What is the best way to earn OML points?

1LT Ting-Yu C. — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:29:26 -0500

I am working through the second semester of my freshman year in college. ROTC is planning to contract me at the beginning of my sophomore year. What are the best ways for me to earn as many OML points as possible so I can have a better chance of getting first pick on branch and active duty status. What is a realistic number of OML points to aim for?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 29 at 2019 10:34 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:34:04 -0500

1LT Ting-Yu C. look in the Command Post article I wrote. It gives you the reference for the OML and what is in there. The ACC document, USACC Circular 601-19-1, is 137 pages. https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 10:31 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:31:28 -0500

You should go to your professor of military science or your senior military instructor and ask them to give you the most up-to-date oh ML point break down and then work with your military science structure to start to identify ways in which you can maximize the points that are elective types. Some of the big ones to focus on now or ARMY for school fitness test score grade point average and performance during your MS three year and your performance while at camp preparing yourself to maximize those areas would put you in the top of the middle third if you did nothing else then looking at all of the extra curricular points that you could receive in talking with your cadre about ways that they determine awarding those points will give you an opportunity to maximize your boy melts. Score and will also give you a clear roadmap depending on how many years are a few see you have on the things that you can do to manage the time that is so prescious

And read LTC McKay’s post and look at the references too!!

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jan 30 at 2019 11:43 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 11:43:17 -0500

The OML model changes slightly every year. However, the consistent things are your grades and APFT score. They will take your grades from the end of your junior year so I tell all cadets that academics has to be the number one priority. You can be the greatest cadet in the world but a low GPA will hurt your chances of going active duty. 40% of your OML score is based on those grades. A tip is that once you get your component selection, they will not look at your senior year grades. So you can shift harder classes to your final year. Your APFT score is about 15% of the score. They will look at your final APFT score from both semesters of your junior year. So the higher the score, the more points you get. You also get points for doing Cadet Advanced Individual Training (e.g. Airborne, Air Assault, etc.) and things like CULP (although this might be going away). Your PMS also has input so you need to find out from the PMS how he/she awards points. Best advice I can give is to do your best in all aspects of the program (scholar/athlete/leader) and you will set yourself up for the best success.

Response by 1LT Christopher Gonzales made Jan 31 at 2019 1:10 PM

1LT Christopher Gonzales — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:10:50 -0500

Grades, APFT, and LDAC are your drivers. Extra cirriculars can account for some small points. I picked up some for Ranger Challenge, Pershing Rifles, Cannon crew. Not a huge difference maker, really. Those are all great to pick up only after a solid GPA (3.0 was average my cohort year) and APFT (Ours was a mix of pre-LDAC scores and LDAC scores. I'm not sure of they do that any more. When I was cadre at LDAC, they flew in DS's because the grading was so bad. They still kicked around the idea of getting rid of the PT test though)

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2019 9:11 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 21:11:10 -0500

Okay, so you only need 4 hours of an activity for it to count for the year. So look at all the things that go into the Extracurriculars category, so it it in half, and do 4 hours each semester.

Peer mentor - tutor someone. Volunteer- if there's a military cemetery near you, put flags out on Memorial Day or wreaths during the holidays. Get creative.

TBH, your grades are 45% of your OML points so don't shoot yourself in the foot with extracurricular shit. Get good grades and do relatively well at PT and your help rotations and you'll be fine.

Ultimately, I got my first choice with 61 points and an ADSO (military police). I did ZERO extracurriculars but I had a 3.8 GPA and a 270 PT score. So, don't be a dirtbag and you'll be fine.