Not sure who all here were/are commissioned officers in the Army, but I'm curious about a few things. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated. So I'm dropping an OCS packet for the 2nd time. I did my board/packet a while back but was not selected. Unfortunately for me, I tried to get a slot at the most competitive time. From what I'm hearing, it's still harder to get into OCS as an enlisted soldier, than a civilian out of college. I didn't believe it at first but I'm seeing it first hand now. Anyway, enough of my complaining. I've got outstanding LORs, APFTs...etc. My GPA was my problem last time, but I think I still have a much better chance of getting selected than I did earlier. Branching: I would love to branch infantry since it's my MOS. I also know it's the most competitive branch along with aviation. Who here has experiences in other branches? I hope to be high on the OML but in case infantry isn't available, I'll need to branch elsewhere. FA sounds pretty cool along with engineering. Are there any officers who can give me some insight on other branches?
Not an officer, but aren't you National Guard? I would think your branch would be determined by the slot or position you are gunning for. If it's a second Lieutenant in an Infantry unit, it seems that would be the natural one to place you in.
I'm trying to get active duty and right now I'm ADOS (it's like active duty for the Guard). My commander is going to give me a conditional release for OCS. I'm just really confused as to where I stand. Also, I have a board review date set but I have no word on my packet. Also had another question about OCS. If I am selected, I'm assuming I don't have to redo basic because I'm still in and there hasn't been 3 years separation...right?
Well whichever branch you choose/are selected for I'm sure you will do well. It has been my experience that prior enlisted Soldiers tend to make the best Officers. It's always been my belief that the best leaders come from those who have once been led. In my book it's hard to tell somebody to do something if you've never been in their shoes. I always cringe when I see young LT's and Captains ordering lower enlisted around and/or getting mouthy with them. It's like yeah alright kid, you walked into the military making over double what these kids make, you get your BAH, etc. You don't know the enormous amount of BS that comes with being a Private in the US Army, especially in Combat Arms. We just got a new Captain and within about 2 mins of seeing him interact with the guys I smiled. I walked up to him and said you used to be enlisted didn't you? He says yes I was actually, how did you know? My response was simple...lol I can tell. I can tell by the way you treat the men, the way you interact with them and the way you speak to them. You're entire persona just seems like a man who knows what it used to be like to be them. So my best advice to you is to simply never forget where you came from. Remember what it was like to be a lower enlisted kid in the US Army Infantry. Sure don't be afraid to tear into some ass if necessary, lord knows I've done my fair share of that over the years and have been on the receiving end of plenty over the years. We're Soldiers, getting ripped a new one is part of the game. We need Soldiers, not crybabies. But simply treat the men the way you wished you were treated back when you were them and be Officer that you wish you had back then. Do those things and your men will follow you not because they HAVE to because of what it says on your chest, but because they WANT to because of the leader you are behind what it says on your chest. Soldiers are taught to respect rank, you want your men to respect YOU. And branch Armor if you want to stay on the ground so badly. You think you're close to your buddies? Wait until you sit in an armored box with 3 other dudes who haven't bathed in a month and sit there eating a sandwich while your buddy next to you is taking a dump in an MRE bag a foot away. Or wake up in the middle of the night groggy and thirsty and reach over and grab a swig of unusually thick water that tastes a bit minty because your Loader decided that where you usually keep your water bottle was a great place to put his dip bottle... Few things in the world are more disgusting than the inside of a tank. You all hate each other, you all stink, it's hot as hell, literally, you know every single thing about each other and each others spouses or girlfriends. You will spend twice as much time in the mud or something fixing your broken tank thank you will riding around in your tank. Everything on the tank weighs approximately 20 million lbs. Your track will snap off only at the most appropriate times such as when a 2 day long thunderstorm is raging outside. The majority of your day will consist of arguing with each other and hitting each other with heavy objects. You WILL break something on your body at some point, usually your hands, or your face if your driver is an idiot and didn't see the Grand Canyon in front of you. Your knees will swell up to softball size within about 2 days from climbing up and down and being unable to stretch out while sleeping, etc. But you will love every minute of it. It all becomes worth it when it's freezing cold outside and you watch the Infantry dudes walk up to the back of your tank to utilize that huge jet engine as a heater then conveniently cut it off right when they get there because you don't want to waste the Army's good fuel. Or just peel out and throw mud all over them and point and laugh lol.
I think the Corps is the only branch that makes you re-do basic if you're coming from another branch. On second thought they might accept Army boot. I know they don't accept Navy or the civilian branch of the armed forces.
LOL armor is a branch I do know some about. I was always envious of them driving past me, but knowing the work that goes into the whole thing, I'm fine ruckin it out. Thanks for the encouragement though Chief.
Yea cause 09 sierra is an officer candidate and in the order breakdown it includes 10 weeks BCT. I'm now being told that this will be waived since I don't have a 3+ year break in service.
Ah ok. Yeah BCT isn't really boot camp. Every Marine is a rifleman regardless of MOS, so BCT is kinda like SOI-lite.
BCT and Bootcamp are virtually the same thing. Bootcamp just involves more infantry operations than BCT does in the Army. Other than that, they are the same model. Army actually added more infantrymen training (a week's worth) this year. I did manpower studies at Paris Island on my last project. Got to see a lot of AT models for Marine boot camp.
They're completely different environments in terms of how you are treated. BCT is basically land nav, a lot of humping, weapons fam, etc. You don't get the boot treatment in BCT. At least they didnt' when I went through it.
Depends on your unit. The Army is experimenting with "high speed high stress" training units and "low speed low stress" thanks to civilian ******bag lawyers. They even do the same thing for OSUT units.
When did you go through basic? I'm assuming you were not infantry (OSUT involves 16 weeks of infantry training). Were you at Relaxin' Jackson?
Late 80's. I was 03 field but later lat moved over to a nasty air winger job MCT was at Camp Geiger back in the day at Lejune. Dunno where it is now.
Yeah, it's been a while. I was in one of the first platoons to go through BCT and they were still developing the program to see how hard they could push us. I remember one 15 mile hump we did have over a 60% drop rate. Bastards tried to kill us.
Lol they do 1 mile on week 1, and add a mile each week until our 14 miler in OSUT. So we got used to rucking gradually. Rucking with a sling on your rifle is SO much easier. Our OSUT company wasn't allowed to have slings. People don't realize how much of a difference that makes.
That and the new ILB system makes a huge difference. I bought a surplus ILBE kit for hiking and camping. I would have given my left nut to have one of those instead of that damn alice pack.
The cross chest strap and the kidney padding is what makes it so great. With the flak jackets the alice packs used to slip off your shoulders and stab into your kidneys. Trying to keep your pack from pulling you straight back while juggling your rifle and a 50 tripod for mile after mile in sand and mud was pure bliss.
I had incredibly old TA 50 gear. No idea when it was made but my FLC was originally green, then it turned blue, then a dark brown. Probably from my sweat
Thanks! I got the conditional release pending board approval for OCS. If all else fails, I think I can get an AGR position next year but I'd really love to commission.
It is harder to retire successfully as an officer than as a CWO or SNCO. Don't leave out Warrant Office School therefore. That might be a better way to go.
I'm gonna give OCS a shot. I can drop a different packet if that doesn't work out. I think I could get top 10 OML therefore could potentially branch infantry. Main goal is to be a PL in an infantry unit since that's what I know.
