Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/11/2009

Question
Hello, Sir.

I am 35 years old and enlisted in the Army this past new year for many reasons: the benefits, student loan repayment, the thrill of doing something different with my life, opportunities to travel and of course the honor of serving my country. I know I am an "older" soldier, but I am a PT demon (280 plus), have no injuries, no kids/not married and have both BFA and MBA degrees.

I contacted an Army recruiter who is genuinely a nice guy (the entire group is, actually). I was unsure if i wanted to make the Army a lifelong career and wanted a taste of life in the Army before making a commitment (as I have always understood becoming an officer entailed), so naturally I was encouraged to go in as an E-4 Specialist on a 3-year contract in transportation and then go OCS later. I am sure I will make a strong candidate packet.

I am in AIT training presently, and would like to go OCS as soon as possible. I keep being told to go to my unit first and then put through a packet with my commander's blessing. But I hear that I have to serve a year in my current MOS before I can do this? I also was told that I could go ROTC and go back to school full-time for 2 or so years for another advanced degree. However, I see that I might be "aged out".

Either way, the concern is that my unit is due to be deployed in February-ish (rumor) in a "humanitarian" type deployment (?). I don't mind this, but I am now very concerned about my OCS possibilities fading as a result of mixed/contrasting/ommitted information and seemingly bad timing. I just can't seem to find a straight answer anywhere.

Any advice on which option: OCS vs ROTC (if possible) or what I can realistically expect if I am due to arrive at my duty station in August and we are to deploy by February would be helpful.

Kind regards,

SPC Lee

Answer
Lee,
First of all, the recruiter that encouraged you to enter enlisted and then go OCS later oughta be hung.  You were an ideal officer candidate and should have been encouraged to go that route right off the bat.  Since you have no "flaws" you were a shoe-in and $$ in his pocket.  He didn't have to process any medical or legal waivers for you, basically no work at all.  If he turned you over to an OCS recruiter he'd have lost money.

I say this because trying to get into OCS as an enlisted man is extremely difficult.  It's possible, but so is winning the lottery.  Yes, you must serve a year in your current MOS before you can apply for OCS.  I would NOT go to ROTC and get another degree.  You have more than enough education now.

A humanitarian deployment is fun and safe (usually nobody's shooting at you).  Humanitarian deployments are expected to be non-combative.  Usually is involves providing humanitarian aid by delivering and moving supplies and food, such as we did in Operation Provide Comfort when the Kurds were fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War.  It's good experience and a great way to learn how deployments are run.

Now that the damage is already done, your best bet now is to go on the deployment, have fun, and as soon as you return begin the OCS application process.

The very first thing you want to do is to check with your chain-of-command (Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Commander) about applying for OCS.  If your chain-of-command won't support you, your application is "dead in the water."  Then you complete a DA Form 61, Application for Appointment.  The DA Form 61, along with supporting documentation (college transcripts, waiver requests, letters of recommendation) is sent to the unit commander who reviews and approves the application.  The unit commander then passes the application package through the intermediate commander (for review/approval) to the Installation Commander.  The Installation Commander convenes an "OCS Structured Interview:"
(1) The structured interview identifies the degree to which the applicant has developed attributes that show potential for a successful career as a professional Army commissioned officer.  They evaluate your past behavior in a variety of situations to predict future performance.
(2) A panel of three commissioned officers will conduct the interview, the panel president must be a major or above, and the other two panel members must be captains or above.
(3) Immediately before the structured interview, the panel members will require you to submit a handwritten narrative stating “Why I Want to be an Army Officer.” This narrative gives them a chance to evaluate your writing and your ability to express a desire to serve as a commissioned officer.
You'll have 1 hour to complete the narrative and it must not exceed two pages. No assistance except use of a dictionary is permitted.
It's extremely helpful to write this out a few days/weeks ahead of time and review it constantly, trying to commit to memory as much as possible so you won't be caught unprepared.
The Installation Commander reviews the board recommendation and approves/disapproves the package.  If approved, the Installation Commander passes your application through the MACOM commander (who can also approve/disapprove), who forwards the package to Army PERSCOM (Personnel Command), where the package is reviewed by an OCS selection board, who makes the final selections.  The PERSCOM board selects your branch at the same time the OCS package is approved.

If you do a good job and do well on the deployment I think you have an excellent chance of getting accepted.
Colonel H