What's the fastest way to commission as an enlisted soldier?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:00:15 -0500

I want badly to commission. I am still new to the army, only been in 8 months, but almost every officer that I have talked to has supported my ambition so far. I have about 45 college credits, and whatever my 68W training is worth. I had a decent GPA in High school, and an Ivy-League SAT, I scored a 99 on the ASVAB. So the army told me I'm smart. I didnt get a good GPA in college, mostly due to some personal craziness that was going on. Does anybody have a recommendation for a program I should look into, or a path I should take to becoming an officer? I should also mention I am married, with a 3 month old daughter, and am 22 years old. Thank you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 10:05 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:05:34 -0500

Green to Gold Active Duty Option. You still have a few more credits to complete, but once you have your associates you can apply. I always recommend getting some NCO time under your belt before making the switch, but that’s up to you. Hope this helps.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 10:06 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:06:12 -0500

If you can cover your bills then the 3 year scholarship option os something that you could do, but you wont be getting paid. The only thing the Army will pay for is your schooling. If money is a factor like it was in my case since I have 3 kids and a spouse you would have to do the active duty option which you remain your full paid benefits, but you would have to have enough credits to be able to get a bachelor's within 2 years, so essentially be a junior.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Nov 20 at 2018 10:08 AM

COL Dana Hampton — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:08:24 -0500

The fastest way is Active Duty OCS. That said, you will need a bachelor’s degree to be an officer. So completing your civilian educational requirements will be the the thing that takes the most time.

You can work on now while serving and the submit a 4187 and OCS packet.

Or you can finish your contract and go to a college that has a Senior ROTC program and complete your Pre-commissioning requirements while finishing your degree.

Best of luck and thank you for you eagerness to serve!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 10:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:08:32 -0500

The best way not necessarily the fastest would be the green to gold scholarship route. (you'd get paid active duty pay to go to school) If you are not selected then after your obligation expires ROTC or West Point are good options. West Point is free but it is difficult to get selected and you can't be married or have dependents. ROTC is more expensive as the Army will only give you a small stipend while paying for most of your school expenses. (You'll still get your GI Bill, ROTC Stipend, and possible Scholarship.

Or you could always just finish up your degree while you are enlisted and go with OCS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 10:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:18:13 -0500

Finish your degree in the Army. Your medic credits aren't worth anything other than what a school is willing go grant in a degree program. Depending on the school and degree that could be 40 or that could be 0.
Apply to OCS once you finish.
Green to gold isn't a good choice for you because you have a family to support. Your GPA won't make you competitive enough for active duty green to gold either. There are only 200 slots a year for that, so it's very competitive.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 10:23 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:23:31 -0500

Unless you do the Early Commissioning Program with a 2 year Military Jr College, there's no real fast way of commissioning. No matter what you'll need a bachelor's degree, to commission and to hold your commission. Rather it's Direct Commission, OCS, or ROTC, you'll need a Bachelor's. If you are still in school and in the Reserve Component I'd recommend doing the SMP with ROTC. If you Active Duty I'd recommend going to an education center and obtaining all 60 credits, after obtaining your credits talk to your COC and have them submit an 4187 requesting OCS. For Green to Gold you must have a GPA of 2.5 and the minimum of 2 years AD with more then 3 months MOSQ.

As far as Commissioning route I'd would highly recommend, going for it. I'd would also recommend looking into the Warrant Officer route as well to you.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Nov 20 at 2018 10:50 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:50:26 -0500

Why fast? Don't know your circumstances, don't know your motivation, can only read into your post...
My point is that being an officer is more than a bigger paycheck, there is a lot more to it than that, and if you aren't in it for the right reasons it will be a short career. Again, not saying you don't have the right motivation. But, having been a prior enlisted to service academy graduate, I would say that in my time, OCS graduates generally made better officers, I had much less problems and hand holding with them, as they already had experience and knew how things worked.... Best of luck and congrats on the little girl!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 20 at 2018 11:10 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:10:39 -0500

Look into "Green to Gold" program in the Army. Also, look up the rules on applying for appointment to one of the military academies. There are special admission opportunities for enlisted personnel that are different from civilians competing for Congressional appointments. Another course is to complete your bachelors degree and then make a choice as to commissioning route. When you get that far, talk to officer recruiters from all 5 armed services. There may be some variations in the offers each service can make in terms of when you would start active duty, the type of commission (OCS or direct), specialty, and in some cases your grade upon commissioning (normally you start as an O-1).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2018 11:50 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:50:55 -0500

Are you active duty or Reserve? Basically, have a secret clearance, be between the ages of 18-30, have a BA Degree from an accredited college or university, have a GT score of 110 or higher, be in the Army a minimum of 12 months from graduating AIT, and be a US Citizen. Contact me with any questions.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:34 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:34:43 -0500

I can try to help suggest stuff for you though I’d need to know a whole lot more...what major were you in, exact GPA and actual coursework titles and grades so far as you might be OK to go into...next, which svcs have you looked at, would you go intersvc, would you go warrant, what specific field or fields, explicit MOS or if USAF which AFSC or rate or field if Navy...given you’re clinical would you want to stay clinical or do something else? If clinical would you want RN, NP, maybe the intersvc PA program, maybe the newer program for enlisted to go medicine it exists I’ve seen the sites on it, I’ll also send you other sites go into exactly how much STEM you’ve done calculate physics both classical and modern not just classical that’s not enough differential end inorganic and organic chem pho’s chem labs for all of them as well ok? The more you give me the more I and others can suggest the vaguer you are the harder it is that’s the truth honest ok?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:42 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:42:51 -0500

http://www.usphs.gov

Look at Jr and Sr COSTEP the USPHS analogues to ROTC also USPHS has far higher age limit 44 y/o and also both ROTC and COSTEP I’m fairly sure can be used for grad school as well if you go warrant or commissioned from day one you’re gonna be expected to get masters minimum anyone telling you won’t have to do that at least part time is flat out wrong trust me been there done that (BTDT) also consider dental with oral msxillofacisl surgery (OMFS) residency they almost all offer or require an MD (allopathic) or DO (osteopathic) as part of such residencies now...trust me you want all your grad level out of the way BEFORE you go on active finally as warrsnt or commissioned if possible to minimize distraction believe me I know OK?

www.usphs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:43 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:43:16 -0500

Already corrected typo mentioned here in prior answer, the website just insists I still leave this response on here, however....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:46 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:46:07 -0500

USPHS also takes engrs and IT and comp sci (CS) for health sys mgmt, you can go podiatry as well with them if you wanna try for it, if you go for a psych field the other svcs have a formal agreement to use USPHS on 3 yr tours look for the site you’ll see it....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:47 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:47:14 -0500

If you want USMC at all look up their platoon leaders course (PLC) it’s less well known than ROTC....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:48 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:48:12 -0500

You could also try for Army WOCS for rotaryveing flight it only nds high school minimum though WOCS I’ve read is rough....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:49 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:49:30 -0500

There are also the maritime colleges run in sevl states look up USCG MARGRAD you’ll see it they all have NROTC you can intersvc that way as well....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:50 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:50:55 -0500

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Join this and read the forum pages the site isn’t all inclusive it leaves out Army WOCS and the OIS Indic direct commission programs....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:54 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:54:22 -0500

http://www.omao.noaa.gov

Look at the NOAA flight program their OIS not OCS is BOTC at USMMA Kings Point I saw it my next younger brother was USMMA I commissioned him into USNR-MMR merchant marine reserve and walked through the BOTC out of pure curiosity it’s a 5 yr flight contract as I recall NOAA is pure science if you want it their diving program is among the best in the military....

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations |

Learn about the NOAA Diving Program, which trains, certifies, and equips personnel to safely support underwater missions

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 1:56 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:56:00 -0500

Look up also USCG scholarships and direct commission rep for engrs...being Army you likely know of the Army cyber direct commission program, Navy just reopened cyber WO1 look it up you’ll see it as well....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 20 at 2018 2:09 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:09:17 -0500

Now listen to me OK? Being prior enlisted when I went from Army ROTC instead to USAF OTS many there were prior enlisted from other svcs they generally were better grounded more senior better oriented one guy I saw even had Navy nuclear sub enlisted dolphins we have a family friend who went Army WOCS as Army enlisted then got his bachelors in aviation at Embry Riddle Univ then Army released him USCG picked him up he finished as O-3, I’ve also known many maritime college grads my best friend in USAF was VMI AFROTC you can also look at Citadel in SC it depends a good deal on what you want explicitly the worst thing you can do trust me again I know I’d jump impulsively without adequate research of ALL options and svcs it’s not what you want it’s who wants you OK? I knew one guy who went Navy OIS direct commission as Navy nuclear power instructor I’ve got friends who were Navy OCS Navy 6 yr nuclear then electronics he had to switch so trust me I’ve been around I totally bollixed myself up because I leaped without looking I’d wanted clinical at the svc med school USUHS then also had wanted USPHS I wound up line engineer because I was an impulsive overeager over ambitious idiot candidly without clue one what I was doing what to ask who to ask...take your time elaborate as I’d said and I and others here can try help you OK? No rush if you wanna chat just ask OK? Remember detailed biosketch from you OK? Tho right comprehensive hobbies interests reading sports info martial arts and above all your objectives motivations and ambitions or ranges thereof OK?

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Nov 20 at 2018 6:58 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 18:58:56 -0500

You should look at the ROTC Green to Gold program. They have 2,3, and 4 year scholarships depending on how long it will take you to graduate from college. They also have a 2-year active duty option where you would stay on active duty while you finish school. You would have to be able to finish in 20 months though. One issues with Green to Gold is that is does require 2 years time in service but that can be waived. Being married with one child is not an issue since you can have 2 dependents. Whatever path you take, you will need a bachelor's degree. Here is the site for Green to Gold.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/green-to-gold.html

Green to Gold

If you are an enlisted Soldier, and you wish to earn a college degree and become and Officer, then the Army Green to Gold program is for you. Get money for college through one of several scholarship options and earn your commission as an Officer.

Response by LTC Doug Fenwick made Nov 21 at 2018 2:56 PM

LTC Doug Fenwick — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 14:56:33 -0500

Get your degree. The fastest way to a fully accredited degree online and can be done st a low price is the Western Govenors University. And get the degree in hard core Cyber. You may be able to get a direct commission after completing.