Should Army officers be required to obtain Specialist before being allowed to commission?

The way I understand it through my Granddaughter who is a college graduate. She enlisted as an E-4 Specialist because of her College so she would have met the E-4 qualification prior to attending OCS anyway.

As an ROTC cadet I was enlisted as a private in the reserves while participating in the program. Every cadet is. Between my 3rd and 4th years I attended summer camp at Ft Devens, Ma for 9 weeks. Coincidently, this was the same time as was allotted for BCT. Every task covered in BCT was covered in ROTC summer camp. Including KP and the myriad of other unpleasant tasks that are assigned to today's Soldiers in Training. I had the pleasure of being assigned to USATC Infantry, Ft Campbell, Ky after Armor Officer Basic at Ft Knox. The troops at Ft Campbell received almost the identical training as the ROTC cadets so ROTC Cadets do have the equivalent of Army Basic. Branch specific training began after entry onto active duty. After Vietnam I became a BCT Company Commander as a Captain. There was very little difference between the training provided to my troops and that I had received a an ROTC Cadet. The measure of the officer is the measure of the person, not the source of their commission!

The best school out there is the school of hard knocks. The best officers I ever knew were prior enlisted.

So we should take a four year process and extend it to six years because being a Specialist is absolutely critical to the National Defense Strategy?

No requirement needed. A bad officer will not last anyway. I saw plenty cut and run once mission gets tough. Many are good students, but army officers must have high emotional intelligence and grit. Learning to get what others want will be one first step.

Good suggestion but impossible cause the academies will be opposed, however boot camp is good.

Is there a problem?

yes