Nomination Interview process....

[MombaBomba]

Dancing is/was for credit; it was a required class for DS when he was an exchange cadet at the Austrian Military Academy....gotta learn to waltz when you are in Austria! Oh, and Equestrian Classes were also mandated.

That's really interesting. I wonder if we have anything mandated at our US academies which others don't require. I can understand equestrian classes, as horses are still a means to navigating through some of the more trecherous and remote mountainous regions. Thinking about the ballroom dancing cracked me up, as I could picture my son's reaction to being informed he must attend. He would do it, but the look in his face would be priceless!

 

[93Sir]

My best is worthy of your trash can?

With regards to the statement that the candidates application would be "thrown in the trash if it had come across his desk" (I've actually heard of this type of statement occurring in a MOC interview before) What would be an appropriate response to a situation like that? What's the best way to handle this? No response? Defensive or clever response?

 

[usna1985]

I would probably say something along the lines of:

"Sir/ma'am, attending [SA] and serving as an officer in the [service] has been my goal since [whenever it was your goal -- don't say when you were born!]. I've done my best throughout my h.s. years to prepare myself in terms of academics, sports and leadership and to make myself the best candidate I can be. I know this is a very competitive district/state and that there are many exceptional candidates applying for this MOC's noms. Even so, I'm very proud of my accomplishments, especially [whatever is most important to you] and I believe I have what it takes to succeed at [SA].

 

[MemberLG]

With regards to the statement that the candidates application would be "thrown in the trash if it had come across his desk" (I've actually heard of this type of statement occurring in a MOC interview before) What would be an appropriate response to a situation like that? What's the best way to handle this? No response? Defensive or clever response?

I would ask why, than counter each reasons given.

 

[MedB]

With regards to the statement that the candidates application would be "thrown in the trash if it had come across his desk" (I've actually heard of this type of statement occurring in a MOC interview before) What would be an appropriate response to a situation like that? What's the best way to handle this? No response? Defensive or clever response?

Since that questioning tactic by the interviewer is really just a bluff-charge to see how you react, a high-risk, high-reward response (read as: probably not what most candidates should do) might be something like this...

"Sir, that is certainly your right. As an officer in our military I'm sure I will face other situations where I wholeheartedly disagree with a superior's assessment or decision. In those situations I will certainly try to demonstrate why I disagree, but in the end it will be my place to abide by those decisions and act upon them in good faith."

This could open the door for the "why do you disagree" conversation. Or not.