which is better, rotc or ocs

[svtjones]

I enlisted last month in the Guard. After this semester I will have 22 credit hours and will be doing winter semester as well for another 3 or 4 credit hours. I talked with a ROTC recruiter this pas Tuesday. He told me it would be better for me to go the ROTC route because OCS is not always a guarantee and that very few people become officers through ROTC. He said only about 1% of the people that become officers each year do it through ocs. What are your poinions on this? Thanks for the help.

[matthew.ritchie]

I don't know where those statistics come from, but OCS is producing much more than 1% of our officers.

The textbook answer is, ROTC is the way to go if you are attending college full time anyway. OCS is for people who are not eligible for ROTC for whatever reason (e.g., age, already have a degree, attending college part time).

Speak to your ROTC department about a National Guard ROTC scholarship, to pay for your last three years of school.

[jabonn]

I enlisted last month in the Guard. After this semester I will have 22 credit hours and will be doing winter semester as well for another 3 or 4 credit hours. I talked with a ROTC recruiter this pas Tuesday. He told me it would be better for me to go the ROTC route because OCS is not always a guarantee and that very few people become officers through ROTC. He said only about 1% of the people that become officers each year do it through ocs. What are your poinions on this? Thanks for the help.


IMO, that is just a bit biased, OCS is a great program. I would not trade my experiences for any in the world. I made some great friends and will continue to see those officers through out most of my career.

I would say OCS fills more than 1% of the Guard's officer ranks. In some states there are only a handful college/universities that offer a ROTC program.

Which ever path you decide - you will end up at your end result of becoming an officer. Good luck.