Posted on Nov 9, 2022
Tom Garcia
16.2K
29
17
6
6
0
Hello, I applied for the 38G DCO program and was told the selection panel is meeting November 7th-9th. For those of you who have directly commissioned, how long did it take to hear back from the panel? Thank you in advance! -Tom
Avatar feed
Responses: 6
COL Randall C.
6
6
0
Edited 2 y ago
Tom Garcia, it's a selection board - it's going to take as long as it takes (I know, that's not an answer you're looking for).

What you have going for you - it's LIKELY that there is a small population of individuals that are looking for a direct commission to Civil Affairs that will go before the panel. Because of that, it's likely that you'll have your file reviewed in short order.

However, if you want a more accurate assessment, contact CPT Christopher Barton ( [login to see] ) who is the POC for the MILPER message. He MIGHT be able to give you a better indication of the timeline.

My advice though is to just wait it out (at least for a month or so) before you start shooting questions up the line.
(6)
Comment
(0)
Tom Garcia
Tom Garcia
2 y
Thank you Sir! As you can imagine I am excited and a bit anxious for the result. I will reach out to CPT Barton as suggested, thank you for the response and recommendation!
(2)
Reply
(0)
Gary Richards
Gary Richards
2 y
Did you get a response on when results would likely be available? Curious on the time frame as well.
(2)
Reply
(0)
Tom Garcia
Tom Garcia
2 y
Gary Richards - Sorry for the delay, I just saw this comment. Don't know why I didn't receive a notification. I'm still in the dark, please let me know if you see/hear anything!
(3)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Staff Officer
4
4
0
It's probably going to take upwards of a year, and I suspect the challenge is going to be clearing the medical exam hoops.

If I recall........... having read past MILPER's regarding 38G's because I was hoping I could sandbag my civilian qualifications toward Commerce or Economics officers and jump a few ranks myself. If I personally was to submit an application all my medical exams have to be submitted and they all have to be within the last year.

I suspect the medical standards are in the current MILPER as well.

Now, having direct commissioned when I was 42 the medical exam was a challenge. I am being judgmental of your profile picture. You don't look like a spring chicken. Get in the best physical shape you have ever been in, and get your blood panel checked. Those numbers nearly nixed me and I had to crash my diet in order to avoid the waiver process.

Look up the commissioning medical exam regulations. I'm basically saying get a personal doctor on your own dime to do the exam. THAT WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll have a heads up of what you need to fix before you get examined by a Military Doctor who may immediately red flag you.

********
There are HUNDREDS of 38G vacancies. The MILPER suggest they will place you as high as LTC based on your credentials, but every single person they place has to be physically on par with being a Soldier in a combat zone.

Medical and Fitness is probably the most important benchmark. If you are beat out of selection chances are someone was less profession qualified, but was BOTH good enough credentials wise, AND good enough fitness wise.

*************
SO DO NOT LET THIS TIME GO BY NOT PURSUING FITNESS/MEDICAL STANDARDS.

Yes, it may take upwards of a year to select you, and then they will send you to a military doctor and once they find a problem then it's too late.
(4)
Comment
(0)
Tom Garcia
Tom Garcia
2 y
That's a great point that I imagine not many people consider, I surely didn't. Overall, I'm in good shape and can meet the PFT requirements, but I'm definitely going to be seeing my doc to make sure everything else is good to go. Valuable information, thank you Captain!
(1)
Reply
(0)
CPT Staff Officer
CPT (Join to see)
2 y
Tom Garcia - To my point, my cholesterol nearly torpedoed me. It was a hidden condition because it's not checked once you are in, but I assure you it will be checked when you try an get an officer commission from scratch.

So I ended up crashing my diet, eating oatmeal for a month and brought my numbers down. Then I got tested again at my own expense and then forwarded the results to the Army medical reviewers and all in order to avoid having to seek a medical waiver.

If I had known that months ahead of time it all could have been avoided.

I was not overweight (I didn't even need to be tapped) and I had strong APFT scores, but the numbers were high.
(0)
Reply
(0)
MAJ Byron Oyler
MAJ Byron Oyler
>1 y
CPT (Join to see) - Your cholesterol levels should be checked annually and while I was on AD my provider did.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Tom Garcia
2
2
0
As of today, I have not received a status update for my packet. The only movement I've noticed online is that they updated the Candidate's page on the official website. It has some helpful information, but heavily emphasizes the long processing time.

Here is the link: https://www.usar.army.mil/Commands/Functional/USACAPOC/38G-Program/38G-Candidate-Information/

I submitted my packet in October (for the November board) and received an email in late October asking to format my resume dates differently. Other than that, I've been waiting to hear back.

A quote from the website:

"The most important requirement in this process is patience. Currently, the process can take up to 2.5 years to complete to when you would join your unit. There currently is no consistent schedule of board dates. Following the board, the scrolling process will take anywhere from 6 months to several years. Because this is a new process the most recent individuals selected for the program took 2 years from the date of their selection by the panel to be commissioned.

Again, you must remain patient, it is a long process. The speed of getting in uniform is dependent on a number of factors both in and out of the selectees control. Prepare for a long and at times frustrating process."
(2)
Comment
(0)
Spc 1 Otto Lyon
Spc 1 Otto Lyon
>1 y
This process is too long and disenchanting. Even a monthly update or check-in would be nice. At this point I don't know if the Army really NEEDS or WANTS more folks.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close