What paths can I pursue to attend Army OCS?

Harun Kiani — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:34:27 -0500

Greetings,
I'm a senior in college looking to join the Army through OCS. My recruiter tells me I can do an option where I enlist directly and after I get assigned to a unit, then I can go to Army OCS by going to some office on base ?? I don't see anything about this path online, so is he just full of sh!t? I already took the ASVAB and have a score in the 98th percentile.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Nov 2 at 2020 11:38 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:38:18 -0500

You have an ROTC unit at your school? If you have that much college remaining, you might have better options there.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2020 11:38 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:38:55 -0500

Don't do that.... Do OCS only. You should go straight from boot camp to OCS. no other unit in between. It looks like he's trying to get you in first and then you apply once you're in. Way More difficult and it can add years to your progression.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2020 11:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:38:56 -0500

Your recruiter is trying to screw you. Stop talking to a recruiter for enlisted personnel and talk to a recruiter for officers. They aren’t the same thing. If you’re in the 98th percentile, that’s like a gold star for your recruiter. Worst case scenario, talk to somebody at your ROTC program or the nearest one to your location and get advice.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 2 at 2020 11:42 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:42:53 -0500

Some office? Uhm no. You have to do an OCS Packet and gain command endorsements. There is a centralized board. You may or may not get selected.

If you have 24 months left, go do ROTC.

If you are graduating nowish, you can apply for OCS as a civilian. Similar board process. You got to basic to OCS. If you bolo then you are enlisted or maybe separated.

Response by MAJ Jason Sierakowski made Nov 2 at 2020 11:53 PM

MAJ Jason Sierakowski — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 23:53:57 -0500

No. Have your recruiter submit your OCS packet.... Or you could join the ROTC unit at your school, get in a graduate program, and complete your requirements to commission.

From the sound of it, he is attempting to sway you to enlist.... Don't do that it you are shooting for a commission.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 12:27 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:27:57 -0500

If you enlist here's what has to happen:
1) Basic Training - 2 months
2) AIT - 4-6 months depending on MOS (could be a year if you get a very technical MOS like UAV pilot or EOD).
3) Then once you go to your unit after Basic/AIT you sweet talk your squad leader to get permission to talk to the platoon SGT so you can get permission to talk to the 1st SGT to get permission to talk to the Company Commander. With the commander’s blessing you can start a packet which will now be constantly interrupted with your working day and being in the Army. You’re now at risk of your entire enlisted chain of command feeling threatened by your ambitions (only one of which is needed to roadblock the entire process).
3a) You’re probably looking at an entire year after the 6 months you put in training to get in a position to be able to convince your Chain of Command to start the OCS packet.
4) Oh, yea, by now, the company commander and or 1st SGT might have left the unit and you have to start the permissions all over again for a packet you haven’t even completed yet. I personally had to go through four different company commanders before my packet was finally submitted and accepted, and the Commander that the packet was approved under was not the commander that finally released me from the unit once I was selected.
5) Depending on your “timing” you could be up against the wall with trying to complete the packet, or essentially wait an entire year.
6) Once the packet is finally completed you are looking at an entire year before the results are published.
7) Once the OCS selection has been completed, well, now you have to wait for your OCS school to start, and then after that you go to BOLC so that’s another 6 months.
Where are we at now? 0.5 years (TRADOC), 1.0 years earning trust of COC, 1.0 years for selection process (assuming best case timing), then 0.5 years of OCS and BOLC. Yep, 3 years at best with an enlistment scenario. By now you are just about done with your initial enlistment.
Also, you are under the microscope as a soldier submitting a packet. The Army knows everything about you. As a civilian, some of your less desirable attributes can be kept under the rug. Petty things like barracks inspection could derail the process through your Chain of Command. Also, all your letters of references will now need to be your company commander at minimum and then his boss (Battalion CO) or better.
As a civilian you get to work on your packet on your own time, and don’t need permission from anyone. You choose your letters of references and no one is going to have given you a counseling statement on crispness of the folds on your bed sheets.
At worst, if you submit a packet as a civilian and you are not selected you might lose 1.5 year of spinning your wheels. At that point you can reevaluate if you want to take the enlistment path at which will be a take it or leave it option.
*********
One of the best things I did in my life is enlist at 38 (my only option) with a Master’s degree and 20 years in the civilian sector, then eat crow for 4 years cutting my way through the Commissioning Process. It sucks, and you have to be willing to eat shit and say, “yum, may I have seconds”.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 3 at 2020 12:49 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:49:13 -0500

Nope, he wants to recruit you! You want an OCS contract. With your ASVAB score, hold your ground!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 1:32 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 01:32:44 -0500

As for the ASVAB, as long as you have a GT score of 110 or higher you are good.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 3:05 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 03:05:19 -0500

09S - if that's your contract: 1) you go to Army Basic, 2) you return (i.e. don't got to AIT), 3) the sponsoring unit will have you at OCS.

I did this. 0(zero) 9(nine) S(Sierra), must be your contract.
09R is ROTC.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 7:50 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 07:50:42 -0500

Wow, there’s quite a few people who don’t actually know what they’re telling you or have very outdated information. For background, I came into the Army through OCS and I just left an 18 month assignment as an OCS instructor at Fort Benning, so those are my qualifications to speak on this subject. Entering into OCS as a civilian is possible and these days most OCS Candidates are civilians, not prior service.

In terms of speaking to your recruiter, there is no such thing as an Officer recruiter in the Army, any recruiter at any recruiting station can put you into OCS, it just requires a lot more work for them so most will try to bullshit you and tell you that your chances are much better if you go enlisted first, that is 100% false. When you talk to your recruiter, tell them that you want to join as an Officer and that if they don’t want to put in the effort then you’ll go to a different recruiter or different branch, it’s your choice, don’t let them swindle you into doing something you don’t want to. The process can take a bit of time and I’m not sure how long it’s taking these days. Just be sure that your contract says 09S as your MOS. That’s what guarantees you a slot in OCS after basic training.

And no, there is no magic office on post you go to, to attend OCS. If you are enlisted and want to do OCS, your chain of command has to be willing to sign off on it and allow you to apply. Some have better track records then others.

Now if you don’t manage to pass OCS then you serve out the rest of your contact as an enlisted Soldier in whatever MOS the Army needs at the moment.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 3 at 2020 8:10 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:10:02 -0500

You do not have to wait until you get to your unit if you are enlisting Active Duty. You can enlist in Enlistment Program 9D, which is a guaranteed OCS option, provided you meet all the prerequisites and pass BCT. You still enlist and you still have to go to Basic Combat Training, but then you go to OCS instead of MOS school.
A similar program is available in the National Guard.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Nov 3 at 2020 8:44 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 08:44:28 -0500

If you are this close to having a degree I would recommend going in as an officer. Go speak to your schools ROTC staff and they will give you the information you need. Either you go the graduate route and go through ROTC or graduate with your Bachelor's and go straight to OCS.

You need to realize that the recruiter is just trying to get you to enlist. Recruiters have a monthly quota and he sees you as an easy mark.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 9:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 09:24:58 -0500

Get OCS in your enlistment contract before you join. If you decide to get an enlisted MOS first your chances of getting OCS will diminish significantly until you get to your reenlistment window. You will have to go through a selection process as a civilian (get your packet together, go through an interview, packet and interview results go to a selection board, etc.). I suggest getting it done up front. It’s your future and your career, not your recruiters. Check out https://www.armyocs.com/ for more information about the process...I think there is still some legit information there.

Army OCS - Index page

Users requesting addition to the Commissioned Officers or Lieutenant Mafia group must also send a Private Message containing their Enterprise Email Address to Son of the Raven. All requests require verification before they are processed.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2020 1:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 13:17:00 -0500

Harun Kiani … concur with LTC Private RallyPoint Member when he states that you'll need to get the "OCS Option" in your contract before signing. I had a couple of people in my OCS class that we're prior service, but had the OCS Option for pursuing their commission. Good luck to you!

Response by MAJ Roland McDonald made Nov 3 at 2020 4:18 PM

MAJ Roland McDonald — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 16:18:27 -0500

Look here. This might help.
https://m.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/become-an-officer/how-to-become-an-officer-in-the-army/direct-commission.m.html#first

404 Error | GoArmy.com

Response by SGT Tom Recupero made Nov 3 at 2020 6:16 PM

SGT Tom Recupero — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:16:45 -0500

Is that a 98GT score?

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2020 10:22 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:22:33 -0500

Some recruiters lie like hell, unless you enlist as a 09S you not going to OCS. Get another recruiter.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2020 2:16 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:16:14 -0500

Hit me up if you need recruiter for OCS