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For those Officers who Commissioned through OCS and the Officers that had the opportunity to sit on a Local Structured Board Interview what are some tips you would give a newly promoted NCO getting ready for the board.
Posted in these groups: 
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army) OCS
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Provide brief answers to questions. Don’t give long drawn out answers to the questions. Officers are expected to explain the “so what” quickly and accurately in order to facilitate decision making. Your OCS interview is a good place to show you can do that. I’ve interviewed candidates who took over an hour to get through all the questions and I’ve interviewed some who took only 30 minutes. For the most part, I gave better scores to those who were somewhat intelligent, sounded motivated and confident, and quickly made their point.
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Also, don’t even show up if your uniform is jacked up. If you can’t read DA PAM 670-1 or AR 670-1, you are not ready to be an Officer....
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SPC Nancy Greene
You have NO idea how important this advice actually is! I worked the E7 Board at Ft Benjamin Harrison and the board looked at the picture of the SSG in dress greens first. If it was ‘jacked up’ , the file went into a pile on it he floor. They never gave it a second chance! I believe in the old saying: “You only have one chance at making a first impression”! Good Luck!
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I find every board is different and expectations differ greatly depending on who is sitting on the board. Listen to whomever is representing you to the board. They will go in first, without you, an gain an idea of expectations and then will share them with you.
Secondly, Take a breath and think of an answer before you blurt something out. Short silences, while you think, are acceptable.
Third, as LTC (Join to see) already pointed out. Provide clear and concise answers. This isn't a literary collegiate paper and you don't need to ramble on just to fill space. Think of an answer and provide that answer with easy to understand ideas and vocabulary. Everybody on the board may not be as intelligent as you. Keep it simple (or at least fitting to the question).
Lastly, don't follow this advice just for the board but rather for your career. As a PAO, I offer the same advice to our military members constantly, E-1s through 4-Stars. Conciseness is key to effective communication.
Secondly, Take a breath and think of an answer before you blurt something out. Short silences, while you think, are acceptable.
Third, as LTC (Join to see) already pointed out. Provide clear and concise answers. This isn't a literary collegiate paper and you don't need to ramble on just to fill space. Think of an answer and provide that answer with easy to understand ideas and vocabulary. Everybody on the board may not be as intelligent as you. Keep it simple (or at least fitting to the question).
Lastly, don't follow this advice just for the board but rather for your career. As a PAO, I offer the same advice to our military members constantly, E-1s through 4-Stars. Conciseness is key to effective communication.
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