Okay, potential awkward question: How does everyone feel about DCO's? I expect most people will say that they judge each person on their merits, but I suspect that there may be some underlying biases, some positive, some negative. DCO's tend to be older than officers brought in through the academy or ROTC, which could create situations with noticably younger but more senior officers.

Likewise, although some DCO's have some degree of prior service, some (like hopefully myself at some point) do not. How do the more extensively trained officers and enlisted feel about the course of training DCO's receive? I am not referring to specifically technical expertise, where a civilian education is highly relevant, but rather the course of military education given to other officers in the same fields who came through sources more extensive than the 2-weeks+weekends DCO/branch series.

I am not anticipating major personal problems - I started my career as an engineer at 30 when my peers were 22. I have seen some of these issues occasionally rise in my civilian work but never to unmanagable levels. Likewise, I respect the professionalism of the officers and enlisted that I have known, and do not expect any personal problems that I cannot handle. But if the general consensus is that DCO's are lacking in particular areas, I want to be strong in those areas if possible, for personal reasons.

Anyone? Feel free to offer overheard and third-person comments. I would like to know what prejudices may exist even if they are only in the minds of a rumored few.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cosmicfish,

Well it’s been over a month and no one has anything so I figured I’d throw my thoughts out.

I like DCO’s, I am one, a NPS DCO. I’ve enjoyed my time, and been treated very well. If selected for a DCO you are a JO you will be treated like a JO, you have a lot to learn, but usually you bring some skill to the Navy they may need or not have a lot of, of course you are still a JO so you do the JO things.

Never had a problem with age, and most of the people my age that have been in are LCDR’s and with a couple more years should be looking at CDR. Only time someone will have a problem with age is if you have a problem with your age. I’ve seen more people having a problem with rank than age (I’m an officer I don’t take out the trash), oh the all important ENS,(that’s only one kind of ENS, there are many other types and most are better than that).

In the reserves you work with all kinds, and it is interesting to find out that people you work with and respect (and see who others respect) were NPS DCO’s just like you 15 – 20 years ago. Or they may be a USNA, OCS, or NROTC, but a lot of the times you can’t tell where someone came from , well unless they are wearing a USNA ring or you ask.

You will have a lot of stuff to learn and pick up but you won’t be selected for a DCO slot because you are dumb or slow. The person who went through another commissioning process and then active duty started off as an ENS as well and had to learn the basic stuff. They usually served 2 years as an ENS and then 2 years as a LTJG, just like you will. And once you are done with all of your initial training and are qualified you get the chance to go someplace for a year or so and do it for real, when you get MOBed.

Now I haven’t met everyone in the USNR, but I haven’t had anyone who is prejudiced towards DCO’s as a group. I’ve met people who didn’t seem like good officer material from all commissioning sources and all ranks and I’ve also met people who were high speed low drag individuals from all commissioning sources and all ranks as well. Let me just add here I have never meet any Admirals who were not on the ball, but I haven’t met many, like I can count them on 1 hand and will not use all of the fingers.

How you got commissioned isn’t important to most people that I have met, it’s how you act and what you can do, and that includes learning. Here again I haven’t met everyone, but I have friends from all commissioning sources and enlisted folks who share these general feelings.