Posted on Jun 12, 2018
Why do all OCS requirements listed in every publication say applicant must have less than 10 years AFS before commissioning to be qualified?
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But the GO ARMY recruiting website says no more than 6 years? I have a 6 year enlistment that end with 6 years and 8 months. Now I want to go OCS; why are the recruiters on the website saying I am ineligible?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
Check AR 350-51 and any updated MILPER Messages; and your career counselor for that lates and greatest information. The rule of thumb is no more than 9 years but DA might tinker every now and then with requirements based on needs.
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Remember; in the Army nothing is as simple as it seems. Regulations are treated as guidelines only and arbitrarily changing timelines are common. Regulations state 10 years and HRD stipulates six years, so recruiters follow the HRD timeline and, not Regulations. I suggest requesting a waiver of the six-year requirement along with your application packet SGT Shane Adair. It is not guaranteed to be approved.
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Most requirements are waiverable- you might want to check with a recruiter.
You may want to check out a Reserve or National Guard Commission, via a Direct or OCS Route. I believe that you may be able to get a Direct Commission if you have a Bachelor's Degree. I went the
OCS route, but in my Basic Officer Course- we had two lieutenants that were directly Commissioned.
Once you are in a Reserve Officer Billet, you could always put in a packet to "Call to Active Duty" to go Regular Army if you really wanted to.
You may want to check out a Reserve or National Guard Commission, via a Direct or OCS Route. I believe that you may be able to get a Direct Commission if you have a Bachelor's Degree. I went the
OCS route, but in my Basic Officer Course- we had two lieutenants that were directly Commissioned.
Once you are in a Reserve Officer Billet, you could always put in a packet to "Call to Active Duty" to go Regular Army if you really wanted to.
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SGT Shane Adair
I read it is difficult to go Active after being reserve. I think that may be my only option. Is it difficult? Can I go into the reserves and they know full well my intentions?
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GOARMY is not an approval authority nor is it a Regulation or even a referral source for recruiting purposes. The source document is AR 601-210
"Not have more than 10 accumulative years of active Federal service at time of appointment as a commissioned officer. Applicants with 9 years of Active Federal service at time of application should be carefully processed to ensure that expected graduation date allow commissioning before reaching the 10th year of service"
additionally, going OCS with NO Prior Service has different criteria than those WITH Prior Service.
"Not have more than 10 accumulative years of active Federal service at time of appointment as a commissioned officer. Applicants with 9 years of Active Federal service at time of application should be carefully processed to ensure that expected graduation date allow commissioning before reaching the 10th year of service"
additionally, going OCS with NO Prior Service has different criteria than those WITH Prior Service.
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Because you have to make major or you revert to your enlisted grade or retire as a captain.
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6 is correct I think. I remember hurrying to get everything done so I could meet that requirment. Given when I joined the Army and went to OCS, that would be 6 years.
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SGT Shane Adair
I cannot find that anywhere in regulations, just less than 10 years. When did you commission? I only look back two years. fy 17 - fy 18
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