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

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.

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.

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

Served with several prior service officers including one who served in every grade E1 through O8. All were excellent officers.
Recommend you look into ROTC while in college.

PO2 Tim Waller I can't speak for the Navy, but for the Army, this happens all the time. As long as you are honorably discharged, then returning as an officer shouldn't be to hard. The easiest way would be through ROTC are your university. That may be tricky find a NROTC if you to return to the Navy, however, not impossible.

Army wise, you can try and come back and request OCS (Officer Candidate School) in your contract. Having the degree helps.

Good luck!

Indeed it’s not difficult to commission after college, and as stated before the GPA plays an important part, not to mention the interview, and available billets. I too agree joining NROTC would be the best way to go, if unable then joining the Navy Reserves to keep increasing your years of service which will help come OE pay.

Keep in mind a career field you want to apply to as some are real competitive to get into and each career field has “X” number of billets available. When I looked into commissioning into the Navy, physical therapists were being down sized and they were not bringing any on active duty. You may also have to be flexible about which branch of service to commission in as well. I found a commission in the Air Force and do not regret it.

By the way, I have served with many Mustang officers from numerous branches of service. So be persistent!

The salary below is for retiree pay and not active duty pay.

How are you gaining your commission (I.e. ROTC or OCS. The Marines and Navy have special rules for “mustangs”. I think that OCS acquisitions can only rise to either O-4 or O-5. Don’t quote me on this, as I retired in 1994 and even longer since I talked with a peer service promotion capabilities. If you like your career field, you may check to see if the Navy has warrant officers in your career field. A W-3 makes about the same as an O-4; a W-4 makes about the same as an O-5 and a W-5 makes about the same as an O-6. Go to school at night school, work on CLEP and ACT tests and earn your degree in that manner. Apply to go through the warrant officer basic course for your branch.

No ex enlisted are considered some of the best Officers you go for it. What was hard is when I went from enlisted to Buck Sergeant and everyone thought I was still their friend. E6 SSG made the difference I was not their friend anymore I was their Sergeants boss. Guess what you don't have to deal with that just your NCO and he aint your friend and will let you know that listen to him or accept the consequences. He will take care of your enlisted.

How'd this go for you? I'm working on my degree in Cyber Security and am thinking of the same taking the same route. I'm wondering if I should go into the reserves now and work on commissioning when I graduate.