What are the pros and cons of postponing BOLC to finish my bachelors degree?

1LT Alexander W. — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 13:31:31 -0400

Currently in army national guard OCS. Commissioning in October. Have one year left of online classes to complete bachelors degree. Tentative plan is to wait to attend BOLC until after finishing bachelors degree. (My current contract says I have until being eligible for captain to complete bachelors.)
Any pros or cons to postponing BOLC?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2020 2:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:31:03 -0400

I'd recommend completing BOLC now. I've seen quite a few OCS grads not make CPT due to putting it off. Life happens. If you can go now, go now.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2020 2:41 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:41:16 -0400

Generally speaking, it’s rarely a good idea to turn down/delay a professional development school.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 13 at 2020 4:58 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 16:58:25 -0400

I recommend finishing school. You have the rest of your life to focus on your career, and BOLC will be there awaiting you upon graduation.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2020 6:48 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 18:48:47 -0400

Online college is easier to schedule than a BOLC reservation.
Get the BOLC reservation and schedule your remaining college around it.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 13 at 2020 9:24 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 21:24:48 -0400

You must take the opportunity to do BOLC if it becomes available. National Guard and Federal opportunities do not often align.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2020 7:46 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 07:46:13 -0400

Go to BOLC as soon as possible. You want to be fully qualified as soon as possible, also putting off BOLC means putting off promotion to 1LT.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jun 14 at 2020 8:25 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 08:25:00 -0400

I would go ahead a let them schedule BOLC. It still may give you time to complete most of your courses and it's harder to schedule military schools than online ones. I commissioned in July, took the first available class, didn't ship to IOBC, the version of BOLC when I commissioned, until November of that same year. Talk to your training officer about school dates and they "may" be able to give you a choice a several start dates.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 14 at 2020 12:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 12:31:34 -0400

If you are M-Day then I don't see much of a difference in both courses of action.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2020 5:53 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 05:53:50 -0400

Complete BOLC. You're doing online classes which means you can get registered into those much easier than your "ideal" BOLC seat PLUS you, in theory, can work on online classes during BOLC depending on your branch. You have a few years between completing BOLC and going up for CPT. If you were taking classes at a physical location I might say otherwise but I say knock it out while it's hot.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2020 10:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 10:46:04 -0400

You can't make 1LT until you complete BOLC. Focus on the 25 meter target. 36 years and I've seen way more 2LTs get the boot for not finishing BOLC than I have 1LTs for not finishing their degree. Especially since you are doing online classes.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2020 4:19 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 16:19:57 -0400

I would strongly discourage you from delaying BOLC. School dates are hard to come by and you could be shooting yourself in the foot.