What advice do you have for someone considering transitioning from E-4 to an Officer?

2020-12-11T00:45:32-05:00

I recently enlisted as an E-4 (active duty) since I have a college degree, for 68W. I ship out next month (Jan 4) but I was having second thoughts about commissioning as an officer instead. My recruiter really pushed for joining as enlisted rather than an officer, saying that I could always switch later by submitting a packet. But I feel like that sounds easier said than done based on things I've read about it. He did mention that I did have the scores for officer though. I also chose 68W since 68G wasn't available at all. (I am pursuing dentistry) I was also offered intelligence but I thought it would make more sense to do a 68 MOS.

A little info about me: I had to sign the contract as an E-1 because I couldn't get my official transcript copy due to money owed. Now that it has been taken care of, I will be going back to MEPS to update my rank. Also, my original plan was to apply for the HPSP once I apply (and get accepted) to dental school next year and either become an army dentist or civilian dentist, but decided to join the army earlier since the pandemic has made my gap year really difficult. I still plan to apply for the HPSP next year once I finish AIT.

GT 124 GM 115 EL 118 CL 125 MM 108 SC 121 CO 117 FA 118 OF 115 ST 120

Any honest advice?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2020 1:26 AM

2020-12-11T01:26:21-05:00

Your recruiter has a vested interest in you enlisting. Enlisting isn't a bad path but if the path you want is to become an officer you should look into an officer producing program such as ROTC.

Response by LTC Nathan Bond made Dec 11 at 2020 3:21 AM

2020-12-11T03:21:00-05:00

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Response by SGT Patrick Trowbridge made Dec 11 at 2020 4:06 AM

2020-12-11T04:06:35-05:00

It really depends on what YOU really want to do... some of the best officers I ever had were enlisted first. So its really up to what you want to do right now. Do you want to join and work your way in to a medal position or do you want to be an army dentist from the get go?

Response by SGT Patrick Trowbridge made Dec 11 at 2020 4:50 AM

2020-12-11T04:50:02-05:00

This is a tough year but don't put the cart before the horse. No matter what you do you still have to do basic training which is tough but absolutely dooable

Response by COL David Turk made Dec 11 at 2020 5:10 AM

2020-12-11T05:10:46-05:00

So, you want to transition from “drilling in the field” to “drilling in the mouth”!

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Dec 11 at 2020 5:32 AM

2020-12-11T05:32:03-05:00

Go for a commissioning program if you can get out of your enlistment contract. Why learn to lay brick if you're qualified to be an architect.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 11 at 2020 7:58 AM

2020-12-11T07:58:57-05:00

You need to talk to an AMEDD recruiter (Army Medical Department) about applying to Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Get paid and let the Army put you through school. That will side step that pesty OCS requirement and commission you directly.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Dec 11 at 2020 8:44 AM

2020-12-11T08:44:44-05:00

You don't have to do anything you don't want to. The US Military is an all Volunteer force. Your Recruiter can't make you do anything. They have a monthly quota to meet and you commissioning doesn't result in them getting credit towards that quota so the Recruiter has a personal investment to encourage everyone he/she meets to enlist as that will have direct positive results for their career.

I would recommend speaking to a ROTC advisor or someone in the OCS pipeline to discuss options before you go much further.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2020 8:55 AM

2020-12-11T08:55:16-05:00

I’m not sure how far you are in the enlistment process but I wouldn’t recommend enlisting if you want to be an officer. Try to commission right out of the gate. I say this as a prior-enlisted officer.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2020 9:47 AM

2020-12-11T09:47:38-05:00

When it comes to commissioning there are so many routes that it's easy to get confused with what you want. If you want to be a dentist, you would not go to OCS. OCS is for regular officers, or even medical officers who have their license. There is no OCS route for someone to become a officer in the medical field. Your recruiter was right that you could easily go to OCS after enlisting in order to become an officer, but that would immediately make you an officer, not send you to dental school. The Army has a lot of commissioning programs for the medical field, but unfortunately Dentistry is not one of them. If you wanted to be a doctor, PA, Nurse, Physical Therapist, social worker, or Psychologist, we have a program for that. But if you want to be a Dentist, or several other allied medicine careers like Optometrist, you will have to do that as a civilian. AMEDD recruiters will offer scholarships to help pay for these schools and as you know HSPS is a good choice as well.

As for your contract, 68W is an excellent jumping off MOS if you decide that you want to pursue one of the previously named fields that the Army does have a school for. 68G is patient admin, the Dental assistant MOS is 68E, but it's over strength most of the time so it's not a good choice. When you first enlist, that may not seem like a bug deal, but a few years later when you're watching your friends in other jobs move past you in the ranks, it becomes important.

Your best option is probably to use the first 3-6 years in active duty to establish yourself financially, research and plan. The USAR and National Guard offer very competitive tuition assistance for graduate degrees. Some states will even pay for two doctorates. You may find that the best choice is to join the NG or USAR under one of their commissioning programs once you're a little more financially stable.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 11 at 2020 11:05 AM

2020-12-11T11:05:53-05:00

PVT Private RallyPoint Member,
There is no single answer for your question, and to be honest your situation has too many variables with even more possible solutions. Nevertheless, SFC Private RallyPoint Member has presented a framework that seems very doable so long you put some planning and discipline. As a backup, if HPSP doesn’t work. Always good to have a fallback position.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2020 12:44 PM

2020-12-11T12:44:03-05:00

The contract is signed, anything to try and change that will only complicate your situation now.

Do you want to be a dentist, or do you want to be an officer? Once your gig with the Army is done it should make becoming a dentist possible. Is is important to you to be an "Army Dentist"?

From where it sounds like you are sitting it doesn't sound like you did a "bad" path. You "just" got your degree. Sounds like you are financially on the fringe having paid the school late and just squeezed in getting your transcripts to bump up to SPC.

So you'd need the military to support further education to become a medical professional at this point.

Yea, "maybe" you could have landed one of the AMEDD paths, but I've seen folks spin their wheels two years for such a path and many to end up not getting anywhere in the end.

So from that perspective you didn't totally botch your life decision at this point. You might ironically be in a position to get your education paid to become a dentist without being on the hook after you graduate. Do you enlistment, use the GI Bill for dental school, and you are free and clear of the Army.

The AMEDD path you'd still become a dentist and then still be on the hook for the Army.

How do the priorities mix in your motivations?
1) Dentist motivation? Is civilian dentist fine?
2) Officer motivation? Is being a civilian dentist fine, and be a Reserve officer in any other job?
3) Army Dentist motivation? Is you life goal to be an Army Dentist?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 11 at 2020 1:52 PM

2020-12-11T13:52:26-05:00

Do not enlist immediately if you can avoid it. Apply for OCS.

Do talk to recruiters from all 6 Armed Services about being an Officer. You have a science degree so you should be an attractive applicant. All of the Services list the requirements to be an officer on their web page. In general, you must be a US Citizen, pass a physical, and pass a test with a high enough score. Take the time to do the research. If you believe you are qualified to apply, then decide which service can offer the best deal according to your personal goals. When you settle on a Service, don't be put off by the volume of paperwork or the time required to complete the application and get an OCS slot. Even if it takes over a year, it's a lot shorter than a 4-year enlistment.

Sometimes the Services offer opportunities for Service-paid medical school. Talk to a Service Medical Recruiter. You might find that a Service is happy to pay for Dental School in exchange for several years of Service. This normally means you will complete Dental School with no student debt and having been paid as an officer the whole time you were in school.

Your recruiter is correct that you can apply for OCS after you are on active duty. This application process passes through your chain of command in the Army (and probably other Services). Unfortunately, that means there's lots of opportunities for somebody to say "no" and kill your application until you've completed your enlistment.

Response by PO3 Adam Stoflet made Dec 11 at 2020 6:26 PM

2020-12-11T18:26:27-05:00

Honestly do your time as an enlisted man get a feel for what you would be asking others to do. Being a prior enlisted can provide you a unique experience that most officer don’t get to. Being a “Mustang” (what they call an officer who was once enlisted) can also help you out a little bit in dealing with the enlisted, instead of being this fancy pants “Sir” you will be one of them, someone who has walked a mile in their shoes because you know what it’s like to be them and you will better understand what information or equipment they need in order to get the job done right the first time.

That’s just my perspective all I can say from here on out is come up with a solid plan then execute it, nothing will way more heavily on you then unfulfilled ambitions because you did a wait and see approach.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2020 7:54 PM

2020-12-12T19:54:23-05:00

Do NOT ship. Get out of your contract. The recruiter will tell you anything to deter you from getting out of your contract, but it's possible. I was in the same situation where my recruiter pushed me to go enlisted rather than commissioning. I shipped because of the timeline and I regret not asking more questions and not going with what I wanted. People say it's better to come in enlisted, but it really doesn't matter and most will question why you came in enlisted when you have a degree. The most infamous question for me thus far.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2020 7:47 PM

2020-12-14T19:47:53-05:00

Go talk to an AMEDD recruiter.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2020 11:29 AM

2020-12-15T11:29:15-05:00

If you need a paycheck now, go enlisted and then get with an AMEDD Recruiter while applying to dental schools. AMEDD recruiter will start working on a packet for you to be a Medical Service Corps officer or whatever your degree qualifies you for. Apply to Dental schools and if you get in, you can apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program. Free school and you get paid a salary for attending so you don't have to worry about money. You will owe the Army time back for the free education, but its free and you have a guaranteed decent job after you get out. Since you've already decided being in the Army is something you can put up with, you're halfway there.

While recruiters can be helpful and knowledgeable about joining and incentives, most people in the military don't know much outside of their own personal experiences and job, just like the rest of us.

Response by 2LT Charles L Harris Jr made Dec 15 at 2020 8:06 PM

2020-12-15T20:06:22-05:00

I was faced with the same decision when I enlisted, after six years enlisted I applied for Medical Service Officer, the Army had a critical need for Infantry Officers which was my second choice. I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Infantry Grade 01E. Go for you commission now.

Response by SSgt Ricardo Lugo made Dec 17 at 2020 6:45 PM

2020-12-17T18:45:12-05:00

It going to depend on your interest and goals as a warrior of are Nation. If the reasons is to serve are nation during peace and war time with a patriot's spirit; are arm forces training program enlisted or officer will provide you with all the tools of knowledge to succeed in your military carrier. So if your guided by a American patriot's spirit; what holding you back to take that step to become part of the elite group of leadership officer of the Department of Defense. I wish you the best in your military carrier; so God help you.

Response by Maj Robert Larkowski made Dec 21 at 2020 5:38 PM

2020-12-21T17:38:14-05:00

Go for it but remeber where you came from as you move onto the "Dark Side"
This is coming from a prior enelisted and then spending the next 16 vyears as as on officer.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2020 8:51 AM

2020-12-29T08:51:43-05:00

Your recruiter is right and you can switch later. I honestly think about 75% of Officers I know could have benefitted from a couple of years on the Enlisted side. I was a SNCO when I made the switch and people didn't look at me and see a prior SNCO. They still just treated me like an O-1 and assumed I had nothing to offer. Long story short, if you want to be an officer do it sooner than later. If you like money you should wait until you've been in for 4 years so you can be an O-1E (O-2E, O-3E