Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 12/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am 35 and have a B.A and an M.A(American Military University). I am a Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card) and therefore can only join Army as enlisted until I become a citizen. How realistic is it to expect that I may be able to work my from enlisted to officer in the Army.
Thanks.

ANSWER: Dear Philip --

Once you are a citizen, you can apply to attend Officer Candidate School all the way up until you turn 35 years old.  You could even apply when you are older than 35 at one additional year added to the maximum age for every year you served.  So if you served 6 years as an enlisted Soldier, you could apply for OCS up until you turn 41.

If you are not currently enlisted but will have your citizenship soon, you could enlist with an OCS rider on your enlistment contract.  This rider would comply the Army to send you to OCS immediately after basic training, if you do well in basic training.  Since you have an advanced degree, you are a high quality candidate, if your health and fitness are sufficient to allow you to enlist.

It is also possible to get a direct commission, if you have an advanced degree in a field they need.  These fields tend to be medical and law fields.  You can get a direct commission as long as the branch of service needs you and you can complete 20 years of service before your 60th birthday.  It is possible to waive age limits.

Please write back for clarification on any of these options, if you think you wish to pursue one.

Best of luck to you.


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

QUESTION: Thank you very much Colonel. I am very interested in the option that would allow me to enlist with an OCS rider on my enlistment contract.Even though I have been in the USA since 1997, I only obtained my permanent residence card in June 2005. One is required to hold this status for a period of 5 yrs before obtaining citizenship.This means I have just under 3 yrs to go. Given this , do you think I could still pursue this option? If so, I would be very excited to enlist. Maybe it would be help to add that I am multilingual - with at least one of the languages in demand by the Army.
Thanks,
Philip.

Answer
Dear Philip --

Since you have three years to wait until you can become a citizen, I would enlist now, if you are certain you wish to serve.

There are some provisions to allow serving military members to become citizens more quickly.  Possibly after a year of honorable service.  This way you would already be in the service when you take your oath as a new citizen, and you could apply for OCS immediately thereafter.

When you talk to the recruiter ensure they know you are multi-lingual, especially if you are fluent (listening and speaking) in an in-demand language, also have copies of your college transcripts for both of your degrees.  

I would not wait much longer to enlist, because the age waivers available for commissioned officers could change at any time, and you might suddenly be too old for an OCS rider.  If you are already in the service you can still apply for OCS.    

If you would like to discuss any enlistment issues further, please write back at any time.  I will be on vacation for a little while, but just try back in the middle of January, and I should be accepting questions again.

Best of luck.