Army Commissioning Sources: Pros and Cons

2015-02-26T10:18:07-05:00

What do you feel are the pros and cons of each of the Army Commissioning sources (i.e., ROTC, OCS, USMA, etc.)?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 26 at 2015 10:22 AM

2015-02-26T10:22:30-05:00

From my honest opinion each has their merits.

USMA is the prestige and elite of the commissioning roads. The downfall not everyone can attend.

ROTC provides college students the road to commissioning. Downfall they are not part of the "ring knocker club"

OCS provides an avenue for an enlisted Soldier to soar and play with the big boys. Downfall not part of the "ring knocker club" nor are they ROTC grads. Personally I like officers that went this route because they have an understanding or can recall what it means to be enlisted.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 10:24 AM

2015-02-26T10:24:11-05:00

OCS -- probably have enlisted experience, which I consider to be a pro.

ROTC -- solid amount of training as the candidate attends four years of college.

USMA -- cream of the crop; should be best prepared 2LTs out there.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 11:38 AM

2015-02-26T11:38:45-05:00

There are pros and cons to all of them got it and some of responses touch on that, however those are all going to be a matter of opinion and hard to be fact based (no offense meant other responders). I think you need to expound on your question, what do you really want to ask?

If it focuses on the "quality" of an officer, commissioning source does not matter but is purely based on the individual's performance and ability to learn once they pin.

If it focuses on the initial entry of a person into one of those programs, it depends where the person is coming from (background, education, experiences, etc.)

Something else?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2015 9:07 PM

2015-02-26T21:07:30-05:00

Here's my personal thoughts:

OCS provides a good path for enlisted Soldiers to join our Officer Corps. They often provide a perspective and a level of discipline to the Officer corps the other commissioning sources do not. The biggest downfalls to OCS are related to time. Often OCS candidates are early to mid-career NCOs. Unless they stay well past retirement age OCS commissionees typically don't make it to our most senior Officer ranks. The second downfall to OCS is training time, especially with accelerated programs. Regardless of how good the training is, OCS candidates can not develop the same level of proficiency in two months what ROTC and USMA grads develop in 2-4 years. I had a friend of mine in BOLC who was an OCS grad. He had done one OPORD when we began the course. As an ROTC grad I had done over fifty.

ROTC's biggest advantages are training time and flexibility. Having 4 years to groom Cadets allows them to typically build a greater level of proficiency in tasks like preparing OPORDs and small unit leadership. The greater flexibility in ROTC's program, in my opinion, makes retention much easier and increases commissioning rates. The biggest disadvantage I see to ROTC is a lack of emphasis on basic Soldier skills. As an ROTC grad, I saw a number of Cadets with absolutely FUBAR uniforms and utterly lacking in customs and courtesies. The Cadre depended on the upper-classmen to correct this, who unfortunately were just as untrained as the new Cadets. This often translated into their initial behaviors as new 2LTs and set a negative impression. ROTC also does not carry the same level of prestige that OCS and the USMA does.

With the USMA, there is certainly a level of prestige associated with it. Being a ring-knocker will open doors for you, right or wrong. There is also the infamous "West Point Protective Association" people mention behind closed doors. Being immersed in a military environment 24/7 provide an even greater advantage in training time than what ROTC grads enjoy. They are also guaranteed an active component commission, something ROTC grads are not. The biggest downfalls I see with the USMA is cost and exclusivity. We spend a considerable amount more on producing a West Point grad than what we do for an OCS or ROTC grad. Likewise, we as a force need more new 2LTs than what West Point alone can produce.

I personally don't believe any one commissioning source produces a superior product. Based upon my interaction with West Point graduates, I feel some of the mystique is undeserved. I can tell you the best Commander I have served under in my 8 years was an OCS grad. One of the worst Commanders I had graduated from the same ROTC program I did. However, what is more important than how an Officer received their gold bars is the content of their character. That is what will ultimately make them successful or not.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 9:25 AM

2015-08-27T09:25:19-04:00

As a "ring knocker", I am humbled...and surprised by some of the comments herein. The academies are not, despite "rumint", closed societies-Not only were many of my classmates prior enlisted (Marine infantry, even a SEAL in my class), but most of us came from backgrounds where the scholarship was a major financial offset to obtaining a degree. By that measure, I suppose it could be said you "can't get there" on the average...but then again, that should be the point of any selective training opportunity, correct?

As regards ROTC, most of the officers I met in my career went this route, and I found that they tended to be a little more "academic" than academy grads, a little more "boot", if you will initially, unless they had former enlisted service. I suppose this is because the academies attempt to mirror other active duty components of their parent service in a total immersion experience as opposed to one that runs parallel to obtaining a degree. I would never claim to have "been through" what an E1-E3 endures in the Fleet, but I will say that I've often felt like the experiences my junior enlisted sailors related to me sounded very familiar. That said, I have found that ROTC officers are better at adapting to life in the Fleet, have better financial and social acumen, and quickly become strong leaders.

OCS has always struck me as it's own entity, incomparable to the other two (or three; let's not forget Direct Commission). OCS officers always seemed a little more "salty" to me, and I learned a great deal from observing them as a junior officer. I think there's a perception it's the only true "meritocracy" when it comes to earning a commission because you have to do so much prior to entry to justify your place...whereas the Academy and ROTC essentially make an investment in your proven potential. I would equate it to internal hiring for management in the civil sector.

At the end of the day, I believe we all hit a confluence around O-3 that determines if we are going to be "good" officers, destined for future command. A lot of "good guys" who care for their people and listen well have stellar first tours, and many talented JOs have great second tours because they know how to step up and show individual progress. Unfortunately, this alone does not a CO make, and all services have their "wickets" any officer must pass to make it to scrambled eggs. Much of that is showing evidence of loyalty to the service and mission, a high level of professional maturity, and a flawless track record of meeting goals. No one...and I mean no one, regardless of source of origin, is going to overcome documented financial problems, questionable commitment to the service, or the ghost of technical failure to attain their own command.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 8:52 PM

2016-05-24T20:52:45-04:00

I really wouldn't put one over the other. If I had the opportunity to do it all over and go to West Point, absolutely! West Pont graduates are part of a powerful Alumni. I went through ROTC, and yes, it is the largest commissioning source, but we come from over 300 colleges and universities. It was the best way for me to enter the Army after serving as a Navy enlisted man however. OCS is the most efficient way to transition Army NCOs into Army Officers. The bottom line is that we should go through a commissioning source so the NCO Corps can get a good look at us before we are commissioned.