E6 promotion as a OCS candidate - what rank am I now?

SGT Jacky Chen — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 22:07:59 -0500

Just realized in my iPERMS that I have been "promoted to: Staff Sergeant - SSG (E6)." Was not aware this would even happen. I'm guessing as an OCS candidate, this is for pay reasons?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2017 10:11 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 22:11:25 -0500

If you don't graduate OCS, you get your SPC rank back.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2017 11:13 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 23:13:50 -0500

Bingo kid.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2017 12:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:39:32 -0500

You are not a SSG. You are an Officer Candidate. Since Officer Candidate is not a pay grade you will be paid on par with a SSG. It is only for Pay. So I wouldn't say you are an SSG. I was an SSG when I went to OCS. But at that point I was referred to as Officer Candidate. I had a soldier I helped join the Guard. He went straight into OCS. He was in the same boat you are in. I came to find out he was referring himself as an SGT. To those of us that were NCOs it was insulting to say that you attained a rank simply by saying you want to be an officer. Those that are selected to be an NCO put in a lot of time and work to reach that position. Those of us that went to OCS didn't.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 24 at 2020 12:28 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 12:28:17 -0400

Your pay grade is E-6, your rank is Candidate until either you commission or drop out. If you drop out, you will go back to your last permanent rank, which should be Sgt. for you. And yes, it's for pay reasons. Guard OCS locations are generally not local and the extra pay is to offset some of the additional expenses.