Opinions for DA Photo, improvements?

2016-04-02T11:13:41-04:00

Recently took a DA Photo for the upcoming board and is my first look. Wanted to see if I could get some honest opinions.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2016 11:15 AM

2016-04-02T11:15:02-04:00

Allow the infantry to where their blue cord and discs like the old days.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2016 11:19 AM

2016-04-02T11:19:38-04:00

One thing I have been told is that there is supposed to be a gap between your sleeve and the rest of your jacket. I feel that no matter how much I weigh, that will never happen. Is this due to my jacket size? I am 175 lb and 6 foot tall.

The photo lab masks off your jacket and sleeves down to make them straight. They do nothing with the jacket horizontally.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 2 at 2016 12:20 PM

2016-04-02T12:20:31-04:00

Your right sleeve should be pulled down slightly, the left appears one inch above the thumb knuckle the right does not. In any case they should be at the same place regardless of measurement. As the Maj. recommended regarding unit awards. Your hair is well groomed however, since you may take an ew photo you could put some dry groomer as the front of your hair appears like locks. I am guessing you have wavy or curly hair, your uniform fits well and the accoutrements are well placed.

Good luck

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Apr 2 at 2016 10:09 PM

2016-04-02T22:09:19-04:00

I think the photo looks just fine. If someone is going to quibble about the length of your hair (which is clearly within regulation), or a small wrinkle here or there, or a fraction of an inch on a sleeve, then they are going to keep looking until they find something. I sat on a selection board once and as long as someone didn't look overweight or have some glaring problem, people focused on your performance record. The biggest issues with the photos were looking overweight, having a bushy mustache, or having a 5 o'clock shadow. Having awards that didn't match your file was also problematic, but we didn't have that much time to audit every little thing in your record against what's on your photo. Spending too much time on that came at the expense of looking deeper into your performance record. The performance record is much more important than your appearance, in my opinion.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Apr 4 at 2016 12:02 PM

2016-04-04T12:02:04-04:00

Your hair looks like you aspire to the officer corps... ;-)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2016 11:26 AM

2016-04-15T11:26:43-04:00

its hard to tell with this small photo, but from what i can see you look pretty good.
kinda looks like a clip-on tie, if it is dont do that again, your foreign jump wings look slightly canted, but again hard to tell for sure in this photo

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2016 2:24 AM

2016-05-17T02:24:38-04:00

Your ASR sticks out too far right. There is a noticable difference between that and the ribbons above. And for me personally it seems like your nameplate is tilted backwards, but that might just be the angle of the picture. I'm in the same boat as you so, I hope I was able to help you out and good luck.

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Mar 1 at 2017 10:51 PM

2017-03-01T22:51:26-05:00

Are all your Ribbons and your awards in your OMPF?
SSG MARK FRANZEN
USA VET

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2017 7:52 AM

2017-07-13T07:52:40-04:00

SSG,
The DA Photo is your first impression, interview, and resume all in one picture. That being said you want the most natural look while in the picture, which would be a look as if you were greeting someone. A flat/neutral smile. Don't frown. If you frown at your commander when you met him/her he might think you think he is ugly. It's just a bad idea.
This is just personal preference, but again the most natural look. I would move the award down into three rows and put the badge on top of the middle third row.
You can wear your uniform how ever you want, but you don't want the board to turn their head the slightest bit for any reason. Be the most common, uncommon man.

CW2, AV

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2017 8:35 AM

2017-07-13T08:35:59-04:00

Two other things. You can always keep your hair under regulation, but the regulation says clean and tapered in appearance. What I mean is if you want to grow your hair out make sure to through some CRISCO in it to keep stray hairs from coming out. You had a slight "Bangs" "Stray Hair" or whatever coming out. Do I care? Not at all but does a Sergeant Major or Senior enlisted care? Probably!!! They get pissed at people walking on the grass....Why would they not set the highest standard and pick at you for some crazy attention to detail aspect.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2018 8:31 AM

2018-03-16T08:31:46-04:00

Looks good to me.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2018 4:09 PM

2018-03-17T16:09:01-04:00

I really need to find out how to take this down or discontinue the thread. I have taken three photos since

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 17 at 2018 10:52 PM

2018-03-17T22:52:14-04:00

I'm not sure if the foreign jump wings are allowed on a DA Photo - check to make sure. You marksmanship badge and ribbon rack are about 1 mm out of alignment with the button on the pocket. The top ribbon - is than an AAM or ARCOM? Its hard to tell.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2018 11:11 PM

2018-11-25T23:11:53-05:00

Yea.. DA Photos can be a curse for us bigger guys. For example.. I am 5’9 inches tall, and I weigh 210 lbs. However! I am 18% body fat (6% under) and my most recent APFT was.. 91, 94, 92.. for a total score of 277. However, if you look at my DA Photo.. I look like a Fat SFC who loves donuts! Is it true that photos add 10 to 15 pounds to your actual weight? And do board members take into consideration that some of their prospects have hobbies, “like lifting weights”