Enlisted and NJP.

[Kkchen]

As a current enlisted personnel, I made a hiccup and going up to captains mast. What are my chances now of being accepted?

 

[Capt MJ]

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants

Active Duty and Reserve Applicants page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Tue May 07 05:08:55 EDT 2024.

www.usna.edu

My comments are based on the assumption you are applying for the next cycle, not that you are a current applicant.

The long pole in every enlisted applicant’s tent who is applying for any pre-comm program, including USNA, is the Commanding Officer’s endorsement. No endorsement recommending acceptance = highly doubtful an appointment would be offered.

A CO has a couple of choices in endorsement language.

“Forwarded, not recommending approval.” It could even include “SN Finarkle is not ready at this time to progress to an officer commissioning program.” Translation: not gonna happen.

“Forwarded, recommending approval.” If no additional words are attached, this is essentially a duty forwarding, and the lack of positive language conveys the CO’s feelings. He or she doesn’t have an explicit reason to stop it, but isn’t a huge fan.

“Forwarded, recommending approval. SN Finarkle is a hard-working sailor and deserves an opportunity to pursue a commission via the Naval Academy.” Somewhat better.

“Forwarded, with my strongest personal recommendation for immediate selection and appointment to USNA. He has impressed peers and leaders here on USS ARK with his natural leadership ability, consummate professionalism, flawless conduct record, professional expertise and intelligent decision-making. The leadership of USS ARK, including the Chiefs’ Mess, stand with me in this recommendation. I would welcome ENS Finarkle in any command of mine.” Translation: This sailor walks on water, he or she is ideal.


So - which one would you get right now? If you are planning to apply and knowingly messed up by taking actions that are leading you to NJP, what does that say about your maturity and decision-making ability?

We don’t need details here.

There are many reasons to take someone to mast. Some are relatively low-level, and NJP is designed to get your attention and give you a kick in the butt. Some are serious bonehead mistakes that can bring a hammer down on your head as consequences for deliberate and poor decision-making.

It will be up to you to square yourself away and double down to write over the blot with outstanding performance.

If you have already been offered an appointment or have NAPS orders in hand for the summer of 2020, it will quickly become clear if your COC is still supporting you. If they no longer do, orders could be turned off.

Own your choices at mast with “I” language, be prepared to state why you did something and that you did know better, take responsibility for actions, acknowledge your choices, and accept consequences, plus have a plan for going forward. Nothing annoys the man or woman behind the lectern more than someone who is not ready to own what they did, dances around the answers, says “I don’t know” or uses indirect language such as “There was an error of judgment.”

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Heed CAPT's advice..she's been on the other side of the podium. I will add another piece from lower in the Chain of Command. I was legal officer in my squadron, and my duties included investigating the offense, interviewing the Chain of Command, and presenting a short statement to the Skipper. My Skippers conducted an informal discussion behind closed doors before the Accused was presented, and during that discussion the course of the Mast was largely decided (unless the accused came in and dug his/her hole even deeper).

I learned very quickly that the key to a "successful" result in CAPT's MAST was to keep your mouth shut, accept responsibility, and have have your Chain of Command support. If you want to to come out of the Mast with the latter of CAPT MJ's endorsement option, you need to start with your LPO/Chief, and work up to your Div(O) and Dept Head, and show them that this was a one time hiccup on a bright future, that you learned your lesson and are ready to take your lumps. If your chain of command supports you, you still have a chance.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

Great advice above.
When dealing with Article 15s as a commander (the Army version of a Captain’s Mast), I always took into account the attitude of the accused and the recommendations of his/her NCO’s as well as my 1st sergeant. I don’t know if there is a Navy equivalent but several times I gave out “Suspended Article 15s”. These sentences were suspended and the Article 15 stayed in the local file for a set period of time, kind of like a probation. If the soldier stayed out of trouble in that time period the Article 15 went into the round filing cabinet.
In one particular case the soldier really turned himself around and became a model soldier. He was subsequently picked up for WOCS (Warrant Officer Candidate School) and flight school. Years later I bumped into him in Iraq where he was a medivac pilot saving lives.

 

[Capt MJ]

Yes, punishment can be suspended for x days, a common Navy tactic too. It’s hanging right over the person’s head, ready to be vacated with any new slip-up and added to a new Art 15 hearing punishment. Can be very effective.

There is nothing so inspiring as a 60-day suspension of 30 days’ restriction, reduction in paygrade and 2 months’ forfeiture of pay right before Thanksgiving.