Posted on Nov 20, 2020
How long does it take to become an officer when you're enlisted with a degree?
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I'm 25 years old working as a business consultant. I want to go OCS path, but it may take a while to get recommendations, study ASVAB, etc. I've recently been thinking about enlisting first but worried because I hear that it's quite difficult to become officer route as it might take some time. Any advise and/or facts? Thanks!
Officer
OCS
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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If your goal is to become an officer, apply for OCS. Do not let them con you into enlisting first as it complicates the process. You'd have to serve 4 years and a day enlisted to qualify for the "E" pay as an officer anyway which would put you close to 30. Not sure what the current age cutoff is, it's seems to change on a somewhat regular basis. If you are officer material, the ASVAB should be easy. Find an officer recruiter and apply. Don't just go into a recruiting office and talk to the first green suiter you see because, most likely, they don't handle officers and will try to convince you that enlisting first is the way to go.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) - Wow. When I applied (from Iraq) I was lucky to have someone watching over my application through the process. My BCT Drill Sergeant had, by that time, become the 25th ID's CG's Commo guy. So he would ask me when my packet had to hit certain offices for signature, and then ensured my packet got to those places on time. I also would drive over to the BDE S-1 each week to show my face and ask where my packet was, to show the staff that I was going to harass them until they forwarded my packet up. I got selected in 2009 and attended OCS December 2009 (Class 303-09, B Co. and 11-10, D Co.) I was eventually medically dropped for bad knees.
Is the OCS HQ still over by the Airborne School? Or have they moved it? We started out in the trailers, then moved to a vacant barracks building.
As for your Soldier, I would highly recommend close supervision or regular "check-ins" to your BDE S-1. Also use a DA Form 200 for the packet, as it serves as a "receipt" for any paperwork submitted. That will ensure accountability for the packet if it gets lost again. With a receipt, you have a name and date for further "repercussion."
Is the OCS HQ still over by the Airborne School? Or have they moved it? We started out in the trailers, then moved to a vacant barracks building.
As for your Soldier, I would highly recommend close supervision or regular "check-ins" to your BDE S-1. Also use a DA Form 200 for the packet, as it serves as a "receipt" for any paperwork submitted. That will ensure accountability for the packet if it gets lost again. With a receipt, you have a name and date for further "repercussion."
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1LT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see)
The lack of organization is terrible on their part sir. I hope your soldier gets a chance to go to OCS.
I went to ROTC after my first contract but I made sure I was a squeaky wheel during the whole process.
The lack of organization is terrible on their part sir. I hope your soldier gets a chance to go to OCS.
I went to ROTC after my first contract but I made sure I was a squeaky wheel during the whole process.
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see) good points; you have to be willing to research the Army Regulations on your own to figure out the requirements, process, etc. I don’t believe they teach Army recruiters how to sign folks up for OCS off the street. I had to do a ton of research and called recruiters from all over the country to finally find one who would work with me. I ended up finding a MAJ in a recruiting battalion S3 shop to help me out. He was located in a different state. The recruiting battalion in my state was under investigation at the time, and were not interested in helping OCS applicants at the time.
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Toshi Nara
I am very confident in myself that I would pass OCS board interview and crush the APFT or ACFT. The only thing about me is that I'm not the best and brightest when it comes to math and sciences, which may affect my GT score, which I plan to start studying during my off time.
But I will take your word of advise, along with many others in this large community network.
But I will take your word of advise, along with many others in this large community network.
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It’s not difficult to go the officer route. Yes, it will take a little more time up front. You will have a longer wait period between signing up and going to training. But don’t worry about the paperwork, recommendations, or studying for the ASVAB. I talked to an Army recruiter in January, and went to the board in March. I went to basic August through October, OCS November through March (including holdover time) and Basic Officer Leadership Course after that. It took me about a year of training, but if you do enlisted you won’t be able to go the officer route for at least 2 years, and then try to get a spot. Also you get paid better right off the bat, and can live off post whether you’re single or not. You will not want to live in the barracks if you’re 25 and single. Biggest advice is to get into really good shape not just to pass the PT test, but to crush it and get close to the max score before you even go to basic. Please let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help. What branch are you thinking of joining?
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Toshi Nara
Thanks for the info. To answer your question, I was thinking MP, MI, Infantry, or quartermaster. It's reassuring to hear that but here is my upside; I'm absolutely confident when/if interviewing with the board (my job is to speak with high-level executives and proposing business plans and I have great negotiation, communication, etc. basically I know how to sell myself) and a bit about myself, I wake up 5:30 and workout 6 days a week.
The only concern is scoring 110GT on the ASVAB and LORS. I have a question regarding LoR, although I don't know any connections with high-level military officers, I have 3 people in mind that would vouch for me: (1) high-level diplomat; (2) University Professor; (3) Senior Manager in my company.
I understand that they may not be coming from military background but would this affect my chances?
The only concern is scoring 110GT on the ASVAB and LORS. I have a question regarding LoR, although I don't know any connections with high-level military officers, I have 3 people in mind that would vouch for me: (1) high-level diplomat; (2) University Professor; (3) Senior Manager in my company.
I understand that they may not be coming from military background but would this affect my chances?
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2LT (Join to see)
MI is hard to get, there are often less slots for it. The others vary on the number of slots available, but you shouldn’t have a problem getting one of them.
The ASVAB really isn’t bad, but if you’re worried definitely study what you need to.
So I was given the advice to get people who could vouch for my character and knew me well enough. I didn’t have anyone fancy and they didn’t ask me about the LOR during the board.
It doesn’t affect your chances at all that you’re not coming from a military background.
Just another tip, the Army is big on the service leadership style so at the board mention things like “I want to serve my soldiers” and also be humble and understand your soldiers will teach you a lot. Many of them have degrees but chose the enlisted route for some reason or another.
As for PT, that’s great you workout a lot. Look up the new fitness test, the ACFT, and train for those specific exercises.
The ASVAB really isn’t bad, but if you’re worried definitely study what you need to.
So I was given the advice to get people who could vouch for my character and knew me well enough. I didn’t have anyone fancy and they didn’t ask me about the LOR during the board.
It doesn’t affect your chances at all that you’re not coming from a military background.
Just another tip, the Army is big on the service leadership style so at the board mention things like “I want to serve my soldiers” and also be humble and understand your soldiers will teach you a lot. Many of them have degrees but chose the enlisted route for some reason or another.
As for PT, that’s great you workout a lot. Look up the new fitness test, the ACFT, and train for those specific exercises.
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If becoming a military officer is your goal, then stick to it . Word of advise: there are age limitations based on service; become familiar with it and each service’s OCS enlistment program protocol. Can you enlist and then request to attend OCS? Must definitely. But like I mentioned, there are age limitations and your chain of command will not entertain your aspirations from the get-go. Before they endorse you, you ought to proof your worthiness to them. And that is not going to happen over night.
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LTC (Join to see)
I concur, by the time your command is willing to help with your OCS aspirations you might be too old.
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Toshi Nara
Yeah this was one of the concerns I had, thanks for explaining it to me. I've researched and talked to my veteran friends who were mostly coming from army, marines and navy. To make it short, half of them were not too sure about which route would be best. Some told me enlist first and officer would be good others mentioned straight to OCS.
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