Transcript Slide 1

Conducting
Officer Interviews for
NROTC Scholarship
Candidates
LCDR Jeff Juergens
CNRC Director Nuclear Programs/NROTC
Things to think about before you
get to this page…
Prepping the Candidates
How do YOU do it?
• Recommened bring:
– Paper copy of
application
– Unofficial transcript
– ACT/SAT scores
– Letters of
Recommendation
– Resume
• Recommened attire?
– Coming straight from
school?
– JROTC uniform?
Ratings
High
5
Average
4
3
2
Low
1
NROTC Interest and Motivation
Leadership Potential
Responsibilities
Organization of Tasks &
Activities
Communication
Overall Evaluation
Participation
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Describe the applicant’s participating
in activities involving math, science
and computers, Include in-school and
out-of-school activities.)
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Describe the applicant’s general level
of interest in math and science.
• STEM major or Liberal Arts?
– 85% of scholarships to tier 1 or 2
– Remaining 15%
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Predominantly LREC
(Language/Regional Expertise/Culture)
• Ability to pass college calculus and calculus
based physics?
– IB? AP? Honors? (Only care about Math/Sci)
– 4 years math
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Alg, Geom, Trig, Pre-calc, Calc
Special engineering classes?
– 4 years science
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Chemistry? Physics? >/= year of each?
Nurses – biology?
– Awards & Merit?
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Governors school, elite award?
Science Fair, Math Team?
Tutors classmates?
• Computers
4 years from now, will this candidate
have the university academic resume
to be considered for Nuclear Power?
– HS classes? Programming experience?
– Changes hard drive, RAM, maintenance, etc
– Proficient with Microsoft Office software
• Other
– HS Grading scale (Fairfax 93 vs 90 for “A”)
Special Circumstances
•
Describe any special circumstances
the NROTC Selection Board should be
aware of that influenced school
performance or participation in Extracurricular activities
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e.g, having long commute to and from
school;
needing to work to support self and/or
family,
working on family farm or business,
needing to care for family member in
poor health).
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Make your own checklist and ask!
Usually fewer activities than traditional
student
Noticeable change in grades
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Employment
Babysits younger siblings so parents can
work
Low performing school district
Home-schooled?
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Mononucleosis?
Fractures,
Changed school during high school
Financial hardship
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(family death, injury illness, suicide)
Illness
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99% of the time, the student will not
volunteer this information…
…but it can be critical to selection
because it may demonstrate
CHARACTER.
Military Dependant of Active Duty or Retired
from Active Duty? (not discharged)
Military Reservist parents? Recalled? Deployed?
Parents Divorced? Deployed?
Disabled family member?
Tragic occurrence
Explain anomolies
JROTC
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Usually precludes sports or other activities
Physical Activity
• Describe physical activities the
applicant is engaged in that
are not included on the
application form, such as
strenuous work or home
activities or non-organized
recreational activities.
• Describe the bearing, personal
appearance, and apparent
physical fitness of the
applicant, with particular
emphasis on identifying
potential for overweight
condition
• Before you penalize a kid for
the way they are dressed or
how they acted in the
interview…consider
– How much heads up did they
have?
– Were they told how to dress?
– Not every kid already has
“military bearing”
• If you don’t like their posture
or respectfulness – let them
know and give them a chance
to correct during the interview
– Is this a bad day, or indicative
of who this kid really is…
– Are they dressed in the only
clothes they own/can afford.
Overall Evaluation/Comments
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Provide amplifying information
regarding the ratings given on
page three.
Comment on the applicant’s
suitability for an office accession
program and provide your
recommendation as to the
selection for an NROTC
scholarship .
•
Tell the board something
– What ISN’T in the transcript?
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Treat like a FITREP
– You already have a good or bad
reputation with selection boards!
• Spell check and grammar check
your write up in MS Word and
then cut & paste online.
– Grades require supporting
comments.
• Use this to explain the ratings you
gave…high or low!
– 5.0 with few words=bad
– 3.0 with great words=?
– Closing statement should leave no
doubt to Selection Board whether
or not we want this
candidate…and why.
• Use truthful comparisons
Kids have $180,000 in tuition
riding on this…and the Navy is
competing for their talent!
– “..best of 12 candidates I’ve seen
this year”
– Your first interview? Don’t be
afraid to say that in your write up
– If we don’t want ‘em, SAY SO!
Sample Write-up:
Math & Science
Completing 4-year curriculum of math and science; including
Honors Alg 1&2, Honors Geom, AP Pre-Calc, Chemistry, and
Honors Physics. Has taken year of Computer Science and
Computer Applications in H.S., to include computer graphics.
• Awarded scholarship to attend summer seminar at Johns
Hopkins Applied Physics Lab for select students with exceptional
math/science acumen.
• Selected tier 3 major on application, but willing to commit to tier
2 major for scholarship.
• Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and tutors school children in
Chinese at community church.
Sample Write-up:
Special Circumstances
Mother is Bolivian, Step-Father is Moroccan (both are US
Citizens). Birth parents divorced when he was a baby. Attended
3 different high schools in 4 years: Islamic Saudi Academy (9),
South County HS (10, 11) and Albert Einstein (11). Saudi
Academy did not have any extra-curricular programs or athletics,
which precluded participation freshman year. Elected to leave
private Saudi Academy for public H.S. after freshman year
because he was only Hispanic in school and wanted exposure to
greater diversity. Moved between junior and senior year.
Candidate speaks Spanish, French ,and Arabic fluently and has
traveled to both Morroco and Bolivia several times. (Application
only allowed him to list Spanish). Was not aware of LREC
program during interview, but was very interested after program
was explained.
Sample Write-up:
Special Circumstances
Mother is Bolivian, Step-Father is Moroccan (both are US
Citizens). Birth parents divorced when he was a baby. Attended
3 different high schools in 4 years: Islamic Saudi Academy (9),
South County HS (10, 11) and Albert Einstein (11). Saudi
Academy did not have any extra-curricular programs or athletics,
which precluded participation freshman year. Elected to leave
private Saudi Academy for public H.S. after freshman year
because he was only Hispanic in school and wanted exposure to
greater diversity. Moved between junior and senior year.
Candidate speaks Spanish, French ,and Arabic fluently and has
traveled to both Morroco and Bolivia several times. (Application
only allowed him to list Spanish). Was not aware of LREC
program during interview, but was very interested after program
was explained.
Sample Write-up:
Physical Activity
5-years of Shotokan Karate; holds black-belt and assists as
instructor. Currently on varsity wrestling team, wrestled JV last
year. Trains with wrestling team off-season year round. Runs 12 miles prior to each practice. Athletic appearance – within body
standards and does not appear in any danger of over-weight
condition. Participates and performs with hip-hop dance club.
Respectful and polite during interview; neat appearance -showed
up in suit and tie.
Sample Write-up:
Physical Activity
5-years of Shotokan Karate; holds black-belt and assists as
instructor. Currently on varsity wrestling team, wrestled JV last
year. Trains with wrestling team off-season year round. Runs 12 miles prior to each practice. Athletic appearance – within body
standards and does not appear in any danger of over-weight
condition. Participates and performs with hip-hop dance club.
Respectful and polite during interview; neat appearance -showed
up in suit and tie.
Other concepts/comments….
• “Life Scout…working towards Eagle”
• Special awards, schools, experiences
• Specific examples of character/leadership
– Tutoring, handicapped, underprivileged
– Positions/responsibilities not listed elsewhere
on application
– JROTC/Sea Cadets/Civil Air Patrol
Leadership more important than membership