What does the Army OCS process entail for prior service?

2018-05-09T01:23:58-04:00

Hello Leaders,

I am looking for some information about the Army OCS process (recruiter-class date). I will be ending my service with the Marine Corps in 2019 (eight years) and starting my journey to hopefully attend Army OCS. I love the Marine Corps but unfortunately, I made some silly decisions in my first enlistment by getting a few tattoos that disqualify me from becoming a Marine Corps officer. I will be finishing my bachelor’s degree around the same time I EOS from the Marines. I have maintained a great track record in the Marines as an infantryman, and currently have a 3.92 GPA. My main concern is MEPS. I am very good shape, but I do have my share of bumps and bruises (two surgeries). These bumps and bruises do not affect my physically abilities, but I am still very curious and a bit nervous about the process. At the end of the day, I would love the opportunity to play a larger role in the planning process. The army is my first choice because I have worked with Soldiers and even though most Marines would say there is a difference, I don’t see it that way. Any input on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Very Respectfully

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2018 1:30 AM

2018-05-09T01:30:12-04:00

The main concern for me is getting out and banking on this opportunity, just to be denied by MEPS for whatever reason.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:03 AM

2018-05-09T03:03:55-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

You might find this useful, I'd thought...it only covers the standard five OCS programs, not Army WOCS, or any of the OIS direct commission indoc programs, it also leaves out the NOAA Corps, and the USPHS, however, it does include Army OCS...I'd never understood why it also never included the Natl Guard OCS programs, howe very, as I'd said, I thought you might find it of use or interest, in any event....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:06 AM

2018-05-09T03:06:55-04:00

And I think, if you might seek out a plastic surgeon, or dermatologist, I'd read that tattoos can, in fact, now be removed by laser surgery, I've never researched the whole topic, plus, I have no idea if it'd be covered by any insurance, I'd !erely read such procedures to remove tattoos apparently exist, just figured that might be worth asking about, if nothing else, I'd heard the procedures might be painful, however, I honestly know little about the procedures beyond the few mere anecdotal references I've seen, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:08 AM

2018-05-09T03:08:31-04:00

Also, what major is your bachelors, what STEM coursework, if any? Did you want grad school? If so, what major for hat as well? Elaborate, of you can, I'd be interested, I have an interest in such things....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:13 AM

2018-05-09T03:13:40-04:00

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2884836/

Here's one reference on laser tattoo removal, the article is on NIH Pubmed Central, as opposed to NIH Entrez Pubmed, the former has only open source free material, the latter includes paid articles, however, you should get a halfway decent idea of the basic terminology involved, as well as fair notion of how such procedures for laser based tattoo removal are generally dome...I'd be most eager for your thoughts, and/or if you'd ever considered such procedures to remove them, or had been aware such procedures exist...I'm sure there are numerous other such articles, if you use the search engines on both NIH sites,....

Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattooing has been a part of human culture since the earliest beginnings of modern civilization. What has changed over the millennia are the myriad of colors with which we can now express our thoughts, feelings, and desires through body art. What has ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:15 AM

2018-05-09T03:15:11-04:00

If such procedures might be accepted by USMC, that might possibly open USMC back to you for their OCS, purely a thought, of course, I'm uncertain how the svcs regard tattoos, generally, I realize that whole topic is in a state of almost constant flux, I've gathered....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:16 AM

2018-05-09T03:16:33-04:00

And I was Army ROTF, then went USAF OTS...you might also consider other svcs, not that you'd want them, morely to explore, that:s why I was curious about your major, ambitions, objectives, interests, etc, just to try to be able to suggest more of you'd want, honest....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 9 at 2018 3:16 AM

2018-05-09T03:16:44-04:00

Sorry for typos....

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Jul 26 at 2019 3:20 PM

2019-07-26T15:20:05-04:00

Go for it! But, watch the USMC/USN language (Head, bulkhead etc...). I ran 5 miles every time I used the terminology. My class was Very heavy in prior USMC or USN, so I had plenty of people to run with.