Liklihood of waiver?

[Damien826]

I read the previous posting on waivers for OCS, and wanted to get an assessment of my chances of being granted a waiver. I am joining the Guard as enlisted, in order to take advantage of the student loan repayment program, and hope to get into OCS in either September of 2011 or March 2012. In my favor: I have a master's degree and scored well on the ASVAB (98th percentile). However, I have several things going against me. First of all, I already need to apply for a medical waiver just to enlist, as I had an accident last year and have a titanium plate in my face (it doesn't give me any problems, so I hope to still be accepted). Second, I am older than most applicants would be (33). Finally, and probably most seriously, I have some decisions in my past which I sincerely wish I could take back (don't we all)...I used illegal substances on a few occasions as a teenager and also received two alcohol-related tickets (public intox and open container, the last of these in 1998). This seems like a lifetime ago, as I've completed two college degrees with honors, have had a successful professional career since college and am now married with a son and living the family life...but I know that I still need to be held accountable for those actions.

What do you think my chances are of being accepted into OCS? What can I do in the meantime, including during my time at OCS and AIT and in my subsequent drills, to increase my chances? I had it suggested to me that I try to volunteer as a platoon leader during OCS to show that I can accept accountability. Does it matter at all which MOS I choose? I'm having a hard time finding one that interests me in my state (there is an intelligence analyst position open, but I have the same doubts about my ability to get security clearance due to these issues in my past). The leadership training and experience that I would get through OCS and service as an officer is one of the main reasons I am joining the Guard, so I want to do all I can to try and make that a reality. Thanks!

[Chaplain4me]

I read the previous posting on waivers for OCS, and wanted to get an assessment of my chances of being granted a waiver. I am joining the Guard as enlisted, in order to take advantage of the student loan repayment program, and hope to get into OCS in either September of 2011 or March 2012. In my favor: I have a master's degree and scored well on the ASVAB (98th percentile). However, I have several things going against me. First of all, I already need to apply for a medical waiver just to enlist, as I had an accident last year and have a titanium plate in my face (it doesn't give me any problems, so I hope to still be accepted). Second, I am older than most applicants would be (33). Finally, and probably most seriously, I have some decisions in my past which I sincerely wish I could take back (don't we all)...I used illegal substances on a few occasions as a teenager and also received two alcohol-related tickets (public intox and open container, the last of these in 1998). This seems like a lifetime ago, as I've completed two college degrees with honors, have had a successful professional career since college and am now married with a son and living the family life...but I know that I still need to be held accountable for those actions.

What do you think my chances are of being accepted into OCS? What can I do in the meantime, including during my time at OCS and AIT and in my subsequent drills, to increase my chances? I had it suggested to me that I try to volunteer as a platoon leader during OCS to show that I can accept accountability. Does it matter at all which MOS I choose? I'm having a hard time finding one that interests me in my state (there is an intelligence analyst position open, but I have the same doubts about my ability to get security clearance due to these issues in my past). The leadership training and experience that I would get through OCS and service as an officer is one of the main reasons I am joining the Guard, so I want to do all I can to try and make that a reality. Thanks!

Does a frog bump his rear end when he jumps?

I'm not a recruiter but it sounds as though you will not have any problems. As long as you have good credit, those issues from 10 years ago shouldn't pervent you from getting a clearance.

You might want to try and enlist 09s, the OCS option. But you wouldn't get student loan repayment.

As far as mos's, the ones that appeal to me and perhaps you also are:

11c infantry mortarman: 13b cannon crewmember: 19x special forces: 45b small arms repairer: 56m :D : 68W combat medic:89D EOD......

But a recruiter will have a list of availible mos's near your location.....

[show_stopper999]

Well, from my understanding as an officer candidate, if you need moral waivers for OCS, beyond that needed to enlist, it's kind of a touchy subject and you need to be in touch with the OSM (officer strength manager) from your state ASAP.

He/She will let you know, as they generally make the decision on what waivers the state will support (depending on the state of course).

For me, I had similar things from similar times in my background and I'm 28. I enlisted 09S (officer candidate) and the OSM told me before hand he would waive all that, and my previous discharge.

When I got to meps, the guidance counselor told both my recruiter and I there was no way I would be allowed to enlist 09S with all that in my past. I was ready to get up right there and walk out, but instead calls were made and in about 5 seconds the OSM told her that I already had my TS security clearance and had been an army employee for 5+ years, so all the problems of the past had obviously been looked at once before and determined to not be a big deal, so they were waiving them on the spot.

Had it not been for the communication with the OSM I would have been shot down right there. I later got a call and some friendly ribbing from an LT, who informed me they had alot of contempt for that guidance counselor anyways and had some problems in the past.


So they key...communicate. If you absolutely must have SLRP, go enlisted first. For me, my officer pay IS my SLRP.

[chd]

Don't get your hopes up, but don't give up either. You'll have an easier chance going enlisted vs. 09S and non-security clearance MOS vs. one that requires a clearance. You're a smart guy, just plan for every option and see how motivated you are to see them out. You could be SOL, too - the ARNG waiver-granting policy changes, so they might not even take them currently.


I had it suggested to me that I try to volunteer as a platoon leader during OCS to show that I can accept accountability.

You need to get there first and it really doesn't matter. My DS never made me a PL, because I didn't need the experience (even though I got my week as Student 1SG, woopity doo). It was a good experience for some of the kids that did it, but it's hardly a life-changer. Nor does it carry any weight the second you leave.


Does it matter at all which MOS I choose?

In what sense? Pick something interesting, that you like, is unique, etc. If you mean "will my MOS have any affect on my officer branch?" then... yeah, you'd have an easier time learning about being a MP officer if you were a 31B first.

[Damien826]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I have spoken with an officer recruiter, and he didn't think it would be a problem, but he hadn't put anyone through in my situation, so I wanted to get some opinions from the folks on here. My recruiter did send me a list of current openings, and the problem is that none of my first choices are available, and among those that I find interesting on the list, most all of them require a security clearance (such as 35F Intelligence Analyst, possibly 15P Aviation Operations Specialist). I do have good credit, so that wouldn't be an additional barrier for me.

After reading through the replies, I realized something: if I want to show that I have the smarts and am detail-oriented enough to make it as an officer, perhaps I should at least spell correctly in my postings (liklihood, instead of likelihood)!