Navy BDCP

[Young_American]

Has anyone either gone through this program or known someone who has? I've done some research on it and I'm wondering if I can maybe get a more personal account before contacting a recruiter.

[WorldWatcher]

Has anyone either gone through this program or known someone who has? I've done some research on it and I'm wondering if I can maybe get a more personal account before contacting a recruiter.


Hey YA, how ya do'in? Long time no "see".


Don't know much about this specific program, but is your GPA up to speed? Also what type of degree program are you in? Just wondering because in my day the Navy wanted more hard science and technical/engineering degrees.



Have you also investigated NROTC as an avenue?


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[Young_American]

Hey WW! Going pretty well, how about you?

GPA isn't phenomenal because last year I decided to (unsuccessfully) try to major in physics on top of being involved in managing every single mainstage production...this semester is designed to be a GPA booster, so hopefully I'll be up to 3.0 by the end of December.

Right now I'm working towards my Bachelor of Arts, double major in theatre (both performance and technical) and economics with focus on statistics and economic law. I also hope to take a minor in Russian...eventually I'd like to get into the FBI.

I thought about NROTC, but we don't have it at Bucknell, just AROTC. I was thinking more along the lines of hopefully getting into the intelligence area, so Navy seems like a better bet. The BDCP program looks intriguing. Basically while you're still in college you're considered active duty enlisted, and are paid as such. As a non-technical/non-science major, I'd have 24 months to complete my degree, at the end of which I attend OCS.

[chichimama]

It's good you're doing research ahead of time. If you use an internet search engine, DO NOT choose websites that aren't affiliated with the Navy. Use only official sources for the info. These are websites that end in ".navy.mil" (NOT navy.com) Here's an example of an official source for info on the BDCP:

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/noru/orojt/generalofficer.htm#1

Note that it says you will be an enlisted E3 during the program. An E3 only makes $1,587.90 a month. You will be subject to Navy regulations. Regulations change. You may not be happy with the changes. Talk to a recruiter. And above all, do not sign a contract without reading AND understanding every single word. Make sure to ask the recruiter what your chances are of getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan as an Indivudual Augmentee. PM me if you need more details.

[educ8er]

It's good you're doing research ahead of time. If you use an internet search engine, DO NOT choose websites that aren't affiliated with the Navy. Use only official sources for the info. These are websites that end in ".navy.mil" (NOT navy.com) Here's an example of an official source for info on the BDCP:

http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/noru/orojt/generalofficer.htm#1

Note that it says you will be an enlisted E3 during the program. An E3 only makes $1,587.90 a month. You will be subject to Navy regulations. Regulations change. You may not be happy with the changes. Talk to a recruiter. And above all, do not sign a contract without reading AND understanding every single word. Make sure to ask the recruiter what your chances are of getting sent to Iraq or Afghanistan as an Indivudual Augmentee. PM me if you need more details.

Good scoop Chichi

[chichimama]

Good scoop Chichi

I get pretty tired of my sailors telling me how "about.com" said this or that. So we get online, find the official regulations and I show them how wrong a lot of these websites really are.

[educ8er]

I get pretty tired of my sailors telling me how "about.com" said this or that. So we get online, find the official regulations and I show them how wrong a lot of these websites really are.

Yep...long distance between official and wannabe...

[Young_American]

Thanks chichi! That's really helpful...especially the intel qualifications. I feel the "special info" is a better qualifier for me than my actual degree, unfortunately, but it looks to be the most intriguing area to pursue--even though supply seems to cater more to my area of study.

[Young_American]

So after taking another hiatus from the forums to go through the grueling BDCP application process...

I got professionally recommended for commission as a Naval Flight Officer in May. I'm waiting on my Final Select letter, after which I will get sworn in as an E-3 in the Naval Reserve (with a military ID in active duty status, full pay, BAS, BAH, and benefits), with an Officer Candidate School date set for when I graduate. :dance::dance::dance:

The only way to screw it up is to let my GPA fall below the program standards. If that happens, when I graduate, I instead go to Great Lakes for Basic as an E-3 undesignated striker.

[WorldWatcher]

So after taking another hiatus from the forums to go through the grueling BDCP application process...

I got professionally recommended for commission as a Naval Flight Officer in May. I'm waiting on my Final Select letter, after which I will get sworn in as an E-3 in the Naval Reserve (with a military ID in active duty status, full pay, BAS, BAH, and benefits), with an Officer Candidate School date set for when I graduate. :dance::dance::dance:

The only way to screw it up is to let my GPA fall below the program standards. If that happens, when I graduate, I instead go to Great Lakes for Basic as an E-3 undesignated striker.



Just remember boot, that if you screw up your grades (I'm not talking one class, a serious drop in GPA only occurs when you mess up multiple classes) that going to the fleet as an undesignated airman (or seaman) means you will be very likely cleaning the urinals and crappers of those who kept their grades up. Or maybe you would get assigned to the laundry where you would have to wash their dirty drawers and fold their tighty-whities.



In other words, CONGRATULATIONS but don't screw it up.



I'll tell you up font though, the best job in the Navy for NFO's is in the E-2 Hawkeye. Airborne Reconnaissance, Command and Control, and Strike and CAP control. Dude it's the bomb. I've got over 2000 hours as an E-2 RADAR Operator/In-flight Technician (when they still had a slot for enlisted crewman) and it was the best job in the Navy I ever had.


Here's a link to the next generation platform that will be replacing the E-2C -->> http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=124332



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[Young_American]

Oh, I've got far too good a deal on the line to screw it up--and my recruiter is going to be on my case if there's any sign otherwise. He's an EM1 and going to be PTing with me for the next year, too, until his replacement for the NRD comes in next July (who, hopefully, will be an officer who went through OCS to help me prepare).

I'm looking into the Hawkeye--I'd like either that or the replacement for the Prowler. Of course, apparently it used to be a guy my size would get stuck in Prowlers no matter what, but since they're using modified F18s now it won't be quite so simple.

[WorldWatcher]

Oh, I've got far too good a deal on the line to screw it up--and my recruiter is going to be on my case if there's any sign otherwise. He's an EM1 and going to be PTing with me for the next year, too, until his replacement for the NRD comes in next July (who, hopefully, will be an officer who went through OCS to help me prepare).

I'm looking into the Hawkeye--I'd like either that or the replacement for the Prowler. Of course, apparently it used to be a guy my size would get stuck in Prowlers no matter what, but since they're using modified F18s now it won't be quite so simple.


It's a lot of fun in the backend of the Hawkeye. Used to be a lot of fun going out and hunting Russian Bear's that were looking for the Battle Group and in other cases controlling aircraft in Mack 2+ intercepts. Model I flew in was useful mostly overwater, limited overland capability, but improvements with the E-2C solved a lot of those problems. Good thing.


My daughter is going off to college this fall. She choose James Madison University over UVA and Virginia Tech because of JMU's Honors Program but she will be doing ROTC in school. If it works out she's going to go for a full scholorship starting as a Junior.


Only problem is it's an AFROTC program.




Here I thought I raised her better than that. :whistle:


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[Young_American]

It's a lot of fun in the backend of the Hawkeye. Used to be a lot of fun going out and hunting Russian Bear's that were looking for the Battle Group and in other cases controlling aircraft in Mack 2+ intercepts. Model I flew in was useful mostly overwater, limited overland capability, but improvements with the E-2C solved a lot of those problems. Good thing.


My daughter is going off to college this fall. She choose James Madison University over UVA and Virginia Tech because of JMU's Honors Program but she will be doing ROTC in school. If it works out she's going to go for a full scholorship starting as a Junior.


Only problem is it's an AFROTC program.




Here I thought I raised her better than that. :whistle:


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I know a ton of people at JMU--about a fourth of my high school theatre program seems to have ended up there. Good school, and they all love it. Shame about Air Force, though... :lol: Does she know what she wants to do in AF?

[WorldWatcher]

I know a ton of people at JMU--about a fourth of my high school theatre program seems to have ended up there. Good school, and they all love it. Shame about Air Force, though... :lol: Does she know what she wants to do in AF?


She says she's interested in Law, so she's undecided on her undergraduate major. She's hoping to do her four years at JMU, then apply for a deferment of active duty for Law school.

William & Mary is only about a 20 minute drive from our house and has one of the top rated law schools in the country. While she may not like the idea of moving back in for a couple of years it would make Law School affordable if she were to get accepted there. Once she finishes law school she would be setup to do her active duty commitment in the JAG.


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