Toshi Nara 6515772 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;m 25 years old working as a business consultant. I want to go OCS path, but it may take a while to get recommendations, study ASVAB, etc. I&#39;ve recently been thinking about enlisting first but worried because I hear that it&#39;s quite difficult to become officer route as it might take some time. Any advise and/or facts? Thanks! 2020-11-20T01:56:34-05:00 Toshi Nara 6515772

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;m 25 years old working as a business consultant. I want to go OCS path, but it may take a while to get recommendations, study ASVAB, etc. I&#39;ve recently been thinking about enlisting first but worried because I hear that it&#39;s quite difficult to become officer route as it might take some time. Any advise and/or facts? Thanks!

2020-11-20T01:56:34-05:00 2020-11-20T01:56:34-05:00 WO1 Ricardo Eva 6515976

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Further to my last message: Also, if you are now an enlisted member, since you mention the recommendation letters, and if you&#39;ve stayed out of trouble, you&#39;ll find that most officers are more than willing to help you out in attaining your goals, specially when your goal is OCS. Becoming an officer after having experience as an enlisted member has many advantages: A bit better pay but, more importantly, as you have experience as an enlisted it gives you a unique view of how enlisted view officers and are able to apply that knowledge to better compenetrate with your troops as you (should at least) understand their points of view. Additionally, many officers who have NOT had that experience will come to you for advise on how to handle many situations involving enlisted members that can place you in an enviable spot and ready for quick promotions, if you do your homework. Hope this helps and good luck!

2020-11-20T06:02:36-05:00 2020-11-20T06:02:36-05:00 MAJ Javier Rivera 6515994

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If becoming a military officer is your goal, then stick to it . Word of advise: there are age limitations based on service; become familiar with it and each service’s OCS enlistment program protocol. Can you enlist and then request to attend OCS? Must definitely. But like I mentioned, there are age limitations and your chain of command will not entertain your aspirations from the get-go. Before they endorse you, you ought to proof your worthiness to them. And that is not going to happen over night.

2020-11-20T06:09:34-05:00 2020-11-20T06:09:34-05:00 2LT Private RallyPoint Member 6516370

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It’s not difficult to go the officer route. Yes, it will take a little more time up front. You will have a longer wait period between signing up and going to training. But don’t worry about the paperwork, recommendations, or studying for the ASVAB. I talked to an Army recruiter in January, and went to the board in March. I went to basic August through October, OCS November through March (including holdover time) and Basic Officer Leadership Course after that. It took me about a year of training, but if you do enlisted you won’t be able to go the officer route for at least 2 years, and then try to get a spot. Also you get paid better right off the bat, and can live off post whether you’re single or not. You will not want to live in the barracks if you’re 25 and single. Biggest advice is to get into really good shape not just to pass the PT test, but to crush it and get close to the max score before you even go to basic. Please let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help. What branch are you thinking of joining?

2020-11-20T08:22:30-05:00 2020-11-20T08:22:30-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 6516375

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If your goal is to become an officer, apply for OCS. Do not let them con you into enlisting first as it complicates the process. You&#39;d have to serve 4 years and a day enlisted to qualify for the &quot;E&quot; pay as an officer anyway which would put you close to 30. Not sure what the current age cutoff is, it&#39;s seems to change on a somewhat regular basis. If you are officer material, the ASVAB should be easy. Find an officer recruiter and apply. Don&#39;t just go into a recruiting office and talk to the first green suiter you see because, most likely, they don&#39;t handle officers and will try to convince you that enlisting first is the way to go.

2020-11-20T08:23:43-05:00 2020-11-20T08:23:43-05:00 Lt Col Jim Coe 6516487

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do not enlist! Talk to recruiters from all 6 Services. Take the tests and physical. Apply for OCS in every service that allows you to. Even if it takes a year or 18 months it’s shorter than a four-year enlistment. If you are interested in aviation add applying for flying training with the Air Force or Navy. Also check out Army Aviation Warrant Officer program.

2020-11-20T09:04:57-05:00 2020-11-20T09:04:57-05:00 MAJ Jeffery Ward 6516491

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You can call me and I can explain everything. Much easier then text

2020-11-20T09:06:18-05:00 2020-11-20T09:06:18-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 6516513

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I’ve seen Multiple privates walking around with masters and bachelors degrees who were recruited and told going green to gold would be easier than it turned out to be. Take the advice of those below and get a direct path.

2020-11-20T09:27:59-05:00 2020-11-20T09:27:59-05:00 Capt John Schmitt 6516828

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My Uncle, Airforce Master Sgt. told me, If you can graduate college, go officer. Life style is better and you&#39;re able to choose more of what you do, what must be done. <br />As a Marine Capt., commissioned after graduating from University, THE best officers tend to have military family background, or enlisted experience.

2020-11-20T11:38:19-05:00 2020-11-20T11:38:19-05:00 MAJ Matthew Arnold 6516875

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do you want to carry the mortar, or do you want to tell people where to put the mortar?

2020-11-20T11:59:18-05:00 2020-11-20T11:59:18-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 6516876

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What is your GPA?

2020-11-20T11:59:57-05:00 2020-11-20T11:59:57-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 6517164

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you are not yet in the Army, talk to a recruiter and do the research on your own to find out what you need in your OCS packet. Start putting it together so the recruiter doesnt have to do anything except validate it and submit it to the selection board. Once you ship out to OCS, provided you got selected, it’s a 14 week program(unless that changed) plus you have to go to basic training if you haven’t been in the Army before. You are looking at 23-25 weeks for both basic and OCS depending if your OCS class starts immediately after basic. If you really want to go Officer, make sure you get OCS (09S) in your contract before you sign the contract. If you get an enlisted MOS first, you are running the risk of never being selected. When you enlist, your command does not have to work with you to send you to OCS if they don’t want to, don’t like you, etc.

2020-11-20T13:58:02-05:00 2020-11-20T13:58:02-05:00 SPC Erich Guenther 6518126

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you enlist first then it is up to your Chain of Command to recommend you for OCS. If you enlist for OCS then your definitely going to the school. You have to be careful of the former option because it could well be that you do not like or get along with your Chain of Command (or they do not like you) in which case they will never recommend you for OCS and you will be stuck as Enlisted. So that is the basic difference in options. If I were in your shoes I would get the second option which is a guaranteed shot at OCS prior to signing any paperwork.....versus a verbal promise they might consider you later.

2020-11-20T22:32:01-05:00 2020-11-20T22:32:01-05:00 CPT Lawrence Cable 6518774

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you are looking at the Army, you can enlist with an 9D OCS Option if you have all the prerequisites. That will get you sent to Basic Combat Training, then straight to OCS. That would be the most direct route if you have a degree. <br />You can enlist and then apply to go to OCS when you hit your first unit after AIT, but if your goal is a commission, I don&#39;t see a reason to go that route. That said, I enlisted with a degree and served a couple of years before I was approached to see if I was interested in OCS. I said yes. I don&#39;t regret my enlisted time at all.

2020-11-21T09:02:52-05:00 2020-11-21T09:02:52-05:00 1LT Private RallyPoint Member 6519353

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Consider talking to an ROTC program recruiter. I knew a person that already had a bachelor&#39;s degree that enrolled as a third year MS3 student in ROTC in a Master&#39;s program. Rules may have changed, but gou could skip the first two years and still commission through ROTC. Going through ROTC you are more likely to get your desired job/branch choice and have more time to adjust to military life. OCS is very competitive and are assigned needs of the Army what is left over after West Point and ROTC cadets receive their branches

2020-11-21T14:10:17-05:00 2020-11-21T14:10:17-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 6519481

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What is your GPA?

2020-11-21T14:53:20-05:00 2020-11-21T14:53:20-05:00 Maj Private RallyPoint Member 6519750

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you go straight to OCS...<br /><br />You’ll have to do all the typical “get into OCS” hurdles. And you have your day job, in case the process is lengthy, and they reject you for some reason. <br /><br />If you go enlisted first....<br /><br />You must feel like you deserve extra challenges and really drag the process out! First, you have to go through all the typical “get through the recruiter” hurdles. Then, assuming you made it, ship to basic and AIT—and you still haven’t made one move towards OCS. At some point, you’ve checked into your unit, and they own you and expect you to work primarily for them. Wait—it gets better. NOW when you apply to OCS, it isn’t going directly through an OCS recruiter—now you get the awesomeness of trying to jam a package through your own chain of command, from inside the Army! And that sergeant who hates you gets a say, and your idiot lieutenant who doesn’t even know you and gives everybody low ratings. And so on. Lots of places for you to get hung up. Oh, and it added 6-12 months into process of actually applying to OCS. <br /><br />You’re qualified today? Degree, etc? Just apply directly. Skip a few unneeded steps.

2020-11-21T17:35:08-05:00 2020-11-21T17:35:08-05:00 SFC Chuck Martinez 6520054

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you enlist with a four year degree after going through BCT and AIT, it takes about 5 months after you submit your packet. Your recruiter will tell you all the facts you need to know and you must bring your BA with you for verification. First you must pass the ASVAB test which identifies which Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) you qualify for! There are actually free practice test on line to give a feeling what they are all about! You have to apply and ready to go before your 30th birthday.

2020-11-21T20:44:23-05:00 2020-11-21T20:44:23-05:00 2020-11-20T01:56:34-05:00