ALO

Is there a preferred method of making contact with your ALO once into the candidate phase?

Also what should I expect once the time for the interview comes around?
I visited the AFA (which is an unbelievable place, really made me feel like its where I belong) this past week and the admissions rep told you have to sell yourself to them during the interview but I dont want to come off as full of myself.

Thanks in advance.

ClickClack said:

Is there a preferred method of making contact with your ALO once into the candidate phase?

Also what should I expect once the time for the interview comes around?
I visited the AFA (which is an unbelievable place, really made me feel like its where I belong) this past week and the admissions rep told you have to sell yourself to them during the interview but I dont want to come off as full of myself.

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Best thing is to email your ALO. Most ALO's are ALO's as a full time job. Most are volunteers. They have other full time jobs. So email is preferred.

As to what to expect, that's hard to say. The personal factor is involved when you're dealing with an ALO. Most are really cool. Their #1 goal is to determine if it's YOU who truly wants to serve their country and become a commissioned officer through the academy. Not your parents pushing you or you're doing it only because of the free education and benefits. The next thing most ALO's are looking for is that you are sincere and convicted. Basically, there are no RIGHT/WRONG answers to any of their questions. We care more about HOW you answer, than WHAT you answer. At least that's how I an many of the ALO's I know think. So in other words, don't try to guess what the ALO WANTS to hear.

In our state, we use a standard set of questions, but we are free to add additional questions and/or ask about current events. I personally like to ask controversial questions. I don't care what the answer is. I just want to see if the individual is trying to be politically correct; if they are giving an answer they think I want to here; they are giving an answer that they have been "Conditioned" by their family to believe; or if THEY actually have an INDEPENDENT THOUGHT on the subject. But that's me. Don't think that all ALO's think the same way.

Expect the typical WHY do you want to go to the academy - type questions. Expect questions about WHY we should CHOOSE YOU. What do you offer the academy. Either way; be sincere. Don't B.S. Be honest. Don't panic. No jittering. If you've never been through job interviews, then you need to practice. Practice sitting with your hands in your lap; sitting straight up; have your parents interview you. HARD CONTROVERSIAL questions. Questions that have no YES/NO answers. E.g. What do you think of gays in the military?, Should abortion be legal? These are the type of questions that FORCE you to think. Again; there is no right/wrong. But you need to think for yourself. No canned answers. Best of luck. Mike.

My favorite question; I use it when I meet the candidate, I usually ask it more than once on different occasions, and I always use it when interviewing candidates for my Congressman.

"...there are XX number of candidates in your school, district, city, state...and they ALL have amazing resume's, test scores, etc...WHY DO I PICK YOU?"

And then I wait...

I want an answer...no BS, no "fluff", don't blow air up my skirt...I want your honest assesment of WHY YOU?!

That a good start??

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

I also have a question related to my ALO. What are the appropriate steps to take if your ALO is less than attentive. I have sent numerous e-mails to him and left him phone messages on numerous occasions, but no reply. From what I understand from some of the other canidates in my area, he hasn't got back to them either. Where should I go from here?

Cadet2017 said:

I also have a question related to my ALO. What are the appropriate steps to take if your ALO is less than attentive. I have sent numerous e-mails to him and left him phone messages on numerous occasions, but no reply. From what I understand from some of the other canidates in my area, he hasn't got back to them either. Where should I go from here?

Click to expand...

Like CC said, ALOs are busy people. They have full time jobs in addition to being an ALO. There have been times where I sent my ALO emails and didn't get a response until at least a week later, and there have been some emails where I didn't get a response at all. Over time I found that my ALO seemed to prefer phone calls, so that ended up being my primary method of communication with him. My ALO has always been really friendly and ready to help.

On the topic of controversial questions, one that I was asked and comes to mind was, "If you discovered your roommate or friend at the academy cheating on tests, what would be your reaction? What if he/she told you that she would never cheat again? What if he/she only cheated once?"

I figured email would be best but thanks for reassuring that, I plan to shoot one off tomorrow when Im awake enough to be reasonably coherent.

I really look forward to my ALO interview as I think it will greatly help my chances. I tend to be quick on my feet in a conversation but it is really nice to know that "conversational" questions may be a large part of the interview.

I really appreciate the sincere help given on this forum.

Click Clack