Posted on Aug 31, 2024
Am I eligible to become an officer through OTS/OCS if I'm 37 with no previous military experience?
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I’m 37 years old civilian with no military experience and interested in OTS. Am I too old? My research tells me the process can take years.
Officer Training School (OTS)
OCS
OTS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 8
The definitive answer to all questions about eligibility to join the military is "talk to a recruiter" as they will have the knowledge about all the exceptions and alternatives.
Depending on the Service, the component and (for the Air Force) the type of officer, it will differ. All this is assuming that you already have the educational requirements to attend OCS (varies by Service/Component). Note: This is specific to OTS/OCS as "how old is too old to be commissioned as an officer" has a lot of different answers depending on source of commission, Service, etc.
Note: By law, the oldest a non-prior service individual can be when they enter the military is 42 (it was just raised last year), however, for most Services 37 is too old to join (regardless of enlisted or officer). For example, the Army (all components) requires you to be under 35, but the Air Force goes to the maximum age (under 42).
Specific to OTS/OCS for the Active Component (i.e., Active Duty):
● Army - Yep, too old. For the Regular Army you must be under 32 at the time of your commissioning.
● Air Force - You're too old if you want to become a Rated Officer* such as a pilot, Combat Systems Officer, or a Air Battle Manager. For Non-Rated officers*, you have to be under 40 at the time of your commissioning.
● Navy - Yep, too old. You must be under 37 at the time of your commissioning.
● Marines - If you're older than 28 they don't even want to talk to you.
● Space Force - You go through Air Force OTS.
For the National Guard (Air and Army) there are Federal and State rules regarding OCS/OTS. GENERALLY the requirements align with the Service rules, however, state OCS/OTS schools may have different eligibility. You'll have to check with a recruiter (or just do some internet searching) as it can vary from state to state. For example, the Colorado National Guard requires you to be under 35 when you join and commission prior to 42, but the Hawai'i Army National Guard only requires that you commission before your 42nd birthday.
Depending on the Service, the component and (for the Air Force) the type of officer, it will differ. All this is assuming that you already have the educational requirements to attend OCS (varies by Service/Component). Note: This is specific to OTS/OCS as "how old is too old to be commissioned as an officer" has a lot of different answers depending on source of commission, Service, etc.
Note: By law, the oldest a non-prior service individual can be when they enter the military is 42 (it was just raised last year), however, for most Services 37 is too old to join (regardless of enlisted or officer). For example, the Army (all components) requires you to be under 35, but the Air Force goes to the maximum age (under 42).
Specific to OTS/OCS for the Active Component (i.e., Active Duty):
● Army - Yep, too old. For the Regular Army you must be under 32 at the time of your commissioning.
● Air Force - You're too old if you want to become a Rated Officer* such as a pilot, Combat Systems Officer, or a Air Battle Manager. For Non-Rated officers*, you have to be under 40 at the time of your commissioning.
● Navy - Yep, too old. You must be under 37 at the time of your commissioning.
● Marines - If you're older than 28 they don't even want to talk to you.
● Space Force - You go through Air Force OTS.
For the National Guard (Air and Army) there are Federal and State rules regarding OCS/OTS. GENERALLY the requirements align with the Service rules, however, state OCS/OTS schools may have different eligibility. You'll have to check with a recruiter (or just do some internet searching) as it can vary from state to state. For example, the Colorado National Guard requires you to be under 35 when you join and commission prior to 42, but the Hawai'i Army National Guard only requires that you commission before your 42nd birthday.
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LTC Daniel Rogne
For the US Army, the age is 33 years old and commission at a
34 years. Thise older than 33 years can enter the Army through a waiverable by a recruiter submitting a request for an exception to policy. AR 601-210, para 25-6, OCS Waivers, Page 150. You won’t know until go through the application process… talk to an Army Recruiter.
34 years. Thise older than 33 years can enter the Army through a waiverable by a recruiter submitting a request for an exception to policy. AR 601-210, para 25-6, OCS Waivers, Page 150. You won’t know until go through the application process… talk to an Army Recruiter.
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LTC David Merritt
I was 38 when I joined the Army. I was a Masters Degree Physician Assistant. They made me a 2LT, and I made CPT in 14 months (I was in an SF Unit). Went to ABN school, Flight Surgeon school, Navy Dive School (DMO). Then went to Medical School (went into the Guard, did it on my own dime, not the military's), and then after residency I was back with SF in Iraq. Awarded CMB and CAB as a doc. Did 23 years, and did my best to make the Army glad they let me in. Out as an LTC. So it can be done, but you have to have something the Army needs, and when they give you an opportunity, grab it.
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COL Randall C.
LTC David Merritt - Assuming you had no prior military service, you most likely were handled a bit differently as you were medical officer.
Prior to 2004 federal law (10 USC 532) required that you be eligible to perform 20 years of service prior to your 55th birthday.
However, medical officer (and other specialty branches), were (and still are) given service credit for internships, required professional schooling beyond the baccalaureate degree level, various credit for work experience, etc. Those 'credit years' likely brought your "38" down to below "35".
The other possibility is that you were given a reserve appointment (and immediately brought onto active duty) as in the 80s language was added that allowed reserve medical officers to be commissioned up to age 47 (10 USC 12201).
Prior to 2004 federal law (10 USC 532) required that you be eligible to perform 20 years of service prior to your 55th birthday.
However, medical officer (and other specialty branches), were (and still are) given service credit for internships, required professional schooling beyond the baccalaureate degree level, various credit for work experience, etc. Those 'credit years' likely brought your "38" down to below "35".
The other possibility is that you were given a reserve appointment (and immediately brought onto active duty) as in the 80s language was added that allowed reserve medical officers to be commissioned up to age 47 (10 USC 12201).
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LTC David Merritt
I actually had to sign a waiver agreeing that I might not qualify for retirement. Being medical is, I'm sure, what made it possible. It's highly unlikely I would have been given the opportunity otherwise.
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Unless it is a specialty like Doctor etc, my guess would be no. The cut off used to be 35 when I was in. But the rules could have changed.
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What did the recruiter say when you spoke to them? Recruiters will have all of the latest news, rules and policies to answer your questions about age, waivers and the like.
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