Why is the Army direct commission process so slow?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:00:28 -0500

Why is the direct commission process so slow? Why isn’t there an internal system for processing paperwork and maintaining accountability in USAREC that streamlines the process?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2021 1:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:27:58 -0500

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Packet dropped Dec-2013
Notified of Selection Aug-2014

Had to complete commissioning medical before acceptance of commission, and given 180 days.

Back and forth between medical examiners and HRC medical review, oh we forgot this form, and here's another, wait you need a waiver.............. Every time a new hoop was presented I jumped through it until my time expired.

Finally on day 180 someone with enough rank wrote/signed a memo "ALL WAIVERS GRANTED".

Sworn in May-2015 DOR effective May-2015
*****

Here's the most important piece of information I am going to give you:

There were three of us in my unit (all Military Intel) at the time that Direct Commissioned . One became a Chaplin, myself went over to Quartermaster. The third stayed in Intel.

WE ALL GOT HUNG UP ON THE MEDICAL portion of the process, and didn't get commissioned until the Spring, when we all could have been commissioned the previous Fiscal Year (which is a BIG DEAL).

Look up the regulations for a commissioning medical NOW, find the forms NOW, know what boxes the doctors have to check NOW. Go through the entire regulation LINE by LINE. It differs based on age and gender.

Being green in MED PROS is not enough. You need a commissioning medical exam per the regulation.

See........... If you were ROTC, or OCS you would have had your hand held through this commissioning medical process at MEPS. That is not available to you. You literally have to do it on your own, at a military medical facility of any branch.

If you figure that out, WOW what a powerful thing. You'll get to swear in an entire FISCAL YEAR sooner which decides when you are boarded for CPT and then MAJ. There is a whole domino effect at risk here.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2021 1:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:46:43 -0500

My timeline. Met with recruiter in December 2016. Sent to MEPS and recruiter mis communicated the body fat % requirements (I was fat. I lost over 100 lbs to join) so I went to MEPS in may 2017. Failed body fat by 1/2 %. Had to wait 2 months to go back. Went back in august. Passed. Then had to have a waiver for astigmatism. Had to wait until September to see eye doc through MEPS. Then boarded Oct 2017. Then all slots were full. Got order of merit listed for a whole year. Had to re-board again. Got picked up for commission December 2018. Orders were not cut until April 2019.

Long process.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2021 1:56 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:56:19 -0500

The answer is USAREC. They like to tie the hands of recruiters, not properly train recruiters, add extra steps and extra hands involved to lose stuff and hold up the chain. It's absolutely insane how much crap gets in between the candidate/recruiter and the person who needs to make the decision.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Jan 14 at 2021 8:39 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:39:46 -0500

Because USAREC is not the proponent. They are in business to find, test, get qualified and process the proper documents and to bring them to the MEPS enabling them to join the Army, and the Army Reserve

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2021 1:23 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:23:34 -0500

It's because the Army hates direct Commission. I mean, absolutely HATES direct Commission. The Army officer accession route is purposely set up to route everyone through a preexisting officer accession process. ROTC, OCS, and USMA. Even the AMEDD accession processes are streamlined towards processes like AECP, IPAP and PT Baylor. Outside of Chaplain, Cyber and JAG whose main accession are Direct Commission, the Army makes it hard for any other areas to commission except for when there are no others options

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2021 3:11 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 03:11:06 -0500

I recently, as a CW3, took a serious look at direct commissioning thinking it should be simple as I have a BS, I've been an officer for over a decade, and even have three years PL time (taking my platoon to the field every other month for a week+ without the rest of the company). Nope. The process is convoluted and slow. From what I gathered the process is the same for an E4 with no leadership time, an E6 with PSG time, and a Warrant with PL time. I'm about to age out for a direct commission but not OCS. I guess I'll brush up on land nav.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2021 11:59 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 11:59:32 -0500

Is anything in the government fast?