Do I have to pass a PT test during the recruitment stages of going to OCS?

Yes. It’s used to measure how competitive you are at the OCS selection board. If you are not in shape, then I recommend you make it a priority because being prior service you’ll skip basic training and head straight to OCS. In OCS your PT score affects your ranking for commission. If PT tests bother you, then I’d recommend not applying for a commission or rejoining the Army. Be ready at all times and be prepared to be tested both mentally and physically before earning a commission. Good luck.

Passing the APFT is a requirement for an OCS packet. You are not required to pass in the 18-21 year old bracket to be boarded. However, you have to remember that you are competing against others. Currently, OCS approval is at the lowest level it has been in a while (recruiting Battalion not USAREC). This is a good thing but the commander may not view you favorably if you barely pass the APFT. So, do your best and get to work on your packet ASAP because rules are always changing. Regardless of your score, as long as you pass your recruiter should process your packet.

Each recruiting commander can establish their own vetting process for OCS packets within their realms. I’ve heard of the use of an extended boarding process to PT tests within the younger age group. You will be ranked in OCS based on test scores and PT scores and you will not be competitive without a really good PT score. When I went in 2008, the PT cutoff score before you could “class up” was 265. If you aren’t close to or above that, you may not even class up the first week. So some recruiting commands set a higher standard for their college ops to ensure that you can at least class up and will be competitive.