Posted on Feb 8, 2021
Considering career change - interested in Engineer Officer (12A), but recruiter suggested Enlisted (12B) first, then go to OCS - is he right?
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Apologies for the duplicate post - I posted an updated originally. Please delete
Hello,
I have a BS and an MBA in my field, have worked 10 years and have gotten to the point where I feel I've accomplished everything I want to in my field, from pay to title. While I haven't exactly decided what I want to do yet, I have always wanted to be an officer in the military (considered other branches too); however it was never the right time, but I realized it's never going to be the 'right' time. Either way, my desire to do something else and desire to become an officer have me here considering joining the army, either national guard, or just regular army. I am seriously leaning towards doing three years of active duty in order to have my schooling paid for and some salary while I go to school once I complete my active duty service. As I said I wanted to have a career change, so that is definitely a big incentive for me.
In looking at my 'choices', I have been strongly leaning towards combat engineering, and while I understand officer's don't pick their job assignments, a recruiter told me to sign up as an enlisted, 12B, and once I complete training, apply to OCS where I would have a better chance at becoming a 12A since I would already be a Combat Engineer. Is there any truth to that? Are there any downsides to that approach? I imagine it's based on number of openings, so could I see myself playing the waiting game and be stuck as enlisted for a while? Or would I be able to do OCS almost immediately after, then play the waiting game for an opening in EBOLC? I have this concern that I'm going to be stuck as enlisted for an indefinite amount of time until something opens up on the officer side.
Thank you.
Hello,
I have a BS and an MBA in my field, have worked 10 years and have gotten to the point where I feel I've accomplished everything I want to in my field, from pay to title. While I haven't exactly decided what I want to do yet, I have always wanted to be an officer in the military (considered other branches too); however it was never the right time, but I realized it's never going to be the 'right' time. Either way, my desire to do something else and desire to become an officer have me here considering joining the army, either national guard, or just regular army. I am seriously leaning towards doing three years of active duty in order to have my schooling paid for and some salary while I go to school once I complete my active duty service. As I said I wanted to have a career change, so that is definitely a big incentive for me.
In looking at my 'choices', I have been strongly leaning towards combat engineering, and while I understand officer's don't pick their job assignments, a recruiter told me to sign up as an enlisted, 12B, and once I complete training, apply to OCS where I would have a better chance at becoming a 12A since I would already be a Combat Engineer. Is there any truth to that? Are there any downsides to that approach? I imagine it's based on number of openings, so could I see myself playing the waiting game and be stuck as enlisted for a while? Or would I be able to do OCS almost immediately after, then play the waiting game for an opening in EBOLC? I have this concern that I'm going to be stuck as enlisted for an indefinite amount of time until something opens up on the officer side.
Thank you.
Potential Recruit
12B: Combat Engineer
12A: Engineer Officer
OCS
Officer
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 29
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If you have a undergraduate and graduate degree it is absolutely rediculous for you to enlist. You would be a Specialist (E-4).
You should speak to an officer recruiter. Just simply ask your recruiter, "who is the officer recruiter in the area?".... They know who they are.... If your recruiter doesn't tell you then speak to the person that runs the recruiting station.
Clearly you would submit an OCS packet. Depending on your your degrees, GPA, athletics, volunteering, etc will determine how competitive you are.
Your not at the point to be concerned about MOSs, jobs. Realistically, submit for OCS, do your 3 years and either get out or stay in..... Thousands of officers do this early, they join just to pay for school......
But don't waste your time with the resume you have just to be enlisted... You will kick yourself everyday complaining..... I promise, you don't want that!
You should speak to an officer recruiter. Just simply ask your recruiter, "who is the officer recruiter in the area?".... They know who they are.... If your recruiter doesn't tell you then speak to the person that runs the recruiting station.
Clearly you would submit an OCS packet. Depending on your your degrees, GPA, athletics, volunteering, etc will determine how competitive you are.
Your not at the point to be concerned about MOSs, jobs. Realistically, submit for OCS, do your 3 years and either get out or stay in..... Thousands of officers do this early, they join just to pay for school......
But don't waste your time with the resume you have just to be enlisted... You will kick yourself everyday complaining..... I promise, you don't want that!
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Your recruiter is trying to screw you for his personal benefit. One more thing you need to know is that your desire to become a 12A isn’t entirely in your hands. You still have to place well enough at OCS to get high enough in your class to pick your career field. Even then, it isn’t a guarantee that you’ll get your choice because it all depends on the number of slots available for each branch.
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Andrew Ruiz
Understood. Thank you. I understand I shouldn't take his approach, but is there any logic to it whatsoever - coming is as a 12B to give me a better chance at becoming a 12A?
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MAJ (Join to see)
There is no logic whatsoever. Your enlisted MOS has nothing to do with being an officer. Your degree doesn’t matter either. It comes down to the needs of the Army. I have a degree in marketing and I enlisted as Field Artillery to pay for my school loans, switched to Military Intelligence, and now I’m Electronic Warfare. You also need an endorsement from at least three people to even be able to submit an OCS packet. In my case it was my Battery Commander, Battalion Commander, and Brigade Commander. If you run into the wrong group of personalities, you may be screwed. I enlisted after college and got lucky. I’ve been on an OCS board and I can tell you that even if you get that far in the process it isn’t a guarantee that you will get selected. We had to deny a Soldier for lying in their essay. The Soldier didn’t think anybody would notice.Andrew Ruiz
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If you are qualified to go Officer route from the beginning... GO THAT ROUTE! I serve with a bunch of 12B's that thought the same thing. They could for sure go OCS now, but they are just not going to. Do your self a favor and just go officer from the start. Your enlisted will not sway your Officer job at all ...
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Andrew Ruiz
Thanks. I had this suspicion I would end up stuck as enlisted for an indefinite amount of time if I went that route.
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CW4 William Kessinger
I concur... your enlisted MOS is not relative to any Officer MOS.. your branch choice is..in the past, as a duel rated Aviator (held both mos’s in some assignments) I was in Armor Branch.. was not considered an equal to other Armor Officers (for promotion ) by Army lever promotion boards. Had to hold Armor position in a TO and E slot for higher rank.Long after I got out (retired) they finely got an Aviation Branch for those that only wanted to fly..
I will never forget the bias I saw at Ft Knox toward AIT Commanders that were qualified Aviators.. Some were not allowed to ware their aviation badges (wings) in their own company command..
I will never forget the bias I saw at Ft Knox toward AIT Commanders that were qualified Aviators.. Some were not allowed to ware their aviation badges (wings) in their own company command..
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