Senior Awards Night - ALO?

apollo11

apollo11

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Feb 18, 2023
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I am incredibly blessed to have received my appointment to USAFA. From what I’ve gathered, Mentor ALO’s sometimes present acceptances at Senior Awards Nights. However, I have a close relationship with a family friend who is also in the USAF. Is it uncommon or frowned upon for officers other than ALO’s to present appointments at an awards ceremony? Thank you for your help.
 
It likely isn't, just communicate with your ALO and school admins (if needed) to ensure understanding.
 
apollo11 said:
I am incredibly blessed to have received my appointment to USAFA. From what I’ve gathered, Mentor ALO’s sometimes present acceptances at Senior Awards Nights. However, I have a close relationship with a family friend who is also in the USAF. Is it uncommon or frowned upon for officers other than ALO’s to present appointments at an awards ceremony? Thank you for your help.
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It absolutely is NOT frowned upon! This is YOUR night!! ALOs enjoy making these presentations; we get a chance to extol the challenges the candidate faced and how difficult it is to attain the appointment.

However, I doubt that there's ANY ALO that would say word one other than "That's awesome!!"

It's YOUR night...

Congratulations!

Steve
USAFA ALO
(Mentor and Evaluator)
 
ALO's are all over the place concerning this topic (and many others). DS1 was exactly what @flieger83 describes. DS2 his ALO couldn't be bothered throughout the entire process including awards night. We were able to arrange for a 2LT USAFA grad awaiting UPT, while working as a recruiter, to present at his awards night.

Communicate with your ALO, school, etc but it shouldn't be a problem at all.
 
T-37IP said:
ALO's are all over the place concerning this topic (and many others). DS1 was exactly what @flieger83 describes. DS2 his ALO couldn't be bothered throughout the entire process including awards night. We were able to arrange for a 2LT USAFA grad awaiting UPT, while working as a recruiter, to present at his awards night.

Communicate with your ALO, school, etc but it shouldn't be a problem at all.
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Okay, I'm in a mood tonight so I'm going to just say it.

I wish I could go meet these ALOs that "can't be bothered." I'd fire them on the spot and ensure they NEVER had the opportunity to return. If they were Cat E reservist...well, that's what IRR is for.

It really "roils" me as this is a volunteer job and usually we're screened pretty well!

Steve
 
flieger83 said:
Okay, I'm in a mood tonight so I'm going to just say it.

I wish I could go meet these ALOs that "can't be bothered." I'd fire them on the spot and ensure they NEVER had the opportunity to return. If they were Cat E reservist...well, that's what IRR is for.

It really "roils" me as this is a volunteer job and usually we're screened pretty well!

Steve
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Are you able to have your Eval ALO present it? I never received any response/communication from my mentor ALO but the Eval ALO was amazing, went out of his way to prep/interview me, and has offered to remain in contact as a mentor if needed regardless of the path I choose.
 
apollo11 said:
I am incredibly blessed to have received my appointment to USAFA. From what I’ve gathered, Mentor ALO’s sometimes present acceptances at Senior Awards Nights. However, I have a close relationship with a family friend who is also in the USAF. Is it uncommon or frowned upon for officers other than ALO’s to present appointments at an awards ceremony? Thank you for your help.
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My ALO is out of country, I was offered by a local admissions officer (2nd LT) to do the presentation but he also kept it open to where you could have anyone present the certificate.
 
Gaffer said:
Are you able to have your Eval ALO present it? I never received any response/communication from my mentor ALO but the Eval ALO was amazing, went out of his way to prep/interview me, and has offered to remain in contact as a mentor if needed regardless of the path I choose.
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That could be VERY challenging. I'm an evaluator ALO; I did an evaluation last Saturday evening. Why in the evening?

The candidate is in American Samoa.

Now, if that candidate receives an appointment, I'd love to present it!! However, I think my wife and my bank account would question a 5200 mile trip to the South Pacific.

Do you know where your evaluator ALO is located in relation to you?

Steve
USAFA ALO
 
flieger83 said:
That could be VERY challenging. I'm an evaluator ALO; I did an evaluation last Saturday evening. Why in the evening?

The candidate is in American Samoa.

Now, if that candidate receives an appointment, I'd love to present it!! However, I think my wife and my bank account would question a 5200 mile trip to the South Pacific.

Do you know where your evaluator ALO is located in relation to you?

Steve
USAFA ALO
Click to expand...

USAFA should cover that trip!
 
flieger83 said:
Okay, I'm in a mood tonight so I'm going to just say it.

I wish I could go meet these ALOs that "can't be bothered." I'd fire them on the spot and ensure they NEVER had the opportunity to return. If they were Cat E reservist...well, that's what IRR is for.

It really "roils" me as this is a volunteer job and usually we're screened pretty well!

Steve
Click to expand...
DS1 had a "Mentor" ALO that wanted nothing to do with the process and even got angry at him in an email for using the wrong rank when the guy was promoted and my DS had no way of knowing since his last contact. His Evaluator ALO was absolutely amazing and went out of her way to help and be available. DS2 was lucky enough to have both of them very engaged and helpful as well as a BGO who was actively involved. Can't understand why someone would volunteer to be a Mentor if they have no interest in actually mentoring or being engaged.
 
All3Services said:
DS1 had a "Mentor" ALO that wanted nothing to do with the process and even got angry at him in an email for using the wrong rank when the guy was promoted and my DS had no way of knowing since his last contact. His Evaluator ALO was absolutely amazing and went out of her way to help and be available. DS2 was lucky enough to have both of them very engaged and helpful as well as a BGO who was actively involved. Can't understand why someone would volunteer to be a Mentor if they have no interest in actually mentoring or being engaged.
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I'm "old school." I go after ALOs that are there to collect duty "credit" and nothing more. I fire them. Well, I used to...they've restructured the ALO world so now it takes a regional person to do that. But they will do it if we point out the non-performers.

Sadly, we do have some. The candidate in AS has an ALO in Hawaii...that's NEVER ONCE responded to over a dozen emails. The candidate and I...well, we've exchanged probably two dozen emails and spoken a couple of times, including the interview. I told the candidate to just consider me their ALO...call/text/email and I'll be there.

And then I reported the Hawaii ALO...in none too flattering terms.
 
flieger83 said:
Okay, I'm in a mood tonight so I'm going to just say it.

I wish I could go meet these ALOs that "can't be bothered." I'd fire them on the spot and ensure they NEVER had the opportunity to return. If they were Cat E reservist...well, that's what IRR is for.

It really "roils" me as this is a volunteer job and usually we're screened pretty well!

Steve
Click to expand...
I honestly didn't even know ALOs did this. There were 2 service academy appointees in our graduating class. West Point, and USAFA. West Point sent a rep...can't remember if he was an alum nor not, but he was an officer, in dress uniform, stationed locally. He did a small speech at the awards ceremony and congratulated the appointee, presenting him with the booklet. My grad received an appointment from Merchant Marines, and they excitedly asked her for info on awards night, date, time, etc so they could send a rep. She ended up declining, so it didn't happen, of course. Not a peep from USAFA. The kicker? We're in CO. Just up the highway from USAFA.
 
snarfly said:
I honestly didn't even know ALOs did this. There were 2 service academy appointees in our graduating class. West Point, and USAFA. West Point sent a rep...can't remember if he was an alum nor not, but he was an officer, in dress uniform, stationed locally. He did a small speech at the awards ceremony and congratulated the appointee, presenting him with the booklet. My grad received an appointment from Merchant Marines, and they excitedly asked her for info on awards night, date, time, etc so they could send a rep. She ended up declining, so it didn't happen, of course. Not a peep from USAFA. The kicker? We're in CO. Just up the highway from USAFA.
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OMG...there are a bunch of ALOs in the CSprings area...that should have been a no-brainer.

That's embarrassing.
 
flieger83 said:
OMG...there are a bunch of ALOs in the CSprings area...that should have been a no-brainer.

That's embarrassing.
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🤷‍♀️ I always just thought CO kids get no love from USAFA because we're locals, we know about USAFA and it's the #1 choice among SAs. CO kids love in state colleges. It's very much a why buy the cow when you can get the milk free, type of situation.
 
My son has never heard a peep from his ALO. He has attempted to contact him several times and has never even gotten a response. On the contrary, USMA has been on the ball. He received a LOA in July and has his appointment. Never a peep from USAFA. I was a little worried if not having an ALO was the problem, but hearing these other experiences, I think USAFA is just a little "quieter" in general.
 
This whole time I was under the notion that candidates are supposed to reach out to their ALOs first, which is why I found it normal that my ALO never reached out to me first. Once I reached out however, her replies were very quick.
 
In my DS experience, USMA FFR and USAFA ALO were both responsive and engaged with him. For some circumstance, USNA BGO was out of reach most of the time with him and it took awhile before he had his interview. I think it depends who is assigned to you and what are the circumstance with that person. But generally, of course, one would expect some warm relationship as these are kids trying to navigate a complex process.
 
flieger83 said:
That could be VERY challenging. I'm an evaluator ALO; I did an evaluation last Saturday evening. Why in the evening?

The candidate is in American Samoa.

Now, if that candidate receives an appointment, I'd love to present it!! However, I think my wife and my bank account would question a 5200 mile trip to the South Pacific.

Do you know where your evaluator ALO is located in relation to you?

Steve
USAFA ALO
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……oh. That makes a lot of sense, thank you sir. 😂 I believe it would be around a one full day drive for him.
 
I presented a student of the year award one year at our senior awards program and representatives from ROTC, NJROTC, and three academies were there. One navy officer walked up to the stage with a big check with a big number written on it. One BGO told the crowd how much the naval academy education is worth in dollars. The crowd gasped. The school is a target-rich environment for officer accessions. There were at least seven students recognized.

I was in the BGO program for a few months and told myself I couldn't wait to be that BGO on the stage. I can't imagine one who'd not be thrilled and honored to do that task.
 
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