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Hello everyone. I am really considering the military and want to explore the opportunities available.
I am currently a college senior with a BS Management Information Systems, 3.1 gpa, and I've been working a full time internship with the Treasury Inspector General. I'm going to start volunteering at a church and veteran center, as I don't have any volunteer experience.
What i would like to know is what the process is for OCS/OTS, specifically for the army. By process, I ask if someone can describe the experience from being a civilian off the street to an officer.
I've been to armyocs.com and the sister sites, and they're... Not as helpful as I wished. I've recently found this site and wanted to reach out. I plan to get in contact with a army officer recruiter and get information.
*I thank everyone for their input.
I am currently a college senior with a BS Management Information Systems, 3.1 gpa, and I've been working a full time internship with the Treasury Inspector General. I'm going to start volunteering at a church and veteran center, as I don't have any volunteer experience.
What i would like to know is what the process is for OCS/OTS, specifically for the army. By process, I ask if someone can describe the experience from being a civilian off the street to an officer.
I've been to armyocs.com and the sister sites, and they're... Not as helpful as I wished. I've recently found this site and wanted to reach out. I plan to get in contact with a army officer recruiter and get information.
*I thank everyone for their input.
Officer
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Civilians
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 7
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The process for the Army is simple. You talk to a recruiter and tell him you are interested in going to OCS. He will help you fill out your packet to apply of OCS. You need to be able to commission before your 32 birthday, be able to pass a Military Physical, have an ASVAB GT score of 110, a four year degree and pass all the rest of the stuff just like anyone enlisting. If you get through that, they will send you before a three officer board that will interview you on your suitability to become an officer. When I went through, there was a separate aptitude test for OCS as well as the ASVAB requirement, but that is no longer required. If the board approves you, you enlist and get sent to Basic Combat Training, then after it's completion, they send you to OCS, which I believe is still being taught at Lovely Ft Benning, Ga. After completion of OCS, you will be assigned a Branch, hopefully one that you picked, but that is not a guarantee. The you go to your Branch School, Basic Officer Leadership Course. After that, you may get sent to additional school or just go to your first real world assignment. Time frame once you ship, 8 weeks for Basic by the time you process in and out, 12 weeks of OCS, then 20 weeks+ for your branch school, depending on the branch.
I will also tell you that OCS isn't fun. Aside from actually trying to teach you the basics, the TAC Officers (Training and Counseling Officer, think Drill Sergeant on Steroids), are there to put you under as much mental stress as possible. I was enlisted Infantry and then commissioned as an Infantry Officer, OCS was the only part of my training I really disliked. You can respond here of message me if you have specific questions.
I will also tell you that OCS isn't fun. Aside from actually trying to teach you the basics, the TAC Officers (Training and Counseling Officer, think Drill Sergeant on Steroids), are there to put you under as much mental stress as possible. I was enlisted Infantry and then commissioned as an Infantry Officer, OCS was the only part of my training I really disliked. You can respond here of message me if you have specific questions.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
You are partially correct. You just have to enter active service before your 33rd birthday and commission before your 34th in the Army or Army Reserve. National Guard is a whole different Animal. They now allow you to commission up to age 42 and also allow you to do an extended OCS that consists of two 15 day AT's and 12 to 14 months of IDT training, so it's basically the 8 week accelerated course done over 14/ 16 months. You also can go through with less than a four year degree.
The Army has played around and change the names and times of the Basic Courses, but the two I am familiar with are still the same length, Infantry and Engineers are 20 weeks still.
Yes, you have more relative freedom in OCS, but I never found there was time to take advantage of it. "Free" time was filled with prepping for the next day, doing lessons, taking care of uniforms and barracks, plus whatever duties you were assigned in the student chain of command. I never had much respect for my TAC's, while I did for my Drill Sergeants. It may have been because I had been in a unit for a couple of years before I went to OCS, but I do know that I was in much better physical condition and was more tactically proficient than any of the TAC's. I think most of those guys coming in from being enlisted from the Combat Arms units felt that way to some degree.
The Army has played around and change the names and times of the Basic Courses, but the two I am familiar with are still the same length, Infantry and Engineers are 20 weeks still.
Yes, you have more relative freedom in OCS, but I never found there was time to take advantage of it. "Free" time was filled with prepping for the next day, doing lessons, taking care of uniforms and barracks, plus whatever duties you were assigned in the student chain of command. I never had much respect for my TAC's, while I did for my Drill Sergeants. It may have been because I had been in a unit for a couple of years before I went to OCS, but I do know that I was in much better physical condition and was more tactically proficient than any of the TAC's. I think most of those guys coming in from being enlisted from the Combat Arms units felt that way to some degree.
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CPT (Join to see)
Good morning, CPT Cable.
If a Civilian candidate does not pass OCS, but they had to enlist before enrolling, does that ultimately result in an enlisted ADSO for that candidate?
If a Civilian candidate does not pass OCS, but they had to enlist before enrolling, does that ultimately result in an enlisted ADSO for that candidate?
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT (Join to see) - It depends on what they were disqualified for and the needs of the Army is my understanding. I believe that the standard contract is a three year enlistment, so if you tank OCS, that obligation is still there. The Army can either discharge you or put you in an enlisted MOS and retrain and retain you.
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http://www.ocsfoundation.org
First, start wit this...youre asking really, really complex questions, that re going to take a lot of time and effort to properly research, I assure you...I've been exsctly where you are, I've wanted exactly what you've wanted, even if not precise ly the sa!e type of work back then...what youre contemplating is highly complex, that youre looking at mult svcs is good...however, it's not about what you want, it's about who wants you, and how flexible and cooperative you are to do as asked...also, you need to major elaborate in a detailed bio sketch, hobbies, reading, interests, ultimate ambitions and/or underlying motivations...I was Army ROTC, I went USAF OTS instead, I was woefully unprepared, didn't ask the right questions, wound up someplace totally unexpected, and hadn't clue one what was actually expected of !e to help me function well in the role...sp, of you want help, help is help you, give course titles, grades, GPAs, Amy grad level work you've done thus far...if you can get a !asters first, if you've got time, and can get am assistantship at a decent school, I would, for the simple reason youre gonna have to get a !asters, minimum, from day one, the moment you'd ne in, anyone who says anything else is from what I found to ne totally wrong, I assure you, at least from my exposure, honest. Further, I wasn't enlisted first, having been would have helped me acclimate far more readily than I was able, and far faster, as I said, elaborate in far greater detail. I'll answer what I can, however, start with that site, OK? Also, having the bachelors you hasbez you could go in many directions, MNA, IT, comp sci (CS), law, having been doing the internship you mentioned, a CPA mixed with law might go well together...this is a really deep rabbit hole youre contemplating diving into head first, so, I'm not trying to dissuade you, you asked to ne educated, I'll try to do that, however, apply the brakes, do the detailed bio I suggests look at the site, send more, and we can cjqt as much as you like, OK?
First, start wit this...youre asking really, really complex questions, that re going to take a lot of time and effort to properly research, I assure you...I've been exsctly where you are, I've wanted exactly what you've wanted, even if not precise ly the sa!e type of work back then...what youre contemplating is highly complex, that youre looking at mult svcs is good...however, it's not about what you want, it's about who wants you, and how flexible and cooperative you are to do as asked...also, you need to major elaborate in a detailed bio sketch, hobbies, reading, interests, ultimate ambitions and/or underlying motivations...I was Army ROTC, I went USAF OTS instead, I was woefully unprepared, didn't ask the right questions, wound up someplace totally unexpected, and hadn't clue one what was actually expected of !e to help me function well in the role...sp, of you want help, help is help you, give course titles, grades, GPAs, Amy grad level work you've done thus far...if you can get a !asters first, if you've got time, and can get am assistantship at a decent school, I would, for the simple reason youre gonna have to get a !asters, minimum, from day one, the moment you'd ne in, anyone who says anything else is from what I found to ne totally wrong, I assure you, at least from my exposure, honest. Further, I wasn't enlisted first, having been would have helped me acclimate far more readily than I was able, and far faster, as I said, elaborate in far greater detail. I'll answer what I can, however, start with that site, OK? Also, having the bachelors you hasbez you could go in many directions, MNA, IT, comp sci (CS), law, having been doing the internship you mentioned, a CPA mixed with law might go well together...this is a really deep rabbit hole youre contemplating diving into head first, so, I'm not trying to dissuade you, you asked to ne educated, I'll try to do that, however, apply the brakes, do the detailed bio I suggests look at the site, send more, and we can cjqt as much as you like, OK?
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I went through OCS last year. CTP Cable gave you good advice and if you need help through the OCS process let me know. Before, during, and after can be a challenge. Somerecruiters are not versed in the OCS process, so make sure you talk to an officer at the recruiting station.
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Ambrosia Rhodes
Would you mind messaging me? I am looking at joining the Army, 4 year grad, well put together resume and letters of reference. I have a few questions about getting prepared if you dont mind.
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