Local Navy Mustang officers advised Sailors to prerare now, professionally and personally, to be competitive to apply for a commission as a Limited Duty Officer or Chief Warrant Officer at the LDO/CWO Program Career Days, March 8-9, at Naval Air Station Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk.

    "Take the hard jobs and get qualified at sea," said Lt. Cmdr. Phil Bachand, administrative officer aboard aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt.  "Hard jobs include recruiting, recruit company commander, overseas and individual augmentee assignments.  Excelling in these jobs will help you break out from the pack.  Get out of your comfort zone," he said.  One-third of the selectees in fiscal year '08 had prior assignments in such hard jobs, Bachand pointed out.

    The Limited Duty Officer program is open to Sailors from petty officer first class to master chief petty officer with at least eight but not more than 16 years of service.

    The Chief Warrant Officer program is the "chief's commissioning program," open to chiefs, senior chiefs and master chiefs with at least twelve but not more than 24 years of service.

    Limited duty officers and chief warrant officers are the Navy's officer technical specialists and managers who have extensive expertise and authority to direct the most difficult and exacting technical operations in given occupational areas at sea and ashore.

    Lt. Cmdr. Jim Galoppa, headquarters commandant at U.S. Joint Forces Command, told the Sailors to "take a hard look at your LDO and CWO application packages to ensure it is complete" with respect to qualifications, awards and performance evaluations.  "You are ultimately responsible for what goes or doesn't go before the selection board."  The Navy's In-Service Procurement Board for fiscal year '09 is expected to convene in January 2008.

    The board selects personnel based on the "whole person" concept, said Lt. David Boisselle of U.S. Joint Forces Command. 

    Candidates must demonstrate the "seven habits of highly effective sailors," including sustained superior performance, challenging assignments, personal and professional education and development, command and community involvement, appearance and physical fitness, leadership and maturity and being goal-oriented. 

    "Having the same 'resume' as your competition won't cut it.  You need to excel in all these areas in order to compel the board to select you to become a naval officer," Boisselle said.

    Candidates for LDO and CWO must find mentors, said Lt. Cmdr. Evan Hipsley, also of U.S. Joint Forces Command. 

    "Find a mentor in your LDO and CWO designator, as they have 'been there and done that,' and can not only show you the ins and outs of that career field, but can serve on your interview board, Hipsley said.

    Candidates must face an interviewer's appraisal board of three officers who grade applicant's motivation and potential to serve as a naval officer.

    This is the fourth consecutive year that local Navy Mustang officers have hosted the popular LDO and CWO Program Career Days.

    "I learned a lot today and now I know what I have to do to achieve a commission," said attendee CTR1(SW) Alysha Danner of Navy Information Operations Command, Norfolk.

    The deadline for applications to LDO and CWO are due to Navy Personnel Command by Oct. 1, 2007.

    For detailed information on the program, see OpNav Instruction 1420.1A or contact Lt. Boisselle at 836-7935 or e-mail david.boisselle@jfcom.mil.