Posted on Dec 11, 2020
What advice do you have for someone considering transitioning from E-4 to an Officer?
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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?
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?
Enlisted
Enlisted-to-Officer
Direct Commission
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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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.
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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.
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.
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1LT (Join to see)
Another great post SFC Boyd. I’d just like to clarify one point. The Army does not have it’s own BSN producing school. It relies on the civilian sector to train its RNs. The Army does have LPN and APRN schools however. Why we skipped a level, I’m not sure. The only reason I can think is that the pipeline from civilian institutions has been sufficient.
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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.
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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.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SFC (Join to see) You are of course correct, she wants HPSP rather than the Bethesda.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
For all medical programs, AMEDD is who you want to speak with. AMEDD has their own recruiters and Officer recruiters. This is the way.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
What they are saying basically is there are two tracks of officers that pertain to you. You can be a regular officer or a medical professional doctors. Those two are separate and have separate recruiters.
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https://m.goarmy.com/amedd/dentist.m.html?iom=AFTU-20-980_N_PSEA_ [login to see] 4442689_ [login to see] 16011_ [login to see] 6488017_ [login to see] 2218119_%2Barmy+%2Bdentist&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzsz-BRCCARIsANotFgOKg6HhATNTeSPPLDJc4rGxnltMIZyF-jPtRlyLtabCSOnqCLYpa18aAipMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Army Dentists & Dentistry Opportunities | GoArmy.com
As a dentist in the Army Dental Corps, you will work with other dedicated dentists, consult specialists & participate in important dental research.
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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?
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?
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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.
I would recommend speaking to a ROTC advisor or someone in the OCS pipeline to discuss options before you go much further.
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So, you want to transition from “drilling in the field” to “drilling in the mouth”!
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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?
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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.
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