Can prior enlisted service make it more difficult to become commissioned as an officer?

Have you considered switching to a reserve component during your time in college and going to OCS afterwards if they do not have an ROTC program that applies to you? Be nice to get a few more years in, utilize some of the benefits while in, and keeping in contact with possible units or jobs if you wish to stay in the reserves.

I was active duty Army as an enlisted Soldier first. I completed my initial contract and earned my degree and missed the military so I joined the Army Reserves and commissioned. From my experience, I was glad I was prior service first. I had a better grasp of the basic Army tasks when compared to a lot of my peers directly out of college and I also have more life experience to lean on when completing a task for the first time. A lot of the senior NCOs appeared to treat me differently than other LTs because they knew I could handle myself. My biggest complaint from NCO to Officer is you become strictly hands off. Instead of being on the ground doing the grunt work with your subordinates, building the relationships, you will be managing from above. I still get down and assist but am often told to take a step back because they can handle it. Those relationships are never as strong.

PO2 Walker,

I am currently serving on recruiting duty and learned something very interesting last week. You need a certain GPA in college to become eligible for OCS. I didn't realize this either until a fellow recruiter denied a Prior Service Navy Corpsman for going to college and having a 2.7 GPA. He got his degree while he was serving in the Navy, therefore my heart goes to him as he earned his 2.7, as I struggle every class to keep my GPA above a 3.5. Call a recruiter, and if they cannot cite their regulation, call me at [login to see] and I will put you in contact with a Navy Recruiter who will be able to point you in the right direction.
As a recruiter, I have to ask, have you considered going into the Army Reserve into the SMP program? This is a great way for you to serve 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year, have extra money for college, use the Reserve GI Bill and save your Active Duty GI Bill for a family member later on? Look into it. http://www.goarmy.com

SSG Allenbrand