Posted on Feb 28, 2018
What would be the process of commissioning in the Army if I EAS from the Marine Corps at 9 years and 9 months as an E-5?
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Green to Gold
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)Direct Commission Course (DCC)
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Green to Gold Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)Direct Commission Course (DCC) Commission
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 14
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I'm just curious, must it be USMC? Also, I'm assuming youre getting your bachelors...in what major, and with what GPA, if you'd care to say? I only ask as I'd just found your circumstances of interest, when I'd been at USAF OTS, there were numerous others there who'd been prior enlisted in other services, which clearly helped them immensely...I was just wondering if you'd considered other services as well, and what field and/or branch you'd wanted, ultimately, if you'd be able to elaborate at all, many thanks....
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Some more details could help. As stated by others, there are a couple of options available to you, most likely ROTC or OCS. Age waivers are pretty common, but highly dependent on the Army's needs at that moment. You will likely need an Active Federal Service waiver, but that is also a common thing. I believe this would only be required if you were active duty, but I could be wrong.
Both sources would require you to complete your degree, so depending on where you are in that process it may be faster to attend college outright and weigh your options during your time there. This gives you the option of pursuing a contract leading to OCS after graduation, or signing up for ROTC and contracting through that route during your tenure.
I would also suggest it is highly dependent on your goals. Do you intend to go reserve or guard? Do you intend to do the full 20 and beyond at this point? What are your goals with your civilian education? Those questions kind of paint a roadmap for where you want to end up, which helps dictate the path to get there.
I was fortunate enough to be selected for Green to Gold ADO right around your timeline, and have direct contact with many others who came straight through OCS if you have any other questions.
Both sources would require you to complete your degree, so depending on where you are in that process it may be faster to attend college outright and weigh your options during your time there. This gives you the option of pursuing a contract leading to OCS after graduation, or signing up for ROTC and contracting through that route during your tenure.
I would also suggest it is highly dependent on your goals. Do you intend to go reserve or guard? Do you intend to do the full 20 and beyond at this point? What are your goals with your civilian education? Those questions kind of paint a roadmap for where you want to end up, which helps dictate the path to get there.
I was fortunate enough to be selected for Green to Gold ADO right around your timeline, and have direct contact with many others who came straight through OCS if you have any other questions.
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SSgt (Join to see)
My long-term goal would be to finish my 20 years. Aside from me being 9 years and 9 months active duty upon EAS, the only other hang-up I have now is with the new Blended retirement program. I am not sure, nor is the recruiter, if I were to get out get my degree and do a direct commission if I would still be grandfathered in on the Legacy retirement program or if I would automatically have to be absorbed into the Blended retirement. Since the Blended retirement system just went into effect this year they have not had any guidance on prior service members before January 1st of this year.
This is why I was considering switching straight over to active duty Army, assuming I do not have my bachelor's by my EAS.
So there's no break in time and I would only assume they would not switch my retirement program with DFAS and I would stay grandfathered in. To which I would finish my degree then apply for Green to Gold.
I currently have 33 credits and I am taking accelerated terms. I need 124 to graduate with my bachelor's and my terms are 8 weeks long. Currently taking two classes at a time essentially 4 a minimum full time colleges semester equivalent hour wise.
My intent now is to get as much College done as possible from now until my EAS in June of 2020. If I do get my bachelor's before then I would attempt to direct commission after my EAS to continue my military career on to 20 years as my goal.
Again, just concerned about the 9 years and 9 months being active duty and what the current rules will be at that time. Along with not having the opportunity to be grandfathered in the Legacy Retirement System and being forced to do the Blended Retirement System since I would be switching branches.
This is why I was considering switching straight over to active duty Army, assuming I do not have my bachelor's by my EAS.
So there's no break in time and I would only assume they would not switch my retirement program with DFAS and I would stay grandfathered in. To which I would finish my degree then apply for Green to Gold.
I currently have 33 credits and I am taking accelerated terms. I need 124 to graduate with my bachelor's and my terms are 8 weeks long. Currently taking two classes at a time essentially 4 a minimum full time colleges semester equivalent hour wise.
My intent now is to get as much College done as possible from now until my EAS in June of 2020. If I do get my bachelor's before then I would attempt to direct commission after my EAS to continue my military career on to 20 years as my goal.
Again, just concerned about the 9 years and 9 months being active duty and what the current rules will be at that time. Along with not having the opportunity to be grandfathered in the Legacy Retirement System and being forced to do the Blended Retirement System since I would be switching branches.
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CPT (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) -
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I think your assessment about a break in service forcing you into the new retirement system is accurate. I would do the math and look to see which one is most profitable though. I believe with aggressive contributions anyone up to 13 years of service has the potential to make more than under the older system. A particular benefit is being able to retain any retirement benefits if you separate from service with less than 20 years, something you were unable to do without special circumstances under the old system.
If I read the information right, you will hit the 9 years and 9 month mark in June of 2020. If that is correct I would suggest that the new retirement system may be more beneficial for you, provided you take full advantage of the matching contributions. If you have not looked already, head to http://militarypay.defense.gov/ and use the blended retirement system comparison tool. It helps you frame which system is better for you in the long run.
Back to the topic of commissioning, if you have 9 years and 9 months Active time would put you in a good position to recieve a commission. There are many prior service guys that I went to school with and IBOLC with, most of which are ages 30-34 with both age and AFS waivers. I dont see you getting a waiver as a current issue. However, you need to keep your ear to the ground and forecast the conditions for 2020. If DoD, specifically the Army, is in a state of reduction, individuals requiring waivers will face additional difficulty joining. I am not sure that DoD would be in that situation as early as 2020, but depending on the administrations goals, it could very easily become the situation beyond 2020. My point is that I think you are correct in aiming for completion by your EAS date, allowing you to sign an OCS contract immediately.
I would suggest you investigate your Joint Services Transcript to see if there are any credits you have not transferred over yet. I would also look at the possibility of taking CLEP exams to gain additional credits for courses you already understand. And finally, I would see if there are any military schools available to you that both enhance your position within the Corps and provide additional JST credits that could then be leveraged. Each of these avenues could provide you with additional credits hours, hopefully expediting your degree.
If your degree is more of a means to an end, I would speak with a guidance counselor after gathering all of your documented credits, to include the JST, and lay out your plans to achieve your degree as quickly as possible. They should be able to point out which degree accepts a higher amount of your existing credits, as well as highlight credits that are available to test out of.
Finally, I would decide which of your goals is your first priority. If your first priority is commissioning, then you may have to accept an other than ideal outcome for your retirement or your degree. If your primary concern is your retirement type, you may have to make adjustments to your strategy for your bachelors and commissioning timeline.
Hope this helps!
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I think your assessment about a break in service forcing you into the new retirement system is accurate. I would do the math and look to see which one is most profitable though. I believe with aggressive contributions anyone up to 13 years of service has the potential to make more than under the older system. A particular benefit is being able to retain any retirement benefits if you separate from service with less than 20 years, something you were unable to do without special circumstances under the old system.
If I read the information right, you will hit the 9 years and 9 month mark in June of 2020. If that is correct I would suggest that the new retirement system may be more beneficial for you, provided you take full advantage of the matching contributions. If you have not looked already, head to http://militarypay.defense.gov/ and use the blended retirement system comparison tool. It helps you frame which system is better for you in the long run.
Back to the topic of commissioning, if you have 9 years and 9 months Active time would put you in a good position to recieve a commission. There are many prior service guys that I went to school with and IBOLC with, most of which are ages 30-34 with both age and AFS waivers. I dont see you getting a waiver as a current issue. However, you need to keep your ear to the ground and forecast the conditions for 2020. If DoD, specifically the Army, is in a state of reduction, individuals requiring waivers will face additional difficulty joining. I am not sure that DoD would be in that situation as early as 2020, but depending on the administrations goals, it could very easily become the situation beyond 2020. My point is that I think you are correct in aiming for completion by your EAS date, allowing you to sign an OCS contract immediately.
I would suggest you investigate your Joint Services Transcript to see if there are any credits you have not transferred over yet. I would also look at the possibility of taking CLEP exams to gain additional credits for courses you already understand. And finally, I would see if there are any military schools available to you that both enhance your position within the Corps and provide additional JST credits that could then be leveraged. Each of these avenues could provide you with additional credits hours, hopefully expediting your degree.
If your degree is more of a means to an end, I would speak with a guidance counselor after gathering all of your documented credits, to include the JST, and lay out your plans to achieve your degree as quickly as possible. They should be able to point out which degree accepts a higher amount of your existing credits, as well as highlight credits that are available to test out of.
Finally, I would decide which of your goals is your first priority. If your first priority is commissioning, then you may have to accept an other than ideal outcome for your retirement or your degree. If your primary concern is your retirement type, you may have to make adjustments to your strategy for your bachelors and commissioning timeline.
Hope this helps!
This is the official site for Military Compensation.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I agree, I have considered all those options and I am currently enrolled in a expedited term degree program. I am projected to graduate right around my EAS which sets me up perfectly for commissioning.
I assume before 2020 comes around there will be more individuals asking the same questions as myself when they coming to the recruiter's office and hopefully there is a more clarifying answer regarding retirement grandfathering.
As for now I have my nose to the grindstone knocking out college classes 2 put myself in the best position for a direct Commission.
I truly appreciate the guidance and advice.
I assume before 2020 comes around there will be more individuals asking the same questions as myself when they coming to the recruiter's office and hopefully there is a more clarifying answer regarding retirement grandfathering.
As for now I have my nose to the grindstone knocking out college classes 2 put myself in the best position for a direct Commission.
I truly appreciate the guidance and advice.
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Depending on your age you may be too old for ROTC. Only option may be OCS if your not in a special field with direct commission. Check the rules that may apply to you.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I will be 28 at my EAS which I am pretty confident is not over the age limit. I asked that to the recruiter and he said I would be fine the max is 32.
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There's 3 commissioning routes: ROTC - Bachelors or a 2yr masters, OCS - federal or national guard, or direct commission - AMEDD, JAG, Chaplain, Cyber.
Do any of those stand out to you? SSgt (Join to see)
Do any of those stand out to you? SSgt (Join to see)
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SSgt (Join to see)
I was considering being a Chaplain but I've never heard of the way to Commission as a Chaplain.
I also was interested in direct commissioning, if I have my bachelor's by my EAS which I feel is doubtful considering I only have 32 at the moment. Additionally, ROTC and getting my Bachelor's through that process is another route I would like to take.
I just am concerned about my active-duty years time served and how they would set up my retirement.
I also was interested in direct commissioning, if I have my bachelor's by my EAS which I feel is doubtful considering I only have 32 at the moment. Additionally, ROTC and getting my Bachelor's through that process is another route I would like to take.
I just am concerned about my active-duty years time served and how they would set up my retirement.
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CPT (Join to see)
You would receive credit for all those years as "Time in Service." Additionally, that would you for O1E pay which is for prior enlisted and is a higher pay scale than O1. The retirement base income would be a little different as wouldn't have retired with 20+ AD years, but you are still entitled to the same benefits as a retired AD soldier
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