Army OCS

[dkl1986]

I'm going to be graduating in May 2009 and I've been looking into the possibility of joining the service. I'm in contact with a Navy Officer recruiter, but I'm also considering the Army. The Navy recruiter says acceptance rate is about 50/50 right now, a little more than that for the specialty I'm thinking about applying for. I've heard that acceptance rates for the Army are higher. does anyone know much about Army OCS? Anything about gaining acceptance to OCS for MP?

[Norm357]

I know that Army butterbars don't know ****! :D

[dkl1986]

can you choose what school you want to go to when applying to ocs?

[Norm357]

can you choose what school you want to go to when applying to ocs?

I have no idea.

[enforcer84]

Hey I'm active Army(enlisted). If I where you I'd give the Navy a chance. The Army may be accepting more people, reason being is because nobody once to stay in anymore with the whole Iraq/Afghanistan war. Then you are wanting to go MP. I've considered myself but those guys work hard and long hours. Iraq is a total different story. They are considered Infantry out there and are always on patrol or pulling security outside of the wire. Dangerous place to be. Now don't let me deter you from considering the Army but many of my PLs(platoon leaders)2ndLT and 1stLT cannot wait till their six years are up and they are out the door. If I could do it all over again I'd go Airforce, Navy, or Coast Guard in a heart beat. Now all this being said I enjoy the Army. Its some of the people and the stupid shiat we do sometimes that I shake my head and wonder. But the Army has me for life. Six years down fourteen more to go.:eek::D

[retdetsgt]

Your chances of going from OCS to the MP branch is pretty small. I went through OCS many moons ago and you go where they need people. Remember, you're competing with West Pointers and others with regular commissions for slots and unless you graduate in the very top of your class, you'll have a reserve commission. And that practice may not be their now, maybe all OCS grads are reserve....

Besides, there is nothing glamorous about being an officer in the MP's. You ain't gonna be doing any police work.

[puma2]

In the active duty army program where you go to basic training and then directly to OCS, you will fill out a wish list for your specialty, but you will not be able to pick one. Needs of the service are most important.

If you join the National Guard or the Reserves, you will most likely be able to pick your specialty.

As for OCS itself (at least the federal one in Ft Benning), it is a lot like basic training, but you have less free time and it is more regimented. It provides some good training, especially in land nav, but for the most part you have to "play the game," doing what you are told and not taking anything personally.

[retdetsgt]

As for OCS itself (at least the federal one in Ft Benning), it is a lot like basic training, but you have less free time and it is more regimented. It provides some good training, especially in land nav, but for the most part you have to "play the game," doing what you are told and not taking anything personally.

It's like basic training??? Sure as hell wasn't in 1966.... Boot camp was a walk in the park compared to OCS then in just about every aspect. It musta changed a lot since then.

[puma2]

I'm sure all the military schools were different in the late 90s from what they were like in the 60s. I'm sure they are different today from either of our experiences.

Yes, OCS was more difficult than basic training. However, they are similar in that they are both "total control" environments: trainees are under the control of the instructors 24 hours a day. The physical training, academics, and time management are much more difficult in OCS, but the idea that you have virtually no personal freedom is the same.

[jrm16311]

I have a buddy, Sr. NCO, who teaches at Ft. Benning's Ranger School. He recently had a run in with a very green butterbar who woke up and decided he knew best. My advice to you, once you're out of OCS, is to keep your Sr. NCO's on your side and learn as much as you can from them.