ROTC and OCS?

SGT Robert McCuistion — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:08:47 -0500

Ok, so this might be a bit cliche. And I need some help with this because I despise stolen Valor. This guy is saying he went to both OCS and ROTC. He is saying he was an O3. Is this even possible?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2021 3:13 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:13:26 -0500

I guess he could have gone to ROTC and dropped before getting his commission. Then enlisted and later went to OCS. While I haven't heard about it I saw two people in my ROTC refuse their commissions and go enlisted due to their contract.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2021 3:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:18:53 -0500

There were some folks in my OCS class who had either quit or failed out of West Point, ROTC, and The Citadel. I’m sure they all made O3...

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 18 at 2021 3:41 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:41:43 -0500

Possible? Yes. Went to HS with a guy who enlisted, did ROTC green to gold, left college, reenlisted and then eventually earned an OCS slot. Retired as an O4.

The fact that your post is about Mr_Nobody leads me to think he is a troll or BSer. Possible, not probable. He is also being incredibly cryptic in the responses. The person pressing him doesn't have the experience / knowledge to press the right questions.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2021 4:52 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:52:37 -0500

Other comments indicate it is possible, but if he had lived it, he would be able to explain how he ended up doing both.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jan 18 at 2021 6:37 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 18:37:07 -0500

This is possible. He may have started with ROTC and never signed an ROTC contract which is possible for the 1st 2 years. Later, he may have decided he wanted to be an officer and enlisted for OCS assuming he had a college degree. I doubt he did it the opposite way where he started with OCS and dropped out, only to then join an ROTC program. Once he commissioned, it's fairly easy to make captain. Now if he said he came in as an O3, that would not be correct. Both OCS and ROTC commission 2LTs not CPTs

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2021 9:02 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:02:45 -0500

It’s definitely possible to do both. He could have participated in rotc and then commissioned through ocs. He could have even commissioned as a 03 right away if he was like a dentist, chaplain, PA, etc. Looking at the context of the message though, he’s lying.

Response by COL Jeff Williams made Jan 19 at 2021 1:37 AM

COL Jeff Williams — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 01:37:02 -0500

You can do both and fail both, but if you complete one, you cannot do the other

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 19 at 2021 9:51 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:51:30 -0500

Possibly true. As to being a captain, most officers make O3 if they aren’t red lined by their command. Yes a person could start ROTC in college, discontinue taking ROTC at some point, get their degree anyway, and then complete OCS. Happens for a variety of reasons. Changing schools, demanding curriculum leaving no time for ROTC, not wanting to commission into theService of the ROTC available, flunking out.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 9:57 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:57:06 -0500

Are you sure he's Army? The Marine Corps makes their ROTC students go through a form of OCS (its just shorter than if you didn't do ROTC).

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2021 10:44 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:44:44 -0500

This looks like a conversation on the Discord platform (primarily for video gaming) where this user tried to 1 up you after you told him you were Military.

Response by SrA Brandon Diamond made Jan 19 at 2021 2:29 PM

SrA Brandon Diamond — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:29:27 -0500

I’ve heard of commissioning as an O-3 if you possess a doctorate degree. However, I find it impractical to attend both OCS or ROTC, due to the fact that they end with the same result.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jan 19 at 2021 4:00 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:00:12 -0500

It’s possible he might have done his MSI and MSII years dropped out then later enlisted and went to OCS or the other way around he started OCS didn’t finish ten later used his GI Bill to go to school then went the ROTC route

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2021 3:49 PM

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 15:49:47 -0500

Probably a troll, but during my time as a Gold Bar Recruiter, I did help some students find options outside of ROTC when the program wasn't working for them. ROTC dropouts that end up commissioning through OTC/OCS are more common than you think.

Response by CPT Christopher Stanco made Jan 24 at 2021 7:39 PM

CPT Christopher Stanco — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 19:39:45 -0500

I went through OCS with someone who also did ROTC. Not sure of the details but needless to say, that candidate just retired from As a full bird.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2021 12:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 12:36:38 -0500

You can do both, you just can't commission via both (i.e. complete a couple/few years of ROTC, leave early, and go to OCS to commission)

Response by CPT Jose A “Tony” Fernandez made Jan 29 at 2021 1:48 PM

CPT Jose A “Tony” Fernandez — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:48:28 -0500

Possible. Why, though? Finally, there isn’t enough background knowledge to understand the issue.

Response by LCDR Mike Morrissey made Jan 30 at 2021 2:32 AM

LCDR Mike Morrissey — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 02:32:10 -0500

There are OCS and NROTC in the mix within the Marine option of NROTC units. Of course it’s not the same as the college grad to NAVY OCS or the straight NROTC to the Navy as an officer. If the Marine program he could easily come out O-3 after 3.5 yrs from date of commission under current DOPMA Legislation. Title 10 USC.

The “I did somehow” is just nuts...everyone I know who has done the Marine thing is quite aware of all the hoops required ..unless like me who jokes about getting through the whole of the selection process then through NROTC how did I make it? Looking at the ones who didn’t “beats the s—t out of me.”

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 2:42 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:42:19 -0500

Yes, this is extremely possible. You can participate in ROTC without even being obligated to the military. Or you can not meet the standard and get cut, later enlist and go OCS.

Response by James Meyer made Jul 10 at 2023 10:59 AM

James Meyer — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:59:59 -0400

No...they are just two separate routes to earn a commission. You either go to college and join ROTC, graduate, and get a commission with a 5 year commitment, or you graduate college, and go the lazy OCS route to get a commission. You don't get a bachelor's degree by attending a 4 year school while simultaneously going to junior college and transferring to a 4 year school your last two years. You pick one route. It's impossible. Dude is just being dumb like majority of the people online.