question on college credits

[roadwarrior038]

i am looking to join and go the state ocs route. i have a total of 70 college credits including an AA degree. i know you need 60 to get into ocs and 90 to get your commission. my questin is i have a busy work schedule and family etc and i will be attending ocs i dont have the time to go to a state college or university to finish my degree. i was looking into one of those online universities like phoenix univ or ashworth univ, these are accredited coleges and i just want to make sure the ARNG will accept those credits and degrees. does anyone know or know how to find out? my recruiter is not very informed on this stuff. thanks.

[WV EOD tech]

Any accredited college's hours are accepted. An accreditation database is on the Dept of Ed's website. both of the one's you mentioned are.

[Javier Lopez]

Although having a family and a busy work schedule demonstrates your commitment to those two aspects of your life, make sure you are ready to make the commitment as to your OCS classmates, and yourself with finishing your degree. I wouldn't want for you to have the experience of not being able to get your commission, because you couldn't finish your degree.

OCS is VERY demanding, it will take fridays (not paid), saturdays and sundays (when in assembly), it will take some days off your week to prepare with your classmates and it will take off some of your time for PT. Like I said, although not impossible, IT'S VERY DEMANDING. Lots of people have gone through State OCS and finished and with similar situations to yours. Reality check, but don't get discouraged.

Follow your Dream, so you can lead others in finding theirs. Best of Luck.

[LT_77]

attain enough credits...then go accelerated. 18 months is ridiculous, and I know of no individual to finish who hadn't contemplated self harm at least twice during the course. :D

If you can't put your life on hold for 2 months to do accelerated OCS, then you surely won't be able to put your life on hold for 5 to 8 months for BOLC, and a year for deployment.

[roadwarrior038]

thanks for the info....i would like to do the accelerated course, i just dont have the credits to do this yet. is it possible to enlist and go to ocs at a later date or do i have to try the direct commissioning route after i get my degree

[roadwarrior038]

also if i enlist with the ocs option do i not get the 20k $$ bonus

[Javier Lopez]

Remember that Direct Commissioning only applies to very few special branches, (Medical, JAG and Chaplains), you have to pursue a degree in one of these fields in order to get a DA.

[Kenyon]

Remember that Direct Commissioning only applies to very few special branches, (Medical, JAG and Chaplains), you have to pursue a degree in one of these fields in order to get a DA.

People can get Direct Commissioning in other fields than what you specified. Not very common, but not unheard of either.

[Frisco]

Direct Commissions for basic branches are becoming more common (though still relatively rare) in the Army Reserve. I don't believe the National Guard is doing them yet, though - or rather, I haven't heard of any so far.

[LT_77]

Direct Commissions for basic branches are becoming more common (though still relatively rare) in the Army Reserve. I don't believe the National Guard is doing them yet, though - or rather, I haven't heard of any so far.

I've known a few DCO's from basic branches. While surely they can function, to many fellow officers it often appears as if they took the path of least resistance. Sure, they might have been a SSG, SFC, or even MSG...but not one day as an Officer. Why not earn it like the rest of us had to.

Just my opinion.