NROTC interview coming up

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danger zone

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2010
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23
Hi I have been reading these boards and they have been very helpful. I applied kind of late and I am just having my interview this week.

I looked through past threads so I have a decent idea about what the interview will be like.

I have a couple of questions though.

I am not applying to USNA and I should probably be careful how I word it. I really like USNA, I think it's awesome, but at the same time it is non-stop, everything is so structured and I'd kind of like to have a somewhat typical college experience, which I think I can have even with doing NROTC.

That sound like a good answer?


Also, about careers, I want to go to flight school. But I realize that it is very competitive and I might now get it.
But I would be happy in the Navy regardless, however is there anywhere or anyone that can tell me what exactly a Surface Warfare Officer does? SWO will probably be my back up slot or billet(?), but the description on the Navy website seemed really vague. I guess there is a wide range of what SWOs do?


I have a couple of other questions, but I'll wait until tomorrow to ask them.


Any curveball questions I should look out for? Any other tips?


Thank you!
 
I think your answer to why you decided not to apply to the USNA is fine....if the question is asked.

I'll defer to someone more knowledgeable(experienced) on the SWO question.

My children's experience with NROTC interviews is that they seem to mostly focus on the following:
Physical appearance/bearing/confidence
Knowledge and interest of NROTC and potential careers

I think the interviewer wants to "take a look at you" and also be sure that you have given serious thought to what being a Navy Officer will entail.

I'm sure you'll do fine. Good Luck!:thumb:
 
Ok, thank you very much for the response.



My biggest weakness in terms of NROTC (besides being a Tier 3 major) is definitely sports/fitness. I played a year of football and a few years of jv Track.
I'm not terribly out of shape, I fit within the Navy's parameters for weight according to height. But I'm glad I don't have to take a fitness test in order to get the scholarship, my results would not be great.
I realize I am going to have to work out more frequently/consistently(currently I workout maybe 1-2 a week) to get into better shape and do well in ROTC. Right now I don't know if I could pass the Navy PFT(that's what they call it, right?) that I'll have to take if I do ROTC. And if I can pass it right now, it would be barely passing...which isn't good enough.

I'll probably bring this up when talking about weaknesses (I'm guessing that will come up).

I guess I could say that I realize that I'm going to have to work on this and my goal is to be in "average" shape by August and start working out with the unit at the school, if I get the scholarship of course.




Thanks again, any other tips?
 
You do have to take a fitness test for the scholarships and have to take a test. You may want to ask a recruitment officer to put you in touch with those in your area responsible for the Scholarships. Good luck and start running, push ups, sit ups have mandatory requirements.
 
...I was told Navy didn't require you to take the fitness test in order to receive the scholarship. But to keep it, you have to pass a fitness test. Or that’s what I thought at least.



I think the Marines, Army and AF do it all a little differently though.


I submitted my app, signed the paperwork and the guy who was helping me at the local recruiting office said all I have to do now is my interview and then just sit back and wait.

So maybe I take it, along with my medical physical, sometime in the spring? Like the scholarship is only contingent upon passing the physical and the fitness part of it?
 
danger zone said:
...I was told Navy didn't require you to take the fitness test in order to receive the scholarship.
Click to expand...
You are correct. The NROTC does not require you to take a fitness test to apply and be awarded a scholarship. However, when you report to your NROTC unit (and begin college) you will be required to pass the fitness test in order to receive the benefits of your scholarship (tuition, book allowance and stipend).

My opinion is that you should not address any fitness issues you currently have during your interview unless it would already be apparent to your interviewer. By all means discuss your current physical training program but there is no need to introduce negatives to an interview unless you do not have a choice.

Good Luck! :thumb:
 
Aglages is 100% correct on both counts!! But definitely do yourself a favor and start running now.
 
CandidateInSD said:
Aglages is 100% correct on both counts!! But definitely do yourself a favor and start running now.
Click to expand...
CandidateInSD is 100% correct on both counts!! Paticularly about Aglages being correct :wink: but also about starting to run NOW. Doesn't matter how far you can currently run, just get out and run and then walk if necessary but start NOW.
Good Luck!:thumb:
 
Just gonna toss my free advice in here...

START WORKING OUT NOW. I was not overly in shape; started working out seriously in November of junior year, and I BARELY got in good enough shape to pass the APFT (Army) this past September. Since then, I have increased it even more, but I have done it so much that I've pulled many muscles and given myself shin splints on numerous occasions.

While it's good to turn it up and get going on the fitness, make sure that you're leaving enough time to do it in a way that will NOT make your body scream in pain after a 2 mile run :thumb:
 
Ok thanks for the help guys.


I live in Ohio, and we get hit with a ton of snow/ice from now until about early March, so running outside probably wouldn't be the greatest idea sometimes, but I have an exercise bike in my basement that I can utilize.
I usually put it on the highest resistance and go for about ~10-12 miles, which usually takes about 40-60 minutes, depending on distance and how tired I am from the day or the previous workout from the previous day, but I usually give at least 10 miles at the highest resistance every other day. I have not kept up with it lately though.

Is that an adequate substitute for running in the winter? I know I ideally I would run on an indoor track, but I do not have access to an indoor track, so I'll have to make do with what I have.

I'm doing a little now, I've slowed down because my school has finals next week, so every teacher is piling on the homework and projects before the break/finals. But over break I should be able to start a new/better routine that I can consistently do 4-5 days a week, or at least every other day.



Thanks again guys!
 
I'm not an exercise expert so I can't tell you what a good exercise bike substitute workout would be for actual running. However if you choose to join one of the ROTC programs I think you'll be running year round in all types of weather. I would use a car to check the mileage for a couple of miles around your neighborhood and run close to home if you can't use the HS track. Obviously you can't/shouldn't run when the roads are icy or dangerous but from my memory of Winter in Ohio that wasn't the case every day / all day. IMHO - you need to somehow find the energy / time / drive to run daily to build up your stamina and breathing.
Good Luck!:thumb:
 
danger zone said:
but I have an exercise bike in my basement that I can utilize. Is that an adequate substitute for running in the winter?
Click to expand...

In a word. No.

I am an exercise instructor. In order to get better at a certain sport, you must train in that sport. There are tertiary excercises that can support your training, but to achieve improvement in a specific activity, you must train in that activity. You need to RUN. Whether that is outside in the cold, or finding a gym with a treadmill, you need to start doing that.

My training for the Navy was done in Newport, Rhode Island in the middle of winter. We got up at 5:30 am and ran three days a week when the temperature didn't get above 20 degrees. It's not ideal, but it can be done with the proper precautions.

If this is important to you, like Aglages said, you need to find a way.
 
Just do what you can when you can. I live in Michigan; the lake effect snow has been pounding the western part of the state (where I live). I do have access to indoor cardio stuff, so that helps, but definitely biking will help. The key is heart rate: you want to get that up around 160 and try to hold it in that area. Of course, longer w/ lower rate will also help, but remember that the APFT is 2 miles, AF and Navy(not 100% on Navy) are both 1.5 miles, which will not take you more than 16 mins for the APFT...

Just food for thought :)
 
Ok, thanks guys.



I started to work out again. The snow was still coming down until a few days ago, and we still have a lot of ice on the sidewalk, but if I get home from school early enough I can jog on the street with a lot of visibility. So that should work out.

My parents decided that for Christmas they are going to re-up our Rec membership. Now I will have access to an indoor track and a lot of fitness equipment. This way I can develop a plan that I can stick to and be consistent with.



Any other tips on the actual interview? I was supposed to have it 2 weeks ago, but it kept getting cancelled. This is like the fourth tentative date I've had for my interview, so I really hope things work out and I can get this over with haha.



Thanks guys.
 
Oh, and I've got one more question, dealing with promptness.


Not to make excuses, but it might be out of my control. When the Petty Officer who was working with me about my app called me to tell me I have my interview, he said he was going to pick me up because the interview was kind of far away and he had to stop in my area anyway. I said sure, just because it was kind of short notice, and I wouldn't have time/resources (car was getting oil change today) to scout out the area/building of where the interview would be like I did last time...for the interview that never happened.


But anyway, he told me he would pick me up at 10:30 for an 11:00 interview. That is cutting it really close, in my head when he told me the interview was gonna be at 11 and that it wasn't going to be where it originally was, but further from my house, I was thinking in my head that I should leave by 10, just to be safe. The place I thought took nearly ~40 minutes to get to. But then he told me that he wanted to drive me, and I heard this was customary, so I agreed. Then he said the time, and I was like uhh, ok.



What is the officer doing my interview going think? Granted, I just mapquested where I'm going, and it said a little over 30 minutes, so I shouldn't be that late, but...to be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late.


Hope he comes early, I'll be ready, haha.
 
In the Army, on time means 15 minutes early. That means you need to be there at 10:45. That means you need to leave at 10:00. I think you need to call the recruiter to see if he can do that, or find alternate transportation (oil changes can be moved).
 
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