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
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What ever you do.... do not fail Ranger School and go to your first duty station to your new platoon with no tab. You'll just be another butter-bar them. My L.T. said it was something like this for him. (Don't know cause I didn't go through it.) You go to O.C.S. and the Top of the class go infantry. the rest get sorted out into logistics and quarters. If you go infantry you should have an offer to go to ranger school. Just do your best that's all any body can do.
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1LT (Join to see)
Hello Timothy,
There is a truth to what the LT explained. However, tab or not, there are a lot of excellent Leaders with and without tabs. I am sure if you look around you will observe the tab and tab-less.
Some of the most successful people are people who have failed repeatedly. One person well known is President Lincoln.
The officer corps is as the enlisted, in branches. It is not just the top of the class who goes to infantry. These branches are through a selective process similar to the enlisted process. Where the enlisted pick three areas there are other factors officers go through.
For example, I delayed my commission for two years after I graduated OCS Fort Benning. When I decided to accept my commission I had to pick a unit, interview with the commander and then, if approved I was selected into the branch needed by the battalion commander.
For some, they can pick their branch but, they too will interview with a battalion commander for a position in his command.
Some officers will go to "branch immaterial." Here they will serve the needs of the Army until the Army releases them to the branch they initially selected.
Respectfully,
Frederick
There is a truth to what the LT explained. However, tab or not, there are a lot of excellent Leaders with and without tabs. I am sure if you look around you will observe the tab and tab-less.
Some of the most successful people are people who have failed repeatedly. One person well known is President Lincoln.
The officer corps is as the enlisted, in branches. It is not just the top of the class who goes to infantry. These branches are through a selective process similar to the enlisted process. Where the enlisted pick three areas there are other factors officers go through.
For example, I delayed my commission for two years after I graduated OCS Fort Benning. When I decided to accept my commission I had to pick a unit, interview with the commander and then, if approved I was selected into the branch needed by the battalion commander.
For some, they can pick their branch but, they too will interview with a battalion commander for a position in his command.
Some officers will go to "branch immaterial." Here they will serve the needs of the Army until the Army releases them to the branch they initially selected.
Respectfully,
Frederick
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SPC Timothy Repetto
Oh ok.... Never been just feeding a third parties experience. Or some of things we talked about during deployment. But as I said I, personally, never been. The tab thing was more or less for the "In-The-Eyes-Of-Your-Peers" aspect, specifically involving the combat MOS's. I heard numerous times my LT say do not fail Ranger School if you go to OCS and are assigned an Infantry unit.
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I would begin seeking it immediately; things tend to get bogged down for no reason at all.
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It's been a while since I left the air force but at that time as an NCO you had to be accepted into Officer candidate school which since the drawdown it's not always available (open), just make sure to get all your duck in a row when you apply, the base personnel office should help with this. A bachelors degree is required, last time I checked although the Army might have a different requirement if they are still doing warrant officer commissions. I was commissioned through ROTC while in college so the process was completely different than what you would have to go through. Good luck, hope everything goes well.
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First don't count on being Ranger tabbed, and the one deployment because those are variables so submit a direct commission packet based on your BA degree, GT of 140, APFT is another is a yearly variable so go see your S-3 and be nice to S-1 (Spc Mafia).
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CPT Pedro Meza
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA - Elijah, call me Pedro (team name) You are welcome and make sure you see your S-3 for information, don't put off cause with time more cuts come down, worse case scenario.
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My most valuable lesson: as a Captain in a Bde HQ the S3 was always asking my opinion. I asked him why he never followed my recommendations. He replied that he valued my opinion but that he was privy to more information than was available to me.
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Hard Charger,
Another option to consider: becoming a leader of Marines. See the links below. They should answer some of your questions.
http://www.marines.com/officer
http://www.marines.com/eligibility/service-options/officer
Another option to consider: becoming a leader of Marines. See the links below. They should answer some of your questions.
http://www.marines.com/officer
http://www.marines.com/eligibility/service-options/officer
Becoming an officer in the United States Marine Corps is no small task - it requires heart, soul and sweat. But if you have what it takes, along with the ability and the desire to be the best, there are countless opportunities for commissioned officers within the Corps. Learn more here.
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You are already well on your way. It is too bad that you didn't take ROTC while getting your degree. OCS is another route that you could pursue. Speak with your chain of command about getting recommended and it should be easy for you to qualify. Good luck. nothing is more noble than a bar of gold on Army green (though since I retired it changed to blue).
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First, congratulations on some real achievements to be proud of. And thanks for your service. I got my commission in 1980 through BIOCS (Branch Immaterial Officer Candidate School). I'm sure there is still some version of OCS in the system. This may be your best bet. You will need support and letters of recommendation from superiors in your past. Then follow the process which should include an interview before a panel of Officers. College is a great advantage. I'm sure your Combat service and Ranger schooling will go a long way toward approval. I can't speak to your timing question. Hopefully, you have a Senior NCO and/or Company/Field grad officer who can advise and support you. Best wishes. P.S. ROTC is also a way but requires more time. Be aware that my experience as an OCS grad was that many Officers will consider you as less qualified than they are, especially the West Pointers.
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
CPT Don Williams thank you for the advice and information, I appreciate it.
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Four pathways to a comission: direct (hard), OCS (90 day wonder), ROTC (impractical) and the M.A. at West Point. I'd worry about completing Ranger first then get with Army Human Resources Command. Preferably an Officer in Personnel. Don't overlook Warrant Officer School. Once heard a speech by a retiring Army Reserve two star. His HAPPIEST days in The Army were as a Warrant. Good luck and Rangers Lead the Way!!!
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Start right away, Maverick! (That's what they call us green to golds) You can count on being pegged for leadership early and being everyone's radio man during FTX. Haha
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