Should You Apply for XO?

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I’ve been the Deputy at Portsmouth since FEB 2022. In addition, before I came to Portsmouth I was the Deputy Chief of the Medical Corps. I made the sausage for 3 years when it came to the Executive Medicine application, screening, and slating process. Finally, I’ve been on a Milestone and Executive Medicine screening board in Millington, TN.

These three facts qualify me to answer the question, should you apply for XO?

People Who Should Definitely Apply for XO

You should definitely apply for XO if you are sure you want to lead people and be an XO/Deputy MTF Director or Commanding Officer (CO)/MTF Director. There is no other path to these positions.

People Who Should Not Apply for XO

I believe strongly that the following people should not apply for XO:

  • People who don’t want to be an XO or CO or don’t want to lead people.
  • People who don’t really want to do the job but want to use it to try and promote. This is not fair to the people you will be leading. You have to be 100% in or your people will suffer.
  • People who do not want to move/PCS. XO applicants are expected to worldwide assignable, and the Navy Medicine leadership is not kidding.
  • People who do not want to make hard decisions. No XO of any command has everything they need, and you will be balancing risk and making hard decisions your entire tour.

People Who Should Consider Applying for XO

If you are not in the above categories, you are on the fence about applying, and there is nothing wrong with that. My usual advice if you find yourself in this fairly large group:

  • Review the application materials and available opportunities in detail.
  • Talk to those who can give you some insight. This would include previous applicants, officers in your Corps Chief’s office (or those who previously were, like me), and admirals involved in the process (Corps Chiefs, the DSG, the SG).

After you’ve taken these steps, I recommend you review what you’ve learned with your significant other(s), if you have any. Most officers want perfect information, but it does not exist. You have no idea how things will actually go after you apply, so all you can do is gather as much information about the process as you can and make the best decision you can about whether or not to apply.

You Hold All the Cards Until You Apply

Do not underestimate the power of your application. They cannot make you apply, and until you apply you hold all the cards. Make sure you really want to apply and are willing to move. The associated geographic uncertainty is the number #1 reason people don’t apply and should not apply.

What if you get something that is not on your rank list? That is an important question you and your significant other(s) need to think through BEFORE you apply.

I say it again…BEFORE you apply. Remember…once you apply, you are worldwide assignable.

What’s It Like to Be an XO?

That’s the next post…

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