wearing JROTC uniform

Just got back from an interview with my senator's panel. My senator held a conference and ate lunch with all the candidates afterwards so I got a good idea of what a lot of people wear to their interviews. Out of about 90 people only three wore JROTC uniforms. Other than that, I saw all suits with the exception of one sweater vest, one Air Force SS polo shirt, and about 8-10 with just a dress shirt on. (All the ladies wore dresses or a blouse/skirt combo.)
 
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Consider the interview committee as well. The men and women in my DS's interview committee were dressed in business attire. Very sharp and impressive. Majority of candidates had blue or black suit, white shirt and neutral tie. Those that did not, stuck out.

The committee took the time to prepare for this important event and your appearance should reflect this.
 
^^^^ Agree.

I just saw a documentary on King George and Elizabeth. She was condemned by the media at first for wearing an outfit when visiting people who were bombed.

She replied, you would wear your Sunday best if you came to my home, why shouldn't I wear my Sunday best when visiting their home?

She saw it as not being flashy, but instead respectful to them.

I think that is how candidates should also see it. It is a sign of showing respect.

LFRY,

I have to ask, were the entire 90 for one SA, or was that for all of the SA's? I am going to assume it was for all SA's, because 90 candidates in one day for one SA is insane. Figure 15-20 minutes an interview, 8 hours in a day, that would equate to 30 candidates at best in the day.

I am also impressed that the Sen. was there. Typically, MOC's will do a meet and greet with candidates, but this was the 1st time I have read that the MOC was actually sitting in on the committee interviewing process for the candidates.

Interesting. I must say that had to be unnerving the Sen. was in the room for the interview.

Or did he just do the meet and greet at lunch, and did not sit in on any of the interviews?
 
Mine was Saturday. I wore a suit and tie. I saw a total of three candidates out of twenty or so in a JROTC uniform, and one in a Boy Scout uniform. The interviews were split into two groups, though, so there may have been more in the first group.

My uniform (or lack thereof) was not mentioned once during the interview. They didn't ask, and I didn't bring it up. We did talk a little about my leadership roles in the program, and about my performance on the Navy PFT, but much of the interview was spent talking about my desired career field and about the Academy itself.
 
Pima said:
^^^^ Agree.

I just saw a documentary on King George and Elizabeth. She was condemned by the media at first for wearing an outfit when visiting people who were bombed.

She replied, you would wear your Sunday best if you came to my home, why shouldn't I wear my Sunday best when visiting their home?

She saw it as not being flashy, but instead respectful to them.

I think that is how candidates should also see it. It is a sign of showing respect.

LFRY,

I have to ask, were the entire 90 for one SA, or was that for all of the SA's? I am going to assume it was for all SA's, because 90 candidates in one day for one SA is insane. Figure 15-20 minutes an interview, 8 hours in a day, that would equate to 30 candidates at best in the day.

I am also impressed that the Sen. was there. Typically, MOC's will do a meet and greet with candidates, but this was the 1st time I have read that the MOC was actually sitting in on the committee interviewing process for the candidates.

Interesting. I must say that had to be unnerving the Sen. was in the room for the interview.

Or did he just do the meet and greet at lunch, and did not sit in on any of the interviews?
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The 90 were split between USNA, USAFA, USMA, and a few for USMMA. I don't believe the senator sat in on interviews, but I don't know for sure. He wasn't there for mine, but he had four or five separate panels and they interviewed between the hours of 8:30am and 12:00pm so he could have been in one of the other rooms.

Between the hours of 10:00am and 12:00pm three service academy students from Kansas that had been appointed in the past few years answered any questions the candidates had. (There was one from USAFA, one from USNA, and one from USMA)

At 12:00pm when the interviews concluded, we took a group picture outside and then went in for lunch. During lunch, the Senator introduced each of the panel members and had them give a short bio about themselves. Then he gave a short (probably 15 minute) speech about how he highly valued the nomination selection process. Afterwards he stood around and talked to any and all candidates who might have had questions for him.

I agree with Honor66. The few people I specifically remember that stuck out were the three in their JROTC uniforms, the one in his USAFA summer seminar polo shirt, and a girl that wore a bright, flashy blue dress. Everyone else was black/blue suit with neutral tone shirts and ties.
 
MemberLG said:
How about a panel member wearing his or her military uniform?
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I saw a few in uniform on our day, but most were business casual, if not in a suit.

They could wear Under Armor and flip-flops if they so chose. It would not change the expectations for the applicants, IMO.
 
Pima said:
Expound please.
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Some panel members are active duty/reserve military members. So, as a panel member, they can wear their military uniform if they want to.

To expound, is a panel member sending a message to an applicant by wearing his military uniform?

My case, I wear my uniform to send some messages

- Applying for a nomination means you are willing to serve in the military. You be surprise how many applicants think that after they graduate from a SA, they do other things than being a leader/military officer
- Better be careful when you start talking about "in the military. . .."
 
Think of your interview as a job application to a top corporation or a top tier University. Those on the committee wearing uniforms (and I have seen some wearing them) have already earned it and may still be active or reserve. Never in six interviews have I ever seen a Congressman at any of them (not even in the office during the process on the weekend) but that just may be our New England reserve.:biggrin: Nice touch that they had some SA students at the interview. SA scheduling for SA students at an interview process could be a problem but sometimes they are allowed for special events. If they don't think they are going to be "In The Military" after graduation their application should be DOA.
 
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AF6872 said:
Think of your interview as a job application to a top corporation or a top tier University. Those on the committee wearing uniforms (and I have seen some wearing them) have already earned it and may still be active or reserve. Never in six interviews have I ever seen a Congressman at any of them (not even in the office during the process on the weekend) but that just may be our New England reserve.:biggrin: Nice touch that they had some SA students at the interview. Scheduling for SA could be a problem but sometimes they are allowed for special events.
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My MOC always stops by and hangs around during the interview most of the time. He stays out of the interview process itself to make it apolitical or not be accused of any favortism.
 
MemberLG:

Your MOC/MOCs are more involved in the process than ours are and more credit to them/him/her. For us it is seems like just another duty passed off to a designated committee for referral.:shake:
 
Son asked me whether he should wear his JROTC uniform to his MOC interview. I was unsure, and suggested he ask his JROTC instructor. "Is it appropriate," he asked, "to wear my uniform to the Congressional interview?"

Instructor replied, "It is appropriate to wear your uniform... anywhere."

Son did. And told that story as an icebreaker to his interviewers.

Nominated to USNA and USMMA.

I have enjoyed reading the rationales behind the other responses in this thread and probably would have been even more uncertain had I read them before his interview.
 
SnerdlyBosco said:
Instructor replied, "It is appropriate to wear your uniform... anywhere."
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Had to chuckle at that one, because it is not appropriate to do that just from a reg perspective.

I understand for this scenario it is appropriate, but in the AD world you cannot attend a political rally in uniform. Live overseas and they don't want you going out to dinner (meeting the spouse and running late) in uniform. They didn't want you to highlight you were military.

It was comical in a way. They even made you remove your military id car tags (stickers) because they didn't want people to know on the economy you were military. Yeah, that made sense...not! How many brits own a left hand drive a car like a GM suburban or a Chrysler min-van? The hair cut also didn't give them a way either!

Back in the 90's you were not even suppose to stop at Lowe's on the way home to pick up a plunger in uniform living stateside.

Just wanted to point out for future reference, anywhere is not correct.

Congrats on the noms
 
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