Junior Officer Process
Every year a Cadet Colonel is named and a tradition is continued. This tradition, however, is not merely a single event. It began a year earlier, when the new Cadet Colonel and 80% of the junior class filled out their applications for Junior Officer positions. Every December, 1SG Hernandez meets with the junior LET classes about applying for J.O. The process is a deeply rooted tradition and is infamous within the corps of cadets for its rigorous inspections and in-depth interviews. All the aspiring juniors fill out an application and go through an interview sometime in third quarter. More interviews and inspections follow for the selected ‘Top Twenty.’
JO Timeline
1. The milestones for becoming commissioned through the Junior Officer Candidate application and evaluation program are as follows:
4 Dec 2009: Application forms distributed to LET 3 Juniors.
8 Jan 2010: Deadline for submission of completed application form and sign-up for company level board interview appointments.
25 Jan — 19 Mar 2010: Company evaluation board (CO, XO; designated PL is the alternate member) interview each applicant from that company and submit a recommendation listing for all candidates, in order of merit.
22 Mar - 26 Apr 2010: Battalion and Brigade screening boards review the company board results and candidate records. Initial screening is done by three boards, BLUE: A, B, C CO’s with a C/LTC as president, Gold: D, E, F CO with a C/LTC as president and WHITE: HG, MB CO’s with a C/LTC as president. The three boards each develop an Order of Merit List (OML) from the candidates in their units. Then compile a list of the top sixty candidates in order of merit. This list is further screened by the Brigade Board for selection of the top twenty.
Mid Apr 2010: The Brigade Commander convenes an officer selection board that conducts a personal interview and evaluation of the first twenty candidates on the Order of Merit List. The board submits a list of 14 to 20 candidates who are recommended for commissioning as officers. JO’s will be announced on 17 May 2010 at the Change of Command Ceremony.
17 May - 2 Jun 2010: JO’s will run the Cadet Corps. Unit commanders and staff officers for SY
2009-10 are selected from the junior officers. They will conduct the Class of 2011 Cadet Leaders Workshop scheduled for August 2010, to evaluate and round out probationary promotions and duty assignments for Seniors, SY 2009-10.
2. This timeline allows for very little flexibility, commanders must ensure that all deadlines are met.
Michael P. DePuglio
LTC, U.S. Army (Retired)
Commandant of Cadets
