OCS
OCS
Posted on Aug 31, 2024
Am I eligible to become an officer through OTS/OCS if I'm 37 with no previous military experience?
6.09K
32
15
4
4
0
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 20 d 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.
(11)
(0)
Joey Fredrick
Thanks for the detailed info, this is very helpful! I do have a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting. I’m interested in the National Guard and Coast Guard as well so I will investigate those also for Texas.
(2)
(0)
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.
(0)
(0)
4
4
0
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.
(4)
(0)
2
2
0
Did you go talk to a recruiter before coming here? They have the most current info.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google