Commissioning Opportunities
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STATE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL
COURSE OVERVIEW:
The State OCS (Officer Candidate School) option (Traditional Course) is a 16- to
18-month course of instruction conducted from March to August of the following year.
Upon commissioning, each officer must attend an Officer Basic Course within 18 months
(one six-month extension may be granted) in the branch to which he or she is assigned.
PHASE ZERO:
One weekend drill will be held each month in March, April, May, and June, conducted
at State Regional Training Institute (RTI). Administrative in-processing is conducted
to ensure all applicants meet the minimum enrollment criteria by a written examination
and board evaluation. Drill and ceremony, physical fitness, and land navigation
training are conducted to prepare the applicants for Phase I. Applicants must pass
an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) during this phase prior to being accepted into
the program. Applicants are on a SUTA status until accepted into the program. Unit
of assignment will receive a SUTA certificate from the State Regional Training Institute
(RTI) following drill weekend. Each individual will be enrolled and promoted to
E-6 when all enrollment criteria are met.
PHASE I:
A two-week annual training will normally be held in June or July, with personnel
reporting to one of seven Regional OCS Battalions. The training will focus on leadership,
teamwork, and basic military skills. Candidates will receive land navigation training,
training management, and testing conducted at the regional OCS training facility.
PHASE II:
(Traditional) IDT weekends will usually take place from July to June of the following
year. Candidates are attached to their State Regional Training Institute (RTI) OCS
Company and will perfect the skills previously learned. In addition, they will concentrate
on military subjects such as ethics, military justice, physical fitness, logistics,
communications, personnel administration, NBC, tactics, and patrolling.
PHASE III:
A two-week annual training is normally held in July or August. Candidates will report
to their State Regional Training Institute (RTI) and be transported either to Ft.
Benning, GA; Ft. McClellan, AL; or Ft. Lewis, WA; where they will be evaluated on
tactics, patrolling, and leadership skills through squad and platoon level. Upon
completion, candidates may be commissioned pending federal recognition.
STATE OCS ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS:
CIVILIAN EDUCATION:
• Minimum of 60 college credit hours from an accredited college
or university depicted on an official (or certified true copy) college transcript.
Applicants who possess a four-year degree will also furnish a copy of the degree
certificate.
• Commissioning: Minimum of 90 credit hours on an official transcript.
MILITARY EDUCATION:
• DD 214 indicating successful completion of Initial Active Duty
Training (IADT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). • DD 220 for Non-Prior Service
or Glossary Non-Prior Service OCS Enlistment Options Personnel indicating successful
completion of IADT. AIT is not required.
GT SCORE:
• Minimum GT Score of 110 (waiver is not authorized). Applicants
may retest to improve score. The following authorizes verification: Page 1 of DD
Form 1966; USMEPCOM Form 714ADP; Certified true copy of 2-1; memorandum from State
Education Service Officer (for retest only).
SAT/ACT :
• Not required for applicants who possess a Baccalaureate degree.
• Not required for OCS enrollment or attendance. Evidence of qualifying test must
be included in the initial appointment packet upon commissioning.
APFT:
• Must successfully pass a State RTI-administered Record APFT prior
to admission to Phase 1 and again within 60 days prior to entering Phase III.
• Commission: Must successfully complete an APFT within 12 months.
HEIGHT / WEIGHT:
• Must meet height/weight requirements IAW current AR 600-9 and annotated on a DA
Form 5500 – 5501 prior to admission to Phase 1.
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD: Copy
MEDICAL EXAMINATION:
• MEPS- administered Chapter II Commissioning Physical or Class 1 Flight Physical
conducted within 24 months of anticipated commissioning date.
• Commissioning: Medical standards as prescribed in chapter 2, AR 40-501.
AGE:
• Minimum age for appointment is 18 years.
• Individuals can be appointed prior to the age of 30 with no waiver required.
• The State Adjutant General may grant age waivers prior to an individual’s 35th
birthday.
• Waiver requests must be submitted for applicants over age 35 to NGB-ARH. Must
be able to be commissioned prior to age 40. This exception to policy request must
include:
1 . Letters of Recommendation/endorsement from individual’s chain of command
2 . Certified copy of DA Form 2-1
3. Current (within 12 months) APFT (DA Form 705)
4. Certified copy of current college transcripts
5. Certified copy of completed Chapter 2 physical
BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Copy
CITIZENSHIP:
• Citizen by birth or naturalization.
• Naturalized Citizen: Provide proof of naturalization utilizing Figure 3-1, NGR
600-100.
• If not a citizen, you must provide proof of application for citizenship (citizenship
is required for Phase III enrollment).
• Commissioning: U. S. citizenship required (no waiver authorized).
CIVILIAN BACKGROUND:
• Local Police Records Check. (Ask Unit Administrator for assistance to obtain a
Local Police Records Check to determine if Conviction Waiver (DD Form 369, dated
SEP 83) is required.
SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE:
• Ask Unit Administrator for assistance in obtaining a Secret Clearance verification
statement, signed by the State Security Manager, annotated that a Form 873 is on
file in your Candidate’s Personnel Folder.
• Proof that a Secret Security Clearance was requested 10 months prior to commissioning.
• Commissioning: Secret or higher security clearance.
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION:
• From commander recommending applicant for OCS enrollment.
• Not required for OCS Enlistment Option personnel. (Ask the Unit Administrator
for assistance in obtaining the commander's recommendation.)
• Autobiography: As per OCS Student Guide. (Ask the Unit Administrator for assistance
in obtaining a copy of the OCS Student Guide.)
• Requirement Checklist provided in Figure 1.
• Document Checklist provided in Figure 2.
WAIVERS:
• Must show proof that waiver request was submitted prior to Phase I.
• A general counseling form, DA Form 4856, indicating individual will be released
from the program if the waiver is not approved must be signed by the candidate.
• Copy of the request for waiver with the general counseling form, or the approved
waiver, must be in the student folder prior to Phase 1.
WAIVER REQUESTS:
• All requests for waivers must be submitted through official channels
by the Unit Commander (or his/her representative). Individual soldiers applying
for enrollment into an OCS course are not authorized to apply for a waiver directly.
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