Posted on Oct 12, 2018
Minimum College GPA to Qualify for Army OCS?
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My son is a college graduate and is interested in going to Army OCS. He's 24 years old and in excellent physical condition. He was a solid C student while in college so his GPA was not stellar, but it was more due to a lack of effort than lack of intelligence. He's snapped out of it now and has realized the value of giving everything he does his very best (be all you can be!), and he REALLY wants to be an Army officer, but the recruiter he spoke with is insisting he can't go to Army OCS without a higher GPA.
My understanding is that the Army does not have a minimum GPA requirement for OCS -- so long as the person applying has earned a degree from an accredited college/university and has no other issues, they are qualified to be considered.
Is that still true -- that the degree itself is the main criteria -- or have the standards changed for admission to OCS and there is now a minimum GPA required?
My understanding is that the Army does not have a minimum GPA requirement for OCS -- so long as the person applying has earned a degree from an accredited college/university and has no other issues, they are qualified to be considered.
Is that still true -- that the degree itself is the main criteria -- or have the standards changed for admission to OCS and there is now a minimum GPA required?
OCS
Recruiter
Officer Candidate
Potential Recruit
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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I was reading it is a big determinant for active-duty. I was the not the most Stellar student and my cumulative GPA was 2.84. I did not go into OCS to the California Army National Guard until way later. When I was completing my course most recent course CGSOC, I had a commutative average of 92%. If your Son does not get selected, tell him to go into an Army Reserve or National Guard unit and later go to OCS and he will make it! I am proof positive that you can reinvent yourself. I went in as an officer when I was almost 34 years old. My next Duty assignment will be as a deputy commander of a regional support group so don't let this situation phase you or your son! Patience and persistence will pay off.
SN Greg Wright MAJ Ken Landgren CPT Lawrence Cable LTC Trent Klug LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Stephen F. SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
COL Mikel J. Burroughs CSM Charles Hayden CPT Chris Loomis MAJ (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
SN Greg Wright MAJ Ken Landgren CPT Lawrence Cable LTC Trent Klug LTC Jeff Shearer LTC Stephen F. SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
COL Mikel J. Burroughs CSM Charles Hayden CPT Chris Loomis MAJ (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
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LTC Stephen Conway
CGSOC is command and general staff officer course required for Majors to prepare for the higher rank of LTC.
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LTC Stephen Conway
MAJ Ken Landgren - I hated the procurement part the most but I learned what how the checks and balances were thrown out the window after 9/11 for the F-35 and how its $165 Billion and 6 years behind back in 2015. I can imagine it is much higher now. Canada has opted out of the Jet as well.
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According to my criteria sheet for entrance into OCS you had to have a GT score of 110 or higher in addition to my Bechelors degree. The GPA wasn't a consideration...that I am aware of.
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Well, I guess the old mantra of "2.0's a GO" may need to be reconsidered.
My GPA wasn't stellar either and I made it in and have lasted this long.
My GPA wasn't stellar either and I made it in and have lasted this long.
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LTC Trent Klug
I was a 2.9 Social Sciences with minor in Administration of Justice kind of guy. It was the best of the majors Portland State offered at their satellite campuses. I was working a full time job with the Federal Prisons, and was a Platoon Leader, Company XO, and Battalion S1 all while finishing college.
You should have no problem with your major and GPA
You should have no problem with your major and GPA
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Yes, a 4 year degree from an accredited college and a 110+GT score on the ASVAB. I would ask to talk to a career counselor that deals with OCS.
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Patricia McIntosh-Mize commissioning requirements fluctuates based on accession goals. Perhaps another recruiter? Did he talk to an OCS specific recruiter or was it the local area recruiter? The link below will take you to OCS recruiters.
My academic record was not stellar either. On paper I was not a rocket surgeon, however I was not in the right academic field.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html
Other options
- enlist and attempt OCS as an enlisted soldier. Enroll in a few college classes to work on a new GPA.
- go back to school and either get a masters or second bachelor's in something and that is easier to pump up the GPA. Enroll in ROTC.
My academic record was not stellar either. On paper I was not a rocket surgeon, however I was not in the right academic field.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html
Other options
- enlist and attempt OCS as an enlisted soldier. Enroll in a few college classes to work on a new GPA.
- go back to school and either get a masters or second bachelor's in something and that is easier to pump up the GPA. Enroll in ROTC.
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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Patricia McIntosh-Mize, this link doesn't mention minimum GPA requirements, but if you Google the question, I think you'll get more definitive answers.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html
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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LTC Stephen C.
Patricia McIntosh-Mize, here's another link that may be helpful.
http://www.benning.army.mil/MCoE/199th/OCS/
http://www.benning.army.mil/MCoE/199th/OCS/
Fort Benning | Officer Candidate School
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No minimum GPA. They only care that he has the degree and his ASVAB scores. Talk to a different recruiter.
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OCS has a lot of benefits, he might also consider a direct commission.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/become-an-officer/how-to-become-an-officer-in-the-army/direct-commission.html
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/become-an-officer/how-to-become-an-officer-in-the-army/direct-commission.html
Army Direct Commission Officers
Learn about Army direct commission requirements. The eligible areas for direct commission are the Army Medical Department, Jag Corps and the Army Chaplain Corps.
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Patricia McIntosh-Mize
I will pass this along but I don't think he's really got the background for any of those things at present. Thank you, though!
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LTC Stephen Conway
Patricia McIntosh-Mize - Direct Commissions are fine but they can't be commanders. Going through regular ROTC, West Point or Officer Candidate School allows you to have a regular commission. You are not stuck. I went from Military Police to Armor that way. I am in the process of getting picked up to be a Deputy Commander of a Logistics Brigade. I could not do this with a Direct Commission.
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Everyone taking basic training , almost right off the bat we were all marched across base Ft. Ord (1969) and tested for days on end not physical just paper . I one failed they were removed to their assembly area to wait finally after 3 days of passing , I realized all my platoon were in formation outside waiting for the last man (me and two others to keep passing those tests. ie getting up tight . so on the 3rd day I purposely failed . Yet still I qualified for OCS . Hint last time I looked 4 yr grad is almost an automatic acceptance for OCS or possibly commission as a 2nd LT. but that was many moons ago
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I just went through the process. As long as he has his degree, he should be fine. However, if the topic comes up during the interview, then he has to be able to explain why his GPA is low. As long as he has solid reasons, then he's good to go.
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I am currently a recruiter for the Army, and i assure you that GPA is taken into consideration. To apply for PCS, the applicant has to appear before a board usually consisting of company commanders and the battalion commander. The GPA is not a disqualifier, but it is something they strongly consider and will question during the interview. I can tell you that in ROTC, A 2.8 GPA won't be competitive enough to get an active duty officer position.
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SGT (Join to see)
I want to be clear though, your son has the qualifications to appear before the board though. It just met be recommended he go as a reserve officer or enlist first. It depends on Army needs and how he performs at the board. He should by all means continue the process if that is his true goal. A recruiter should not tell him he isn't qualified, just inform him of possible outcomes of the board and alternative course of action if not recommended.
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5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Doing ROTC
I recently got asked to make a 5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Joined the Army video and decided to make one for ROTC first. These are the 5 things I th...
I saw this recently
https://youtu.be/ybD9IIUBE_A
https://youtu.be/ybD9IIUBE_A
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If your son can run 2 miles in under 13 minutes and do over 100 pushups and do over 85 sit-ups then he will be looked favorably by the Cadre. The Army is changing the physical fitness test in 2 years and being a PT stud will be much harder. When I was younger, I could do those standards I just described. It open doors for me even though I wasn't the sharpest pencil in the bunch. Physical fitness will help your son greatly!
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Just lock the little bastard up in the basement for two weeks, give him sammiches and ASVAB books. Then send him over to the MEPS building to take the ASVAB. Cross fingers for 110GT+ and a smiling young dapper dan man....and he'll be off to the races. Oh, throw a treadmill down there too....don't want him failing the entrance PT test.
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Patricia McIntosh-Mize
Oh he is well supplied with ASVAB study materials. Alas, he No worries on the PT part -- the kid is in great shape. Unfortunately locking him up is not an option because he has his own place with his brother. :-D
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OCS candidates should be selected from applicants that are within the ranks. I used to tell my solders - forget everything you mom every told you - it will get you killed. Listen to you NCO that wears a CIB. Experience as a junior ranking soldier is essential to becoming a good officer from OCS. Without troop experience you child will not do well in OCS and worse as a new butter bar - that thinks they know what they are doing.
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COL James Krilich
Its not the enemy that kills you - its your lack of cognizance to stay ahead of what is happening around you and inability to control it to your advantage.
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Patricia McIntosh-Mize
I appreciate your submitting a more thoughtful and respectful response. Your opinion is duly noted.
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Your screwing everything up. OCS is for enlisted people that are in the army that have proven themselves capable of being a leader. Having mommy try to create a contract with a recruiter that guarantees that her baby can get a guaranteed classroom seat - in OCS is as backwards and insulting as it gets. Your baby should simply enlist in the Army and then after a year, apply for OCS .
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Patricia McIntosh-Mize
I don't think I care for your tone, Colonel, nor your spelling. And don't put words in my mouth. (It's "you're screwing everything up," not "your...")
OCS is for whoever meets the criteria the Army has set forth, enlisted or otherwise. I am not trying to "create a contract with a recruiter." I am trying to help my son differentiate between what is fact and what is fiction when he's dealing with these used car salesmen in fatigues you call recruiters. Back off with the attitude. It's just rude.
OCS is for whoever meets the criteria the Army has set forth, enlisted or otherwise. I am not trying to "create a contract with a recruiter." I am trying to help my son differentiate between what is fact and what is fiction when he's dealing with these used car salesmen in fatigues you call recruiters. Back off with the attitude. It's just rude.
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My recommendation is to find a recruiter that is willing to work with him to build an OCS packet. How the board considers GPA is heavily dependent on the major the applicant pursued. STEM degrees are given more leeway than liberal arts degrees which is why I think a minimum GPA requirement is suspect.
Have your son find a new recruiter/station and walk in with the intention to build an OCS packet. Enlisting is a much quicker route for recruiters which incentivizes them to talk potential recruits into a regular enlistment. While enlisting a recruit into OCS is worth more in points, the process is lengthy and the chance for something to interrupt it is higher.
To be crass, you don't want someone building a packet for your son that doesn't think he will be selected or doesn't want him to commission.
Have your son find a new recruiter/station and walk in with the intention to build an OCS packet. Enlisting is a much quicker route for recruiters which incentivizes them to talk potential recruits into a regular enlistment. While enlisting a recruit into OCS is worth more in points, the process is lengthy and the chance for something to interrupt it is higher.
To be crass, you don't want someone building a packet for your son that doesn't think he will be selected or doesn't want him to commission.
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Why be concerned about minimum standards? Shoot for the Moon. OCS is just about guaranteed with a 4.0 GPA!!!
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