I want to become an officer. Should I go Green to Gold or drop a packet for OCS?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:39:07 -0400

I'm currently a Specialist, married with a kid and another one on the way. During my time at airborne school (July, 2020) my wife was diagnosed with a chronic illness, and it has been a huge adjustment for us all. I want to know what daily life is like for both paths and how much time I'll have to take care of my family, or if it's a full immersion training with little to no contact with family. I have my bachelor's degree and 135 GT score. I'm currently infantry but wish to change that with going officer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2021 6:45 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:45:18 -0400

OCS will be shorter. 12 weeks and you’re done. After that you have your follow on Basic Officer course, but if it’s not Infantry it shouldn’t be too bad. Just make sure to let your OCS cadre know about your family situation. One of my candidates (prior E-7) had a similar situation and we allowed him to go home every weekend. It will vary but we did make attempts to help when candidates had exceptional issues. Now, OCS is a TDY school if you’re in-service so you family will not be able to move down here unless you want to pay out of pocket, but even then you would have to go back to your previous unit and PCS from there. But if you’re looking at it from, what’s the quickest route, then OCS will be your best bet.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2021 6:49 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:49:31 -0400

If you already have a degree you don’t qualify for Green to Gold. That program is for people to complete a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, you will be stuck at Fort Benning in a controlled environment for OCS and have no ability to spend time with your family during training. If you can get assistance for 3-4 months, go to OCS.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 3 at 2021 7:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:02:35 -0400

What is your GPA? Will your PSG endorse you for OCS?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 3 at 2021 7:02 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:02:46 -0400

Green to Gold is basically an ROTC program and you don't need it. OCS is an Option, but it's a full time resident course, but it's only 90 days. Be aware that for Active Duty OCS Officers, they let you make a wish list for Branch, but it's needs of the Army. The Basics Courses are better, depending on your Branch. I Branched Infantry when I commissioned and what was then IOBC was extremely busy, plus we lived in the woods on FTX about 1/3 of the Time. If you are wanting to know if you will have more time off as an Officer than as Enlisted, the answer is no.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2021 7:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:25:54 -0400

I encourage my soldiers to look into G2G! Depending on your type of scholarship, you would be getting paid active duty pay to go to school! As long as your degree program is not academically rigorous, it would be very family conducive. PT three times a week, a few hours of class a day... too easy for someone like you

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2021 8:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:19:28 -0400

If you can get green to gold active duty option, that's the way to go. With the family it would be a hardship for you to do the traditional ROTC path while working on a masters but not impossible.

Apply for both

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 8:39 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 May 2021 08:39:39 -0400

In your military career there will be many periods of time where you will have little to no contact with your family. Every school, field problem, JRTC rotation, and deployment is going to take you away from your family whether or not you're enlisted or an officer. But it also provides outstanding medical coverage that you won't find easily or cheaply as a civilian, so that's the tradeoff.

You don't get to choose your branch when you commission. It doesn't really have any effect on your time once you're past your PL time. Whatever branch you are - XO, Company Commander, and Staff time look very similar in all different types of units.

You'll get the most off time as a junior enlisted Soldier. It might look like your Senior leaders aren't working hard, but they're fixing everyone else's problems before you wake up in the morning and after you've fallen asleep on the weekends. After all, who do you think it is that is getting the call about a drunk Soldier at 3 am on a Saturday morning because of a DUI or a domestic violence? The same people who get yelled at because they have to track if you're current on your MEDPROS, PRR, SGLI, DD93, Dental, ACFT, APFT, Ht/Wt, Weapons Qual, NCOERs, Awards, MEC, and all the other things the Army tracks.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made May 4 at 2021 9:28 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 04 May 2021 09:28:29 -0400

Others on this thread already mentioned about G2G and OCS. Two additional caveats to consider when you compare options...

1. G2G requires academic school admission along with Army approval (as others mentioned, you have to get a master / graduate degree since you already have bachelor / undergraduate)
2. G2G active duty option exists to keep pay and benefits, but school tuition is on the cadet. Ask ROTC recruiting officer for details of how to pay (e.g. TA, GI Bill, etc.)

Response by SPC Roxanne Moultrie made May 4 at 2021 11:09 AM

SPC Roxanne Moultrie — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:09:28 -0400

I Wanted To Go Green To Gold. However, Here I Am. E4 Mafia For Life.
My Suggestion Tho Would Be Green To Gold.
A Lot Of LTs Would Come In Thinking They're The Shitt But I Was A SPC And Knew WAY More Than Them. I Respected All Higher Ups However, I Had The Utmost Respect For Green To Gold Because They Knew Their Shitt To The T Most Of The Time

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 11:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:23:21 -0400

If you already have a degree is does not make much sense to go green to gold unless you want to get another degree.

Response by MAJ Roland McDonald made May 4 at 2021 4:44 PM

MAJ Roland McDonald — Tue, 04 May 2021 16:44:56 -0400

Depending on your degree you have the little known third option. Direct commission.
https://m.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/become-an-officer/how-to-become-an-officer-in-the-army/direct-commission.m.html#first

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Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2021 7:53 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 May 2021 19:53:56 -0400

Green to gold can get you a masters degree for free and you will get an easy two years at home with the family. When I was rotc it was pt 3 days a week and 1 afternoon of lab- field stuff and 1 FTX a semester. You’ll go to camp for 1 month between year 3/4. (You will start at year 3).

This route you’ll never have to worry about another masters unless you want to. A masters is a must have for LTC.

If you want to commission because officers have it easy or make more money ask your company XO how easy life is.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Aug 22 at 2021 9:18 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 21:18:08 -0400

OCS - but then I may be a little buasesy