Stupid APPLY Tricks - gmarkhardy.com

1 Professional Development 21. Stupid APPLY Tricks certain confidence grouping will get a Lesson learned: Most billets from selection over someone just looking for a CWO2 to LCDR can be held by any rank job. Use all 35 choices; if you can't make from CWO2 to LCDR (based on first a decision, someone else will decide for character of RFAS code). Don't restrict you. your choices unnecessarily to your current CAPT G. Mark Hardy III, USNR. CDR Golf filled in 16 choices. He paygrade if you are LCDR or below. Talk National VP for Professional Development listed a billet in Puerto Rico as his 16th to senior officers and seek their counsel choice, even though he lived on the west rather than trying to interpret this yourself.

2 T's springtime, when an officer's coast. When the board got to his record, CDRs Lima and Mike both listed the I fancy turns to filling out APPLY Board applications. Each year, hundreds of officers screw up their applications and the first 15 were already slated. Result: A. really LONG monthly commute. Lesson learned: Don't list any billet as ballast . same billet as first choice; both were equally qualified. CDR Lima filled out his billet history sheet, showing experience in wind up not being considered for the jobs at the end unless you really intend to take it. that area; CDR Mike left his blank. they want. This year, don't be one of them. CAPT Hotel was perfectly qualified for Result: CDR Lima got the billet.

3 Lesson The following stories are true. The names his first choice. He even included letters learned: Complete every field in the (and some details) have been changed to from the CO, the Admiral, and the APPLY program so the board can better protect the guilty. President of the United States saying so. evaluate your application. LT Alfa had one of the best records seen Unfortunately, the board rarely views CAPT Oscar was a successful business by the board, and had first pick of any letters during slating. Result: He got executive who graduated #1 in his Harvard billet he wanted. Unfortunately, the only another billet. Lesson learned: If you MBA class.

4 Although a line officer, he billet he listed was the one he was already really want to make a pitch for a special was ideally qualified for a 3100 (supply). in. Result: No billet assigned. Lesson billet, do so in the APPLY remarks section. billet advising a flag officer who had learned: You can only APPLY for your But be careful if that billet is already requested him by name. Result: RFAS. current billet if you are an interim fill; if gone, you're pitching a lost cause. code prohibited 1 XXX assignment to the so, state this in your remarks. CDR India didn't get any of her choices, billet. Lesson learned: If a supported LCDR Bravo also had a tremendous but did indicate she'd take other billets command really wants a particular record.

5 So tremendous, in fact, that she within 100 miles. There were many billets individual, ask them to change the billet decided to APPLY only for CDR billets. still available in Washington and Norfolk, RFAS code, or at least make comments in She probably would have done well in but those locations were about 150 miles the billet description. them, too. Unfortunately, the LCDR from her home. Result: No billet assigned; Last year, over 1,100 applications were board couldn't slate CDR billets. sent to VTU. Lesson learned: Remember removed from consideration due to Result: No billet assigned. Lesson that only 1/3 of APPLY applicants get pay applicants listing no billet selections (!)

6 , learned: Stay in your lane. (FY05 APPLY billets. Be willing to travel if you expect a having multiple failed of selection (FOS), software now enforces this automatically.) paycheck. member reaching age 60 or mandatory CDRs Charlie, Delta, and Echo all put CAPT Juliett didn't want to travel, so he retirement, or by personal request! dream billets as their first choice, and listed all of the local billets and said no John Wayne said, Life is tough. It's even had done ATs at those supported to others. All his billet choices filled up, tougher if you're Stupid . Don't make the commands. Unfortunately, the billet but several local billets opened up when APPLY process any tougher than it has to RFAS codes specified other designators.

7 Those incumbents got picked for command. be. Review my August 2003 article, Result: First choices forfeited. Lesson But, since his application stated he wouldn't < learned: Know exactly what RFAS accept other billets, he didn't get them. >, How the APPLY (reserve functional area & sex) codes Result: No billet assigned; sent to the VTU. Board REALLY Works. Subscribe to mean. Codes that cause the most trouble: Lesson learned: It's usually best to be CAPT Larry Weill's AA = designator and NOBC exact match. flexible and say yes to other billets and com> APPLY update e-mails. Ask a AB = designator exact match. AD = select appropriate mileage restrictions.

8 More experienced officer to review your NOBC exact match. ENS Kilo was a new LDO who could application. And please, don't try these CAPT Foxtrot listed only one billet. excel in command. She applied for all of Stupid APPLY Tricks yourself. Someone else got it first. Good news: He the ENS CO billets she could find, but none Editor's Note: CAPT Weill's APPLY said he'd take other billets. Bad news: He of them would RFAS to her designator. Updates, along with articles by CAPT. got what was left over; he could have Several LTjg and LT billets did have the Caesar and CDR Lim, can be found on our ended up in the VTU. Lesson learned: correct RFAS code, but she didn't APPLY Web site at < Most people with valid billet requests in a for them.

9 Result: No billet assigned. i4a/ >. NRA NEWS/APRIL 2004.