OCS
OCS
Posted on Jun 20, 2016
What are the significant differences between direct commissioning and attending OCS? What would be the most beneficial?
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Direct Commission
OCS
Direct Commission OCS
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 12
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SSG (Join to see) - Direct Commissioning only occurs in the Chaplain, Medical, and Legal Corps. Basically, a candidate comes into the recruiting office with their credentials & experience in hand. Their version of OCS is a branch-specific, crash-course covering such things as rank & structure, military protocol, how to wear a uniform, and with which fork to eat your salad... if Navy, golf etiquette is included. I'll take my tongue out of my cheek now: Basically, Direct Commissioning programs are designed to attract candidates that will serve in billets that the DoD would be unable to source talent via traditional means (Priests, Doctors, & Lawyers). All other officers are commissioned through some sort of "real" OCS.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I'm a DC also. Gave the GANG a curve ball. I was offered a WOC slot with BCT but no one knew how to feel with a retiree from the USAFR. The USAR had no issue and 6 months after contact from the Reserve special accessions recruiter I was a 2LT training to be a rigger officer. Jump School, BOLC2, QM OBC and ADMOC. Should see MAJ next year.
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SPC Erich Guenther
CPT(P) (Join to see) - That is correct USAR and NG both Direct Commission well beyond the Chaplain, Legal and Medical Corps. I used to think it was limited to just those three fields but in the mid-2000's I was an Army Forums Moderator on Military dot com and low and behold there were Direct Commissions for Rigger LT's (USAR Airborne), Logistics, and other fields. I was really surprised but both USAR and NG were getting desperate for Officers during wartime and opened up other branches to DC. Not only were they allowing DC's but accepting them with advanced age Prior Service waivers. So you had DC's of around age 35-45 entering as 2nd LT's via the DC program.
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It is kinda like that immortal line from 'THEM!' (1954). "Make me a sergeant and bring me the booze!"
"Them!" is actually a crackerjack movie. Well done.
Walt
"Them!" is actually a crackerjack movie. Well done.
Walt
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