How do I go from enlisted to officer?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:54:55 -0500

So I'm currently active duty with 7 yrs of active duty service. I do not have a bachelors degree at this time but I want to commision as an officer in the army. What are all my different options here?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 1:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:00:09 -0500

You are behind the ball asking here. How far along are you with college? Are you ETSing any time soon?

Green to Gold can get you there Active Duty if you can finish college in two years.

ROTC can get you there if you get out, and start with enough college left, and then enter an ROTC program and get a commission that way.

Just finish a degree however you can then try OCS with degree in hand.

This all depends on where you are with your education and your service obligation.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 9 at 2020 1:27 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:27:04 -0500

There are 4 paths to get commissioned:
1. USMA
2. OCS
3. ROTC
4. Direct Commission

Take your pick. I don’t want to be pessimistic but as you already know a college degree is a requirement for commissioning. Additionally, every now and then HRC publishes a MILPR with a maximum age for commissioning prior service; which I find kind of stupid. But it does. Now, whit the above mentioned list, there are 2 options that are No Go from the get-go, leaving you with only 2 other options. Then, where do you stand on their requirements?

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 9 at 2020 2:13 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 14:13:37 -0500

How close are you to a degree? If you are close, then wait for your degree and apply to OCS.
If you haven't started or are not very far along, you might consider applying to USMA/West Point. Up side is that it is about the best free education you can end with a network that will be there the rest of your life. The downside is the entry requirements are pretty stiff and it's competitive.
If someone has not mentioned it yet, if you can finish your degree in two years, the Army will pay you to go to school and commission on the Green to Gold program.
The last path is to ETS and attend college and go ROTC. If you chose that route, a couple of recommendations. Most ROTC programs will exempt prior service from the first two years of ROTC and let you join in the Junior year. I would also recommend enlisting in the Reserves or National Guard during your college years and do a Simultaneous Membership Program while you are in ROTC. Having been around the Guard, I will point out that most states offer additional educations benefits on top of all the GI Bill stuff. The advantage to either is that you get paid for Drill and Annual Training periods and you don't lose any TIS as long as you don't take a scholarship. You will already make more than maximum for LT's with no service as soon as you commission.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 5:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 17:48:28 -0500

After I did my 8 years active enlisted, I got out and used the GI Bill at Texas Tech for my Bachelor’s. Plus in Texas they’ll wave 120 hours worth of cost for veterans, and you can pocket the GI Bill for rent and bills so you don’t have to take too many loans. Then I got my masters and did ROTC at the same time for my commission. They’re really no right or wrong way to do it because everyone’s path is different. If it’s what you want, just get it done.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 9 at 2020 6:55 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:55:12 -0500

ETS and enroll in ROTC, Green to Gold AD option, OCS AD competitive , ETS then OCS, direct commission through AMEDD, become a Chaplain

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Nov 9 at 2020 11:47 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 23:47:47 -0500

What is your age? Do you have dependents? How much college credit do you have?
USMA has an age limit of 23 with no dependents. Others have mentioned ROTC Green-to-Gold, but being a cadet affects your finances depending on active duty or scholarship variations.

Response by Cpl Gerald Tucker made Nov 10 at 2020 12:07 AM

Cpl Gerald Tucker — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 00:07:24 -0500

You better get busy buddy! The clock is running.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2020 12:25 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:25:37 -0500

With caution and perseverance.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Mar 14 at 2021 4:24 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:24:52 -0400

Education, education, education. If your scholastic test warrant you going to Officer Candidate School then that avenue is open. With the level of technology being used today, I would say that education is the most important avenue to becoming commissioned.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Nov 5 at 2021 1:12 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 13:12:42 -0400

My nephew is in OCS now in Benning. He did 4 years in The Marines, deployed with 1/1, got out and went to App State. Went Army because the Marines are tough to get back into once your out, promotions are slow. He was an 0311 E4 at EAS. but he listed his choices as Intelligence and of all things EOD, there’s a mistake right there imo, forgot the third. Without college no shot unless you fly helicopters I suppose. Oh, and the government paid him a nice chuck of change every month so he didn’t have to balance school with work, good deal.