What does an enlisted Army Reserve soldier have to do to become an officer?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:19:47 -0400

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 11:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 23:07:04 -0400

Same thing any other officer candidate has to do. Get a Bachelors Degree and complete a commissioning source (ROTC is expedited for enlisted personnel 2 years rather than 4), you could also go to a service academy or complete OCS. Talk to a recruiter/retention NCO or ROTC recruiter to start the process.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 5:56 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 05:56:33 -0400

If you go the ROTC route I highly recommend you get into the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). This program allows you to drill with your unit as a cadet and bumps your pay up to E-5. You'll be non-deployable so that you can finish your degree and ROTC commissioning requirements and will remain so until you complete a Branch BOLC. A big advantage of this is that besides getting some useful experience as a drilling cadet all of your Reserve time counts as time in service. I taught ROTC at two Texas universities and used to ask my cadets if they knew the difference between a new lieutenant with SMP and one without. The answer is about $500 more per month on active duty over a 2LT with zero time in service. As an Army Reservist your only option for OCS is the Federal program at Ft. Benning (Guard has State run programs). OCS rules now require a completed degree and has (ever changing) age restrictions. I highly recommend the ROTC route unless you can somehow get someone in your command to get you an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. I'm a state OCS graduate myself and do not recommend OCS unless that is the ONLY option you have. It's basically a hazing with little training value. Both the OCS option and USMA require major horse power from senior leaders and a lot of luck. If you can get USMA don't hesitate or even think about it, just say yes. I turned it down like an idiot in 1988 and have always regretted it. It was another 15 years before I was given another opportunity to commission. I have 18 years enlisted time and again, highly recommend that you don't wait until you're nearly 40 to pursue a career as an officer. Get your butt in school and get it done.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 8:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 08:04:50 -0400

First it would depend on your level of education etc, and I would start by talking with the retention NCO for your area, every reserve unit should have one assigned to them, probably has an office at a battalion level.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Sep 26 at 2017 1:20 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 13:20:57 -0400

You must slay one with a PT belt, and drink of their blood under the Harvest Moon--naked and holding a spatula--then you must recite these words EXACTLY: "Klaatu barada nikto"!

Do that, and the universe will convey onto you, your Commission in the United States Army Reserve.

Or ya go jail. I forget which.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Sep 26 at 2017 2:14 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:14:00 -0400

Tell your section chief or platoon sergeant of your interest and let him/her help you line up your chain of command to make the transition an easy one. I don't know if a BA is a prerequisite before starting ROTC or Officer's basic?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2017 9:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 21:36:10 -0400

Go to OCS.