How overstrength is 70B?

2020-09-11T00:46:51-04:00

Hey Rallypoint,

I'm earning a MHA and should graduate in 04/2021 with between a 3.7 and 3.85 gpa. My GT score is 142 and I'm prior enlisted. I did just under 4 years enlisted and got out as an E4 in late 2014. I should also mention that I'm 30 years old now and a single dad of 2 with full custody (I have lots of family willing to help for a FCP).

I want to be a Soldier again. However, I want to be an Officer. I think it makes most sense for me to go 70B/MSC branch due to my education and work experience, but to be honest, I'd absolutely consider other branches.

I've read RP threads from the last few years and saw that 70B specifically was extremely over strength and that applying for direct commission was a long shot. Have things stabilized for 70B's or is it still a hail Mary trying to get one of those slots?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Sep 11 at 2020 2:13 AM

2020-09-11T02:13:56-04:00

Just a friendly word here, but unless things have changed since I retired, the Army isn't to Spiffy-Keen on signing up single parents and had at one time a regulation in place that a single parent was required to surrender actual physical custody of the children to someone else for the length of the entire initial enlistment. It also said that if the Soldier regained custody during that time period the Commander of the Soldier's unit could request that they be separated for a fraudulent enlistment.

"“An applicant does not meet dependency requirements if the applicant has
no spouse but has custody of one or more dependents under the age of 18,"
(Waivers may be considered for the Reserve Components (RC).).”
AR 601-210, Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program"

SFC Private RallyPoint Member please check me to see if I am correct here.

Response by MAJ Lee Goehl made Sep 11 at 2020 2:38 AM

2020-09-11T02:38:55-04:00

Your age shouldn't be an issue AMEDD allows up to age 42 for commissioning.Best of luck to you. My exp with 70B was promo was really slow 5 years to 03 and 12 to 04 was pretty common.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2020 8:59 AM

2020-09-11T08:59:40-04:00

My wife was trying that a year ago. 70B mission essentially closes 2 min after it opens each year because much of the already Active Duty takes all the slots, so its extremely hard/impossible to do it off the street. If you have enough science credits you can try 72D Environmental Science Officer

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2020 10:48 AM

2020-09-11T10:48:00-04:00

70B is projected to be closed thru FY21

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2020 3:19 PM

2020-09-11T15:19:35-04:00

Today a MILPER message was published stating the process for USAR 70B officers (LT and CPTs) to transfer over to a different branch. That's a pretty big clue it's not the place to go.