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+--- Thread: opinion on officer route? (/Thread-opinion-on-officer-route)
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opinion on officer route? - Zachcleigh - 11-05-2016
I am currently Army reserves/ROTC cadet. I am 18 years old and am expecting to finish my first degree from TESU before may of 2017. I am currently debating whether I should stay in ROTC and continue a traditional education then commission out of ROTC, or if I should apply for OCS in May when I will be 19?
Any opinions/comments would be greatly appreciated.
opinion on officer route? - cookderosa - 11-05-2016
Zachcleigh Wrote:I am currently Army reserves/ROTC cadet. I am 18 years old and am expecting to finish my first degree from TESU before may of 2017. I am currently debating whether I should stay in ROTC and continue a traditional education then commission out of ROTC, or if I should apply for OCS in May when I will be 19?
Any opinions/comments would be greatly appreciated.
There's a much better place to ask this question with lots of military and distance learners, let me link you: Military-related education topics
opinion on officer route? - johnjaxs - 11-06-2016
ROTC will be easier, however longer.
OCS will involve your chain of command. Your chain of command will have a lot of say in whether you go to OCS or not. If they are not willing to back you than it is likely that your application won't go any further.
My choice would be ROTC as it is the route that will get you to where you want to be, almost guaranteed. OCS is almost out of your hands and more up to your chain of command, after you have finished the paperwork.
opinion on officer route? - Life Long Learning - 11-06-2016
If you are prior service OCS will be easier. ROTC is for newbie's and long. In the end only you can decide. I took an ROTC scholarship back in the day, but wished I had done OCS just to get it done fast. You are still very young. Take some time to mature and develop yourself and you will be a better leader. I never saw a 19-year old 2LT worth much in my three decades.
opinion on officer route? - johnjaxs - 11-07-2016
Life Long Learning Wrote:If you are prior service OCS will be easier. ROTC is for newbie's and long. In the end only you can decide. I took an ROTC scholarship back in the day, but wished I had done OCS just to get it done fast. You are still very young. Take some time to mature and develop yourself and you will be a better leader. I never saw a 19-year old 2LT worth much in my three decades.
I meant to get into. Not the actually course, 14 weeks of OCS will probably be easier for anyone that has prior military knowledge course wise.
Problem is getting into it requires a lot of hoops to be jumped through and it involves your chain of command and if they don't think highly of you than they are less likely to back you. Furthermore if they mess up your paperwork than it is on you not them, many CPT's and even higher ranking Officers have never done an OCS packet for a soldier, meaning they will actually need your guidance on it and will likely mess it up if you can't correct them.
Remember most Officers came in as an Officer not Prior Service. They had someone pretty much hold their hand the whole way through the process.
opinion on officer route? - Zachcleigh - 11-08-2016
Thank you all for the input. I don't believe getting into OCS would be a problem with my chain of command, unless the paperwork was done incorrectly. I am just not sure if it would be worth it to do ROTC for 3 more years, mature a little bit more, and get another degree instead of going to OCS and hitting the ground running early as an officer, so I would have a bit more runway.
opinion on officer route? - dfrecore - 11-08-2016
Zachcleigh Wrote:Thank you all for the input. I don't believe getting into OCS would be a problem with my chain of command, unless the paperwork was done incorrectly. I am just not sure if it would be worth it to do ROTC for 3 more years, mature a little bit more, and get another degree instead of going to OCS and hitting the ground running early as an officer, so I would have a bit more runway.
If you were my kid (and my kid is only 12 but has known he wanted to go into the military for years, family tradition on both sides, so this WILL be my kid in another few years), I would suggest the ROTC route. I think that it really can't hurt to go in a little bit older and more mature. You have PLENTY of time, so don't rush this.
opinion on officer route? - creationstory - 11-16-2016
ROTC is LONG... BORING... and unnecessary..... waking up early in the morning.. going to class... going to ROTC training.. Summer Training etc...
ROTC pay sucks compared to active duty pay.
there are a lot of options out there....
OCS is the BEST OPTION... 8 weeks vs 3 years.
Maybe... consider Warrant Officer ....
opinion on officer route? - Zachcleigh - 11-21-2016
I don't think I'd have a very good chance at making warrant. However, I have been told OCS would be a "gimme."
opinion on officer route? - dfrecore - 11-21-2016
creationstory Wrote:ROTC is LONG... BORING... and unnecessary..... waking up early in the morning.. going to class... going to ROTC training.. Summer Training etc...
ROTC pay sucks compared to active duty pay.
there are a lot of options out there....
OCS is the BEST OPTION... 8 weeks vs 3 years.
Maybe... consider Warrant Officer ....
I guess it would depend...I have cousins and friends who went the ROTC route and they loved it. But, then really enjoyed their college experiences at a very expensive college that they didn't have to pay for. They liked the training, the summer training, graduated in 4 years with degrees...so it really just depends on the person and what they want to get out of the experience. My kid is really looking forward to 4 years of college, so I'm suggesting that he do it this way, and then if he decides part way through that he doesn't want to do it, he could always switch (I guess there is a point of no return, but he would know before then).