Is it possible to commission through ROTC to anything other than 2LT by entering into a specific AOC? Ex Nurses or Clinical Lab Scientists?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 23:11:46 -0500

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jan 11 at 2018 12:49 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 00:49:44 -0500

Yes, You can for example a Doctor that is a member of our American Legion post went to ROTC and entered the US Army as a Lt. Colonel. Nurses and most others though would enter though would enter is 2Lts. That isn't common but it does happen although not too many Doctors take an ROTC route as far as I know. One Memorial day He came and brought with Him some of the newly Commissioned 2 Lts that had been in ROTC with him and lived in our town. He also brought the Army Officer who was in charge of the ROTC Battalion. That same Doctor now has been selected for promotion to Full Colonel.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2018 6:15 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 06:15:23 -0500

1LT Private RallyPoint Member, I responded to the other two responses on here to make sure that you are getting the correct information. There is a direct commission ability that the military has which can bring people in at different ranks depending on their specialty. I know of a pharmaceutical biologist who was allowed to direct commission as a captain, but that's the highest I personally know of. It is POSSIBLE that there may be direct commissioning at a higher grade, but those instances are RARE and you would have to have something akin to a Nuclear Physics PhD to even be considered. The basic answer to your question is no. Nurses will commission as a 2LT. Clinical lab scientists is an interesting field and I assume you'd have to have an MD. If it's a role normally filled by a LT, then no. It will be medical specialty corps and filled by a 2LT. If you are talking about an MD or a PhD in biology or chemistry, then...maybe. 99.9999% of officers come in as 2LT's. If you are looking to skip that grade, you have years of school ahead of you and a lot of time working in the civilian world to get enough experience to enter in that position at a higher rank.

Response by MAJ John Collins made Jan 11 at 2018 9:03 AM

MAJ John Collins — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:03:56 -0500

I believe you are confusing apples and oranges. Nurses, doctors, lawyers and other professionals who have completed all of their training can receive a direct commission. ROTC commissions other branches.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2018 10:19 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 10:19:58 -0500

ROTC does commission to the Medical Service Corps, some of which are specialized.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2018 12:29 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 12:29:51 -0500

1LT Private RallyPoint Member not that I am tracking. With that being said there are programs that instead of being in the operational force as a 2LT you continue your degree until completion. I had a classmate who pinned 2LT with me and then did one last year of school to finish her medical degree and shortly after pinned 1LT, so in reality she showed up to her first unit as a 1LT.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 11 at 2018 11:10 PM

COL Charles Williams — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:10:40 -0500

What is your question 1LT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSG Dale London made Jan 11 at 2018 11:16 PM

SSG Dale London — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:16:30 -0500

No. If you apply for a commission via ROTC, you will be commissioned as a 2LT. The alternative is to apply for a direct commission as a professionally qualified officer like a doctor, lawyer, nurse, psychologist, chaplain, etc.
The ROTC route merely means you have attained that level of competence requisite to perform the duties of a junior officer. If you have greater experience or a qualification that allows initial commission at a higher rank, apply for a direct commission and forget about ROTC as a commissioning route.

Response by SGT Chester Beedle made Jan 11 at 2018 11:27 PM

SGT Chester Beedle — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 23:27:48 -0500

I've known a number of doctors that direct commissioned as Captains. They were already done with school, were MDs, and entered the Army as residents assigned to a teaching hospital such as the Madigan Army Medical Center on JBLM. A 2LT doctor is still just a medical student. You'll find these also at the same types of hospitals.
I might not be 100 percent correct or up to date, but this is from doing some study on officer promotions, and speaking to those students and residents at Madigan while undergoing surgery (by a resident who was being watched by the head of the department), or as the residents and students did their rounds, and as they were going into their specialties.
Cancer patient with multiple surgeries and chemo.... lot of time spent at the hospital.

Response by CPT Lynne Zienko made Jan 12 at 2018 1:38 AM

CPT Lynne Zienko — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:38:07 -0500

I hope they changed this, I was SFC and commissioned as a 2LT what a slap in the face

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2018 5:27 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 17:27:41 -0500

In the nurse corps, you can direct commission if you have experience and a higher degree. If you have a graduate degree and a Nuse practitioner license, you can come in as an O2, the same will happen if you have a few years experience as an RN and you come in with a specialty such as ER nurse or something. But if you're going through ROTC, it's assumed you have no experience and will be at most an O1E in the ANC

Response by CPT Lynne Zienko made Jan 14 at 2018 6:27 PM

CPT Lynne Zienko — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:27:16 -0500

SPC on an additional not, I had 14 years experience as a Medical Technologist when I commissioned and they still made me a 2LT. I have not heard of anyone commissioning at a higher rank. Best of luck.

Response by CPT Lynne Zienko made Jan 14 at 2018 6:34 PM

CPT Lynne Zienko — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:34:13 -0500

I am a Medical Laboratory Officer. In order to direct commission as I did you must have a bachelor degree and have been through a medical lab program with clinicals, have passed ASCP as a generalist or specialist in all areas. Like I said previously, I had 14 years of experience, had built two labs and was working on my third. I had two research publications and was still commissioned as a 2LT.

Response by MAJ Ronald DeSalles made Jan 16 at 2018 4:33 PM

MAJ Ronald DeSalles — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 16:33:40 -0500

If degree is a Master's Degree eg. MSN (Nurse) then rank will be CPT. PhD might get you MAJ. I don't know if MSN ,PhD can be accomplished through ROTC.

Response by John H Green Jr made Feb 21 at 2018 8:47 AM

John H Green Jr — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 08:47:29 -0500

No. If your already a nurse for example then you can apply through Amedd recruiting for a direct commission. If you have experience you'll be given constructive credit towards rank. You can go through ROTC and become a nurse but obviously being a student you will get 2LT. If your a doc you coming directly as a CPT. I have seen docs with many years of experience come in as LTC during my time as an Amedd recruiter.