Can you go to OCS if you've been in longer than six years?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 10:45:36 -0400

So I was told you cannot have had more than 6 years (Sept 2019) in to attend ocs. I should be finished with school mid to late 2018. Is this time cutting it too close. I'm thinking I may be getting my hopes up.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 11:07 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 11:07:12 -0400

Are you saying you would have to attend OCS before your 6 year mark in service? If so, that's not right. Unless it's changed. I was in IOBC with a guy that came out of OCS and he had been in for 17 years.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 22 at 2017 1:14 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:14:05 -0400

Looking at the 2016 Officer Recruiting, I think all you will need to do is to request a Time in Service waiver. There was a period were the Active side had suspended almost all the waivers, but that seems to be over and they are even extending the age limit to 33 for the active side.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 1:49 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:49:19 -0400

While I am not an expert on the rules surrounding OCS entry, I can say that I attended OCS with E-6s and 7s and we all went on to commission at 2LTs. I was prior service but then again I had less than 6 years service. Unless they hustled their promotions I would say most if not all in that grade had been in longer than 6 years. Perhaps things have changed but keep pushing because they're always going to tell you 'no' right off the bat.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 3:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:41:44 -0400

that shouldn't be the case, but if it true then I'm sure that it wouldn't be difficult to get a waiver.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 7:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 19:06:15 -0400

I dealt with this myself. I was trying to go to Federal OCS in the Regular Army. I was denied due to having more than 6 years of active duty time. I ended up going to the National Guard with the hopes of transferring to the Regular Army. I was able to go to OCS with the National Guard but it was not the Federal OCS at Benning. The Guard runs their own OCS programs. But the recruiting policies, aka Business Rules, change often. It all depends on the needs of the Army. I would do everything you can to get to OCS before you hit the six year mark to be safe.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2017 7:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 19:44:42 -0400

With what OCS program? I went to OCS with 10yrs in. Are you talking A.C. OCS program or a NG OCS program?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2017 10:16 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 10:16:32 -0400

If that's the case, it's new. Usually the OCS programs preferred prior service members that had over 6 years, meaning they were likely experienced NCOs or at minimum had either their Associates or Bachelor degrees. I switched over after being in for over 12 years.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 5:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:02:45 -0400

There is a 10-year TIS cap by time of commission for FY17 applicants per the MILPER on the HRC portal. FY18 may be different, keep checking the MILPERs.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2021 6:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 06:56:11 -0500

The ocs hrc milper message says 9 years of active service and 10 years by completion

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Mar 5 at 2024 2:08 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:08:54 -0500

That must be an Army thing adn I truly don't beleive it to be true. However, in the AIr Force we are taking prior enlistees that are holding the E7 ranks with 13 -14 years, commisioning them thorugh OTS and putting them in Pilot Training so I know it isn't a DoD thing...I would press to test with an officer recruiter somewhere and just see case I think youare being sold a bag of goods.

Response by MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. made Mar 5 at 2024 8:27 PM

MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 20:27:55 -0500

Unless they've changed it since I went in 1979. I had 9 years, 3 months, and 23 days of service when I was commissioned. You could not have a single day over 10 years, however. The reason was that all grads get reserve commissions, and you would be automatically separated when you hit 20 if you weren't already RA.