Posted on Feb 15, 2016
I'm planning to seek a commission; what should I know about the process? What advice do you have for me?
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ETS is 30SEP2017. By that time I should be a tabbed Ranger with at least one combat deployment under my belt. I have a BA in Political Science, 2013, cum laude. APFT overs around 300, GT is 140. When should I start the process in seeking a commission, and what do I need to do to accomplish this goal?
Commission
Officers
Advice
OCS
Green to Gold
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 48
1) Be open to all branches of service. The Army is the most familiar and is likely to be your best fit, but explore all branches and see what is out there and available for you. At the very least, go through the due diligence.
2) Begin a conversation with officer recruiters (or whatever they are called in each branch early; like now). There could be some programs with huge backlogs of applicants, and 18 months out is not too early to begin the conversation.
3) Dual source every piece of significant or questionable information you get. If a recruiter says "no, you can't do that", but you want to do that, research it (respectfully) on your own. Don't take everything at face value.
4) Educate yourself on the different officer career fields before speaking to a recruiter. Go into the process with known preferences. Connect with other junior officers on RallyPoint who are prior enlisted and ask for a 10-15 phone call to tell you about their process, why they chose their MOS (if they did), and what they have learned about it.
5) Don't get tunnel vision on one career field. Be open minded.
2) Begin a conversation with officer recruiters (or whatever they are called in each branch early; like now). There could be some programs with huge backlogs of applicants, and 18 months out is not too early to begin the conversation.
3) Dual source every piece of significant or questionable information you get. If a recruiter says "no, you can't do that", but you want to do that, research it (respectfully) on your own. Don't take everything at face value.
4) Educate yourself on the different officer career fields before speaking to a recruiter. Go into the process with known preferences. Connect with other junior officers on RallyPoint who are prior enlisted and ask for a 10-15 phone call to tell you about their process, why they chose their MOS (if they did), and what they have learned about it.
5) Don't get tunnel vision on one career field. Be open minded.
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
LTC Yinon Weiss Thank you for all your thoughts, suggestions, and advice. You have been most helpful.
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CPT (Join to see)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA - I have looked at the AF. They have a lot of options that you can't get anywhere else. I was looking at them for a while but it is very difficult to seek a commission there. If I had more time on my side I might be in the blue right now.
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Capt (Join to see)
SPC Henry, I would concur with the above, including the Major.
There are some HUGE advantages for you to commission, however having said, that the process is very daunting and I would encourage you not to give up. Point to point for me, particularly, it took well over 5 years to find a slot. I will add, however that for me I was not AD, but Guard (Air Force) and as a traditional guardsman, it's even more difficult. Needless to say, I stayed with it and eventually obtained my commissioning.
Stay the course and definitely seek other branches. I know that I looked at the Army, and the Navy. Best of luck and if you wish to reach out to me I will share what i know form the Air Force (National Guard) point of view.
Cheers
There are some HUGE advantages for you to commission, however having said, that the process is very daunting and I would encourage you not to give up. Point to point for me, particularly, it took well over 5 years to find a slot. I will add, however that for me I was not AD, but Guard (Air Force) and as a traditional guardsman, it's even more difficult. Needless to say, I stayed with it and eventually obtained my commissioning.
Stay the course and definitely seek other branches. I know that I looked at the Army, and the Navy. Best of luck and if you wish to reach out to me I will share what i know form the Air Force (National Guard) point of view.
Cheers
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You have a couple of options. First, look at Officer Candidate School. It sounds like you meet the requirements now and I know the Army is trying to expand that program. http://www.goarmy.com/ocs.html
I would start looking into that right away. The link is the goarmy.com site so that may be more for people with degrees that want to enlist for OCS but they also take enlisted Soldiers that have degrees.
Another option is ROTC Green to Gold. You can pursue the Active Duty Option for a graduate degree. This allows you to stay on active duty while you go to school and after two years, receive your commission.
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted-soldiers.html
Again, start right away. Both programs require applications and letters of recommendation and those do not come overnight. Good luck with your decision.
I would start looking into that right away. The link is the goarmy.com site so that may be more for people with degrees that want to enlist for OCS but they also take enlisted Soldiers that have degrees.
Another option is ROTC Green to Gold. You can pursue the Active Duty Option for a graduate degree. This allows you to stay on active duty while you go to school and after two years, receive your commission.
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted-soldiers.html
Again, start right away. Both programs require applications and letters of recommendation and those do not come overnight. Good luck with your decision.
Officer Candidate School and Army OCS Requirements
Army Officer Candidate School gives college graduates an opportunity to be leaders and officers for Active Duty or Army Reserve. Learn about Army OCS requirements.
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
Thank you, COL Jon Thompson, LTC (Join to see), LTC Roderic Hewlett, CPT Steve Curley, and COL (Join to see).
I am definitely interested in a graduate degree, but had not realized that there was a green to gold graduate program. This option sounds very attractive.
I very much appreciate all of your input, advice, and information. You all are very helpful.
I am definitely interested in a graduate degree, but had not realized that there was a green to gold graduate program. This option sounds very attractive.
I very much appreciate all of your input, advice, and information. You all are very helpful.
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COL Jon Thompson
COL (Join to see) - I agree. I have worked at two programs and prior service NCOs that were not part of Green to Gold have had the hardest time. I don't think I have seen one complete the program in 9 years. It is hard to go to ROTC and sometimes take it seriously when you have done it for real. They also think they should know everything and can be afraid to ask questions when they don't. You are right about ignorance being a plus.
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CPT (Join to see)
I have to partially agree with COL Thompson and COL Harrison. I entered the Green to Gold (ADO-Active Duty Option) in 2007. It was either the 2nd or 3rd year the program had been around. In my ROTC BN I was 1 of 2 G2G ADO NCOs. I will agree that it can be frustrating to deal with the ROTC-isms, but no worse than regular Army frustrations. If you are goal oriented, you will be fine. I would ask yourself 2 questions.
1. How quickly do you want to commission? (A few months or in 2 years)
2. Do you want to get your Masters now?
I have a good example for you. One of my best friends did the G2G ADO the same year as me. He was a SGT in 3/75 and had his undergrad done. He is married to a girl from Columbus, and wanted to stay here. So, he went to CSU and got his MBA while completing G2G ADO. He branched IN, did the minimum time as a big Army PL, and came back to 3/75 until MCCC. He is in Hawaii now, and will be trying to come back to REGT for CO CMD.
The ADO program was great for 5-10 guys that I know who've done it. You will assigned to the US Army Student Detachment. You spend a couple years as a non-rated NCO, on AD, with all pay and allowances, and accruing leave, etc... Your responsibility is to go to class, make good grades, and take part in ROTC functions. If you are dumb enough to step on your crank, you will go back needs of the Army for 4-6 years. You will also get to explain to your new bosses why you don't have NCOERs for "X" period of time. The reason being, you got kicked out of ROTC. If you weren't motivated enough, that should keep your head on straight.
1. How quickly do you want to commission? (A few months or in 2 years)
2. Do you want to get your Masters now?
I have a good example for you. One of my best friends did the G2G ADO the same year as me. He was a SGT in 3/75 and had his undergrad done. He is married to a girl from Columbus, and wanted to stay here. So, he went to CSU and got his MBA while completing G2G ADO. He branched IN, did the minimum time as a big Army PL, and came back to 3/75 until MCCC. He is in Hawaii now, and will be trying to come back to REGT for CO CMD.
The ADO program was great for 5-10 guys that I know who've done it. You will assigned to the US Army Student Detachment. You spend a couple years as a non-rated NCO, on AD, with all pay and allowances, and accruing leave, etc... Your responsibility is to go to class, make good grades, and take part in ROTC functions. If you are dumb enough to step on your crank, you will go back needs of the Army for 4-6 years. You will also get to explain to your new bosses why you don't have NCOERs for "X" period of time. The reason being, you got kicked out of ROTC. If you weren't motivated enough, that should keep your head on straight.
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LTC (Join to see)
That about sums it up. I earned my "power point ranger" tab within the first couple of months of being commissioned.
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