OCS or Enlist?

[patashley]

Hello, I have a bachelors degree and have taught elementary school for the past 5 years. I am 35 and in great physical shape. I have been leaning towards OCS and becoming an officer. I have been trying to get ahold of my local recruiter for the last week. He finally returned my call today because he was finishing recruiting school. He said that I would stand to receive more money if I came in at E-4 because of my degree than I would if I went OCS.
He also said that it would be better to enlist and gain rank before going for a commission. What do you think?

[VTguard]

I disagree with your recruiter. If you do the OCS Enlistment Option, you will certainly make more money then if you just enlist as an E-4. As soon as you start OCS, you will be getting paid as an E-6. (I'm no mathmetician but I'm pretty sure an E-6 makes more than an E-4). Being a new recruiter, just finishing recruiting school, maybe your recruiter doesn't know all the ins and outs of the OCS enlistment option. You should ask him about it...it's section 3-5 of the ARNG 600-200 (Enlistment Criteria). You can still come in as an E-4, attend basic training, then go right to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and start getting paid as an E-6. Once you finish OCS, you will get your commission, as a 2nd LT. (O-1). If your recruiter doesn't help you, ask to speak with his NCOIC, or work with another recruiter that has been around for a little longer.

[gsrtonv]

He's right about the money part. You will make more money by enlisting and then after you enlist you try for OCS. Going this route you are eligible for up to a 20,000 bonus. Now, if you go straight OCS you will get no sign up bonus.

There are risks involved though. If you enlist and then try to get OCS.....you might not get it. It's competitive. Now, you are stuck being enlisted when you really wanted to be an officer. You risk being 35 with a degree having a 21 yr old with no degree telling you what to do.

If you sign up straight for OCS you get no money but are guaranteed to go to OCS.

I have talked to numerous senior NCOs (enlisted) who had btw 10 to 17 yrs served and they all told me when I go in to make sure I'm an officer. The choice is yours. Good luck!

[matthew.ritchie]

I had an active duty captain enlist into the Guard because the financial incentives on the enlisted side were so compelling (he had student loans for repayment).

While money is indeed a factor, it shouldn't be the only factor in your decision. Please also note that after a certain point, OCS will no longer be available to you. At age 35 you already need a waiver. If you don't commission by age 39, then you never will. That means you'll need to start OCS by age 37 at the latest to ensure that it comes out right.

What is most important to you? What are your priorities? What do you want to be when you grow up? Being an officer isn't better or worse than being enlisted, they're just different ways to serve.

[AbnMtn]

Consider all the facts that are being presented to you before making a decision. Your age is a major factor that could become a time crunch if you decide to start as an enlisted. Again, consider that to be able receive a single payment for any enlistment bonus you must be MOSQ'ed which can take anywhere from 4 months to longer than a year depending on the specialty you select.

Additionally, the bonuses are payed in two installments (50% after completing AIT and 50% on your third year anniversary). Since 37 is an age that would put you at risk as far as being able to be commissioned, you will only be able to get the first installment anyway ($10,000 minus taxes). Also, to be able to retain that first installment without recoupment if you later enroll in the OCS program you must have served more than one year of the enlisted incentive contract term. More than anything else, time is the main factor that must drive your decision.

Arm yourself with knowledge so you can make an informed decision. To echo MAJ Ritchie's sentiment, your service, whether as an enlisted or as an officer, wil not be any less honorable than the other.

[patashley]

Thanks for the info. I have had the chance to sit down with my recruiter and his NCO. I had a list of ? for them. They laid everything out for me. I now understand my time crunch as far as going for OCS. I have decided to go the enlisted route and start out as an E-4. I'm leaning towards 21b at Leonard Wood. I took the ASVAB and got a 79. We won't get the line scores back until Monday. I'm trying to finally convince my wife that this is what I truely want to do. She knows that I have always regreted not serving in the military. I need to make a decision soon. If I pass MEPS I want to leave Jan/Feb to be back by early June in order to be included in next years teaching interviews here in Michigan.

[gsrtonv]

congrats! Truth be told, if was eligible for the 20K I would probably go enlisted as well. Don't worry about the line scores.......with a 79 you should be fine.:)