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For those Officers who Commissioned through OCS and the Officers that had the opportunity to sit on a Local Structured Board Interview what are some tips you would give a newly promoted NCO getting ready for the board.
Posted in these groups: 
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army) OCS
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 5
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Provide brief answers to questions. Don’t give long drawn out answers to the questions. Officers are expected to explain the “so what” quickly and accurately in order to facilitate decision making. Your OCS interview is a good place to show you can do that. I’ve interviewed candidates who took over an hour to get through all the questions and I’ve interviewed some who took only 30 minutes. For the most part, I gave better scores to those who were somewhat intelligent, sounded motivated and confident, and quickly made their point.
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1. Make sure your uniform is sharp.
2. Knock on the door 3 times firmly.
3. Salute and say you are reporting as directed and don't make eye contact.
4. The president of the board will take over.
5. Board members will ask general questions like why do you want to be an officer? What did you like about your last job? What kind of challenges did you experience and how you handle it? They ask broad questions because they must create a baseline due to experiences being different. They wont ask tactical questions like what are the infantry formation because it would be unfair to the non-tactical soldiers.
6. After your board is finished salute and do an about face and leave.
7. Be confident and assert yourself. I would not think highly of a candidate who says he kind of always wanted to be an officer. I want the candidate to say I always wanted to be an army officer.
8. Good luck!
2. Knock on the door 3 times firmly.
3. Salute and say you are reporting as directed and don't make eye contact.
4. The president of the board will take over.
5. Board members will ask general questions like why do you want to be an officer? What did you like about your last job? What kind of challenges did you experience and how you handle it? They ask broad questions because they must create a baseline due to experiences being different. They wont ask tactical questions like what are the infantry formation because it would be unfair to the non-tactical soldiers.
6. After your board is finished salute and do an about face and leave.
7. Be confident and assert yourself. I would not think highly of a candidate who says he kind of always wanted to be an officer. I want the candidate to say I always wanted to be an army officer.
8. Good luck!
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SGT (Join to see)
Hello sir
I have a question, for active enlisted duty soldiers who have a four-year college degree and Secret clearance and less than 6 years of service. How do he or she go though the process of Apply for Officer Candidate School. I have the check list for OCS, however, the DA 6285 form for reviewers is not found in army publications.
I have a question, for active enlisted duty soldiers who have a four-year college degree and Secret clearance and less than 6 years of service. How do he or she go though the process of Apply for Officer Candidate School. I have the check list for OCS, however, the DA 6285 form for reviewers is not found in army publications.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Get the OCS application packet. It should tell you 90%of the process. SGT (Join to see)
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MAJ Ken Landgren
If that is the route you take I can assist u further if you ask me. One of my facets was preparing the soldiers and NCOs for success. I will extend that to you. I really enjoyed helping the studs I worked with. If they were retiring and I admired them I told them I would put them in a fast track program. They would make GS-11 in one year and rest of their promotions based on their performance. They can tip out at GS-13. I said all I want from you is to help others. I really enjoyed helping them to get a life altering event that just came out of the blue. Now I have corresponded with people future wannabe OCS. I have said I will prepare them to write an essay or prepare them for the OCS board, but they never responded. I guess they know it all and don’t need my advice.
SGT (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see)
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Also, don’t even show up if your uniform is jacked up. If you can’t read DA PAM 670-1 or AR 670-1, you are not ready to be an Officer....
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SPC Nancy Greene
You have NO idea how important this advice actually is! I worked the E7 Board at Ft Benjamin Harrison and the board looked at the picture of the SSG in dress greens first. If it was ‘jacked up’ , the file went into a pile on it he floor. They never gave it a second chance! I believe in the old saying: “You only have one chance at making a first impression”! Good Luck!
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