Posted on Mar 27, 2018
What are the odds of getting infantry through my commission as an officer?
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I am in the ARNG, I went through basic training at Fort Benning in May of 2017. Came back and started college a few months after coming back and I am currently in ROTC as well with my courses. I want to commission as an officer, but I am not sure if I want to commission if there is a high probability of no longer being infantry. My ROTC program is at the University of Central Oklahoma if that makes a difference. Thank you for your help ahead of time.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
Depends odds are good if you are high on the OML and can get first dibs on the Branch you want
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Coming from someone just recently commissioned IN through ROTC, you need to focus on the following over the next 3-4 years: Highest GPA possible, Campus OML points(earn these through leadership rolesat your BN and assessments from your cadre), 300 APFT(should be a given considering your goal), doing your best at Advanced Camp( strive for top block rating), and finally paint the picture for ROTC talent management. Show them through your time in ROTC why you fit the model for a potential IN leader, this is a large aspect they’ve implemented in the last 3 years which helps cadets throughout the National OML land in the right branch regardless of FY ranking. All of these come together to give you your ranking on the National OML and th snapshot the accessions committee will use to branch you based off needs of the army.
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Yes, the order of Merit list and a 300 on your APFT will help. When I used to get a 300 on my APFT, life became easier as an officer. Had I not broken my ankle, I would have been able to complete Airborne School in civil affairs. I was the top of the order of the Merit list due to my PT score. Like others have said here to network with the local infantry battalions near you and talk to their Battalion Commanders. It's helped me when I wanted to switch from military police to armored to just call up armored unit and the Battalion Commander interviewed me over the phone and next thing you know, I was transferred to an armored unit. When he introduced me, he mentioned "here is 300 APFT Lieutenant Conway!" That was just my personal experience. When I was about to be commissioned in the California Army National Guard, the guard was smart enough to have a job fair for the OCS class. I ran and got one of the few military police slots there were. All of the advice from others here is valid.
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LTC Stephen Conway
Thank you Brendan! After the Battalion commander in my national guard armor battalion had me go in front of a board of three different major because I had to do a branch transfer and they had to approve it. I just forgot that this may also happen to you before you get chosen or you may not have to deal with it at all.
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LTC Stephen Conway
Also, do well in ROTC Summer camp. The highest cadets/candidates get what they want that way.
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Place high on the national OML. To do this you’ll have to get a high GPA, High PT score (300 is prefered to get max amount of points), Army schools such as Airborne and Air Assualt (do not believe Ranger is open for cadets) and have extra curricular activities such as clubs, sports, ect. Talk with your school’s S-1 about where you can find extra points. At my school, our S-1 worked a good deal with us to make sure we got as many points as possible.
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Aren’t most Guard Divisions Infantry? Our Dream Sheet, after OCS at Benning had all three of our choices typed in Infantry.
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If you're willing to stay in the guard, and drill in the DFW area of Texas, you should have no problem going/staying infantry. Active Duty infantry is more competitive, based on GPA and APFT
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I've been out for a long time....and I understand the Marines are doing away with the Assault Infantry specialty.....but from my perspective, the Army has been converting other MOS into Infantry door-kickers. Like you, I enlisted as Airborne Infantry and then went through ROTC to commission back into Infantry. What leads you to the conclusion that Infantry will no longer be seeking young LT's?
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PFC (Join to see)
I know they need LTs, but I was asking if there was a high chance of not getting commissioned as an infantry officer, sir!
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Look, you can fill out your Dream sheet, but there is NO guarantee for getting it filled. Up to recently, most folks have been commissioned into the USAR/NG instead of Active due to money shortages, and downsizing. Check out how many folks from your school went Active, and see where you would fit in that matrix.
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PFC (Join to see)
Roger Sergeant Major. Thank you for your advice. I have looked around and have noticed a lot either being USAR more than guard and active.
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