The Top 7 Items to Bring to Your Naval Officer Recruiter

Preparing to enlist in the military is an honorable commitment that requires careful preparation and attention to detail. Whether you're considering joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, ensuring you have the necessary documents and information for your initial appointment with a recruiter is crucial. Here are the top seven items you need to bring, applicable to enlistees across all branches of the military:

1. BEERS Documents

BEERS stands for “Basic Enlisted Eligibility Requirements.” These documents are used to verify your name, date of birth, and U.S. citizenship. They include your birth certificate (issued by a public authority), social security card (signed), naturalization certificate (if a naturalized citizen), and current U.S. passport. These documents must be the originals for authentication by your recruiter. Your recruiter will make copies in person and indicate the words, “Certified as a True Copy” to ensure the original was cited as well as, “Reproduced for Reference Purposes Only” in an inconspicuous location on the document. Originals are immediately returned to the applicant for safekeeping. 

2. Resume

Resumes are a requirement for all Direct Commission Officer Programs and all Medical Officer Programs. For some specialties, there is a desired format preferred by the program managers. Consult with your recruiter to obtain the appropriate template. 

While resumes are not required for an Active-Duty General Officer application, an updated resume will help your Officer Recruiter identify whether you meet specific program requirements and have the necessary qualifications. Even if you are not aware of all the Officer specialties and career paths, an experienced Officer Recruiter will be able to identify what specialties are best for you based on your educational background, employment experience, certifications held, and professional skills and attributes. He or she should also be able to give you a general idea of your level of competitiveness as this varies significantly by specialty and considers the results of prior boards and the current needs of the Navy. Your Officer Recruiter will also refer to your resume when inputting remarks on the Application Processing and Summary Record, one of the key forms of your application.

3. Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from every college you have attended for all Officer applications. If you received transfer credits for any advanced placement coursework completed in high school, an official high school transcript is also required. Official transcripts must be sent directly from the school to the Officer Recruiter. This can be completed through regular mail or electronically via email. Be sure to indicate your Officer Recruiter’s name and office address on the request. Since the ordering of official transcripts takes some time and money, you are encouraged to bring your Officer Recruiter copies of unofficial transcripts to complete a preliminary review of your educational background. This will help determine your academic eligibility for a particular specialty or collegiate program. 

4. References

The Active-Duty General Officer application checklist was recently updated to reflect a minimum requirement of one professional reference. This is a change from the former minimum requirement of three references including all supervisors from the past three years of employment. At a minimum, your reference should be from the most recent supervisor you have listed on your security questionnaire. Officer Recruiters and their processers will cross-check this information prior to submitting your application. Keep in mind that one reference is only the minimum. You are highly encouraged to submit additional employers and character references as these will give the Board better insight as to your leadership and interpersonal skills, professionalism, and work ethic. Having the names and contact information of all references prepared for your Officer Recruiter and contacting them before the formal request will facilitate timely submission of your application. 

5. Medical Documentation

The medical screening process is a vital component of your application as every applicant must be determined to be physically qualified to obtain a Commission. You will complete DD Form 2807-2, a medical questionnaire, during your first appointment with your Officer Recruiter. Please note that medical documentation is required for any positive answers. This may include but is not limited to any progress/follow-up notes, surgical reports, and diagnostics relating to any past or current condition(s) or surgery(s) as requested by the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) and/or Navy Recruiting Command’s Medical Staff (N3M). These documents will be submitted by your Officer Recruiter to the appropriate medical authority for review. Since the review process or “med read” can take several weeks to complete, you should obtain and supply these documents to your Officer Recruiter expeditiously to avoid a delay in the submission of your application. 

6. Military Service Documents

If you are prior enlisted or currently serving, there are a few extra components of your application that apply. If you are currently serving, you will need your Commanding Officer’s endorsement on Official letterhead. Your package should also include references from your military supervisors, ideally a Division Officer or Department Head. If you are prior service, you will need to pull your DD-214 (Member 1 and Member 4 pages), last three evaluations/FitReps, point capture (if a drilling reservist), any administrative remarks in your record, and a letter from the VA that verifies what monetary benefits for any medical disabilities you are currently receiving or received in the past, if applicable. Your recruiter will refer to your DD-214 to verify if the re-enlistment code listed allows you to re-enter the military. If it does not, a waiver is required. Consult with your Officer Recruiter for a list of codes, by branch, with corresponding explanations. 

If you have had any adverse administrative remarks including judicial proceedings, drug, or alcohol-related offenses, or PFA failures, you will need to provide all documentation to your Officer Recruiter. In some cases, your recruiter may be able to apply for a waiver.

7. Licensures/Certifications

If you are a trained professional, including medical practitioner, you will need to bring proof of all licensures and certifications applicable to your profession. Have your licensure or certification by a state or federal agency, any Board certifications, and medical readiness training ready for your Medical Officer Recruiter.  He or she sends all credentialing documentation to the Centralized Credentials and Privileging Directorate (CCPD) as part of the application process.   

Be advised that all Officer applicants must qualify to obtain a Secret Security Clearance. Elevated screening is required for the granting of a Top-Secret Clearance. This pertains to specialties within the Special Warfare, Nuclear, and Information Warfare communities. Police Record Checks will be conducted for any prior arrests, regardless of the adjudicated charge. It is therefore prudent to bring any issues to your Officer Recruiter’s attention immediately so that he or she may make appropriate preparations to submit a request for a waiver to the Recruiting District’s Commanding Officer or the Navy Recruiting Command’s Office of legal Council (OOJ), if eligible. 

When completing the Officer application, be sure to be upfront, open, and honest with your Officer Recruiter at all times. It is best to inform your Officer Recruiter of any possible medical, legal, or financial issues at the earliest opportunity. This will help expedite medical and security screenings. In consideration of all the above, a failure to reveal critical information at the earliest opportunity may cause unnecessary delays, complications, and even termination of your processing. Furthermore, it causes additional time and efforts on behalf of the applicant, Officer Recruiter, Recruiting District, and Navy Recruiting Command authorities.

Lastly, remember to leave a positive impression initially and always. Each time you visit your Officer Recruiter, present the best version of yourself. Be well organized, prepared, and professionally dressed for every encounter. Your Officer Recruiter is taking mental and written notes and provides critical feedback in the comments section of the Application Processing and Summary Record of your application. When your recruiter requests additional documentation from you, retrieve it as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid any delays in processing. Your recruiter is working diligently for you; however, you must possess the necessary motivation and empowerment to ensure the submission of your application in a timely and accurate fashion.

Thank you for reading and your interest in joining America’s Navy. Best of luck for continued career enlightenment and success. 

© August 2017