Here are 4 ways to become a Commissioned Officer in the US Army. You needn’t think hard, because whichever one you choose will take you to the same destination.
The ‘Direct’ Approach
Candidates who wish to take the direct approach can make contact with any of the professional branches of the US Army, specifically, Army Chaplains Corps; Army Medical Corps; and JAG – Judge Advocate General Corps
These branches run their own Officer Training Programs. To qualify for admission, candidates will need to meet the minimum requirements specified by each branch, and possess a college degree.
Here, the curriculum includes military career-specific courses that teach candidates the leadership skills they’ll need to lead men in real life using examples from US Military history. The program also teaches candidates how to make their individual skills compatible with standard military procedures.
US Military Academy
A second way to become an Army Officer is to apply for admission to the US Military Academy at West Point. This is an institution that has produced the nation’s finest leaders. To qualify for admission, candidates will need to be US citizens; single; between 17 and 23 years of age; non-pregnant (in the case of women); have no current legal obligation/custody of children; possess appreciable academic record in high school/college and high CAT or ACT scores; and possess a service-connected nomination OR congressional nomination;
Officer Candidate School
A third way is to enroll with an Officer Candidate School – OCS. Here, candidates who have completed the mandatory Basic Combat Training (BCT) can apply. Following BCT, candidates will be required to undergo rigorous, 14-week training, on completion of which, they will be admitted for the ‘Officer Basic Course’.
Admission requires candidates to be between 19 and 29 years of age; a US citizen; be of good moral standing; have a 4-year college degree or higher; and possess sound physical health.
Another excellent way to become a Commissioned Officer is to seek admission at the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps – ROTC.
