16. Can you tell me about the Officer Candidate School (OCS)? How do I become an officer?
Your first question should be, why do you want to be an officer? If you say "more money", that is the wrong answer. As an officer, you have be able to "step up to the plate", you will be responsible for more soldiers' lives and equipment.....the key is RESPONSIBILITY! You will literally, be making more life and death decisions than anyone else in your platoon, company, battalion, brigade, etc.. Whatever your soldiers do or fail to do, YOU are ultimately responsible. That's alot to carry on your shoulders! Are you up to the challenge for that?
There are basically four ways to become an officer. To become an officer you must be a college graduate. You can either attend the US Military at West Point, attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), get a direct commission or go through the Army Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC) while in college. Okay, so you're probably wondering what the specifics are.
United States Military Academy: In order to apply, you must apply for a nomination. You basically have to go through an elected official to apply and it is highly competitive. More details are at the USMA website.
Officer Candidate School (OCS): This is also an option you can have in your contract. It is also highly competitive. You need to have a 4-year college degree and have to meet some other basic requirements. Once you successfully complete BT, you'll go on to OCS. If you are interested in this, please let your recruiter know! Also be sure to visit a recent recruit's site at Nicholas Moran's OCS Diary.
Direct Commission: This is a way to enter the Army as an officer if you have a professional degree, such as being an attorney, doctor, dentist, nurse, veterinarian, clergy, etc. Plus, you must enter into the Army in that career field.
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC): Army ROTC is basically a college elective. In addition to your regular college courseload, you will be taking military classes, going on military exercises, training with the other ROTC cadets, doing PT a few mornings a week, etc. This is the route I took. You apply for it (I applied for an ROTC scholarship to pay for my college). Once you are accepted, you become part of your school's ROTC Program. My college did not have a program, but I was accepted at a neighboring college and had to commute 30 minutes a few times a week to participate. ROTC also runs similar camps to basic training, called Basic Camp and Advanced Camp. These are run in the summers and emphasis the same skills you would learn in basic, as well as a big emphasis on leadership skills. Not all ROTC graduates go on to serve in the Reserves. I was granted an active commission. Again, this is a great way to become an officer (okay, I'm biased).
