<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I have my interview with my Congressman next Thursday. I’ve seen a lot of threads about ALO interviews and the were very helpful. Here’s the questions I have:</p>
<li>Will I actually meet with the Congressman, his staff, or a group of outside evaluators?</li>
<li>My ALO interview went well, is this harder?</li>
<li>What is the most important point to get across?</li>
<li>What should I avoid doing?</li>
</ol>
<p>MANY THANKS!</p>
<p>I can't believe I did that...</p>
<p>From what I understand, you may meet with the Congressman's staff briefly. Your actual interview, however, will be hosted by a group of outside individuals. Depending on who your Congressperson is, you will probably not meet with him or her. It is my understanding that this interview will be a little more nerve-racking and more tough than your ALO interview. However, there are exceptions to every rule. I would focus on staying calm and being confident that the AFA is where you want to be and that your ultimate reason for going to the Academy is to become an officer in the Air Force. I believe that this is the most important point to get across. Also, stress that you are passionate about and dedicated to becoming an officer and serving the country (assuming that the previous is true of course). Also, try to avoid any nervous habits such as tapping et cetera. Dress nicely, be polite and Good Luck!</p>
<p>You're going to get the same basic questions, plus some that may not have been asked in your ALO interview.</p>
<p>Big thing is be yourself. Before you go in there, think "what do I like about me?" Try to express those qualities. They want to get to know you as a person. They want to know if you're doing this for the right reasons, if you're a kid who'll be the best choice to use $400000 and 4 years on.</p>
<p>Set up a practice interview with a counselor or someone who does many interviews. I practiced today (I have an interview tomorrow) with my counselor, my principle (he interviews all the teachers before hiring) and my physics/calc teacher (was in the Navy for a number of years as an officer, studied at MIT, and sat on interview boards occasionally).</p>
<p>Be ready to answer the basics (Why do you want to serve in the Air Force, what do you have to offer, Why the Academy, what sets you apart from others, what do you want to do in the Air Force, etc.). They'll ask you more difficult ones too. Don't be afraid to pause and think. Thinking for a little bit and giving a clear answer is better than answering right away with an answer you stumble through.</p>
<p>RELAX! It's very stressful, but they know you're only 17 or 18 years old. They want to know about you. Be yourself, because that is what got you to this point in the first place.</p>
<p>Good luck! You'll do fine.</p>
<p>in the words of the Genie in Aladdin:</p>
<p>Just beeeeeeee yourself!</p>
<p>just make sure you're truthful and sincere. if you feed the typical "party line", there is nothing that sets you apart from joe the applicant (who's dad is a pllumber i hear!) they want to know you and your true intentions</p>
<p>Great advice already given. Here are a few thoughts from my interview last week.</p>
<p>When I was interviewed for a congressional nomination, the board that was asking me questions was very active. They would ask a trail of questions then let me answer them, then challenge what I just said. Just stick with your answers and don't lose your confidence. I think they're looking more at whether or not you keep your confidence rather than giving them the perfect answer.</p>
<p>And when you meet them look them straight in the eye, firm handshake, and smile. I saw a head of the board come out and get a candidate, and right when the board said "are you Mr. -----?" the kid put his hands in his pocket. Probably not a good thing.</p>
<p>A few interesting questions they asked me:
- Would you give your brother (I have an older brother in the Navy) orders and what makes you think he would follow them?
- What are your personal thoughts on the people that graduate the academy then serve their minimum service commitment then get out?
- How do you know you want to fly if you've never ever piloted a small aircraft?
- Why do you want to put yourself through the daily challenges of a doolie? Why can you handle it?</p>
<p>Those were the interesting ones I had to think a bit about before I answered.</p>
<p>Also, its OK to say I don't know. One of the interviewers asked me what position in the cadet wing I would want to reach. I was really clueless. I told him that I would always be striving for that wing commander but I don't really know at this time. I don't think it hurt me, cause I got the nomination :D</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Why should the American taxpayer, who is already struggling in the midst of the recent financial crisis, pay $400,000 just to educate you?</p>
<p>Also, take a look at some of the moral/ethical questions that are floating around in other threads.</p>
<p>Hi!</p>
<p>I'm "one of those dreaded interviewers..."</p>
<p>I sit on a congressman's panel; in fact, I chair it. That being said, what has been posted here is QUITE accurate!</p>
<p>First...understand this:</p>
<p>a. I expect ALL applicants to be a bit frightened, nervous, scared, all-of-the-above
b. THAT'S NATURAL!
c. BE YOURSELF!</p>
<p>Aside from that...look sharp, look me in the eye when I ask you something, and when you answer it. Answer clearly; don't run on and on...if you do NOT know the answer, SAY SO! Some questions I/we ask, we truthfully do NOT expect the candidate to know however...we want to hear them say that. SOME candidates (the unsuccessful ones) will BS us, try to blow smoke, whatever you want to call it. Trust me; it takes about a picosecond to recognize that. And for me personally, that's almost the kiss of death.</p>
<p>Be able to answer what I consider to be the formative questions about your candidacy. What are they?</p>
<p>Yes, I'll tell you!</p>
<p>a. Why do you want to attend USAFA/USNA/USMA/USMMA?
b. There are "XX" number of outstanding young men and women in the hall waiting to meet with us; why are YOU a better choice than they?
c. What is the honor code?
d. Why should I believe you would turn in your own roommate for cheating/lying/stealing? Have you done that in high school?
e. Have you applied for ROTC scholarships?
f. You said you chose "USAFA" to become a pilot? What options are you looking at if you are NOT able to fly? (I have similar questions for all services)</p>
<p>Those are just some of the ones I use. </p>
<p>Lastly...understand, the board members are NOT the enemy! We're genuinely impressed by the amazing students that come before us! Honestly! What we're trying to do is the miserably tough task of selecting a select few from the many. And that's not fun because we end up disappointing someone.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Steve</p>
<p>Stephen E. Wood, Lt Col, USAFR
DLOD, AZ</p>
<p>If you're like me, you'll get a USAFA grad, an Annapolis grad, and a West Point grad who won't tell you until twenty minutes in.
They were also apparently building a reading list, so they asked me my favorite book. They also asked if I had any questions for them. One thing I remember they emphasized to me was that basic was all about tearing you down as an individual and building you back to be part of this (USAFA and the Air Force) team- did I understand that and was I willing to accept it?</p>
<p>nice, eagle.</p>
<p>I had a panel of 7 people, all highly accomplished, and I'll tell you it was intimidating!
That being said, I'd encourage you to be brutally honest. I know I said something that was slightly offensive to the female West Point grad (teehee), but as I looked sheepish, they could tell I was being myself, you know?</p>
<p>I'm not going to lie, after my congressional interview, I thought to myself, "okay, time to start applying to different schools," but a month later, I got a letter saying I'd gotten the nomination. That's another point-don't feel discouraged. Do your best, know that you do your best, and whatever happens, you'll know that you did what you could.</p>
<p>The Catholic chaplain during Basic was on my interview panel, and I saw him many, many times. Also, an army colonel on the panel and I have crossed paths several times since the interview. I say this just to remind you that you shouldn't say anything you don't mind having associated with you by these people for quite awhile (not that you would, but do you know what I mean?). I'm from a pretty competitive area, but they knew exactly who I was. They care, because they chose you, and they want you to make it.</p>
<p>Hope that wasn't too redundant :)
Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Be yourself is the best advice. If you really want to be at the Academy, they will see that. Have questions and it's okay to take a moment to think about your answers. Look sharp.</p>
<p>I know I was nervous going in, but these nerves left and it was all about being honest in every way with every questoin they asked me.</p>
<p>Yes, be yourself, don't say something you think they want to hear. Say it because you know it's the right thing.</p>
<p>my 2 cents,</p>
<p>good luck to ya!</p>
<p>I have had two thus far, one yesterday and one day, with the last tomorrow. The first consisted of only two people and lasted less than 10 minutes, and this was after driving an hour to get there and then waiting for 20 minutes. The second, today, had a panel of three people, one of which I believe was a retired major general. This interview lasted about 20 minutes and wen't alot more smoothly. The questions were more in depth and I felt more comfortable responding to them.</p>
<p>I was asked a question I have never been asked before and I told the intereviewer that I didn't have an answer. Don't know if it hurt my interview or not, but I was definitely myself.</p>
<p>My "gut" would tell me that if you were asked a question and had no answer; and were clear about that, it most likely is fine.</p>
<p>Now...if it was something like: "So...what do you think of the honor code?" and you said "...what's that? I've not thought about it..."</p>
<p>Okay...that would NOT be good! ;-)</p>
<p>LOL. Questions about the honor code would have been easier. Thanks for your reply, I feel a lot better about that situation now.</p>
<p>I just had joint interviews with my senators. One interview at 9:00 and 9:30 both interviews had 2 interviewers each. The first interview was conducted by a couple whose son graduated West Point last year. The other was conducted by a BGO(he did most of the talking in this interview) whose son graduated a while back and is now flying super hornets, and the other an administrator at a school district. I did well on both and was not nervous at all. The questions were fairly easy, the only one I struggled with was a situation question. </p>
<p>You are in an infantry unit on a top seceret mission. No one can know what you are doing. You are raiding an Al Quadia village. On the way to the village you go up a mountain to a field, there is a 12 year old boy herding sheep. Theres an AK 47 resting against a tree what do you do.</p>
<p>The interviewer a BGO said I answered the question well and my thought process was very good.</p>
<p>That was an actual situation that occured in Afghanistan, I believe, or at least, a similar situation.
What did you answer, by the way?</p>
<p>Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell and his Seal Team were in the mountains of Afghanistan during Operation Red Wing and were discovered by a local tribesman and his son. The Team took a vote to determine what would happen. In the end they let the tribesman and his son go knowing it meant almost certain compromise of their position. The tribesman alerted the Taliban and all but Luttrell were KIA. Lt Michael Murphy was awarded the Congressional MOH post humously for his efforts to save the team.</p>
<p>Read his book Lone Survivor. It is a compelling story of what it means to be a member of the United States Military.</p>
<p>^ My Dad is actually reading that book as I type this. I read the first chapter, and plan to read the rest after he finishes it.</p>