Expert: Howard Lorenz - 3/27/2010

Question
Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be a member of an elite group in the US military.  In the summer of 08 I attended USMC Platoon Leader Class(OCS) Combined to pursue my dream.  During the third week of training I made what is undoubtedly the biggest mistake of my life and compromised my integrity by cheating on a test and in addition initially denied cheating to the officer who interviewed me after. A day later I was sent home without the option to re-apply to USMC OCS.  However, I found it strange that I received much encouragement from my platoon staff(they all told me that I was one of the best candidates in the platoon and I just messed up...big) and company staff for me to try and find a way to re-apply.  In addition shortly after I was dismissed I wrote a letter to the CO of USMC OCS and he replied that while he could not re-accept me, he encouraged me to work with recruiting command to make reentry possible.  This whole ordeal(which I am responsible for)has been an extreme mental and emotional burned which has haunted me for the past two years. I have tried everyday to convince myself that the military was not for me, but without success.

Recently I have decided that in order to be able to live with myself I must make a second effort.  After much thought I have decided to try and apply for Air Force OTS to be a Special Tactics Officer. I know that this is an extremely difficult path but I am up for the challenge. I know that I have grown significantly as a result of my mistake and that I would never under any circumstance make it again in any degree.

My question is will my disqualification at USMC OCS disqualify or make it difficult for me to attend Air Force OTS or STO selection? If it will be difficult, how difficult? If it will not disqualify me or require a wavier, am I morally or otherwise required to tell my recruiter about my mistake? I have not yet spoke with the Air Force Officer Selection Officer(or whoever is in charge of officer selection) and while I want to be honest with him about my past, I can see how discussing it will negatively affect me(and rightly so) in his eyes.   

Thank you for your help and service to the country.

Answer
I applaud you taking ownership of your mistake and continued desire to serve your country. I also applaud your desire to serve as an officer but wonder why you haven't tried to get in just as an enlisted service man. I can not say one way or the other what the AFOCS will do knowing that you were separated because of your so called "Big Mistake". I don't want to hold mistakes over your head, but place yourself on the board. You have 5 candidates, you  have 3 slots to fill. The probability of you taking one because of what you did at Marine OCS isn't going to gain you any ground.

My question to you is why didn't you just join the Marines enlisted and then at a later date get your commission? By doing so you could have saved face with the Corps and earned your place as an officer. I am not trying to sound like an ass , I just want you to understand as an enlisted serviceman of 21 years, that If I knew that one of my officers was allowed to enter service based on the information you gave me...how much respect could I have for that person?

We all make bad decisions from time to time, Lord knows that I have had my share of those.  I do believe that you would make a better officer by getting in the trenches with your fellow serviceman and earn again what you lost when you were separated. Your chances of getting that commission are greater if you do.

The only way that I can truly say if the Air Force will accept you is to apply. The worse they can say is no, we cant take you at this time. Don't be afraid to take the lesser of the two and go enlisted. There is two bonuses there if you choose to.

    1. You get a chance to rehabilitate your self. Learn what it takes to be a service man what ever service you decide. I have always believed that it takes more than just a 4 year degree and OCS to lead men. If you haven't been in the trenches as I call it, How can you truly be a leader? a four year degree doesn't give you that. OCS can teach anyone how to be an officer. but it cant teach you to understand those who you will lead. I have served under many an academy graduate that had no idea what the people they were leading were about...other than what they were taught at the academy! That's Piss Poor business if you ask me! The message here is "Don't be afraid to start at the bottom to gain what you seek"

    2. The OE pay scale is larger than the O scale. You actually get more money for being Prior Enlisted than if you went in as a straight officer candidate! Go online and look at the difference, you can google the military pay scale for this year. The DoD pays its enlisted force to seek a commission. Why would they do this? Well think about it. Its like I said earlier, OCS can teach ANYONE to become an officer.....but enlisted officers can do it better because THEY HAVE BEEN THERE!! And I can tell you from experience that you will be a better officer because of that.

I hope that bruise your dreams of being an officer too much. I don't believe that I could, I do however hope that you take into consideration what I have told you. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way.