Within the last 6 months I've been preparing to become an Information Warfare Officer in the navy and I had a lot of questions as I've made my way through this process. Since I've actually gone through a lot of the process now I thought I'd detail my journey so far and impart of my knowledge of what to expect and some tips that I've picked up along the way.
1. The first step in all of this is going to be a ton of paperwork. Basically you'll receive a document from your recruiter with about 10 or so documents linked inside of it, all of which you get to fill out. A lot of these are application forms, medical history forms, reference forms etc... These aren't terribly difficult to fill out but they do require some research to make sure that you have all of your facts straight.
The part that is going to take you the longest in terms of paperwork is your 10 year background check for your security clearance. I hope that you've kept good records of your life thus far because this is intense. They will be having you dive back into the last 10 years of resident history (where you've lived), foreign contacts, 10 years of job history, information on how to contact your various bosses from those jobs, references for all of the places that you've lived in the last 3 years, personal references that can detail a good part of you life for the last 7 years, and a whole slew of history on your family. Tip: When filling this out be careful that you don't list any of the 3 required personal references anywhere else in the documentation as another reference. If you do they will have you do it again and list other references. Also after you fill this out, just make sure you save it 4 or 5 times so the next time you have to dig this information up it's there and ready for you.
2. After you get this all processed or during your completion of the documentation, you'll be taking the ASTB which is basically an officer version of the ASVAB that you would take if you were enlisting instead of applying to become a commissioned officer. If you aren't going into aviation for the Navy you will only be taking the OAR part of this test which basically has 3 parts; Math, Mechanical Comprehension (Physics), and Reading. If you haven't looked at any of these subjects for a while you'll want to look up all the examples that you can to get yourself prepared. The information on the test isn't terribly difficult but it helps to understand the format of the questions that will be being thrown at you. Note: you don't necessarily need to pass this the first time around. You do get three tries to pass the ASTB or at least to get your desired score. However, after this point you will not be allowed to ever take it again.
Here are some flashcards that someone made that will at least prepare you for the types of questions and the format of the questions. The answers aren't always right but they at least give you a taste of what to expect.
Math
Mechanical Comprehension
I never found one for the reading.
3. After you've filled out all of the paperwork and gotten a solid score on the ASTB then your recruiter will check everything over and prepare to send your paperwork into the selection boards for the various positions you want to apply for. Note: You will be required to be weighed and measured before they submit this paperwork so be working out and getting in shape way before this so you don't get hung up. The boards for the various officer positions don't meet every month, they meet periodically throughout the year, I believe about every 6 months. Keep this in mind as you're trying to get everything done and ask your recruiter when the next board for you desired area is meeting so that you don't miss the deadline or expect something too soon.
4. After everything has been submitted and the board has looked over all of your information and come to a decision they will either give you a professional recommendation, which will allow you to move on the next steps, or they will decline you. Now, getting declined isn't the end of the world, you can still reapply after making alterations to your paperwork and maybe taking the ASTB again. But if you do get professionally recommended then you'll be moving onto MEPS. I heard about my professional recommendation about 2 weeks after the board met.
5. I just barely got done with MEPS a few days ago so here's what I learned from it. First, make sure that you're recruiter has sent in all of your information and that you're green on paperwork so that they aren't declining you at MEPS because you don't have some documentation for a past injury. If you're green on paperwork then you'll have your recruiter schedule a MEPS time for you, which is usually any day M-F in a week. You'll be arriving nice and early to MEPS, we had to be there in front of the building at 5:45 am. Be prepared to be there for a good part of the day, I didn't get out of there until about 12:30 pm.
Things you'll need to bring with you
- Photo ID (non-expired drivers license)
- Social Security Card or an official document with your SSN on it such as a W-2.
*DO NOT BRING A KNIFE INCLUDING A MULTITOOL. The buildings they bring you to are federal buildings and they have very strict policies so make sure that you're just bringing what you need. Don't even bring your cellphone in because you can't use it inside of the building anyway.
What you'll be going through at MEPS
- You'll be ID'd and wanded so that you can enter the building
- You'll then be initially processed and given a bunch of paperwork that you'll be carrying with you the rest of the day.
- They'll then take your vitals and begin processing you through what they can before they run you through an intro meeting which will let you know what the purpose of MEPS is.
- After the meeting you'll get a breathalyzer test so don't be drinking the night before.
- From here you'll be going through multiple stations in no particular order for various tests and screenings. These will include:
1. Vision Test
2. Hearing Test
3. Blood Test
4. Urine Test
5. Consultation with a Dr. about your past medical history.
After you've finished these 5 stations you'll go into a physical with about 5 other recruits where you will be in your briefs the entire time. This physical consists of
1. Height and Weight measurement. - if you don't pass this then they will do the "Rope and Choke" which is where they measure your waist and then measure your neck and minus the 2 numbers. You'll then need to fall below a specific number (which is supposed to be your body fat %) to pass. I was measured at 73" and I had to be below a 25" difference to give you an idea.
2. Check your back, lungs, heart, ears, eyes, etc...
3. Check the mobility of all of your joints by making you do various full range movements across a room.
4. Check for hernias, hemroids, and other things by checking your testicles and your butt.
Once you've finished this you'll have a final consultation with a Dr. who will check over everything that has been tested and give you a final ok. If this goes well you'll get checked out and told that you either qualify for service or disqualify for service.
The nice thing is, after this is over, you get a free lunch on the Navy.
TIPS: Don't dehydrate yourself to try to make your weight limit. When you do this you may compromise your pee test because your urine won't have enough fluid so the proteins could be too dense and make you fail which would force you to come back to MEPS again another day to do the pee test again. If you're right on the boarder for your weight limit then go ahead and drink plenty of water because you shouldn't have a problem passing the Waist and Neck measurement if you're that close anyway. There's no reason not to eat a good breakfast before hand and to have plenty of fluids, trust me you'll have a much better time at MEPS if you do.
That's the extent of what I've been through so far. Currently I'm waiting on the final selection board to give me their professional recommendation so that I can get a date for OCS. If you have any questions just put them in the comments and I'll try to answer them from my experience.
Good luck!
1. The first step in all of this is going to be a ton of paperwork. Basically you'll receive a document from your recruiter with about 10 or so documents linked inside of it, all of which you get to fill out. A lot of these are application forms, medical history forms, reference forms etc... These aren't terribly difficult to fill out but they do require some research to make sure that you have all of your facts straight.
The part that is going to take you the longest in terms of paperwork is your 10 year background check for your security clearance. I hope that you've kept good records of your life thus far because this is intense. They will be having you dive back into the last 10 years of resident history (where you've lived), foreign contacts, 10 years of job history, information on how to contact your various bosses from those jobs, references for all of the places that you've lived in the last 3 years, personal references that can detail a good part of you life for the last 7 years, and a whole slew of history on your family. Tip: When filling this out be careful that you don't list any of the 3 required personal references anywhere else in the documentation as another reference. If you do they will have you do it again and list other references. Also after you fill this out, just make sure you save it 4 or 5 times so the next time you have to dig this information up it's there and ready for you.
2. After you get this all processed or during your completion of the documentation, you'll be taking the ASTB which is basically an officer version of the ASVAB that you would take if you were enlisting instead of applying to become a commissioned officer. If you aren't going into aviation for the Navy you will only be taking the OAR part of this test which basically has 3 parts; Math, Mechanical Comprehension (Physics), and Reading. If you haven't looked at any of these subjects for a while you'll want to look up all the examples that you can to get yourself prepared. The information on the test isn't terribly difficult but it helps to understand the format of the questions that will be being thrown at you. Note: you don't necessarily need to pass this the first time around. You do get three tries to pass the ASTB or at least to get your desired score. However, after this point you will not be allowed to ever take it again.
Here are some flashcards that someone made that will at least prepare you for the types of questions and the format of the questions. The answers aren't always right but they at least give you a taste of what to expect.
Math
Mechanical Comprehension
I never found one for the reading.
3. After you've filled out all of the paperwork and gotten a solid score on the ASTB then your recruiter will check everything over and prepare to send your paperwork into the selection boards for the various positions you want to apply for. Note: You will be required to be weighed and measured before they submit this paperwork so be working out and getting in shape way before this so you don't get hung up. The boards for the various officer positions don't meet every month, they meet periodically throughout the year, I believe about every 6 months. Keep this in mind as you're trying to get everything done and ask your recruiter when the next board for you desired area is meeting so that you don't miss the deadline or expect something too soon.
4. After everything has been submitted and the board has looked over all of your information and come to a decision they will either give you a professional recommendation, which will allow you to move on the next steps, or they will decline you. Now, getting declined isn't the end of the world, you can still reapply after making alterations to your paperwork and maybe taking the ASTB again. But if you do get professionally recommended then you'll be moving onto MEPS. I heard about my professional recommendation about 2 weeks after the board met.
5. I just barely got done with MEPS a few days ago so here's what I learned from it. First, make sure that you're recruiter has sent in all of your information and that you're green on paperwork so that they aren't declining you at MEPS because you don't have some documentation for a past injury. If you're green on paperwork then you'll have your recruiter schedule a MEPS time for you, which is usually any day M-F in a week. You'll be arriving nice and early to MEPS, we had to be there in front of the building at 5:45 am. Be prepared to be there for a good part of the day, I didn't get out of there until about 12:30 pm.
Things you'll need to bring with you
- Photo ID (non-expired drivers license)
- Social Security Card or an official document with your SSN on it such as a W-2.
*DO NOT BRING A KNIFE INCLUDING A MULTITOOL. The buildings they bring you to are federal buildings and they have very strict policies so make sure that you're just bringing what you need. Don't even bring your cellphone in because you can't use it inside of the building anyway.
What you'll be going through at MEPS
- You'll be ID'd and wanded so that you can enter the building
- You'll then be initially processed and given a bunch of paperwork that you'll be carrying with you the rest of the day.
- They'll then take your vitals and begin processing you through what they can before they run you through an intro meeting which will let you know what the purpose of MEPS is.
- After the meeting you'll get a breathalyzer test so don't be drinking the night before.
- From here you'll be going through multiple stations in no particular order for various tests and screenings. These will include:
1. Vision Test
2. Hearing Test
3. Blood Test
4. Urine Test
5. Consultation with a Dr. about your past medical history.
After you've finished these 5 stations you'll go into a physical with about 5 other recruits where you will be in your briefs the entire time. This physical consists of
1. Height and Weight measurement. - if you don't pass this then they will do the "Rope and Choke" which is where they measure your waist and then measure your neck and minus the 2 numbers. You'll then need to fall below a specific number (which is supposed to be your body fat %) to pass. I was measured at 73" and I had to be below a 25" difference to give you an idea.
2. Check your back, lungs, heart, ears, eyes, etc...
3. Check the mobility of all of your joints by making you do various full range movements across a room.
4. Check for hernias, hemroids, and other things by checking your testicles and your butt.
Once you've finished this you'll have a final consultation with a Dr. who will check over everything that has been tested and give you a final ok. If this goes well you'll get checked out and told that you either qualify for service or disqualify for service.
The nice thing is, after this is over, you get a free lunch on the Navy.
TIPS: Don't dehydrate yourself to try to make your weight limit. When you do this you may compromise your pee test because your urine won't have enough fluid so the proteins could be too dense and make you fail which would force you to come back to MEPS again another day to do the pee test again. If you're right on the boarder for your weight limit then go ahead and drink plenty of water because you shouldn't have a problem passing the Waist and Neck measurement if you're that close anyway. There's no reason not to eat a good breakfast before hand and to have plenty of fluids, trust me you'll have a much better time at MEPS if you do.
That's the extent of what I've been through so far. Currently I'm waiting on the final selection board to give me their professional recommendation so that I can get a date for OCS. If you have any questions just put them in the comments and I'll try to answer them from my experience.
Good luck!
