How to Become a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army

As our country stretches into its fourth year at war the soldier's in our Army are in need leadership that can steer them through the rough waters of combat. It takes men and women of outstanding character and drive to accomplish this. Leaders in today's Army have to understand where the young men and women that fill the enlisted ranks come from. They have to know their interests and what motivates them to push past their limits to accomplish the mission. Our nation's military schools and service academies supply many of these young leaders but they are not the only route to becoming an officer in the Army.

There are in fact three other ways that someone who wants the challenge of leadership to become a commissioned officer. The first is to participate in the Reserve Officer Training Corps or ROTC while in college. This is a good way for those not familiar with the military to get a basic understanding of how the military works. Generally the men and women that enroll in ROTC apply for scholarships that help pay for school. As a return for the money spent the Army requires that these cadets serve as commissioned officers for period of three years. After the initial term the officer can choose to get out of the Army or continue their service. The best way to get this process started is to first find out if the college you are or plan to attend has an ROTC program. If it does not more than likely the school has an agreement with a nearby university that has an ROTC program in place. Once you have found a program just talk to someone in that office and they can go over the specifics with you.

The second way that you can become an officer in the Army is to apply for Officer Candidate School or OCS after the completion of your degree. There are no specific degree requirements for someone interested in this route. Generally the process starts by talking to an Army recruiter to get the most up to date requirements for the OCS enlistment option. You should expect to have to take the Armed Services Vocational Battery or ASVAB. This is a required examination for entry into the Armed Forces. It tests your basic grammar and math skills. After that you will be required to take a medical physical that checks your basic health. Then there is a stack of required forms to fill out that ask about your personal work, financial, and educational history. There are other steps to the process and it is best talk with a recruiter to find out the most current requirements.

The third way that you can become an officer in the Army is by being on active duty as an enlisted soldier. There are many programs available to soldiers that wish to become an officer. They range from the West Point prep academy, which is a route to the Army's military academy. This program is open single enlisted soldiers. Another program is called the Green to Gold program. This program allows soldiers to remain on active duty, but attend college full time prior to receiving a commission. And lastly soldiers that have a minimum of ninety semester hours of college can apply for OCS. The same basic requirements exist for active duty soldiers with the exception that more waivers are available to those applicants already in active federal service.

The important thing to remember is that this article is not an all inclusive list of requirements for someone interested in becoming an officer in the Army. I strongly suggest that you search out an Army recruiter or other officer program representative for the most current information. Also, I would like to ask that those of you interested in an officer program ask yourself a few questions before you apply. What is you reason for wanting to be an officer in the Army? What do you expect from your time as a leader of America's sons and daughters? And lastly, what do you skills and experiences do you bring with you to the Army?