General Officer Recommendation

jreffert

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
16
So far, I have received a reserve nomination, as well as completed all the Candidate Kit requirements, and am currently waiting to hear from DoDMERB about my medical exam results.

Recently, a friend of mine, Gen. X, has expressed his interest in putting in a recommendation on my behalf to the academy. Since he is not directly in my chain of command, and i have already received a nomination, Should I have him fill out an SOE? If not, how should he go about sending in his recommendation?

Also, General Y, , who is in my chain of command, wishes to recommend me as well. Should I have him fill out an SOE? If not, how should he go about his recommendation?
 
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Confusion.

In July 2012 did you not say you were a rising Sophomore in HS? How is it that either of these people are in your direct or indirect chain of command if right now if you are in High School currently?

As for the other part of your post. Generals know how to work the system, I wouldn't worry about that!
 
Split Option Reserve or NG?

Pima,

I did not read the previous posts by the OP here but it's possible if he is Split Option for Basic Training and AIT. I am not sure if the program is available for both NG and Reserves but it is possible for a Sr in HS to attend the standard one weekend a month and 2 weeks in the summer as a Sr in HS. He would have attended Basic Training prior to Sr year of HS.

Just speculating here.
 
Confusion.

In July 2012 did you not say you were a rising Sophomore in HS? How is it that either of these people are in your direct or indirect chain of command if right now if you are in High School currently?

As for the other part of your post. Generals know how to work the system, I wouldn't worry about that!

i am currently a split-option enlistee in the reserves, and a senior in HS. I completed BCT this past summer, and received a service-connected nomination.
 
This is why this site is so great....you always learn something new everyday. Just curious how does that work after you graduate this spring? I know WP trumps all, but what if you don't get an appointment, will you do SMP and AROTC or is there another path that you must take due to doing this current path?

Also, I am going to assume you are a minor, did your folks need to sign off on this, I am guessing they did, was it a hard sell? You don't have to answer that because it is personal. I just don't know the program and I am not sure how quick as a parent I would sign the paperwork. It would be hard to convince me for you not to wait a year and try the scholarship or SA route, unless they said that they could go to college and upon graduation they would be an officer. Hence my question of how that works?
 
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This is why this site is so great....you always learn something new everyday. Just curious how does that work after you graduate this spring? I know WP trumps all, but what if you don't get an appointment, will you do SMP and AROTC or is there another path that you must take due to doing this current path?

Also, I am going to assume you are a minor, did your folks need to sign off on this, I am guessing they did, was it a hard sell? You don't have to answer that because it is personal. I just don't know the program and I am not sure how quick as a parent I would sign the paperwork. It would be hard to convince me for you not to wait a year and try the scholarship or SA route, unless they said that they could go to college and upon graduation they would be an officer. Hence my question of how that works?

Sir, my parents were very supportive of my decision to enlist. Also, if I do not receive an appointment, I will attend Advanced training for my current MOS. In the event that I am accepted, I will report to the academy and my commander will cancel my AIT slot. Thanks for your interest! I'm always glad to share a story or two! Please feel free to Direct Message me any questions you may have.
 
So there is no college option than on the plate? IOWS you will go enlisted if not appointed?

OBTW....I am a Mam....note my signature line! TeHEHE!
 
So there is no college option than on the plate? IOWS you will go enlisted if not appointed?

OBTW....I am a Mam....note my signature line! TeHEHE!

Ma'am, my sincere apologies...its been a very long week for me. LOL but I could also participate in ROTC...AFTER my AIT, and I would still have to report to my current drill station every month. Could I do ROTC? Yes. But it would be much easier to just be a permanent student at the academy (less traveling and hassle) Not to mention a better education... but I did not have to receive a MOC nomination, and instead my commander wrote a letter of rec and I received a Sec. Army nomination. Made things ten times easier. And for the SOE's, I had three officers in my chain of command fill those out as well as three teachers. (Recommended)
 
I am sure odds are with you, but your post has made me think of even more questions.

Are you saying you didn't even try for any MOC nomination?

How many Secretary nominations are there? I am sure someone can answer that or I can google it. Just curious because I don't know if it is like a Presidential or is it like MOC. IOWS, could they submit 500 candidates, but only x number can be charged or do they have a limited slate like an MOC?

You have flag officers as recs, and if you didn't apply to your MOC and if it is not too late to apply, I would! Those recs are going to carry a lot of weight. Caveat, as long as they really know you.
 
Take the recs, those are generals for crying out loud!!!! :D lol, seriously though take those recommendations full on, it's not every applicant the admissions looks at a general officers recommendation.
 
+1,000,000!

In all of my years here I can't recall a poster that had a 1 star and 2 star in their pocket.
 
Actually i have a few two stars and a one star writing on my behalf now. Im honored to know they have so much confidence in me and my service.


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So there is no college option than on the plate? IOWS you will go enlisted if not appointed?

OBTW....I am a Mam....note my signature line! TeHEHE!

The Split-Option program is not tied to an SA or ROTC, its just an enlistment option available.
 
No its not attached but its much easier to get into a SA or ROTC program as a prior enlisted soldier


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No its not attached but its much easier to get into a SA or ROTC program as a prior enlisted soldier.

How do you know that? Spud weighed in on this subject some time ago and here are his comments.

To cut to the chase: Enlisted to a service academy is not the easy way. In fact, it is probably one of the most difficult ways to gain an appointment as it takes longer and you have more people to impress for approval to even try. Check past threads on this for all the gory details.[/QUOTE
 
You are correct although really if you have proven yourself a good and worth soldier long before applying, it makes it much easier. My chain of command was very highly supportive in fact they assisted in most of the paperwork and made sure I was where I needed to be and when. Could it be harder without that support? Absolutely! But by the time It came time to apply i had already made the positive impression on my chain of command and they went out of their way to help in anything they could. For that I am very grateful.


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You are very fortunate to have that support, but I think in the big picture if I have read this right, you have placed all of your eggs in that one basket by going this path.

Again, I don't know many 17 year olds that know any generals, unless the folks are in that circle, so it has worked for you by going down this path.

I don't agree with your premise about the enlistmentment path. The main reason why is the military can always say we can't release you from a mission needs perspective. In their eyes you signed up to be an enlisted soldier and they need you in that position, it is one of the reasons why they request the Commanders support. There are many great soldiers that don't get appointed because they are needed in their current position for the mission.
 
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No my parents arent in the company of generals. LOL I was a politician long before I enlisted..connections i made years ago paid off now. I was a senatorial intern for my us senator when i was 16. I didnt enlist to attend a SA, I enlisted and thought that the idea of even thinking abt a SA was literally over. But my section commander recommended that i apply and i did and it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I had their confidence long before i applied.


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No its not attached but its much easier to get into a SA or ROTC program as a prior enlisted soldier


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I can't comment on an SA, but many ROTC programs (including mine), don't count enlisting in the Guard in high school as prior service other than that completing BCT and AIT could allow you to skip the first year or two. We only refer to people who have served on active duty or in an active status in the Guard/Reserve as prior service*. It doesn't help you get a ROTC scholarship or contract much either, that comes from grades and PT.

*Essentially using the same standard as what is required for someone to be considered a veteran.
 
Hi!

First realize I am a USAFA ALO; not a USMA field rep. With that being said..."at the MOC/Senatorial" boards that I have sat upon as a member, we saw quite a few general officer LOR's.

They are great IF IF IF they read such that we can see that the officer actually knows who you are, not that they're just signing a generic LOR for "one of their troops."

Something personal in the letter; some "tasty tidbit" however small means this officer actually knows who this person is and is taking time out of their day to write this...let's look closer at this person!

Just something from my experience.

Good luck with this!!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
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