For the Officers that went the OCS route to commission, how common was it to have older soldiers (33<) in your class?

2018-11-27T12:37:19-05:00

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Nov 27 at 2018 12:39 PM

2018-11-27T12:39:42-05:00

Samuel, I was not an Officer; however, I would Not worry about having older Soldiers in your class: at All. I would imagine that younger Soldiers are the "norm"'; in OCS. 2LT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2018 12:48 PM

2018-11-27T12:48:32-05:00

I was one of them. Commission at 33 years 9 months. At that time, able to do a 12-minute 2-mile and max out by push-ups and sit-ups. Our Honor Graduate was a former drill sergeant who did our Cadence calls and he graduated one week before his 35th birthday. I know he made lieutenant colonel or higher. It may not be common in the active component but I came in through the California Army National Guard. Here I was at my Fort Knox Captain's career course in 2003.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 27 at 2018 1:03 PM

2018-11-27T13:03:57-05:00

Not uncommon, I turned 30 right after I commissioned and I wasn't the oldest in the class.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Nov 27 at 2018 1:42 PM

2018-11-27T13:42:35-05:00

About one third (maybe a little more) of my class was over 30 when we started. I was almost 35 when I got commissioned.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2018 1:54 PM

2018-11-27T13:54:03-05:00

We had an E-4 as the lowest, and an E-7 at the highest entering. Ages from around 22-36. Most were late 20s, myself included. OHARNG OCS.

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Nov 27 at 2018 2:49 PM

2018-11-27T14:49:30-05:00

I thin in 1967, the top age was 28. There were a couple of guys in my OCS class who were twenty eight I believe. The youngest was eighteen and he graduated six months later and got his commission.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2018 4:02 PM

2018-11-27T16:02:00-05:00

We had a guy who was the acting commandant at the drill sergeant academy. He was an E8 when he commissioned at 37 years old (back in 2008 when you could get age waivers). Great guy and was the student first sergeant during our first week while I was the student XO.

Response by MAJ Christopher Daily made Nov 27 at 2018 5:39 PM

2018-11-27T17:39:23-05:00

There were quite a few. There were 3 Master Sergeants in my class all over 30 as well as a few older Warrants like me. I was 28 at the time and had quite a few NCOs who were older than me when I attended in 2008.

Response by Capt Seavy Barefoot made Nov 27 at 2018 9:58 PM

2018-11-27T21:58:03-05:00

II had 2 E 7s in my OTS class, the rest newbies like me at the time

Response by CPT Tony Baucom made Nov 27 at 2018 11:51 PM

2018-11-27T23:51:55-05:00

I was in my early 30’s when I attended OCS and had several other candidates that were the same age. Most older candidates did well and demonstrated skill sets based on time in service. I also think there was more respect from TAC Officers for those that had higher rank and skills.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 5:06 AM

2018-11-29T05:06:32-05:00

Im glad you asked this question. Seriously considering putting in a package for the 2 year green to gold program and I'm 37.5

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2018 10:30 AM

2018-11-29T10:30:24-05:00

It was fairly common, I completed OCS in March. A few OCs had kids and were late twenties/early thirties.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 29 at 2018 11:29 PM

2018-11-29T23:29:26-05:00

Actually, I'd been Army ROTC 3 yrs, on scholarship the last 2 yrs, then went USAF OTS instead...while I'd been there, it'd been at Lackland, not at Maxwell where it is now...there were numerous very senior prior enlisted, all of them generally had an easier time adapting for the most part...there were numerous intersvc transfers, one guy even had enlisted Navy sub dolphins, the only time I ever saw that...I'd be curious if you'd wanna elaborate as to your MOS now, if you'd want, and what MOS, AFSC, or rate you might want were you to try for one of the programs...also, would you want Army WOCS at all for rotary wing flight? Would you want a direct commission OIS indoc school at all? Would you wanna consider other svcs? How much have you done on an assocs? Bach? any AP stuff from high school? Tech training? Grad level at all? Honestly, the more you can elaborate, the more I and/or others can suggest, though, as I'd said, I frequently wish I'd been prior enlisted before going USAF OTS, I'd have adapted far more readily, I had to apply twice after Army ROTC, then get recycled once at USAF OTS, going through it a second time...I'd be most eager to hear more, no rush, whenever convenient, obviously....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 29 at 2018 11:29 PM

2018-11-29T23:29:44-05:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Look at this....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 29 at 2018 11:31 PM

2018-11-29T23:31:48-05:00

I can suggest a whole lot more, however, if you have flight and/or cyber interests, STEM coursework, STEM tech training, your hobbies, interests, reading, sports, esp. martial arts, all that would help give myself and the others here ideas as to what to suggest...also, I did find your question interestingly specific...I'd be most eager to know more about what prompted you to ask, I have an interest in such career/educ topics, honest....

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2018 9:57 AM

2018-11-30T09:57:41-05:00

Thank you all for your great input. I don’t want to go too deep into my personal information BUT My goal is to be an Army Officer by going to OCS. As you can probably infer from my post I’m an older soldier who just enlisted into the Army this year for a second career. My first career I obtain my Bachelors and Masters degree. When I initially looked into joining the Army my first choice was the officer route but my age was a deterrent (I was told). However, I’m a natural leader and I can PT with the best of them, never scored under a 280 since I got out of basic, currently sitting on a 297. My vision now is to prove to my chain of command that I’m fit mentally and physically to be an OCS soldier by working my but off at my job every day and continue to PT well. I was told I have to put in a year at my unit then apply for OCS afterward.