Will I qualify for Army OCS (Officer Candidate School) with no leadership experience?

Jon Murs — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:16:03 -0400

Just graduated college but I have no leadership experience. I am filling out paperwork to give to the recruiter to make a packet to submit this month. Physically fit, B.S. in Information Systems, 3.11 GPA. I have great letters of recommendation. Do I have a chance to be an officer with no leadership experience?

Edit:

I've already taken the Asvab, got a 99. All my scores were high.
The recruiters, along with the people who wrote me letters of recommendation, would gladly do mock interview boards with me, so I will utilise them.

My father retired as a CW5 and my brother is a sergeant. Just felt like including a few more details.
Edit

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 3:17 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:17:25 -0400

Plenty of people get into OCS without any experience. You can get accepted.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jun 4 at 2019 3:43 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:43:12 -0400

Most of the people going to OCS have limited leadership experience. It's a big part of what the school is supposed to teach you.
Have you taken the ASVAB already?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 4:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 16:03:50 -0400

Jon Murs; According to your profile, you are a NON-DOD Government Employee. Did NOT see any rank, which leads me to the assumption that you have NOT yet attended Army Basic Training?
Recommend you complete Army Basic & Advanced Individual Training, prior to submitting an application to O.C.S.
Additionally, O.C.S. typically requires a Commander's Recommendation Letter, which will only occur after being assigned to a unit, which I also assume you have not yet received?
To answer your question Leadership Experience is not a requirement, but I think Basic & AIT might be, so first things first, complete your initial Army training, before submitting an application to O.C.S.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 4:57 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 16:57:24 -0400

Do you want my list of all the 2LTs I have known with the same issue?

OCS is leadership training and should provide a good foundation for the graduates to have on which they can develop leadership skills

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Jun 4 at 2019 5:24 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 17:24:53 -0400

Leadership cannot be taught in a school ....you have to live it.... For instance I was doing an exercise in the National Guard with active duty from Fort Ord back in the late seventies. They were Scouts.... They were led by a newbie West Point graduate. I noticed a couple of them limping ....so I line them all up and made them take off their boots. Every one of them had severe cases of athlete's foot. The soldiers were all high school dropouts and were lacking when I asked them about their self responsibility in taking care of their feet. I also called over the medics and the active soldiers were treated by the Guard... The book smart educated west pointer was not a true leader Because he failed to look after his men. So me being an E4 did.... Others always became first... I was the last to eat... If there was not enough food I went without. In the field we used to have tables set up for NCO'S and officers to dine. We called it the "last supper" the other men had to sit on the ground...I always made sure I sat with the people I was in charge of... I always recommend officers or newby's to visit the VA hospital's talk to disabled and wounded then take long strolls through the national VA cemeteries and ponder.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 6:27 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:27:59 -0400

Imho, fitness and grades mean little, if you can't balance them out with good character.

Joining the military, or for that matter being an officer, isn't about showing up with experience. What's important is whether or not you can adopt the Army values, learn your job, and take care of soldiers.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Jun 4 at 2019 6:44 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:44:05 -0400

OCS, assuming you graduate, will provide you with leadership skills to build upon?

Response by SPC Steven Nihipali made Jun 4 at 2019 7:05 PM

SPC Steven Nihipali — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 19:05:29 -0400

Can't be any worse than any other Lt in the field... LOL. Just listen to your guys, NCO's and they're direct you where you need to go. Trust in the NCO leadership

Response by SFC William Bethea made Jun 4 at 2019 8:52 PM

SFC William Bethea — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:52:13 -0400

I had a few LT's that only made PV-2 or PFC; also SSG and SFC. It is not the leadership, it is the schooling they look for. You still have to learn your position, no matter your former rank. Officer and enlisted rank are different worlds. (My grandfather retired as a COL while my father left as a MAJ).

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Jun 4 at 2019 9:46 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 21:46:22 -0400

Are you trying to go active duty?

There are also choices other than ocs btw
You can direct comission into cyber
And if interested in the reserves you can come in as a 70D.
Ocs is another great path just know if you dont make it that way you got 2 choices that fall under that MIS degree

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Jun 5 at 2019 7:30 AM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 07:30:34 -0400

My first "real leadership experience" was being dropped on the deck on my first ship at twenty-two years old to begin orders as the new Asst. Air Officer...yes; you have (at least according to the information you've provided)a chance.

Best wishes, and good luck!

Response by Jon Murs made Jun 5 at 2019 6:06 PM

Jon Murs — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 18:06:57 -0400

I've already taken the Asvab, got a 99. All my scores were high.

My father retired as a CW5 and my brother is a sergeant. Just felt like including a few more details.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2019 8:39 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:39:38 -0400

If the recruiter and your local MEPS say you can go, you can go. Nothing bad can happen if you're denied. Plus, I imagine OCS will teach you the basics for being a leader, speaking as an enlisted man.

Also, a trick that my cousin who just got promoted to Major: Listen to your NCOs.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2019 1:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 13:33:02 -0400

There is no specific requirement to have served in a leadership position in order to go to OCS and become an officer. Be willing to learn and accept responsibility.