Posted on Nov 16, 2020
SPC Water Treatment Specialist
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I am a current SPC in the TXARNG with about a year and a half left in my contract. I am also on track to complete my associate's in the spring and am eligible for tuition exemption due to being a full time police officer in Texas. I have recently decided that after my EAS I would pursue a commission in the Navy, bu frankly I love my job as a cop! Therefore I'm left in a situation where I want to become a Naval officer, but also dont want to leave my current full time career. Is there a way to commission directly into the USNR? I would prefer an NROTC route as opposed to OCS, but as far as I've seen most NROTCs require an active duty commitment. Thank you in advance for your advice!
Posted in these groups: Officers logo OfficersImgres Direct CommissionNROTC
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Responses: 8
CPT Staff Officer
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I think your path to a commission in the USAR is almost a given once you have the degree out of the way. You are already a cop, so whatever selection criteria you jumped through to become a cop should be sufficient for a USAR commission.

Next, you are already in the NG, and 92 series. 92 series (Quartermasters) are among the most vacant slots for USAR officers.

Finally, if you are going Reserves, then it really doesn't matter what your MOS/Branch really is while in garrison because you will be doing pretty much the same thing wherever you land. Mandatory training, exercise planning meetings, ACFT, and medical readiness.

I'm just saying, by time you landed a Navy Commission to O1/Ensign you'd probably be a USAR/NG O3/CPT. Also, unlike the Navy, if you can put up with the Army long enough you will get to 20 years before they would kick you out for non advancement.
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SPC Water Treatment Specialist
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That's a excellent point sir. The reason I've considered the Navy is due to the ability to command a ship and also to be completely transparent I'm a slow runner and the Navy fitness test is something I can already ace. Plus it was my understanding most Naval promotion were based on MOS specific test. But if the path to Quatermaster would be easier the end goal for me it to dual retire as an LEO and military officer. What would be my options on commissioning in the USAR? Is it solely through OCS or are there ROTCs?
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SPC Water Treatment Specialist
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SPC (Join to see) *easier and the end goal for me is to dual retire. Please excuse the misspellings sir.
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CPT Staff Officer
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SPC (Join to see) - I Direct Commissioned USAR into Quartermaster from being a 35F SGT/E5 (Military Intel). The Army is going to be far more willing to entrust to you a QM platoon from where you are right now than any option you have.

If it's all about "retirement" and $$$ then the army by far is the better choice. They will end up giving you way more stuff to do and rack up retirement points, and you will probably retire one or two grades higher than the Navy (which means more money per retirement point).

NOW.............. are you on the old retirement system? or the new 401K type based? If you are on the new retirement plan you are better off clocking in overtime hours as a Cop and putting that money into investment accounts. The USAR retirement plan is no better than any common corporation 401K plan offers, and I'm betting your Cop health benefits are on par with the last and only benefit we get in the reserves with our inexpensive Tri-Care premiums.

And the matching contribution for what is earned against drill pay is going to be jack. So why not just work more civilian hours get paid more as a civilian, and put that money in a stronger retirement tax shelter.
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CAPT Kevin B.
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With a bachelor's degree, you can commission into the Navy Reserves through OCS or NROTC. Direct commissions are typically reserved for doctors, dentists, nurses, and lawyers. There is an Accessions Officer that will steer you through the process. They are typically capped Reserve O-4s with a lot of experience separating the top say 30% out. That is the short skating program. The long skate is getting facetime with Reviewing Officers. I was one for many years for the Civil Engineer Corps. You don't pass GO without a positive endorsement from one of these. Rank can vary but for us, we mostly had O-6s do the interviews and review. We'd have a good idea on who'd likely do well vs. not. For any designator, there is a desired number every year. That number wiggles a bit, but not too greatly as undershooting means a gap that can last 20 years. Overshooting means a greater failure of selection percentage for O-4 10 years later. For my staff corps, we needed about 100 officers/year. We'd have about 500 applicants and the reviewing officers would sift through around 150 or so. Even so, we send good people home after 10 years. Just know it isn't about getting in the door, it's being given a shot to perform well and promote up over time.
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SPC Water Treatment Specialist
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Thank you very much sir for that very educated and comprehensive answer! I will definitely take that into account and make it a point to seek out that face to face interaction! Do you happen to know which NROTC programs commission reserve officer? I've reached out to Texas A&M and Colorado State, both of which advised me they only commissioned into active duty.
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CAPT Kevin B.
CAPT Kevin B.
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Ah, for reserve only NROTC is likely not an option. The taxpayer needs a return on investment, hence an active service period would be in order. The current Navy Reserve commissioned web site does show the method of entry.
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2LT Scott Friend
2LT Scott Friend
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Sir, I was direct commission as a Chaplain Candidate which is also another route (you had mentioned medical and JAG but we, too, are direct commission). The Navy also has the Chaplain Candidate program. However, there are obviously a lot of things the candidate would need first (finished with undergrad, currently enrolled in M.Div. program, ecclesiastical endorsement, etc.).

As a side note, I'm a prior Active Enlisted Seabee. CAN DO, sir!
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CAPT Kevin B.
CAPT Kevin B.
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Yes Scott, I forgot the Holy Rollers. I remember all the boards I did at Millington. The loudest ones were the nurses and chaplains. Go figure.
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2LT Scott Friend
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Unless you are going into a specialty branch within the Navy (Med, JAG, Chaplaincy, etc.) then my understanding is you will have to take the OCS or NROTC route. I'm saying this as a current Chaplain Candidate in the Army who was a direct commission (I'm prior Navy Enlisted) into the Army Reserves while I complete my seminary program with eventual plans to return to Active Duty. Each specialty branch will have its own respective requirements (which you can find with a Google search, or speak to the local recruiter for that branch such as a Chaplain recruiter, Med recruiter, etc., not just the general recruiter). For example, for me to complete my commission I had to go through an application, the interview process, get an ecclesiastical endorsement (this would vary by denomination), show that I was enrolled full time in an M.Div. program, etc. I, too, am in TX and if you need more assistance/guidance feel free to send me a message and I can help get you pointed in the right direction.
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SPC Water Treatment Specialist
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Thank you very much for all that information sir, and I may take you up on that generous offer here in the near future!
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