Blue and Gold Officer Interview

U

USAFA_DAD_DD23

ArmyVet - USAFA DD 2023
5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
151
Good Morning

I had my blue and gold interview this week. It was a great experience and I have a great officer that i am working with for my application.

The Blue and Gold officer made me feel at ease and we had a great interview. The officer gave great feedback for my parents and I.

I have finished my DODMERB with qualified status and my CFA has been submitted with a strong measurements. I am now at the waiting stage for nomination and appointment.

Good luck to everyone!
 
@bizzy1013, did you send the BGO a “thank you” note, showing your appreciation and reiterating your desire to attend USNA? If so, well done. If not, do so now.
 
Now you have what is often referred to as "the greatest test of patience in your lifetime."
So far, anyway.

Good luck. :)
 
MidCakePa said:
@bizzy1013, did you send the BGO a “thank you” note, showing your appreciation and reiterating your desire to attend USNA? If so, well done. If not, do so now.
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I sent my blue and gold officer a thank you note the very next day. They are traveling for work and I ensured that a sincere well thought out note was sent.
 
I've read several comments about thank you notes to BGOs.

It's a nice sentiment to send a thank you note to the BGO - but it certainly is not expected nor required. It's not like they gave you a gift or you attended their wedding. This is all business. It's their job. It's a requirement. It's a mandatory part of the application process. It kind of seems like sending the pizza delivery guy a thank you note for delivering your pizza.

For all those candidates who read these posts and are thinking, "Oops! I didn't send my BGO a thank you note. I messed up." Don't feel like you've made a mistake. Any BGO who thinks more highly of a candidate specifically because that candidate sent them a thank you note afterwards is having their judgement clouded by peripheral matters that are not substantive to the matter at hand, in my opinion. This is a military matter - not a baby shower.

The best things you can do with regards to the BGO interview is:
1) Be on time.
2) Be well groomed.
3) Be polite and articulate.
4) Be honest. (... as long as it's an honest and fair question. "When was the last time you smoked marijuana?" is not a fair question.)
5) Indicate that you know what you're getting into.
6) Have some knowledge about what the Naval Academy is all about.
7) Show that you're motivated and confident.

... and you'll be fine.

I'm not saying it's wrong to send a thank you note. It might even be a good idea. I'm simply saying that it's not a mistake to not send a thank you note. No self-respecting BGO should be expecting one.
 
I'm simply saying that it's not a mistake to not send a thank you note. No self-respecting BGO should be expecting one.
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Generally agree with this. Candidates are not expected to send thank-you notes and no BGO should ever view a candidate less favorably for failing to send a thank-you note (or more favorably for sending one).

That said, for most candidates, this is the first job-type interview they will have. Now is a good time to start building good habits for later in life and, later in life, a thank-you note to a potential employer may be expected.

As an aside, we say "thank you" all the time to people who are doing their jobs. It's simple common courtesy.
 
Memphis9489 said:
I've read several comments about thank you notes to BGOs.

It's a nice sentiment to send a thank you note to the BGO - but it certainly is not expected nor required. It's not like they gave you a gift or you attended their wedding. This is all business. It's their job. It's a requirement. It's a mandatory part of the application process. It kind of seems like sending the pizza delivery guy a thank you note for delivering your pizza.

For all those candidates who read these posts and are thinking, "Oops! I didn't send my BGO a thank you note. I messed up." Don't feel like you've made a mistake. Any BGO who thinks more highly of a candidate specifically because that candidate sent them a thank you note afterwards is having their judgement clouded by peripheral matters that are not substantive to the matter at hand, in my opinion. This is a military matter - not a baby shower.

The best things you can do with regards to the BGO interview is:
1) Be on time.
2) Be well groomed.
3) Be polite and articulate.
4) Be honest. (... as long as it's an honest and fair question. "When was the last time you smoked marijuana?" is not a fair question.)
5) Indicate that you know what you're getting into.
6) Have some knowledge about what the Naval Academy is all about.
7) Show that you're motivated and confident.

... and you'll be fine.

I'm not saying it's wrong to send a thank you note. It might even be a good idea. I'm simply saying that it's not a mistake to not send a thank you note. No self-respecting BGO should be expecting one.
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And now for a little different perspective...

Actually, I agree completely! I'm a USAFA ALO; think AF B&GO type. And all that Memphis9489 said...I'd echo.

Sound wisdom!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
I had to laugh at the Thank You note thread.... no, its not required and not even expected. That being said, its appreciated -- sure, we are just doing our job, but its a volunteer job and the gesture of appreciation is welcome.

Will it effect your BGO evaluation ...not with me ! I usually have my BGO interview report submitted within 48 hours (often less), and have never had a thank you note arrive before I submitted my write up.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
That being said, its appreciated -- sure, we are just doing our job, but its a volunteer job and the gesture of appreciation is welcome.
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When I kicked off the responses by encouraging OP to send a “thank you” note, I didn’t know it would be so controversial. In the end, @Old Navy BGO sums up the best reason for doing so: because it is a polite, courteous, respectful expression of appreciation. Not to kiss up or try to influence the BGO’s write-up. From the candidate’s standpoint, it shouldn’t matter what the BGO thinks of your note — appreciative, amused, dismissive, dismayed, what have you. It’s your thought that counts.

In an era when simple civilities have become sparse — where “please” and “thank you” are heard less and less — the act of sending a note of gratitude may seem quaint and unfashionable. But I assure you, it is never ever the wrong thing to do.

With apologies to all women holding, or aspiring to hold, a commission: There’s a reason for the term “an officer and a gentleman.”
 
MidCakePa said:
Old Navy BGO said:
That being said, its appreciated -- sure, we are just doing our job, but its a volunteer job and the gesture of appreciation is welcome.
Click to expand...

When I kicked off the responses by encouraging OP to send a “thank you” note, I didn’t know it would be so controversial. In the end, @Old Navy BGO sums up the best reason for doing so: because it is a polite, courteous, respectful expression of appreciation. Not to kiss up or try to influence the BGO’s write-up. From the candidate’s standpoint, it shouldn’t matter what the BGO thinks of your note — appreciative, amused, dismissive, dismayed, what have you. It’s your thought that counts.

In an era when simple civilities have become sparse — where “please” and “thank you” are heard less and less — the act of sending a note of gratitude may seem quaint and unfashionable. But I assure you, it is never ever the wrong thing to do.

With apologies to all women holding, or aspiring to hold, a commission: There’s a reason for the term “an officer and a gentleman.”
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My intent was not to offend you. If I did - I apologize. But, since this forum is primarily for candidates to gather information. I didn't want them (especially those who have already completed their BGO interview) to be dismayed that they forgot to do something that they should have done. I think sending a thank you note is perfectly fine. My wife is a BGO and she just did an interview today. The interviewee sent her a nice text message that amounted to a "thank you". A thank you note from a high schooler is kind of old school from their cultural perspective.

You're right - it is "never ever the wrong thing to do".
 
@Memphis9489, no apology necessary because no offense taken. Just a respectful difference of opinions. And that, in this day and age, is sorely lacking also. (My ongoing hope on this forum is that posters do see different opinions and make up their own mind. I’m guessing you think the same.)
 
I appreciate everyone responding to this thread. It is very enlightening and I would like to take a different view of a thank you note for the blue/gold officers. I know that some of them are not in the active Navy anymore and they do this on their own time. My blue and gold officer gave up family time to 4 young children and spouse.

My thank you note was a gratitude of giving up that precious family time and spending 2 hours with my family. My blue and gold officer was very engaging and offered a helping hand to my future. If I don't get an appointment to the Naval Academy, I am still grateful to the assistants and the time spent with me. It is a simple and a heartfelt gesture.
 
I raised my son to be "old school". It has served him well. :)
 
The other folks candidates should thank -- but aren't require to -- are their teachers. Yep, it's the job of junior year h.s. teachers to write recs for all college-bound students. But it's also a LOT of work (if done well) and a note in passing -- even if via email -- would probably be greatly appreciated.
 
usna1985 said:
The other folks candidates should thank -- but aren't require to -- are their teachers. Yep, it's the job of junior year h.s. teachers to write recs for all college-bound students. But it's also a LOT of work (if done well) and a note in passing -- even if via email -- would probably be greatly appreciated.
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GREAT advice USNA1985
 
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