What is the likelihood that I can transfer from the Army Reserves to active duty and go straight to OCS?

2020-12-22T22:32:33-05:00

I am an E-4 and am about to graduate with my bachelors. I am interested in going active but I have 3 years left in my reserves contract. I was wondering if it is likely that I can drop an OCS packet and also transfer to active at the same time or if I have to go active first then do OCS packet while active? Another option would be to finish my reserves contract and then reenlist with OCS? What option is the most likely for me to become an officer? I don’t want to be an officer in the reserves and if I can’t get OCS I won’t reenlist.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 22 at 2020 10:36 PM

2020-12-22T22:36:29-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member may know the answer to this one

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 22 at 2020 10:39 PM

2020-12-22T22:39:21-05:00

I would apply for AD OCS. Talk to a recruiter. If you transfer from RC to AD, you'll need a DD368 Condotional release. These conditional releases can take a long time. If you are accepted for OCS there is still a conditional release but it's less of a struggle.

Talk to an AD recruiter. Be resolute about applying for OCS and don't fall for the "you can just apply in Active Duty". The cut is harder.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2020 10:50 PM

2020-12-22T22:50:31-05:00

All I can say is ask a Recruiter

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 22 at 2020 11:14 PM

2020-12-22T23:14:20-05:00

Only an Recruiter can initiate that process. Like LTC Jason Mackay mentioned, be resulte about it when you talk to the AD recruiter, and that that’s the contract you want.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Dec 22 at 2020 11:39 PM

2020-12-22T23:39:33-05:00

You can contract for OCS with the Regular Army. Find a Recruiter, go thru your chain of command for the Conditional Release, and you will eventually go to a local OCS selection board. With your qualifications it looks like you will have no problems. Best of Luck!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 23 at 2020 6:36 AM

2020-12-23T06:36:01-05:00

Sounds like slot is demands and no give. You need to speak with a recruiter and find out what your options are. The one piece of advice I would give you isbto humble yourself. Life is your oyster, but you have to carve a path, it is not wide open. There is a time for everything.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2020 6:59 AM

2020-12-23T06:59:17-05:00

Start by talking to your Army Reserve Career Division (ARCD) counselor. If they are unhelpful, speak to a recruiter at the closest recruiting station. . If you have a helpful ARCD counselor, they can at least help get your packet and interview together. Army Reserve personnel, to my knowledge, attend Federal OCS just like Active Component so they will know how to put your packet together and coordinate your interview. I’ve interviewed dozens of candidates for OCS and they were all applying to Federal OCS (not State OCS, like the National Guard).

Response by LTC Raymond Buenteo made Dec 23 at 2020 9:40 AM

2020-12-23T09:40:11-05:00

Anything is possible

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2020 10:19 AM

2020-12-23T10:19:17-05:00

Talk to ROTC now. They can streamline the program or you can do ROTC while working on a masters. It may not work for you but I still think it's the best way to become an officer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2020 12:21 PM

2020-12-23T12:21:21-05:00

I have never seen a soldier initiated transfer from Reserve to Active work unless there was an Active program in place targeting specific skill sets which overrode a USAR Genera's approval (denial in all cases actually) process.

It's been already said the path that is least likely to work is a transfer as a USAR SPC to active and then applying for OCS from active. By time you got through all that your USAR contract would have expired.

The least drama free path is simply applying for Active OCS from where you are now, and where you will be in the future.

I think worst case you're still better off waiting out your Reserve contract if that's what it takes.

Response by LTC Daren Walker made Dec 23 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-12-23T13:48:13-05:00

SPC Ramirez, as a current TPU Reservist, you should apply to Federal OCS. Please see the following MILPER message with complete instructions on the application process and POCs for any questions/concerns you may have: https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-875900
The HRC POC is Mr. Clifford Preetorius at [login to see] or email [login to see] .

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Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2020 6:03 AM

2020-12-26T06:03:36-05:00

A few days late, but as someone who went through the process to go to OCS in the reserves, I can tell now that it's a bit different then going Active OCS. You'll have to talk to a recruiter to figure out how to navigate the process of getting a conditional release from the USAR to be able to board for an active duty OCS slot. If you commission as a reserve officer, you will be slotted into a branch prior to leaving for school based on the needs of the reserves. Active duty will assign you a branch at OCS (based on OML priority, so you'll have to compete to get the branch you want). There's no method of crossing over once you start OCS.