So, you want to be a Mustang?

Are you a front-running First Class or Chief looking to earn your
commission through the LDO/CWO program?  If so, you should find this
information helpful.

In Service Procurement - the ONLY way to get a commission without
a college degree.  However, off duty education certainly doesn't hurt, 
as long as you didn't get it at the expense of your primary duty.

PREPARATION
If you are a First Class who has been passed over for Chief a
dozen times, maybe you should re-evaluate your credentials 
for LDO.  The selection criteria for LDO are at least, (and probably more) 
stringent than those for CPO.

The best thing you can do to prepare for LDO/CWO is the same 
thing you do to prepare for Chief ...  "Sustained Superior 
Performance".  We've all heard this phrase, but it has more 
meaning in the Inservice Procurement process than anywhere else, 
except possibly making Chief.  A mediocre career with one or two 
good years won't cut it.  You need to be "on" all the time.  Take 
the challenging jobs, the ones where leadership is important, and
do these jobs well.  Be diverse in your job selection.  A Sailor 
who is a good Amphib Sailor, but has never been on a Carrier or 
Cruiser won't look as good as the Sailor who was a good Amphib, 
Cruiser, Instructor, Carrier, Recruiting Sailor.

GO TO SEA AND GET YOUR PIN!  'Nuff Said.

YOUR PACKAGE

	Your package is your resume.  Use it to sell yourself to 
the board.  Remember, the board will be looking at hundreds of 
them, so follow the format precisely.  The only place to be 
creative is the "Why I want to be an Officer" paragraph.
	Some advice on this.  Keep it short - tell the board what
you can do for the Navy, and why you are the best selection.  
Don't rehash things that are already in the package, and don't 
try to blow smoke.  Tell them why you feel you are their only 
choice, and try to keep it down to a couple of paragraphs.
	Make sure you have the most current instruction, and 
FOLLOW IT.  The examples are there for a reason.  Follow the 
format.
	Have a Mustang Officer peruse your package after your 
first draft and after your second draft.  Let them help, although 
the final decision is yours.  
	Get it in on time!  Don't wait so long that you have to 
overnight deliver it to the board.  You should be working on it 
now, so it should be ready to go in plenty of time.  You will 
probably be tasked to write the first cut on the CO's 
endorsement, so make sure it contains everything required in the 
instruction.  Then, its up to you to track the package to ensure 
it goes out on time.

THE INTERVIEW BOARD

The Interview Board is probably the most important step in the process.  
This is where your prospective peers evaluate you, and where they quality
control their own community.  Here are some tips to ensure 
a successful interview.

(1)  Have your package ready to go.  It should be presented to 
the board in condition that you would be ready to mail it off to 
the selection board right now.  There may be some fine-tuning 
after the Interview, but this should be a minimum.  Let the 
Interview Board see the final product.

(2) Come to the board dressed for success.  You should be dressed
as though you were going to a personnel inspection.  You are 
being scrutinized for attention to detail, so make sure you have 
all your buttons buttoned, no Irish pennants, your ribbons in the
correct order and in good condition, all your patches and 
accoutrements are placed correctly.  Fresh haircut and shined 
shoes are also required.  In short, you should be a recruiting 
poster Sailor.

(3)  When asked to sit, relax, but do not get so relaxed your 
body language shows indifference.  Sit erect, and be alert, look 
at each interviewer as he/she asks the question, but direct your 
answer to the whole board.

(4)  Sometimes, especially if the command is small, you will know
the interviewers very well.  Make sure that you don't let this 
familiarity get in the way of  professionalism.  All questions 
should be answered with "Sir" or "Ma'am".  This is IMPORTANT!  At
my last interview I heard a lot of  "Yeh"s and even heard one 
"Yeh man"!  

(5) You should be very familiar with Navy policy.  Be up to speed 
on current events, especially what the military is doing around 
the world.  Be prepared to converse intelligently on these 
subjects.  "I Don't know" is not an acceptable answer to a question 
about whats happening in Iraq, or on Sexual Harassment or the Chain of Command.

On the other hand, if you really don't know the answer to a question, don't
 try to 'wing it'.  Just say you don't know - the board will move on.  This is
 much less harmful than talking for five minutes proving you don't know.

The last piece of advice I can give you is don't be discouraged 
if you aren't picked up the first couple of times you apply.  It appears 
the selection boards reward perseverance.  
But don't just "dust off" last years package. Start from scratch each time.

Hopefully, this information will help you on your way to becoming
one of the Navy's Finest ... a MUSTANG.  Good Luck!