Posted on Oct 19, 2020
Which is the better route to transition from active duty enlisted to become a Reserve 70A, by OCS or through a Direct Commission?
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Hi all,
I have about 3 years remaining on my active duty contract (6 yr total, 68C LPN) and will be obtaining my BS in Healthcare Administration in roughly a year. I intend on leaving AD, but would like to transfer to Reserves/Guard and commission.
My question is what is the better route for MOS 70A and has anyone gone through the process. TIA.
I have about 3 years remaining on my active duty contract (6 yr total, 68C LPN) and will be obtaining my BS in Healthcare Administration in roughly a year. I intend on leaving AD, but would like to transfer to Reserves/Guard and commission.
My question is what is the better route for MOS 70A and has anyone gone through the process. TIA.
Reserves
Officer
OCS
Direct Commission
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 4
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Sadly, there are literally no vacancies for 70A. My data is a month old but last month there were ZERO vacancies in the entirety of the USAR nation wide.
I would look into 70H and 70K.
I can only interject from the aspect of a "direct commission". You need to play the numbers. The vacancy you go after has to remain OPEN the entirety of the process, and at the END of the process you have to resubmit the vacancy memo from the accepting commander. During that time when you submit your packet till the end at selection if the vacancy becomes occupied you're screwed.
I personally think you have an uphill battle.
I personally burned up a lot of time going after a low vacancy path to only be rejected, and have to start over again once I learned the numbers game. Find a MOS/Branch you can make a case for given your background then SECURE THE COMMISSION.
Once commissioned you will be in a position to change Branch and Specialization after the fact. In the USAR changing branches isn't that hard.
I wanted Military Intel (only 12 vacancies in my state), got rejected, then tried again as Quartermaster (200+ vacancies in my state). Now, I am in a position to go back into Intel by only needing the transition course. CPT vacancies start opening up when folks end their initial obligation just as they get promoted. Basically, I'll get to CPT as a QM, then take the Intel transition course and once a CPT could simple be double or triple slotted anywhere.
BUT YOU NEED TO SECURE THE COMMISSION, they wont double slot you to give you a commission in an over strength MOS/Branch.
I would look into 70H and 70K.
I can only interject from the aspect of a "direct commission". You need to play the numbers. The vacancy you go after has to remain OPEN the entirety of the process, and at the END of the process you have to resubmit the vacancy memo from the accepting commander. During that time when you submit your packet till the end at selection if the vacancy becomes occupied you're screwed.
I personally think you have an uphill battle.
I personally burned up a lot of time going after a low vacancy path to only be rejected, and have to start over again once I learned the numbers game. Find a MOS/Branch you can make a case for given your background then SECURE THE COMMISSION.
Once commissioned you will be in a position to change Branch and Specialization after the fact. In the USAR changing branches isn't that hard.
I wanted Military Intel (only 12 vacancies in my state), got rejected, then tried again as Quartermaster (200+ vacancies in my state). Now, I am in a position to go back into Intel by only needing the transition course. CPT vacancies start opening up when folks end their initial obligation just as they get promoted. Basically, I'll get to CPT as a QM, then take the Intel transition course and once a CPT could simple be double or triple slotted anywhere.
BUT YOU NEED TO SECURE THE COMMISSION, they wont double slot you to give you a commission in an over strength MOS/Branch.
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CPT (Join to see)
OCS will give you an chance to Branch into any MOS provided you can find a position. DC you have to convince the army you are straight up qualified for the job, and can skip the entire leadership training provided by OCS. I honestly wanted to go through OCS, but my age prevented me. I suffered from missing some of the OCS training.
Also, the medical exam process for DC while is the same OCS, ended up hemming up all my DC peers. You are on your own to execute the medical tasks and no one gives you a comprehensive check list. I went back and forth with HRC for 6 months literally using up all the allotted time to complete it. So did the other two in my unit that DC'd. If you go OCS the process will hold your hand through the medical portion.
If you are young I suggest OCS. If you are still working on a degree you're going to get edged out by folks that have work experience. Right?
Also, the medical exam process for DC while is the same OCS, ended up hemming up all my DC peers. You are on your own to execute the medical tasks and no one gives you a comprehensive check list. I went back and forth with HRC for 6 months literally using up all the allotted time to complete it. So did the other two in my unit that DC'd. If you go OCS the process will hold your hand through the medical portion.
If you are young I suggest OCS. If you are still working on a degree you're going to get edged out by folks that have work experience. Right?
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) thanks for the response sir. As far as speaking to a career counselor for any commissioned officer opening would I go through an AMEDD recruiter or someone else?
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CPT (Join to see)
You will want to talk to Army Reserve Retention/Accessions Office. They are the ones who will hook you up for commissions that are NOT Legal, Medical, Chaplain or Flight.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - I don't know about Army Reserve; that is a question for CPT (Join to see). In the Army National Guard (ARNG), each state maintains their own slots, so there is no national central authority for us. Each state has an Officer Strength Management (OSM) section that manages their officer positions. If you have your heart set on a specific AOC, you may have better luck going through the ARNG because it is a much smaller organization. The specialty branch recruiters in my state literally work 200 meters from the OSM office. There are pros/cons to both the ARNG and USAR, so make sure you look at both options.
If you are considering a basic branch, you can go to an officer recruiter. If you want to go AMEDD, you will need to speak with an AMEDD/specialty branch recruiter. Each has their own intricacies that the other won't be aware of.
If you are considering a basic branch, you can go to an officer recruiter. If you want to go AMEDD, you will need to speak with an AMEDD/specialty branch recruiter. Each has their own intricacies that the other won't be aware of.
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SGT (Join to see)
If you go the Reserve and meet all the pre-requisites you can still qualify for a direct commission. Not sure on the Guard side, you should talk to an AMEDD recruiter and see what the options are for NG or Reserve duty positions. https://www.goarmy.com/amedd.html/
I know that on the Guard side, they always need medical folks and each state runs their own OCS program, and you can do it accelerated in about 6-8 weeks or do the traditional way that takes about 14-15 months (1 weekend a month phase 2 & 2 separate AT cycles for phase 1 & 3).
On the Reserve side, there are many Medical units that need folks, the AMEDD recruiting people would be able to give you a list of vacancies.
In the future f you ever want to go from reserve to active duty, it might be easier on the Reserve side to get released. Getting released from the Guard is more difficult, but can be done. But your 368 form must be approved by your BN CDR all the way up to the State Adjutant Generals office which could take 3-6 months or more.
If you go the Reserve and meet all the pre-requisites you can still qualify for a direct commission. Not sure on the Guard side, you should talk to an AMEDD recruiter and see what the options are for NG or Reserve duty positions. https://www.goarmy.com/amedd.html/
I know that on the Guard side, they always need medical folks and each state runs their own OCS program, and you can do it accelerated in about 6-8 weeks or do the traditional way that takes about 14-15 months (1 weekend a month phase 2 & 2 separate AT cycles for phase 1 & 3).
On the Reserve side, there are many Medical units that need folks, the AMEDD recruiting people would be able to give you a list of vacancies.
In the future f you ever want to go from reserve to active duty, it might be easier on the Reserve side to get released. Getting released from the Guard is more difficult, but can be done. But your 368 form must be approved by your BN CDR all the way up to the State Adjutant Generals office which could take 3-6 months or more.
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Going to be hard, but not impossible. Since there have been restructuring quite a few 70 series have been separated from AD and pushed into the reserves. Guidance just came out late last fy that usarc was offering 70 series officers opportunities to rebranch. Seems it may be overstrength esp. since the rotc kids can auto commission as 70 series before they go to med school. Best of luck.
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CPT (Join to see)
Oh yea, forgot about the RE-Branch milper for 70's. That's not the place to be looking at right now.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) yep. It's still a doozie though. Lots of commands are adding steps in addition to the MILPER. Fun stuff.
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