Posted on May 19, 2020
Would someone qualify for OCS with a 3-year bachelors degree from a foreign university?
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Hello,
My husband (US born citizen) would like to join the military as an officer.
As we haven't been in the US for a couple of years, my husband has a foreign degree from a Czech University that is US accredited. However, outside the US all bachelor degrees are 3 year programs and not 4 years as in the US. Consequently leaving him with 3 year bachelors degree.
Would he still be able to join the military as an officer based on this degree?
Has anyone been through/ know anyone in a similar situation?
Alternatively are there legal experts that help with the military enrolment procedure that I could contact?
Thanks a lot for the info in advance :) Have a great day!!
My husband (US born citizen) would like to join the military as an officer.
As we haven't been in the US for a couple of years, my husband has a foreign degree from a Czech University that is US accredited. However, outside the US all bachelor degrees are 3 year programs and not 4 years as in the US. Consequently leaving him with 3 year bachelors degree.
Would he still be able to join the military as an officer based on this degree?
Has anyone been through/ know anyone in a similar situation?
Alternatively are there legal experts that help with the military enrolment procedure that I could contact?
Thanks a lot for the info in advance :) Have a great day!!
Posted in these groups: 
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Navy)
Officers
OCS Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army) Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Navy) Officers
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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You don’t need a legal expert. Your husband needs to go to GOArmy.com and fill out an interest card. There are recruiters in Germany he could go see in person.
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I had a US born AF NCO with a foreign degree that she submitted to the Education Office on base which is AETC ( Air Education Training Command) for evaluation. AETC approved her degree and she eventually commissioned as an 0-2.
It might be a leap, but worth asking an officer recruiter to submit the degree info with an accession package. Just need to find that recruiter who doesn’t mind working vs wanting slam dunk packages.
Best of luck!!
It might be a leap, but worth asking an officer recruiter to submit the degree info with an accession package. Just need to find that recruiter who doesn’t mind working vs wanting slam dunk packages.
Best of luck!!
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A 4 year degree is required for OCS, but you can apply for a waiver. I would think that a 3 year degree from a US accredited university would be a strong candidate for waiver.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Isn't the real requirement now a Bachelors Degree. I wouldn't think the number of years it took would matter as long as the credit hours were the same. I don't think they will waive the BA requirement for anyone except National Guard Candidates, although I don't know how many states are sending non degree holders these days.
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LTC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable - I think the requirement states 4 year Bachelors degree. Although I think that if the credit hours are the same then it shouldn't matter if it took you 3 years or 4 to complete it. The question seems to be is a 3 year Bachelors degree equivalent to a 4 year bachelors.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
LTC (Join to see) - I dug up the AR, don't know if it's dated or not, that states 90 credit hours or a Bachelor's Degree. The BA/BS only for Federal OCS is by Memorandum if I remember right. That sounds about right. Army always likes the higher standard as long as they get bodies that meet it. I suspect that you are correct, they will look at the numbers of hours to confirm/deny if it is equivalent. I found this older MILPER from the School, it lists requirement as Bachelors. https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/199th/OCS/content/pdf/OCS%20Milper%20Message%2015-270.pdf
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