What was your Enlisted to Officer Commissioning source?

2015-05-15T08:14:21-04:00

The Transition from Enlisted to Officer was a key turn of events in my career. I know there are various program in all services and that many times young enlisted do not know about them. I thought it would be good to start a post where people list their source and a brief description of how they met the requirements and how the program worked for them. For me my source was the Enlisted Commissioning Program, now the Seaman to Admiral (name so by Adm Mike Borda). It requires that you have an Associate’s Degree that I earned in my free time using TA and VEAP. I entered the program in 1993 and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from ODU in 1995. I got select on my second attempt.

Here is the website for the current program.

http://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

Seaman to Admiral-21 Program - Home Page

The STA-21 Commissioning Program is designed to meet the goals of the Navy in the 21st Century, while at the same time creating a fair and equitable system for outstanding active duty Sailors to receive a top-notch college education and become commissioned officers in the Unrestricted Line.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 8:20 AM

2015-05-15T08:20:45-04:00

OTS

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 15 at 2015 8:32 AM

2015-05-15T08:32:44-04:00

Mike Boorda. Hands down BEST. CNO. EVER. Congratulations to you LCDR Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 8:43 AM

2015-05-15T08:43:08-04:00

Direct Commission

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 15 at 2015 8:50 AM

2015-05-15T08:50:29-04:00

Army Officer Candidate School, Fortress Benning, GA, 50th Company, 1-85.

Response by CPT Bob Moore made May 15 at 2015 10:05 AM

2015-05-15T10:05:03-04:00

I went through a board and received a direct commission as a Signal Officer.

I had a bachelor degree in business that was heavy in IT courses and a lot of experience in IT. I also had leadership experience in and out of the military. I was ometely out of the military and came back in with the intent to become an officer.

After the board, I waited on the results. I get my letter of appointment on the same day I got deployment orders to Iraq. I deleted my commission for 18 months so I could go to Iraq as a SSG with the people I had trained with. I knew I was going at some point, I figured it was better to go with people I knew.

When we got home from Iraq, we did the typical 3 AM welcome home ceremony, then they did my commissioning ceremony right then and there. It is still one of the most memorable days of my life.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2015 10:51 AM

2015-05-15T10:51:05-04:00

Here is one I found for the Army, looks like it is similar to the Navy's old MECP (now included in the STA-21) In any case is there any RP members that have used this. If so what was your experience with AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program?

http://www.slideshare.net/Army_HCRC_Miami/aecp-briefing-slides-fy15-background

AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program

The AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program (AECP) provides eligible Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard or AGR ARMY SOLDIER’s the opportunity to complete a Bach…

Response by Capt Matthew Avila made May 22 at 2015 12:50 PM

2015-05-22T12:50:32-04:00

I came in through LEAD (leaders encouraging airmen development). It's designed for airmen under the age of 23 as of USAFA basic training start date, with no dependents, and meeting SAT/ACT scores and any high school or college transcripts they've earned to enter the U.S. Air Force Academy as a cadet. It is a four year program (5 if you go to the preparatory school) where your earn your B.S., and you commission as a second lieutenant in the USAF after graduation.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Feb 17 at 2017 9:46 PM

2017-02-17T21:46:58-05:00

US Army Officer Candidate School at Ft Benning, GA.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Apr 5 at 2018 7:29 PM

2018-04-05T19:29:35-04:00

MECEP. At the time regular commissions were granted (which was a big deal). Reserve officers (NROTC) had to compete for a regular commission. MECEP was second only to the military academies in terms of its benefits. The four years I spent in college counted as AD time toward retirement. I consider myself very fortunate to have been selected for MECEP as there were so many highly qualified applicants. It is not the easiest way to earn a commission. Were it not for my supervisor AT1 Rudy DeSoto encouraging me to take college classes with him and to see what commissioning programs I qualified for I probably would never have put in for it. Most people have to apply more than once before they are selected and for me, it was the first and last time I could apply without an age waiver. Getting selected was an answer to prayer.

Response by CPT Jerry Lucas made Oct 25 at 2023 5:19 AM

2023-10-25T05:19:41-04:00

Prior Army active duty, Army Reserve E-4, Army ROTC through the Simultaneous Membership Program. I entered SMP in August 1979, promoted to E-5, and was commissioned in May 1981. I received my Army Reserve pay for attending drills and an ROTC stipend of $100 per month. From what I was told, I was one of the first SMP cadets.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Oct 25 at 2023 11:36 AM

2023-10-25T11:36:13-04:00

ROTC

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 25 at 2023 11:55 AM

2023-10-25T11:55:07-04:00

Officer Candidate School. I enlisted with a BA and a very good ASVAB score. I had been in a couple of years in a Rifle Squad, I was getting ready to attend what was then PLDC when the BNXO came around soliciting all the qualified soldiers to try OCS. I took him up on the offer.
Now I think TAC Officers still blow and OCS was the only school I thought was a waste, but ended up tied for top student and Commissioned Infantry. This was mid 1980 when they were manning on the Light units, while I chose Infantry, a lot of my Basic Course classmates didn't have Infantry on their list of Branches. Needs of the Army.