in sports). But, that schmoozing feeling is very nice!
The CVW in Jan. is the county meet and son is hoping to win #2 (no way to catch #1!). The Feb and March CVW's have the swim team at meets...not sure if they'll have a chance to meet the coaches. I don't want to wait til April to make this decision.
 
a few others in the room had on tennis shoes,jeans and sweaters, which surprised me.......

not sure where you are from but a lot of kids don't own suits or even shoes that aren't sneakers. many kids come from families that can't afford to go buy them for a one shot inverview. If a kid comes in clean and neat - even in jeans and sneakers - they won't be hurt.

Now, going to an inverview with boxers sticking out of falling down jeans and a ratty t-shirt won't help at all.
 
My Experiment

As far as nominations go, yeah, they can be quite different, from what I've heard, but one thing is good across the board - your attitude. Don't walk in the room like it's a firing squad. These people are not mean or out to get you - in fact, to have given their time to selecting future officers says something about their character.

The reason i called this "My Experiment" is that I've had a unique opportunity. Just yesterday I had my second interview with my Congressman's board - I was denied admission last year, on a medical basis. Last year, I entered that room terrified. I knew a couple of faces on the 10-person board, but nevertheless, I worked hard to convince them, in a very businesslike manner, that my medical condition would not cause their potential nomination of me to be wasted. Leaving, I was not sure at all if I would get the nomination (I did).

This year, though, things were different. My case was even more risky - I was already denied admission once! But, leaving happily this year, I knew I was receiving a nomination, and most likely the "primary" one - so the board told me, which they don't usually do on-the-spot. Why? My different attitude. I pictured this as a chat with my good friends, explaining to them why I was so excited (I used that word at least 5 times) about the Academies, all the stuff I would do to get in, etc. It was all true, of course, but last year I had omitted that for the air of professionalism. I said what was on my mind (I knew the stuff, the Honor Concept, term of service after grad, branch choice, etc.) and with a smile on my face. By the end, we were having fun, and I left in a state of joy.

I hope you can do the same. Remember, be happy, know your stuff, and don't worry about prepped answers. Just talk to your friends about the academy, and say the same things in front of the board. If those are two different things, maybe you should reexamine your passion for admission...

Good luck, and God Bless.

Hooah!
-Snyder
 
Congratulations, Snyder!! Thank you for your committment to serve your country!

:usa:


Your interview story is great. Thank you for sharing that. My son's late Congressman allowed SA "pre"candidates to come in for a practice interview with the board. My son did that his junior year - he had to complete the appplication, too! Essay, recommendations, make the deadline - everything. It was a great learning experience for him. He was a lot more confident the next year (like you) in all his interviews. Practicing the interview is very helpful! I am glad you have had success. Congrats again for receiving the nomination!

mom3boys, it would be fun to meet! But, in case that does not work out, your guidance counselor may know of a West Point cadet coming to visit your school. Ask him/her to invite one. Most West Point cadets leave on 12/20 and report on January 7. Also, some cadets finish exams early and go on recruiting visits this coming week (12/17-21).
 
I don't know if this will help anyone but I have done interviews for jobs through ROTC and I must admit I am a worrier. Something that I know helps me is that I think about the questions that I would ask myself. Why join the military, why SA, why branch of service, why career, why your sport and then think through an answer. In truth I have never remembered what I said in practice. To me it's not at much about what the exact answer is, as much as that I DO know why and that I am prepaired to answer that type of question. I think it gives me more confedence knowing that I have prepaired myself.
 
Nomination boards...I sit on them

Hello all!

I sit on these boards almost every year. So...some intel...

I want to know who the candidate is. I try to put them at ease (they're usually very nervous, scared, etc.) Then I/we get to the "meat" of the interview.

Example questions I've used:

a. Why did you apply?
b. Have you been to the academy/met a cadet/mid'n?
c. WHY do I want you as a junior officer? (I'm a senior officer)
d. What do you bring to the table? We, the armed forces, need the best: why is that you?
e. There are "X" number of amazing young men and women out in the lobby waiting to meet with us. Why are you better than them?
f. What is the honor code? Since students in HS do NOT "rat" on their friends, why should I believe you would turn in a classmate/roommate if they violated the code? Or yourself?

The "politics" questions were very well explained by previous posters. I have never had a board member ask one in my 13 years as an ALO; we don't care about politics for candidates: we want the BEST candidate and ultimately the best young man/woman that will serve our nation.

On the boards I've been a member of...it's that "simple."

Steve
 
flieger83: Thanks for bumping this thread up! Great advice for the upcoming interviews within the next 3-4 months...
 
Thought I'd bump this thread again since interviews will be happening within the next couple of months(I just got scheduled for my MOC interview!). It has a lot of great info so I thought it could be put to good use.
 
Excellent!

I know I'm scheduled to do interviews for my US Rep in November...and others are scheduling theirs now for Nov/Dec.

'Tis the season!'
 
I have a question that is somewhat foggy but perhaps someone can address it. I'm aware that in the interview they may, and probably will ask me what I want to do in the military. I was actually asked this by my BGO. My answer has always been flying, I want to fly. But... I'm extremely interested in many other things and would be equally happy with other things. Is not having a "vocation" decided frowned upon? I understand that they want to see you've given it some thought, but I don't want to appear indecisive.

Thanks!
 
Excellent advice from the contributors below. Last night, I was just counseling a sponsor 2/C from our USNA family about how to get through Brigade staff position interviews with a battery of senior officers. All of the below, plus body language can be a major plus. There is lots of good information online about job interview techniques, do's and don'ts, ways to cope with nerves and be your best self. You are interviewing for a job as a cadet or midshipman, and long-term, as an officer -- same skills apply. If you are asked "what are your weaknesses (character flaws, bad habits, etc.) and how do you combat them?," silence and not being able to come up with anything is not a good thing. Come up with one -- maybe you procrastinate on deadlines -- and how you get yourself over the hump by relying on a positive trait that helps you overcome that. Good luck.
 
I have a question that is somewhat foggy but perhaps someone can address it. I'm aware that in the interview they may, and probably will ask me what I want to do in the military. I was actually asked this by my BGO. My answer has always been flying, I want to fly. But... I'm extremely interested in many other things and would be equally happy with other things. Is not having a "vocation" decided frowned upon? I understand that they want to see you've given it some thought, but I don't want to appear indecisive.

Thanks!

From my perspective, no.

Why?

When I am on these boards, I expect a certain amount of nervousness and confusion. That's normal. Add to that, there are so many choices of majors, career fields, etc., that some "kids" aren't sure.

And that's okay. BUT...BUT...I do want them to be conversant with me about choices they know about and may be considering. And back-up plans.

It's tough when I ask: "So, Mr/Ms XXXX...what do you want to do in the AF/USN/USA, etc?" And they respond: "Oh, I want to fly..." and then I say "Okay, but what happens if you lose your pilot medical, then what?"

And I get the deer in the headlights look.

FYI...only about 8% of the AF flies...and it's MUCH smaller in the navy. I don't know the army numbers. But obviously, there's a whole lotta military out there doing ALL SORTS of other roles/missions.

THAT is what I want to hear from a candidate: that they've been serious about their review/study/analysis of the academy and their options.

Make sense?

Steve
 
Thank you!

Makes perfect sense to me, and I understand that such questions will be asked :thumb:

Thanks :biggrin:
 
For our DS's MOC interview, he met a committee. The committee asked the typical why and what questions regarding the AF. They also asked questions that were very random. What do you think of the The Darfur situation, what has been your most recent book that you read and why (specifically stating school does not count), discuss an article from the news that you found interesting, and questions about why he took certain classes.

Don't be tunnel visoned about why the AFA or what you expect to do. Be ready for questions that might be much broader in perspective.

Sit with your folks and their friends have them hit you with a broad range of questions, practicing helps you feel more natural. Remember the MOC typically doesn't interview, but a committee does. The committee is made up of a wide range of people from business to military to congressional staffers.

Most importantly realize they understand that you are still just a kid. They will try to make you feel comfortable because they know if you get to this level you are serious about joining and respect you for being the top already. In our state, they only interviewed the top. There were 20 for 10 slots, and they had already cleared out 75+ other who never had the chance to interview.
 
Yes, I agree. Someone mentioned last year on here or that other forum (can't remember which) that one of things they got asked was to describe which household kitchen utensil best describes their personality. I would assume at least part of the reason is to see your thought process on something you obviously could not prep for ahead of time. Also a good way to see who might have been overly coached to say all the right things during the interview.
 
Yes, I agree. Someone mentioned last year on here or that other forum (can't remember which) that one of things they got asked was to describe which household kitchen utensil best describes their personality. I would assume at least part of the reason is to see your thought process on something you obviously could not prep for ahead of time. Also a good way to see who might have been overly coached to say all the right things during the interview.

You're probably right as to the rationale for the question, but that one's really out there!:eek:

As with most interviews in life, there is a line (not too fine) between preparing and overpreparing. Research what you're looking to do. Think through answers to likely questions (why do you want to go to USNA) but don't memorize the answers. Work on answering questions in a short timeframe (I once had someone in an interview -- not for USNA -- spend 20 minutes answering one simple question).

Maybe experiment with answering questions like the above -- not because you'll get that very question but to develop poise in answering offbeat questions. There are some questions that you can never predict.

Finally, no disrespect to any of the candidates, but the interviewers know that for the most part you are 17-year-olds. No one expects you to have the experience in interviews and in life that you will have later on.
 
I FORGOT TO INCLUDE A CRITICAL POINT!!!!

Do NOT be afraid to say: "I don't know."

I don't expect a 17 year old to be "all knowing, all everything" and some questions I ask or others on the board ask...we know the candidate probably has no idea.

And in that case, it's fine to be "spontaneous" and to give an opinion and also say "I don't really know."

Just do NOT try to BS the board members. NOTHING will turn them against you faster!!!

Make sense?

Steve
 
Yes 1985, I agree with you. Rather than restating what others had already mentioned, I was just offering some additional perspective. Be prepared, but certainly DON'T memorize the answer to anything you think might get asked. Being brief is also an asset, no one is impressed by someone who rambles, talks for a long time and really says nothing.
 
Any one else have any more hints?

I'm copying and pasting helpful hints. I have two interviews same day in two weeks, 9:00 am and 9:30 am. Since I am applying to both senators, they are making things easier for us. :D
 
Thanks to everyone who helped on this thread! I finished all three of my interview this last week so I'm in a waiting position now :thumb:

A few hints of advice are sound confident even if they challenge your view... Don't flake under their pressure. I had one guy challenge me on my definition of guidelines and rules. He was rather harsh about it now that I think over it. Second. Smile! I had two different people on boards compliment me about my smile (my smile isn't anything spectacular either, just genuine I suppose :biggrin: ) and how it puts them at ease and how it makes someone look presentable.

Good luck and just go with the flow. Most people on the boards have done them before so they can tell if you've rehearsed your answers or you're givin them B.S. So just take it easy! Good luck :thumb:
 
Back
Top