Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 12/16/2007

Question
QUESTION: If Someone who just sworn into the military, who also has a bachelor's degree, did not get accepted into Officer Candidate School, what kind of rank would he or she be positioned at? an E7 or E8 position?

ANSWER: Dear Frank --

If you did not get into OCS, or chose not to attend OCS, the best rank you can leave your initial entry training at is an E-4.  However, you can have a performance rider that allows you a promotion to E-5 (sergeant) after six months of honorable duty with your first unit, if you negotiate that into your enlistment contract.

Education will not earn you higher rank as an enlisted Soldier.  It qualifies you for commissioned officer service but doesn't guarantee it, unless you make it through some key training programs.  Education will give you additional promotion points which added to fitness score points, performance evaluation points, and promotion board points will establish your position on the promotion order of merit list.

Where are you in your college educational process?  if you are still early on, you might consider a short duration ROTC scholarship to ensure you earn commissioned rank.  

If you are ready to graduate, that would not be a lucrative option, because you would get only one semester of tuition paid, and no loan payment bonus.

Have you already sworn in without the OCS rider?  Have you been through the MEPS station and signed your contract?  You may still have options, if you are on a delayed entry program.  If you are, let's discuss.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well right now Im about to start my second semester of my sophomore year in college. I already know that the college I am at and the college I plan to transfer to to complete my bachelor's degree both do not have ROTC programs. Is it to late for me to do the two year scholarship ROTC program? And if it isn't too late how do I go about doing that and where do I go?

Answer
Dear Frank --

You can take your ROTC training at any nearby college that does have ROTC.  The program will pay your tuition up to a maximum each semester.  They will pay you a stipend for incidental expenses, and refund your book and supply expenses each semester.

The best thing to do is to visit a nearby college with ROTC and talk to the professor of military science (PMS).  They will probably ask you to join the program non-scholarship for next semester.  If you do well and enjoy it, then they will work with you to get a two-year scholarship starting next fall.  Depending on your timing, you might complete basic ROTC without having to do summer training.  If not, you will have to plan on a six week training program in the summer of 2008 and an advanced training program summer of 2009.  During your training camps you are paid at least 50% of what a second lieutenant makes so it is not a lost summer.  If you have commitments for this summer, you can probably do basic officer training in 2009 and complete advanced camp the summer after you graduate.  You would be commissioned a second lieutenant immediately after advanced camp graduation.

What schools are you going to, and what towns/cities are they in?  I can try to determine what ROTC programs are near you.