NROTC Interview

Nik steward

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Nov 5, 2014
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Hello, my son was contacted on Monday by phone at 12:15pm to inform him that he was going to have his Officer Interview at 3:00pm that day via Skype. He went into full panic mode because he figured he would have a bit more notice. Anyway they called at 3:30pm and said it was rescheduled for today at 2:00pm via Skype again. I am just curious is this a new thing they are doing or do they not bother to interview in person if they don't feel the student is a strong candidate? I may just be reading more into it but we are both very nervous. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
In my opinion, the Officers involved would not treat any candidate differently based on their personal opinion of his chances.

I suspect this interviewing Officer is either using Skype to effectively handle the interview case load or something like that. It is not universally being done across the country so I don't think this is standard practice yet. As time moves on, I could see this becoming a possibility as later generations become more comfortable with the technology.

I wouldn't read anything into it. Your son should treat it like an "in person" interview.

Best of luck!
 
I agree I wouldn't read into it at all.

The thing candidates forget is the interviewer is wearing many hats. It could be for them they have many applicants and this is the most efficient way to perform the interview. It could be that the interviewer just got a short notice PCS(military move) and they have no replacement yet, so for them not to get behind the 8 ball regarding interviews they are doing Skype.

I think most kids would be thrilled to do Skype. They can just dress from the waist up and being wearing shorts and flip flops on the bottom! Plus, no need to drive 2-3 hours round trip in nerves.

The only negative I see out of it is that they don't get a true feel for the unit. Most parents if they go with their kids wait in the car or at the Student Union. The candidate than gets to walk the campus like a college student which gives them the feeling that this could be next year.
~ It is not like the campus tour with the folks in a group. Those groups scream HS kid. This is him/her alone where other students think they are just another student.

If he does get accepted to the school, even if you are still waiting for the results. Have him call up and ask if he can come in and talk to some mids. Ask to meet Jr/sr. Every unit has a personality.
~ It is not uncommon for a candidate to say after meeting cadets/mids I love the school, but the unit didn't feel right to me, while the number two school felt right with the unit and I now want to swap my list.

The thing with ROTC is there has to be a balance of three things.
1. College
2. Major
3. ROTC

If all three are not in balance than the chances of enjoying their collegiate career drops significantly IMPO. I.E. Love the unit, but hate the college. Love the Major, but hate the campus! Love the campus and major, but not the unit because it is cross town and feel like an outsider.
 
Thank you for your reply. This is all new to us and it means so much to my son. I am hoping he can calm his nerves enough to give a good solid interview.

Any tips or words of advice anyone has would be most helpful.
 
Tell him they know he is just a kid and that nerves are normal!

If he gets that as a fact, he will be fine.

If he has questions, ask them, but don't ask questions because you think you have to ask questions.

The questions that I have seen asked range from getting to know them to politics. What was the last book you read not assigned to what do you think about ISIS?

It is anybody's guess on what they will ask.

If he wants to fly, he may want to find a way to talk about what made the news yesterday. The F35 completed their first landing aboard a carrier!
~ It can give the interviewer not only his goal, but that he is interested in the Navy news.
~ Same to be said if he can find current events for whatever career path.
~~ IE he wants to be a submariner, maybe he can discuss the integration of women when it comes time for questions....I.e. How are they rejigging the sub's for women's quarters. Make sure he poses it as a structural question....will the sub's need to be decommissioned for a short period? It shows that he is thinking about the future of the Navy and missions.

The key is if he brings these issues up or is asked about his future in the Navy he understands that it is always Service before Self. If he wants to fly, great, but be prepared to answer what if you don't get those wings?

He will be fine. Just remind him that he has had these conversations with you guys. I am sure when he brought up joining the military and applying for the scholarship you talked about it as a family, and why was probably the big topic. He gave you logical reasons to gain your stamp of approval! He already won the hardest people to convince for most people!
~ Bullet was ADAF for 21 yrs. when our DS approached us, you would think we were the easiest to convince. We were the hardest and he still won our support because it was in him to serve and you could see it!
 
There is a LOT of interview advice on this forum. Run a search on some key words and you will find more than you would ever want.

It all boils down to respect, courtesy and honesty.

This translates into things like being yourself, sharp appearance, good conversational manners, some preparation on expected questions ("why do you want to be a Naval Officer?" and others) and having some prepared questions. Present yourself with a quiet confidence.

Most of the interviewers have lots of experience and have dealt with nervous high school students before.
 
The only negative I see out of it is that they don't get a true feel for the unit. Most parents if they go with their kids wait in the car or at the Student Union. The candidate than gets to walk the campus like a college student which gives them the feeling that this could be next year.
~ It is not like the campus tour with the folks in a group. Those groups scream HS kid. This is him/her alone where other students think they are just another student.

I am not sure if our experience was typical for NROTC; my son had an in-person interview, but the interviewer was not part of the NROTC unit. As far as I know he had no affiliation with the school at all. Perhaps this is different from AFROTC and AROTC. My son was contacted and told to go to a Navy office in the nearest larger city for his interview. I don't remember the rank of the officer. I was out of town at the time so his sister dropped him off and sat at a nearby Starbucks until his interview was complete.

He did set up a time to go to the NROTC unit after receiving the scholarship but only met the Recruiting officer (an NROTC midshipman). He had the opportunity to ask questions and was shown around their building but was not introduced to anyone else.
 
I am not sure if our experience was typical for NROTC; my son had an in-person interview, but the interviewer was not part of the NROTC unit. As far as I know he had no affiliation with the school at all. Perhaps this is different from AFROTC and AROTC. My son was contacted and told to go to a Navy office in the nearest larger city for his interview. I don't remember the rank of the officer. I was out of town at the time so his sister dropped him off and sat at a nearby Starbucks until his interview was complete.

He did set up a time to go to the NROTC unit after receiving the scholarship but only met the Recruiting officer (an NROTC midshipman). He had the opportunity to ask questions and was shown around their building but was not introduced to anyone else.

I think your son's interview experience was normal. At least it matched my son's.
 
My CO mentioned just yesterday that when he conducts Skype interviews he makes the interviewee stand up to do something just to see if they dressed up fully. As stupid as it sounds (my CO definitely has a sense of humor) I'd forgo the flip flops and cargo shorts.
 
I am not sure if our experience was typical for NROTC; my son had an in-person interview, but the interviewer was not part of the NROTC unit. As far as I know he had no affiliation with the school at all. Perhaps this is different from AFROTC and AROTC. My son was contacted and told to go to a Navy office in the nearest larger city for his interview. I don't remember the rank of the officer. I was out of town at the time so his sister dropped him off and sat at a nearby Starbucks until his interview was complete.

He did set up a time to go to the NROTC unit after receiving the scholarship but only met the Recruiting officer (an NROTC midshipman). He had the opportunity to ask questions and was shown around their building but was not introduced to anyone else.

The students who applied NROTC in our area were all sent to the Great Lakes Naval Station for interviews. It may be regionally based but in our area and yours, it seems the interviews were not with ROTC unit cadre but rather active duty Officers at a Base or Recruiting Station. The students I know interviewed with a Navy Captain.
 
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