What is the process for a recent college grad to join the Army as an officer?

CPO Curtiss Hill — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 17:18:48 -0500

A friend of my daughter stated that she had to go through Army enlisted basic training, upon graduation from basic, she will go to OCS.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2016 5:22 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 17:22:17 -0500

Correct, she would enter in as a 09S (Officer Candidate), E-4 and once she completes Basic, she will attend OCS. I had 1 09S change his mind mid-way through basic and continued as a 25 series.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Feb 24 at 2016 7:34 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 19:34:56 -0500

Depending on her educational degrees CPO Curtiss Hill she could apply to go through the OCS or Direct Commissioning programs. For instance, Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Attorneys, etc can enter the military through direct commissioning. ROTC may also be an option.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 24 at 2016 9:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 21:57:56 -0500

She will be green, but she can do it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 11:19 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:19:12 -0500

As an 09S myself, the process was handled by my recruiter. The ASVAB test drove his decision to offer me the officer enlistment option, so that is presumably a consideration.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have preferred to make it to E5 prior to going through OCS, but the experience this far has been incredibly positive. Wish her the best of luck, and feel free to PM me if you or her have any specific questions about the experience or process.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 11:22 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:22:53 -0500

I was in the same situation a few years ago. I already had a bachelors degree and I wanted to be an officer. SPC Bernardy is right. She will enlist as an E4 with an MOS of 09S (maybe 09R if reserves). She will attend the same basic training as all other enlisted and instead of going to AIT after basic, she will be sent to FT Benning for OCS. Once commissioned from OCS, she will then go to her branch's specific Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC) to become branch qualified. She will typically find out what unit she is going to shortly after OCS, if not, then she will be assigned while at BOLC. Direct commission is another route all together depending on her major. I recommend going the OCS route. Earn your commission by going through the same grunt work your future subordinates will have gone through. Just my two cents. Let me know if she has any questions on the process.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 11:25 AM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:25:42 -0500

See a recruiter. Take the asvab. Don't let them talk you out of it and enlist instead. Put together a packet through the recruiter. Go to basic. Go to OCS. Choose a branch based on your performance at OCS. Go to that branch's Basic Officer Leader Course. Go to your unit.

The most difficult part would be the letters of recommendation and the board to get selected. If she wants to be an officer don't let the recruiters talk her out of it in order to enlist. It's less work for them to enlist people. They will push for it.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 25 at 2016 11:27 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:27:57 -0500

It seems that little has changed since the Vietnam Era, at least by the discussion here. I enlisted in the Army to go to Infantry OCS after graduating from law school. I enlisted as an E1 and earned E2 based on my performance in BCT. I then attended Infantry AIT before going to OCS. Candidates in those days were promoted to E5 unless they were already E5 or above (and we had a couple older E6s in my class).

It was physically tough on me inasmuch as I had been working a desk job while going to school and wasn't as fit as many of the other candidates. However, I had a decided advantage on handling the academics and psychological stresses of OCS.

In those days, 50% or more of every class dropped out. Thus a college degree was no guarantee of a commission. It only enhanced your chances at having a shot at OCS. I suspect the same is true today.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 1:43 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:43:17 -0500

That is how it works, Chief. I believe the Army is the only service that makes such applicants go through basic training in order to attend OCS. I was an enlisted Marine before so I didn't have to do that part, but for someone coming straight from civilian life I can see why it would be considered useful to undergo enlisted basic training first.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 1:49 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:49:40 -0500

For a recent college graduate, ROTC is still an option if the candidate wants to pursue a Master's degree. The candidate would then go for another two years of school and enroll in the advanced leadership half of ROTC (MSIII/MSIV).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2016 2:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:56:28 -0500

That is pretty much the only route unless she has a professional degree (MD/PA, law or Chaplain) to obtain a commission.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 2:01 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:01:26 -0500

That's exactly how it works. There's no separate BCT for officer candidates. It actually makes sense that it's done that way; if an OCS candidate cannot make it through BCT, why on God's green earth would they send them to OCS? It's its own filtration system, at the very least, through attrition. Tell her to be prepared. The DS's know who the OCS candidates are. They'll expect her to be somewhat extroverted, take leadership roles within the Co/Plt, and for her to push harder than the PVTs.