Blue and Gold question

molsmi12

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
1
Is it typical for a Blue and Gold Officer to tell candidates that he will not interview them until they retake their CFA? Their applications have been complete for weeks. This same B&G also refused an interview until another candidate took the SAT again because he didn't feel the previous scores were high enough. The candidate's scores were in the upper end of the middle 50% of mids that were accepted the prior year.
 
Is it typical for a Blue and Gold Officer to tell candidates that he will not interview them until they retake their CFA? This same B&G also refused an interview until another candidate took the SAT again because he didn't feel the previous scores were high enough. The candidate's scores were in the upper end of the middle 50% of mids that were accepted the prior year.

BGOs use the BGIS (BG Info System) to track their candidates. We are told by USNA which candidates to interview and which to "contact and counsel." Some candidates whose SATs/ACTs are too low may be in the "contact and counsel" category -- meaning that USNA does not want us to interview them until their SAT improves. We are to contact them and counsel them to retake the standardized tests. I don't know what the limits are . . . but that's the guidance we're given.

So, it could be that the BGO was told by USNA not to interview this candidate. Candidates in this circumstance don't have a candidate number. If the candidate has a candidate number (and is not a recruited Bball or Fball athlete), the BGO should interview him/her once 1/3 of the packet is complete.

The CFA shouldn't affect the timing of BGO interview. I've interviewed many candidates who haven't completed their CFAs. We don't get CFA scores but would be told if the CFA is a failure. Even so, there's no reason not to conduct the interview unless something else is at play. Not sure what's going on in this case.
 
I can see where there is a certain logic in a BGO waiting until the candidate has passed his/her CFA. If the candidate has failed they will not earn an appointment which renders the interview moot. Of course, the candidate can always retake it - and maybe they will pass in another effort.

I would think that a BGO in a region that has lots of candidates and the BGO's time is spread thin, or requires traveling great distances for the interview, that they may impose such a requirement.

Why waste your time interviewing a candidate who cannot even finish a mile-and-a-half run?
 
It's a little more complicated. One could fail the CFA for poor performance on several events or complete failure of one. You could finish the mile run (it is 1 mile for the CFA) and still fail if you run slowly enough.

A candidate has until Mar 1 to resubmit the CFA. The rest of your packet, including BGO interview, is supposed to be complete by Jan. 31. So, there's a timing issue.

It's a judgment call whether to interview someone who's failed the CFA. Not interviewing someone who hasn't even taken it . . . I've done that many times and never had anyone I interviewed subsequently fail. Maybe I've just been lucky.:smile:
 
It's a little more complicated. One could fail the CFA for poor performance on several events or complete failure of one. You could finish the mile run (it is 1 mile for the CFA) and still fail if you run slowly enough.

Did they recently change it to 1 mile because the academy website has it as 1.5 miles for the CFA.

It's a judgment call whether to interview someone who's failed the CFA. Not interviewing someone who hasn't even taken it . . . I've done that many times and never had anyone I interviewed subsequently fail. Maybe I've just been lucky.:smile:

In your experience, would it be fair to say that CFA failures are extremely rare? I would think "flunking" the DoDMERB medical exam is far more common.
 
You are citing to the PRT, which is required of mids. That is 1.5 miles. If you click on the "CFA" link ("click here to see CFA instructions"), you'll see that is only 1 mile.

I don't know if failing is rare across the board. It is for my candidates and those are the only ones about whom I have personal knowledge.
 
I would think failing must be extremely rare, although maybe USNA is more inclined to give particularly desirable candidates a little bit more leeway athletically. I was shocked that I qualified physically.

Okay, maybe not shocked. I guess even a relatively low score on the CFA shows a fairly above-average level of fitness. Still, it surprised me.
 
So does the BG Info System allow you to make a determination which of your candidates would most likely have the highest whole candidate score of a particular Congressional district?
 
So does the BG Info System allow you to make a determination which of your candidates would most likely have the highest whole candidate score of a particular Congressional district?

No.
We only see SAT/ACT scores and what paperwork has been processed as well as DoDMERB and CFA. As noms are given out, those too are noted (it's more just a yes, there is a nom, no specifics).
We also see what % of your application is complete and are instructed to interview when a candidate reaches the 45-50% completion point.
 
Is it typical for a Blue and Gold Officer to tell candidates that he will not interview them until they retake their CFA? Their applications have been complete for weeks. This same B&G also refused an interview until another candidate took the SAT again because he didn't feel the previous scores were high enough. The candidate's scores were in the upper end of the middle 50% of mids that were accepted the prior year.

The vast majority of BGO's are excellent at their jobs and work hard with their kids. The comments from current BGO's are right on. That said there is the possiblity your BGO has his own personal standards and is holding up perfectly good applications.

This happened to my DD 5 years ago. Her BGO told her that he would not interview her due to low SAT scores. ( Scores were in the 620-650 range). Told her he would not interview her unless her scores got over 700. Fortunately she had previously been in touch with her Regional Director regarding her application. Her Regional Director sent her an e-mail asking why she had not interviewed yet with her BGO as this was the only item holding up her application going before the board. She responded back that that the BGO would not interview her due to low SAT scores. Interestingly, that same evening the BGO calls her and needs to set up the interview ASAP. 2 days later her BGO calls to tell her that her LOA letter is in the mail.

My point is this, the application process has many twists and turns and roadblocks to overcome. In your individual case, the BGO may or may not be giving you sound advice. To confirm your son/daughter should be in touch with their regional director and make decisions accordingly to resolve the issue.
 
Back
Top