Minimum College GPA to Qualify for Army OCS?

2018-10-12T11:34:44-04:00

My son is a college graduate and is interested in going to Army OCS. He's 24 years old and in excellent physical condition. He was a solid C student while in college so his GPA was not stellar, but it was more due to a lack of effort than lack of intelligence. He's snapped out of it now and has realized the value of giving everything he does his very best (be all you can be!), and he REALLY wants to be an Army officer, but the recruiter he spoke with is insisting he can't go to Army OCS without a higher GPA.

My understanding is that the Army does not have a minimum GPA requirement for OCS -- so long as the person applying has earned a degree from an accredited college/university and has no other issues, they are qualified to be considered.

Is that still true -- that the degree itself is the main criteria -- or have the standards changed for admission to OCS and there is now a minimum GPA required?

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Oct 12 at 2018 11:43 AM

2018-10-12T11:43:25-04:00

That is my understanding

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 12 at 2018 11:56 AM

2018-10-12T11:56:49-04:00

This is a competitive process, so I think the GPA is a criteria for OCS.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 12 at 2018 12:04 PM

2018-10-12T12:04:08-04:00

Patricia McIntosh-Mize, this link doesn't mention minimum GPA requirements, but if you Google the question, I think you'll get more definitive answers.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html

Officer Candidate School and Army OCS Requirements

Army Officer Candidate School gives college graduates an opportunity to be leaders and officers for Active Duty or Army Reserve. Learn about Army OCS requirements.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 12:10 PM

2018-10-12T12:10:01-04:00

I was reading it is a big determinant for active-duty. I was the not the most Stellar student and my cumulative GPA was 2.84. I did not go into OCS to the California Army National Guard until way later. When I was completing my course most recent course CGSOC, I had a commutative average of 92%. If your Son does not get selected, tell him to go into an Army Reserve or National Guard unit and later go to OCS and he will make it! I am proof positive that you can reinvent yourself. I went in as an officer when I was almost 34 years old. My next Duty assignment will be as a deputy commander of a regional support group so don't let this situation phase you or your son! Patience and persistence will pay off.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 12:13 PM

2018-10-12T12:13:45-04:00

OCS has a lot of benefits, he might also consider a direct commission.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/become-an-officer/how-to-become-an-officer-in-the-army/direct-commission.html

Army Direct Commission Officers

Learn about Army direct commission requirements. The eligible areas for direct commission are the Army Medical Department, Jag Corps and the Army Chaplain Corps.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 12:17 PM

2018-10-12T12:17:12-04:00

If your son can run 2 miles in under 13 minutes and do over 100 pushups and do over 85 sit-ups then he will be looked favorably by the Cadre. The Army is changing the physical fitness test in 2 years and being a PT stud will be much harder. When I was younger, I could do those standards I just described. It open doors for me even though I wasn't the sharpest pencil in the bunch. Physical fitness will help your son greatly!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 12 at 2018 12:24 PM

2018-10-12T12:24:08-04:00

Patricia McIntosh-Mize commissioning requirements fluctuates based on accession goals. Perhaps another recruiter? Did he talk to an OCS specific recruiter or was it the local area recruiter? The link below will take you to OCS recruiters.

My academic record was not stellar either. On paper I was not a rocket surgeon, however I was not in the right academic field.

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/current-and-prior-service/advance-your-career/officer-candidate-school.html

Other options
- enlist and attempt OCS as an enlisted soldier. Enroll in a few college classes to work on a new GPA.
- go back to school and either get a masters or second bachelor's in something and that is easier to pump up the GPA. Enroll in ROTC.

Officer Candidate School and Army OCS Requirements

Army Officer Candidate School gives college graduates an opportunity to be leaders and officers for Active Duty or Army Reserve. Learn about Army OCS requirements.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 12:27 PM

2018-10-12T12:27:52-04:00

I saw this recently
https://youtu.be/ybD9IIUBE_A

5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Doing ROTC

I recently got asked to make a 5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Joined the Army video and decided to make one for ROTC first. These are the 5 things I th...

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 1:07 PM

2018-10-12T13:07:55-04:00

According to my criteria sheet for entrance into OCS you had to have a GT score of 110 or higher in addition to my Bechelors degree. The GPA wasn't a consideration...that I am aware of.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 3:31 PM

2018-10-12T15:31:53-04:00

Go back to school and do ROTC while getting a masters

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 12 at 2018 4:32 PM

2018-10-12T16:32:17-04:00

No minimum GPA. They only care that he has the degree and his ASVAB scores. Talk to a different recruiter.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2018 5:18 PM

2018-10-12T17:18:36-04:00

I am currently a recruiter for the Army, and i assure you that GPA is taken into consideration. To apply for PCS, the applicant has to appear before a board usually consisting of company commanders and the battalion commander. The GPA is not a disqualifier, but it is something they strongly consider and will question during the interview. I can tell you that in ROTC, A 2.8 GPA won't be competitive enough to get an active duty officer position.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Oct 13 at 2018 1:00 PM

2018-10-13T13:00:17-04:00

Well, I guess the old mantra of "2.0's a GO" may need to be reconsidered.

My GPA wasn't stellar either and I made it in and have lasted this long.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2018 8:08 PM

2018-10-13T20:08:43-04:00

I just went through the process. As long as he has his degree, he should be fine. However, if the topic comes up during the interview, then he has to be able to explain why his GPA is low. As long as he has solid reasons, then he's good to go.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 14 at 2018 5:43 PM

2018-10-14T17:43:12-04:00

I told my kids to try hard in life, that will minimize the bridges you burn.

Response by SPC Ray Hicks made Oct 14 at 2018 9:28 PM

2018-10-14T21:28:58-04:00

Everyone taking basic training , almost right off the bat we were all marched across base Ft. Ord (1969) and tested for days on end not physical just paper . I one failed they were removed to their assembly area to wait finally after 3 days of passing , I realized all my platoon were in formation outside waiting for the last man (me and two others to keep passing those tests. ie getting up tight . so on the 3rd day I purposely failed . Yet still I qualified for OCS . Hint last time I looked 4 yr grad is almost an automatic acceptance for OCS or possibly commission as a 2nd LT. but that was many moons ago

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2018 12:36 AM

2018-10-15T00:36:59-04:00

Why be concerned about minimum standards? Shoot for the Moon. OCS is just about guaranteed with a 4.0 GPA!!!

Response by 1LT Matthew Robles made Oct 15 at 2018 4:13 PM

2018-10-15T16:13:33-04:00

My recommendation is to find a recruiter that is willing to work with him to build an OCS packet. How the board considers GPA is heavily dependent on the major the applicant pursued. STEM degrees are given more leeway than liberal arts degrees which is why I think a minimum GPA requirement is suspect.

Have your son find a new recruiter/station and walk in with the intention to build an OCS packet. Enlisting is a much quicker route for recruiters which incentivizes them to talk potential recruits into a regular enlistment. While enlisting a recruit into OCS is worth more in points, the process is lengthy and the chance for something to interrupt it is higher.

To be crass, you don't want someone building a packet for your son that doesn't think he will be selected or doesn't want him to commission.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 10:14 AM

2018-10-23T10:14:40-04:00

Just lock the little bastard up in the basement for two weeks, give him sammiches and ASVAB books. Then send him over to the MEPS building to take the ASVAB. Cross fingers for 110GT+ and a smiling young dapper dan man....and he'll be off to the races. Oh, throw a treadmill down there too....don't want him failing the entrance PT test.

Response by COL James Krilich made Oct 26 at 2018 10:19 AM

2018-10-26T10:19:18-04:00

Your screwing everything up. OCS is for enlisted people that are in the army that have proven themselves capable of being a leader. Having mommy try to create a contract with a recruiter that guarantees that her baby can get a guaranteed classroom seat - in OCS is as backwards and insulting as it gets. Your baby should simply enlist in the Army and then after a year, apply for OCS .

Response by COL James Krilich made Oct 26 at 2018 11:10 AM

2018-10-26T11:10:37-04:00

OCS candidates should be selected from applicants that are within the ranks. I used to tell my solders - forget everything you mom every told you - it will get you killed. Listen to you NCO that wears a CIB. Experience as a junior ranking soldier is essential to becoming a good officer from OCS. Without troop experience you child will not do well in OCS and worse as a new butter bar - that thinks they know what they are doing.