Posted on Sep 2, 2020
How competitive is the OCS selection process? How will going enlisted first impact my competitiveness?
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Prior to Monday, my plan was to pursue the route of OCS. This would be going as a civilian and filing a packet. I have no prior service. I did not do ROTC. I graduated college with a few dings along the way, but I finished with a 2.879 (not the greatest, I know). Sharing all of this with the recruiter as well as telling them who would be writing my letters of recommendation, they gave me some honest feedback. That I am not competitive enough. My GPA wasn’t high, my letters aren’t from anyone notable (associate professor, professor/boss [with prior military service as an NCO], associate pastor [associate pastor is second in charge at this church]) and the current climate of applying for OCS as a civilian is very very competitive right now. They stated, “Instead of competing on a local level like you used to, now you’re competing on a national level.” With all of this being described and some further discussion, the plan is to enlist for a few years then push for an OCS packet. I have read on other places that that is next to impossible, but I know everyone on here, just like that recruiter is a straight shooter. This post is not meant to say that I don’t believe the recruiter, but only to do my due diligence and sure up any information. Moving on to the questions:
1) Is the climate for OCS more competitive now than it was, ex. 10 years ago?
2) Does the process consist of a national comparison rather than a local one?
3) Is going Enlisted first going to be a detriment to an OCS Packet?
4) Am I as uncompetitive as it seems?
Note: Whether I go Enlisted or end up going OCS, it does not really matter. My reasons for wanting to join remain the same. It was never about the money, benefits, or what ever prestige might come with it. I want to join because a multitude of other reasons. Again, this is not to discredit my recruiter or draw negative conclusions about anything, I am simply doing my due diligence. I apologize if this is not an appropriate question, the information online is rather fickle . Any information or opinion is appreciated. Feel free to be direct.
Update: After thought, some prayer, and some additional motivation, I’ve decided to Enlist. If all goes according to plan, MEPS will be next week and the report date is the 9th of October. Thanks for the advice everyone, I greatly appreciate it. God willing, I’ll be able to call myself one of y’all by the end of basic.
1) Is the climate for OCS more competitive now than it was, ex. 10 years ago?
2) Does the process consist of a national comparison rather than a local one?
3) Is going Enlisted first going to be a detriment to an OCS Packet?
4) Am I as uncompetitive as it seems?
Note: Whether I go Enlisted or end up going OCS, it does not really matter. My reasons for wanting to join remain the same. It was never about the money, benefits, or what ever prestige might come with it. I want to join because a multitude of other reasons. Again, this is not to discredit my recruiter or draw negative conclusions about anything, I am simply doing my due diligence. I apologize if this is not an appropriate question, the information online is rather fickle . Any information or opinion is appreciated. Feel free to be direct.
Update: After thought, some prayer, and some additional motivation, I’ve decided to Enlist. If all goes according to plan, MEPS will be next week and the report date is the 9th of October. Thanks for the advice everyone, I greatly appreciate it. God willing, I’ll be able to call myself one of y’all by the end of basic.
Posted in these groups: 
Recruiting
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Recruiting Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 13
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If you want to be an Officer submit a package. If you want to enlist then Enlist. What you shouldn't do is enlist because the recruiter who has a quota to fill says you should. Don't take advice from folks who haven't been through the process. Worst case you don't get accepted and you enlist anyway. You miss every shot you don't take.
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LTC (Join to see)
On the other hand, if he applies and is rejected and then enlists and applies again later, he'll have that prior rejection as a black mark on his record. Straight up, no bullshit, his chances of getting accepted with a 2.879 GPA and no recommendations from military officers are zero. It would be different if the military was currently short of LTs, but it's not and the OCS selection process is much more competitive. Much better shot at eventually becoming an officer if he enlists and serves 3-4 years and then applies as a high speed NCO.
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I’ve never heard of anyone making it into OCS with a GPA below a 3.0. You’re recruiter wasn’t lying to you about that. You are competing against everyone in the world who meets the same requirements: American citizen, 110 GT score, bachelor degree, no criminal record and good physical health. It’s much more competitive than it was a decade ago because we’re no longer in a huge war like Iraq where we took anyone with a pulse. 10-15 years ago you could be a felon and join, you could go to OCS with an associate degree.
You could certainly have a better chance of being selected for OCS after distinguishing yourself above your peers while you’re enlisted. The GPA is important, but excelling at your work performance is just as important. There are things like Soldier of the Year competition and exclusive clubs like the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club you can try out for that will set you way ahead of your peers and earn the letters of recommendation higher ranking officers that will carry more weight to the OCS board. Most OCS applicants are currently serving enlisted Soldiers, so you lose nothing by doing that
You could certainly have a better chance of being selected for OCS after distinguishing yourself above your peers while you’re enlisted. The GPA is important, but excelling at your work performance is just as important. There are things like Soldier of the Year competition and exclusive clubs like the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club you can try out for that will set you way ahead of your peers and earn the letters of recommendation higher ranking officers that will carry more weight to the OCS board. Most OCS applicants are currently serving enlisted Soldiers, so you lose nothing by doing that
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CPT (Join to see)
Well, one can always try a USAR approach. I was writing ASVAB score waiver memos as a 1LT company commander willing to take OCS candidates on for those with a GT score between 105-109.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
He is right. When you are a soldier with designs on OCS, you need to be an all around stud.
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Consider the process aspect of it. As a civilian you are in a position unique to the enlisted soldier. You have the recruiter backing you. As a soldier on the inside the entire process will have to go through your chain of command. That could be as lucky as a Company Commander taking you under his wing to being controlled by your squad leader holding up the entire process that has to go through your chain of command one by one for every single action.
That's not to say you can't go your full enlistment, get out, and then have the experience as a soldier and once out then try OCS again from the outside.
Recommendation............... Try the civilian to OCS route. If you fail then enlist, do your contract, and then try again. Rank up as fast as you can, make SGT, and pick an MOS that has a low promotion point threshold. You should be able to make E5 inside of 3 years (I did it in two) if you start as SPC. Then you are applying as a prior service NCO.
Be prepared for things to suck if you try to submit an OCS packet WHILE you are in.
That's not to say you can't go your full enlistment, get out, and then have the experience as a soldier and once out then try OCS again from the outside.
Recommendation............... Try the civilian to OCS route. If you fail then enlist, do your contract, and then try again. Rank up as fast as you can, make SGT, and pick an MOS that has a low promotion point threshold. You should be able to make E5 inside of 3 years (I did it in two) if you start as SPC. Then you are applying as a prior service NCO.
Be prepared for things to suck if you try to submit an OCS packet WHILE you are in.
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