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Currently I'm an E-4 with about 2 years of service. I also have a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. What are the necessary steps to become an officer from the enlisted side?
Posted in these groups: 
Enlisted
Enlisted-to-Officer
Officer
Green to Gold
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Enlisted Enlisted-to-Officer Officer Green to Gold Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Posted 2 y ago
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I would start by sitting down with my CO and tell him/her you are interested. You will need his endorsement to be competitive anyway. Then your retention NCO should be able to get your application started. Be aware that the application is a lot more competitive than when I went through. Having a Masters Degree helps, having a good GPA helps more. You will need good Evals, decent PT scores and LOR's from you PL, CO and as far up the chain as you can get.
Now the bad news. OCS is a pain in the ass! I didn't find the academics difficult and I came out of an Infantry unit, so the PT didn't bother me. But TAC Officers are not Drill Sergeants and they make your life miserable. Oddly enough, I tied for Top Student.
Now the bad news. OCS is a pain in the ass! I didn't find the academics difficult and I came out of an Infantry unit, so the PT didn't bother me. But TAC Officers are not Drill Sergeants and they make your life miserable. Oddly enough, I tied for Top Student.
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CH (MAJ) Eric Dye
Talking with your present CO. Make an appointment with him/her and get an honest evaluation from him/her about your performance. If your CO writes a recommendation for you; that is usually well received by selection boards. My CO wrote one for me after the 1SG referred me to him when Top did my reenlistment talk and I told him my plans for the future. The Army is a big system but it usually listens to its present leadership when it comes to keeping and advancing good soldiers.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CH (MAJ) Eric Dye - I totally agree. While OCS is much more competitive now than in the 1980's, it's been my experience with enlisted soldiers that your performance and evaluation of your command goes further than things like GPA. I had a mediocre GPA, but had done well in all my military schools and I had good evals and LOR's, plus a very good GT Score. OTOH, the buildup of the light divisions meant that they need a lot of bodies. As I have stated before, during the 80's, you could get the branch you picked, as long you volunteered Infantry.
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Short term option - apply for OCS
Longer term options - complete your contract (ETS) and come back as an officer or transition to reserve and apply for direct commision
Longer term options - complete your contract (ETS) and come back as an officer or transition to reserve and apply for direct commision
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LTC John Mohor
If you’re willing to wait a bit and your competitive for a Direct Commission it sure beats heck out of doing OCS! Your age may also play a factor. Great advice here from MAJ Bethany
Garbarini
Garbarini
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SPC (Join to see) Here is one previous post with information along with an Army Officer link. You can search on "Enlisted to Officer", then click on "Answers" to find other posts.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-i-go-from-enlisted-to-officer
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers.html
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-i-go-from-enlisted-to-officer
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers.html
How do I go from enlisted to officer? | RallyPoint
So I'm currently active duty with 7 yrs of active duty service. I do not have a bachelors degree at this time but I want to commision as an officer in the army. What are all my different options here?
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https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers.html
https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/join-army-officer.html
Officer Candidate School is a 14-week course to train enlisted personnel, warrant officers and civilians with college degrees to be Army officers. Enlisted soldiers and warrant officers must have 90 semester credit-hours of college before applying. Civilian applicants must have a bachelor's degree. Officer Candidate School (OCS) now commissions almost 1,000 officers each year, a figure comparable to the academy's 900.
https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/join-army-officer.html
Officer Candidate School is a 14-week course to train enlisted personnel, warrant officers and civilians with college degrees to be Army officers. Enlisted soldiers and warrant officers must have 90 semester credit-hours of college before applying. Civilian applicants must have a bachelor's degree. Officer Candidate School (OCS) now commissions almost 1,000 officers each year, a figure comparable to the academy's 900.
Stand among the fearless leaders of the Army. The ones with the expertise to confidently guide missions for our nation’s success.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I don't think that information is entirely up to day. As far as I can find, Federal OCS requires a 4 year degree. Some of the state National Guard units still allow the 90 credits, but I don't even think you could commission Army Reserve without a Degree.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - From the goarmy site:
"You must be a U.S. citizen and have your bachelor’s degree by the time you are commissioned as an Officer. The general age requirement is between 19 and 32. You also have to be eligible for a secret security clearance. If you’re current military, you can’t have more than six years of active service before joining OCS.
To learn more about OCS requirements and how to apply, civilians can talk to a recruiter, while active-duty enlisted, Army Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers can talk to their commanding Officer."
So it seems yes, it's still valid that you have to have at least 90 credits to start since you have to have the degree by the time you are commissioned.
Also - it says talk to a recruiter to learn more as with anything else.
"You must be a U.S. citizen and have your bachelor’s degree by the time you are commissioned as an Officer. The general age requirement is between 19 and 32. You also have to be eligible for a secret security clearance. If you’re current military, you can’t have more than six years of active service before joining OCS.
To learn more about OCS requirements and how to apply, civilians can talk to a recruiter, while active-duty enlisted, Army Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers can talk to their commanding Officer."
So it seems yes, it's still valid that you have to have at least 90 credits to start since you have to have the degree by the time you are commissioned.
Also - it says talk to a recruiter to learn more as with anything else.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
This memorandum went into effect in 2009 and I can't find anything that rescinded it. G. THE ASA (M&RA) 02/09/2009 MEMORANDUM TO HRC, "REQUIREMENT FOR OFFICER
CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) CANDIDATES TO POSSESS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE TO
ATTEND FEDERAL OCS" IS IN EFFECT. THE MEMORANDUM IS AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY TO AR
350-51 (1-5F) AND AR 600-100 (1-10). NO WAIVER REQUESTS ARE AUTHORIZED AT THIS TIME,
DUE TO THE U.S. ARMY CURRENT DRAWDOWN STATUS.
CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) CANDIDATES TO POSSESS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE TO
ATTEND FEDERAL OCS" IS IN EFFECT. THE MEMORANDUM IS AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY TO AR
350-51 (1-5F) AND AR 600-100 (1-10). NO WAIVER REQUESTS ARE AUTHORIZED AT THIS TIME,
DUE TO THE U.S. ARMY CURRENT DRAWDOWN STATUS.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - Then they need to update the recruiting page. I found an article from 2020 that says 4 year degree required for OCS.
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SPC (Join to see), it would help if your profile was more complete. I'm assuming you're on active duty. First, check all six Service's requirements to become an officer. The requirements are on the Service web page. If you meet these basic requirements, it's time to talk to your chain of command and recruiters. Here's some choices.
-OCS. You can apply for Officer Candidate School in the Army. Your application will flow through your chain of command, so any one in that chain can say "no" and stop the process. You can talk to recruiters from the other 5 Armed Services (Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) about applying for OCS/OTS. The will probably tell you to complete your enlistment first and then apply. Maybe not. It's worth a try.
-"Green to Gold" programs. The Army offers opportunities for enlisted personnel to become officers. Look up the requirements for these types of programs. Your retention NCO may have information.
-ROTC. If you want to continue to seek higher education now or after your ETS, you might apply for ROTC. Many universities have ROTC programs. Again, research on line. You might be able to complete the academic requirements for a PhD while you also complete ROTC for a commission. The trick here is being admitted to a PhD program.
-There is a pathway for enlisted Soldiers to be appointed to the military academies (US Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy). Go to the web page for each academy to see the requirements.
National Guard. Many state National Guard operate their own OCS. May have different requirements than active duty.
-OCS. You can apply for Officer Candidate School in the Army. Your application will flow through your chain of command, so any one in that chain can say "no" and stop the process. You can talk to recruiters from the other 5 Armed Services (Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard) about applying for OCS/OTS. The will probably tell you to complete your enlistment first and then apply. Maybe not. It's worth a try.
-"Green to Gold" programs. The Army offers opportunities for enlisted personnel to become officers. Look up the requirements for these types of programs. Your retention NCO may have information.
-ROTC. If you want to continue to seek higher education now or after your ETS, you might apply for ROTC. Many universities have ROTC programs. Again, research on line. You might be able to complete the academic requirements for a PhD while you also complete ROTC for a commission. The trick here is being admitted to a PhD program.
-There is a pathway for enlisted Soldiers to be appointed to the military academies (US Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy). Go to the web page for each academy to see the requirements.
National Guard. Many state National Guard operate their own OCS. May have different requirements than active duty.
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