I am going in the Guard as an SPC E-4, I have a bachelors. After I am enlisted for a

[tgpii]

I am going in the Guard as an SPC E-4, I have a bachelors. After I am enlisted for a while I want to try for OCS. How long should I wait. How should I apply for it? Do I have to go active duty for OCS? I heard there is a part time OCS. Also, I am getting paid as an E-3 at RSP but my rank is E-4 how would I correct this? Thank you.

[NCCorleone]

Rather than start my own thread, I'd like to ask some follow-up questons.

How does going to OCS effect your enlistment signing bonuses? I was told that after X amount of time, you had to forfiet a certain precentage of your signing bonus. Is this true?

How do promotions work with TIS and TIG if you enter BCT at a higher rank? Would tgpii have to wait 5 years for a promotion to Sergeant? Would I, as a PFC, have to wait three years for promotion to SPC?

Thanks in Advance!

tgpii, I hope these questions will help you too. I'd like to go to OCS also, but do not yet have a degree (half way there) and I would like to keep my signing bonus. :o

[matthew.ritchie]

Rather than start my own thread, I'd like to ask some follow-up questons.
How does going to OCS effect your enlistment signing bonuses? I was told that after X amount of time, you had to forfiet a certain precentage of your signing bonus. Is this true?
How do promotions work with TIS and TIG if you enter BCT at a higher rank? Would tgpii have to wait 5 years for a promotion to Sergeant? Would I, as a PFC, have to wait three years for promotion to SPC?

Thanks in Advance!

tgpii, I hope these questions will help you too. I'd like to go to OCS also, but do not yet have a degree (half way there) and I would like to keep my signing bonus. :o

1. You must serve at least 12 months of your enlistment contract prior to switching to OCS or contracted ROTC cadet, or you must pay back any bonus payment you already received. After 12 months, you keep the first payment, but of course won't get any future payments on that contract. Reference: Selected Reserve Incentive Policy 07-04.
2. Entering the service at a higher rank won't of itself affect your future promotions. You have the same TIG and TIS requirements as any other E3 or E4. Meeting those requirements merely makes you eligible, however. Performance and potential separate the eligible from those who actually receive the promotion.

[NCCorleone]

Maj. Ritchie, thank you so much for the information. It's nice to get a straight-up honest answer from time to time.

So, to make sure I'm clear -

Entering in a higher rank does not effect how long (or soon) I will be eligible for a promotion. I still need to meet the TIS and TIG requirements to be eligible (unless I'm an Exceptional Performer - Zone 2?).

And as long as I wait a year after enlisting, I can then apply for OCS without forfeiting the first half of my bonus payment, but I will not, however, receive my second payment.

Again, thanks for the information!

[shawtaylor]

Hey TGPII,
In my opinion if you want to become an officer and you already have a bachelors degree, joining the NG as enlisted and then going to OCS is a needless indirect path to a commision. You should talk to your recruiter about going OCS. You said that you were 'going' in the NG, so if you haven't signed on the dotted line yet i think you should check it out.