I'm looking to join the reserves as an officer once I finish my bachelor's in December. Can anyone offer any advice?

2018-11-04T11:24:23-05:00

I finish my degree next month and I'm assuming to join the army reserves directly after as an officer. Can anyone tell me what I'm looking at as far as a timeline? How I should prepare? What questions should I ask the recruiter? I've heard they try to lie and trick potential recruits so I'm trying to do as much research as I can before I go in. Also, how much time would I be looking at being away from home for training?

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Nov 4 at 2018 11:44 AM

2018-11-04T11:44:43-05:00

Well, first off, you don't join as an Officer with a BA or BS unless you have been in ROTC or a select few Medical specialties. You would have to go enlisted then apply for OCS.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Nov 4 at 2018 12:06 PM

2018-11-04T12:06:41-05:00

First and foremost, and please believe me when I tell you, I do know whereof I speak, recruiters never lie or trick, that's a common misconception born of pure paranoia, I entirely realize why it persists, however, I dealt with recruiters in all svcs, none ever lied to me, ever, I was just all too frequently too mindless to listen, as well as impulsive in my enthusiastic ignorance, please understand, I'm saying me, not you, certainly...that being said, I have a taste for career/educ topics, so, your questions interested me...to help you on a serious level, however, as would others, I and others here need to know a good deal more...serious biosketch so far as possible, high school esp AP coursework, assocs major and GPA, spefirc course types, not generalities, exact course topics, fields you'd want, why Army also, and, have you looked at other svcs seriously...what is your object also? Long term career? A single term as commissioned? Aviation interests at all? Clinical interests of any? Outside work types of any kind, so far as you can say? Have you done any ROTC or had any exposure in high school, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Navy Sea Cadets, JROTC, friends and/or family who've been in, in any fashion, in any svc? Before we get t specifics of how long you'd be away, have you looked seriously at YouTbe videos on various OCS and/or OIS (direct commission) type programs at all? Let me send something else in a minute as well you might find useful...next, would you want to go Natl Guard at all with their part time OCS programs, possibly Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), Guard Tech or Reserve Tech, where you'd be dual hat state or Federal civil svc wearing the uniform during weekdays, then doing drills on weekends and drill intervals? Those are the REAL things we all need to know to help you, how much STEM coursework you've done, your exact, well articulated aspirations, how much you've looked at AL svcs, NOT JUST ARMY, OK? Trust me, as I'd said, I assure you, I know whereof I speak, I was 3 yrs Army ROTC going freq with my now long gone unit to train at West Point, then went USAF OTS, totally the wrong way, into the wrong field, and didn't listen when a recruiter tried to S t me on the RIGHT path...I also didn't know about the USPHS Commissioned Corps, which was where I SHOULD have gone, the NOAA Commissioned Corps, my next younger brother was USMMA Kings Point, I commissioned him, the NOAA BOTC, their OIS, is a tenant on the grounds, I walked through the bldg, our Dad was Navy, my uncle was an Army SSgt a radio operator under Gen Eisenhower who helped send the German surrender Telex to Gen Marshall during WW2, my Mom's Dad was briefly USMC, my wife's Dad was a Bronze Star with combat "V" just approved for his headstone by VA in Europe for charging a minefield, her stepdad was WW2 and Korea Navy surface enlisted combat in the Pacific, her brother was USAF enlisted KC-135 aircrew and mechanic in SAF noncombat during Vietnam, my Mom's cousin was Army armor commissioned at the Fulda Gap in Germany during the 50s in Cold War, I've got friends who were Navy enlisted and commissioned, incl !aritme college grads, I interviewed with and took exams for all svcs, other than maybe USMC, though I served with all svcs, all branches, and became well versed in ALL of the!, NOT just my own, that's the REAL way it's done, promise, OK? So, I'm here if you want yo chat further, help us help you NY trusting what I say, and giving us the specifics we need to help you the RIGHT way, OK? Benefit from my accumulated anecdotal exposure and that of all of us, trust me when I tell you, recupriiters don't lie, cheat, or trick, I was with many, knew many, educated by !any, now, that being said, maybe the might focus on their own svc, perhaps, not others, however, those I knew DID try yo help me, and, as I'd explained, I, stupidly back then, was all too frequently just simply oo dumb to listen, understand, I'm saying me, not you, OK? So, that being said, I'm here if yud care to chat further...you did give an interesting scenario, my object isn't to dissuade you, my object is t educate you, so far as possible, as to the RIGHT way, OK?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2018 12:30 PM

2018-11-04T12:30:11-05:00

What is your degree in ? I came in as a 1LT direct commission with a Bachelor’s in Nursing. The timeline from start of packet, commissioning and receiving orders took about 9months. As a Reservist, you will have to attend DCC (direct commission course) and BOLC which is 2 months worth of training away from home, but done separately. Also plan to have one month off to coordinate your Battle Assembly (drill schedule). Best of luck!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2018 1:14 PM

2018-11-04T13:14:24-05:00

Jacquelyn Olson I would read as much as you can before talking to a recruiter. Good luck.

https://work.chron.com/officer-training-army-reserves-involve-23356.html

What Does the Officer Training for the Army Reserves Involve?

Joining the Army Reserves is taking on a part-time job with valuable benefits for your future while maintaining a civilian lifestyle. Reservists train one weekend out of the month and two solid weeks once a year during their commitment period, says the U.S. Army website, while being ready to convert to active duty ...

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 4 at 2018 1:56 PM

2018-11-04T13:56:08-05:00

It depends on your degree and where your heart leads you!

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 4 at 2018 4:10 PM

2018-11-04T16:10:20-05:00

You seem to have done your homework. But I want to add a different perspective.

I was Active duty Army, had a break in service. Went to the Air National Guard and now am in the Air Force Reserves. So I know the difference between the Army and Air Force.

I would encourage you to look into the culture of each of the services. If you cant fit in the culture of your particular branch, then your time will be more difficult. You mentioned that the Army is your best fit. Why? What about the Army makes you think that you would like it best?

I can tell you that coming from the Army, I really enjoy the more comfortable lifestyle of the Air Force. The bases are nicer, the facilities are nicer, the food is better, etc. However, being in the Reserves will mean that generally speaking you will only be in the Army 2 days a month and 2 weeks a year. So the discomfort may not bother you.

Also, how will being in the Reserves impact your civilian job? I spent 31 years in law enforcement before I retired. Being in the Reserves and especially being activated for long periods of time had a negative impact on my Civilian job.

How often you deploy will depend on your MOS, unit and branch of service. It could range from never, to every 18 months to every few years. Being activated and deployed needs to be a serious consideration in your decision making process.

The other thing to consider is geography. What Reserve units are located near you? Are you will to move to get into a particular unit that has available officer slots? Does your unit of choice even have an officer position you to fill?

Good luck with your decision.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2018 5:23 PM

2018-11-04T17:23:32-05:00

Find an Army or any other branch recruiter, tell them you want to apply for OCS

For Army OCS you can appear in board 365 days before you University graduation date and you ship put after you graduate..

Or if you are getting a healthcare degree find an AMEDD recruiter for direct commission..

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2018 6:01 PM

2018-11-04T18:01:10-05:00

Well, first you do need to speak with a recruiter and do your research on what you want before you let them influence you. Yes, recruiters most certainly do lie if they're under pressure, (told me I could be Navy SEAL in the Army, but I knew that was nonsense from the get go) but if you know what you want, they'll level with you.

If you want Army reserve component, you have the Reserves (Federal Componant) and National Guard (Federal and State with Combat Arms).

If you can ensure a federal OCS slot at the school, then you can knock it out in 12 weeks after 10 weeks of BCT.

If you go National Guard, you have federal, traditional, and accelerated OCS. If you don't get federal, you will have to do traditional one weekend a month for 18 months before commission. If you're approaching 42, you'll get a better chance at attending accelerated 8 weeks, but they attrition rate is high.

Either way you will come in as an E4 through basic training, then go to OCS. If you don't pass you'll stay enlisted. If you do graduate, you'll be on an Order of Merit (class ranking) list which determines who gets first pick for a branch. Sadly, your branch will not be completely up to you, but if you're lucky like I was, I got first pick.

Hope this helps in as much detail I can give. Anything else, just ask.

Best of Luck

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Nov 4 at 2018 7:28 PM

2018-11-04T19:28:01-05:00

If you are not a doctor, lawyer, nurse, or ordained minister just because you have obtained a degree does not mean that you will be accepted as an officer at least in The Army Reserve. So plan two may be something that you will have to look at. The best if luck in the direction that you will go. Recommend you talk to all services and recruiters.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 4 at 2018 10:07 PM

2018-11-04T22:07:46-05:00

Jacquelyn Olson two options...

- enroll in a masters for two years and complete Army ROTC. You'll have to commit and go to the Basic Camp one summer LDAC the following summer (used to be Advanced Camp). If you were looking for Active Duty this course of action would be better. Looking at he Reserve and ARNG, you would also be able to use the Simultaneous Membership Program SMP which positions you to have a unit and the branch when you are commissioned.

- see a recruiter and explore OCS in the Army Reserve. You would have to enlist then go through OCS. Given the place you are at, this would be better.

Third Option: see a National Guard recruiter and explore OCS options at the state level. Some do their OCS over weekends and during AT, others domit differently. You'll have to see what it is in your state. The downside, you then have to get federally recognized.

Regardless of the route, if you successfully complete OCS and earn a commission, you would need to go to the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) for your branch. Most BOLCs are about 6 months.

Response by SFC Michael McFarland made Nov 4 at 2018 11:33 PM

2018-11-04T23:33:57-05:00

if you are going in as an officer, a recruiter isn't going to normally lie to you. I was one for 5 years. They have to be straight forward. The contract is too sensitive. Training time depends on your assigned Branch. OCS I believe 9-10 weeks if you were to go enlisted route. Then you may spend another 8-12 weeks in your assigned Branch training. USAR has both good and weak leadership. Your career is in their hands. Don't be too concerned about training time. It's both time in service and money in the bank.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 1:49 AM

2018-11-05T01:49:16-05:00

Don't be a fatty. Remember, your personnel are soldiers first. Train them as such. Regardless of what type of enemy we might face, rear echelon types are always the juiciest targets. Don't be a soft target. Maintain high standards for yourself and your personnel. Be helpful in building their careers and proficiencies. Don't be an asshole.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Nov 5 at 2018 11:51 AM

2018-11-05T11:51:17-05:00

Stereotypes about recruiters have been around as long as the military itself. My advice is don't get hung up by preconceived ideas and perceptions. I have found that these misconceptions often effect communication when the applicant has doubts or is skeptical of everything, and noise from the outside from others who have no knowledge or experience in the recruiting process and regulations, contradict the recruiter. If you go into it thinking everything is a lie, then why bother? Chances are you will meet up with a professional who is going to do their best to match you up to your needs and interests. Do your research, but go at it with an open mind and check the negative perceptions at the door. Good luck

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 1:26 PM

2018-11-05T13:26:58-05:00

Good Luck in your future Army career Ms. Olson.

Just be to sure to always get whatever you want in writing on the contract (Bonuses, Direct to OCS Candidate, whatever MOS you want, etc.) before you sign.

Get someone with military (preferably Army) experience to help you review any offers or contracts from the military.

Just one officer's opinion (who was prior enlisted as well)...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 2:45 PM

2018-11-05T14:45:47-05:00

Why join the Reserve? Go active. You'll gain more from it throughout the course of a career. You stated earlier that you have nothing keeping you where you are so why not? DM me directly if you want to talk with the officer accessions people. I work down the hall from them and I can give you their information.

Response by Sgt Jesus Rodriguez made Nov 5 at 2018 2:52 PM

2018-11-05T14:52:26-05:00

Depends on your degree. Computer science, EE, cyber or medical (to include nursing) could get you as an officer in one of the services. But you’ll need the scores to support it. Once you approach a recruiter (from any service) remember that you can always change your mind. Do your research, compare and decide. Best of luck

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 5 at 2018 6:09 PM

2018-11-05T18:09:19-05:00

Late to the party but make sure you talk to an Officer Accessions recruiter which is almost always an officer. There are different hoops on the OFF vs. ENL side. Officer Candidate School is the likely path. The direct commissioning programs are pretty much reserved for doctors, nurses, and lawyers. Even then there's a knife/fork school component. Highly recommend you don't become a victim through the bait and switch thing: become and ENL and then apply for OCS. Criminal Justice degree in itself is rather narrow, hence doesn't have much applicability in most designators. Take a look at the various career paths for all the Services online as well. You can Google Reserve officer recruiters by service in your area. I used to be an interviewer supporting the officer recruiters for my designator. It was a good opportunity to snag great people while pushing away the lookie-lous. Good luck.

Response by SGT Ruben Canizalez made Jan 31 at 2019 6:45 AM

2019-01-31T06:45:55-05:00

There is something called “Direct Comission” ask your recruiter

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2019 4:41 PM

2019-02-17T16:41:59-05:00

Jacquelyn, after looking at your long list of comments it looks like you have the info you need, but if you need more details I am an ARNG OCS instructor and can give you the details of how it all works.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2019 1:27 AM

2019-02-18T01:27:01-05:00

What do you want to do in the Reserves? If you want to be in combat arms then you need to go National Guard. If you don’t mind being or want to be in a support role, then you can go either Reserves or Bational Guard. You can do a 09S package.
It is a way for non-prior enlisted or ROTC folks to join and get a commission. You first have to go to Basic Training and the you go to OCS.

OCS for National Guard can either be traditional route (2 years drilling one weekend a month with phase one and three being two weeks in the summer) or accelerated (8 weeks in the summer or winter straight through). Accelerated requires you to go before a board once you graduate Basic Training and being selected (they don’t usually select non-prior service due to how demanding it is).

I don’t know what the OCS process is for Reserves.

Alternatively, if you have a professional degree (Law, Nursing, Medicine, or Seminary School) you can get a direct commission. You will have to do a six week direct commission course (cake walk) and then go to your basic branch course. I hope this helps.

Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Response by CPL Joseph Langone made Feb 18 at 2019 8:34 AM

2019-02-18T08:34:00-05:00

If you are really interested Look into programs for The Navy,Air Force or Coast Guard. Believe me you will be much better off. I am pretty sure that with just a Bachelor's Degree you will not be offered to join as an Officer. If you can not take Orders and carry them out no matter how they sound to you,Forget about a military Career. Luck in your endeavor.

Response by LTJG Don Heffern made Feb 18 at 2019 10:14 AM

2019-02-18T10:14:22-05:00

Having an E-5 give you advice on officer accessions is a terrible Idea. Of course you can go straight to OCS, that’s how the majority of all of the officers enter the service across all branches. This is just a garbage comment.

Response by PO2 Brian Sheldon made Feb 18 at 2019 10:37 AM

2019-02-18T10:37:20-05:00

Better hope it's a degree they need. Medical, Linguistics, Engineering. If you have a BS in History, Humanities, Art, you'll be an E-4 (maybe an E-5 with the advanced pay grade).

Response by PO2 Brian Sheldon made Feb 18 at 2019 10:42 AM

2019-02-18T10:42:11-05:00

Would it be too late for her to go Green to Gold?

Response by LCDR Sheila Harkin Stenzel made Feb 19 at 2019 10:53 AM

2019-02-19T10:53:20-05:00

I can speak to my experience in the Navy. I joined as an enlisted person even though I already had a bachelors in engineering. I did an abbreviated basic training, then immediately went to drilling. I then applied for a commission, and with a glowing recommendation from my reserve center CO, was granted a commission and went on to serve 12 years as an officer. It worked out great for me, and I'd strongly recommend a similar path for you.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 11:30 PM

2019-02-19T23:30:05-05:00

Do you mean Guard? Army? Air Force? There is not a lot of info here.

Response by COL William Oseles made Feb 20 at 2019 2:16 PM

2019-02-20T14:16:29-05:00

Go talk to the people at ROTC for which ever service you are interested, also reserve units.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Feb 20 at 2019 8:43 PM

2019-02-20T20:43:20-05:00

My wife went to OCS after enlisting. I earned my commission through ROTC. I believe that there are some programs in which you can earn a commission with a degree but they are mostly very skilled specialties like Veterinary Science, etc.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 20 at 2019 8:55 PM

2019-02-20T20:55:32-05:00

Jacquelyn Olson so what did you decide?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 4:08 PM

2019-02-21T16:08:16-05:00

Jacquelyn,

While recruiters will certainly try to sell you on the Army, dispel the notion that they will outright lie to you as that is not reflective of the recruitment process writ-large. That certainly wasn't my experience. Be more concerned that your packet/paperwork will get lost or your recruiter fails to inform you of important dates. So be sure to stay on top of that, which is advice I strongly suggest you implement throughout any military career.

1. Timeline. Becoming an officer in the military is a *long* process if you aren't a doctor, lawyer, or skilled cyber professional(?) (via direct commission) and is actually one reason many decide to go Enlisted. Since you will already have your undergraduate degree, I recommend OCS over ROTC (graduate degree program). If you go OCS, your timeline will probably be 1-1.5 years from packet submission to commission. For ROTC, that process will likely take 3-4 years. This assumes no injuries during training or other delays for whatever reason. Not common, but worth considering.

2. Preparation. The best preparation is to prepare yourself physically as the Army heavily emphasizes physical fitness in evaluations. Begin a workout routine that focuses on cardio (running in particular), pushups, legs/lower body, and "whole body" exercises in general. A year or two ago I would have just suggested pushups, sit-ups, and running, but the Army recently changed its physical fitness test (see below).

3. Questions. You need to ask your recruiter how you will be tested for physical fitness at OCS (for ROTC, follow the "whole body" approach outlined above) since the Army is adopting the ACFT and doing away with the APFT. These tests are drastically different and preparation for one does not translate into success for the other. You need to ask your recruiter about any financial incentives the Army is offering for Enlisted and Officer (to compare). If he/she doesn't know, ask the recruiter to provide you the contact information of an Army Reserve Career Counselor or even a Retention Officer).

More importantly, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I really want to go Officer, or will Enlisted give me what I'm looking for on a faster timeline?

2. What do I want out of the Army? To lay a foundation for a civilian career, or to get the "Army experience." Because if you want an Army experience, I suggest going combat arms. if the former, select a branch/MOS that will teach you valuable skills that translate to a civilian job you want.

3. Do I want to go Active Duty or stick with Reserves? Active duty will generally set you up for a more successful Army career, whereas going Guard or Reserves will allow you to pursue civilian employment. But keep in mind, unless your employer is a government agency or contractor, many private sector companies have an aversion to hiring Reservists due to Annual Training requirements and the risk you will be deployed.

Hope this helps. Good luck. The military can be a very rewarding career path, despite all the BS you will put up with along the way.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 22 at 2019 12:34 AM

2019-02-22T00:34:37-05:00

I am currently on Recruiting Detail for the Army Reserve. As others mentioned best bet will be speaking with a Recruiter. You can start the process now and go to the OCS board with a letter from your school with the date of completion of your degree. It is a bit of a process but if this is something you want to do you can start the process now.

Response by PO2 Karl Lehn made Feb 22 at 2019 1:59 AM

2019-02-22T01:59:43-05:00

Who you need to see is the officrr recruiter which I believe is an officrr also. I can tell you only this much: thr Army will require you to go to basic training first. I only know that because I have 3 friends who went Army or Natl Guard. Cant speak intelligently about the Air Force or Ait Guard. The Navy sends to to OCS for training and orientation. Thats sort of like officers boot camp. I think thr Coast Guard is the same. Don't know about Marines also. I will recommend you speak to an ofgicer recruiter from each branch to see what options you have.

Response by SGT Kenneth Stelly made Feb 22 at 2019 7:59 AM

2019-02-22T07:59:02-05:00

Geez, you could have had the military pay for your degree and along with ROTC, after graduation u would be obligated to 2 years active duty then you can go reserves.. Note, recruiters for officers are different than recruiters for enlisted, don't be fooled. Ask to speak to someone about being an officer. Also, there may be a way for the military to pay for your schooling if you commit to a couple years active duty, there are always some programs going on. When I was in, you had to commit to 6 years active.. Make sure you talk to the right person. Also, like the man said, you can do like my Senator Tom Cotton, he had a Harvard Law degree but went in as enlisted then Ranger training then to OCS..... Google him and watch his videos of him in the military.... Make sure you are not misled and talk to the right person... What did you major in, what field are you interested in? Infantry, medical, supply?

Response by CAPT Don Inbody made Feb 22 at 2019 9:27 AM

2019-02-22T09:27:06-05:00

Talk to an officer recruiter for the service you are interested in. Don't just talk to any recruiter, but ask specifically for an "officer recruiter." That person is usually an O-3, but could be a senior non-com or Chief Petty Officer. All the services, including the National Guard/Air National Guard have them.

As far a training, you would eventually be sent to Officer Candidate School which is 16-18 weeks. Then, each summer you can count on being away for a couple of weeks. Then, don't ignore the possibility you could be called up to active duty.

Response by MAJ Ramon Claudio made Feb 22 at 2019 12:18 PM

2019-02-22T12:18:00-05:00

First, I’m confused, are you joining or assuming you’re joining the reserved?
Secondly, graduating with a college degree doesn’t automatically make you an officer, are you also graduating from an ROTC program?
Thirdly, if you’re planning on joining the Reserves, or the Guard, find out what type of job you would like and then approach a recruiter for that particular unit. This is a career and you should be well informed before you approach a recruiter; otherwise, they will steer you towards a career field that benefits them.

Response by Maj Dale Smith made Feb 22 at 2019 12:52 PM

2019-02-22T12:52:01-05:00

What are your interests in life? Do you like to fly, sail or camp? Are you interested in computers and computer games and simulations, solving problems, shooting weapons, or something more esoteric such as fixing peoples bodies, soles or breaking them. These can be answered through military MOS or AFSCs (military operations specialty or Air Force specialty code). Sailing in the Navy is not quite the same thing as on a yacht, and camping with the Army is not quite the same as with the Boy Scouts, but the first thing you need to decide is what it is you like to do. Every service has their own Army, Navy & Air Force, it just may not be that services' primary focus. Being a nurse, doctor, chaplain or attorney are also options, however they are not considered "line officers" and meet differing promotion boards. Look at what you received your BA in and would you like to do that for 20 years?

Response by SPC Rodger Johnson made Feb 22 at 2019 4:46 PM

2019-02-22T16:46:05-05:00

The best advice that I could offer is listen to your senior NCO's, talk to them, express your own concerns and follow their advice whenever possible, odd's are they have encountered any situation you could find yourself in and know how to handle it, of course that is for after you become an officer, good luck