Army OCS mostly enlisted?

2015-01-07T10:39:28-05:00

I have gotten the impression from posts here on RP that Army OCS is by a large majority prior enlisted personnel.

When I contrast that with my own service, I see a different story

Feb 14 Rated OTS board:
Board’s selection rate of 30.39 percent, 93 applicants were selected to serve as Air Force officers. Of the 93 selected, 21 enlisted members.

Oct 14 Rated OTS board:
Board's selection rate of 76.57 percent, 304 applicants were selected to serve as U.S. Air Force officers. Of the 304 selected, 25 enlisted members.

Nov 14 Nonrated
Board's selection rate of 32.53 percent, 161 applicants were selected to serve as U.S. Air Force officers. Of the 161 selected, 100 enlisted members.

FY13's numbers were similar.

With that, is the Army's OCS program really just a enlisted commissioning program or have folks perceptions been skewed?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 7 at 2015 10:44 AM

2015-01-07T10:44:18-05:00

TSgt Joshua Copeland, Army Officer Candidate School has always been a program to commisson enlisted personnel as far as I know.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jan 7 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-01-07T10:54:24-05:00

I don't have stats, but based on my impressions of Army OCS, I believe that it is largely - I would GUESS around 75-80% prior enlisted.

It might be that the Air Force is looking to civilians because they aren't getting the numbers that they need from ROTC? Just guessing, because your numbers are far from what I would have expected.

Edit: Now I'm curious and will see if I can find the Army stats today...

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 7 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-01-07T10:56:22-05:00

When I was in Cadet Command and teaching at OSU, we had "mostly" non prior enlisted.

Yes some were green to gold, and a few joined the NG as enlisted, but went strait to ROTC so never really served as an enlisted member prior to commissioning other then weekend drill and AT while in the ROTC program.

Perhaps it is a regional thing.. Perhaps the ROTC programs collocated with a large military base (none at all in the state of Oregon) see a larger influx of prior enlisted.
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Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 7 at 2015 11:39 AM

2015-01-07T11:39:49-05:00

TSgt Joshua Copeland I know the thread is about Army OCS, but I have to reiterate what I have in the other threads: The only way to be a Marine Officer without having attended Marine OCS is to graduate from the Naval Academy and designate as a Marine. All other sources (prior enlisted, ROTC, post college join even cross-service academy commission must attend dear old Brown Field)

Response by BG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-01-07T11:40:12-05:00

I was, what was then termed, a "college option". Went to BCT with MOS 09S and sent to 14 weeks at Benning's School for Boys (although we had girls too). The college option folks were definitely the minority, maybe 20%? It was an interesting mix with SF E-6's in the same platoon with guys who had only been in the Army for two months. Worked out though as the more experienced NCOs were given challenges as the company leadership while us newbies played basic Soldiers and worked up to Platoon Sergeant or Leader by the end.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2015 12:50 PM

2015-01-07T12:50:49-05:00

I believe that folks have a skewed opinion as it is required for most branches of the Army to go to Basic training prior to OCS. So "prior enlisted" can be misconstrued.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 7 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-01-07T13:06:27-05:00

When I was at Fort Campbell, we had a former SEAL, turned CW2 OH-58D pilot, who went to OCS in 2000/2001. I'd give that bad mamma jamma a pass on everything. His stick buddy was a former Ranger Batt SSG. We always joked that if that aircraft ever went down we would just follow the blood trails they made to their extraction site for pickup.

Response by SSG Everett Wilson made Jan 8 at 2015 2:47 PM

2015-01-08T14:47:39-05:00

For the last part of my stent in the Guard was working in the S4 for OCS, Phase IV. All of our candidates were enlisted, (paid as E-6's) and had to have at least 90 credits of college. By being enlisted they had some working knowledge of the military. When I was deploying to Iraq in 04, I had a soldier tell me that he was doing ROTC and OCS at the same time. I knew it was bull and I informed him that it was funny how being in the S4, headquarters for the region and state OCS program, I never saw his name come across my desk. later I found out he wasn't enrolled in ROTC either.
I had a Bde Commander, enlisted as a Private E1 and retired as a Brig. Gen. I don't think Army OCS is just an enlisted commissioning program, its individuals who want to better themselves who are willing to go through the training. I would rather see someone going through OCS have some type of military experience rather than someone coming in off the street with no military experience. I have worked with officers from USMA, USAFA, ROTC and OCS. Some good some bad. Calling the Army's OCS program a enlisted commissioning program, the same could be said with USMA and the USAFA, cadets are somewhat enlisted upon entering these progarams

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2015 8:30 PM

2015-01-08T20:30:29-05:00

Ahhh...I think the Army does whats right for the Army. I love to see the Army "promoting from within". To me, that will never be a bad thing. It takes a lot to lead soldiers. A great percentage of our enlisted soldiers will/could make great officers, if they choose to do so.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 26 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-04-26T14:51:47-04:00

Actually TSgt Joshua Copeland Army OCS Candidates come predominately from two sources, and the ratio depends on the what the commission needs of the Army is. The most commonly known group are active duty enlisted Soldiers who apply for and are accepted to attend OCS. The second lesser known category are called "College Options or College Ops). These are college graduates who wander into a recruiter (no prior service) and want to enlist to attend OCS. They go to Basic Combat Training like all other recruits, than instead of going to Advanced Individual Training, the go straight to OCS. All who finish, are commissioned at the end.

My class (1-85) was about 75% prior service (coming from active duty; E-4 thru E-7), and 25% percent college options. We also had a few aviation Warrant Officers, who were going to get commissioned. We also lost 75% due to attrition.

In 2010 it was nearly 50/50, as OCS was commissioning at a higher rate to support the war.

Active Duty and Guard OCS are vastly different.