Can you apply to OCS while a cadet in ROTC?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:43:27 -0400

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 5:46 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:46:55 -0400

Story - My buddy is miserable in ROTC. He's almost done with the first semester of his MSIV year but has to do a semester as a MSV so he graduates and commissions in Dec 2017. He is miserable in ROTC and just wants to do OCS so he can go for 3 months and get it done.

(Before it gets brought up, honestly my buddy, not me. I'm 8 years prior-enlisted so I'm just treating this like a deployment. Gotta embrace the suck.)

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 12 at 2016 9:28 PM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:28:38 -0400

is Rotc not good enough...

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 13 at 2016 12:47 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 00:47:15 -0400

Yes you can if you belong to a reserve unit and the S-3 is willing to submit the paperwork, but you will piss off a lot of people that better deserve it more so if they can not afford college. My advice don't do it, share the wealth.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 14 at 2016 10:52 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:52:50 -0400

That is no reason to look to transition. Your friend may even find himself declined from OCS, they will ask why he wishes to transition. I agree with a statement below, if he cannot handle ROTC he is likely not a good fit for Military service. Tell him to stick it out, this will be a good proving ground for the challenges he and his Soldiers will face when he is serving as an officer. Facing adversity and handling it appropriately is something we look for in Officers and NCO's.

Good luck!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 14 at 2016 10:54 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 10:54:10 -0400

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2016 5:44 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 17:44:45 -0400

I would think that it depends on whether you have signed a contract as an MSIII or not. If in ROTC as an MSI or MSII and not in a scholarship or contract you should be able to go into OCS if you choose to.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 12:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 00:23:01 -0400

As an MSIV, he has to be under contract. Going for OCS means he would have to break contract. Your friend may not actually be able to commission if he was to theoretically fail OSC (even assuming that he would be accepted).

MSIV year isn't fun. It's an enormous amount of work. However, it is worth it at the end, even if he has to do a V year. He's going to commission soon- it's incredibly moronic to throw that away for a chance at OCS; the best-case end result is the same commission.