Officer Benefits

[Joeymac]

I have spoken to my local recruiter and am ready to join the Guard. From our discussions though, I can tell that my recruiter is not all that familiar with the OCS path. My main question is about what the differences between Officer and Enlisted benefits are...from my understanding, there is no $10k - $20k sign on bonus for officers because they do not choose an MOS. Are the student loan repayment and tuition assistance benefits available to commissioned OCS candidates? I have a BSME degree, with no prior service. Thanks!

[AbnMtn]

I have spoken to my local recruiter and am ready to join the Guard. From our discussions though, I can tell that my recruiter is not all that familiar with the OCS path. My main question is about what the differences between Officer and Enlisted benefits are...from my understanding, there is no $10k - $20k sign on bonus for officers because they do not choose an MOS. Are the student loan repayment and tuition assistance benefits available to commissioned OCS candidates? I have a BSME degree, with no prior service. Thanks!

If you enlist for the State OCS Option, you're not authorized to receive any of the Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP) entitlements. That means the student loan repayment program (SLRP) is out of reach. You are, however, still eligible to receive the federal tuition assistance.

If the SLRP is a critical entitlement for you, it may be more beneficial to enlist as an NPS into one of the 30 critical MOS' (the NGB Top Ten and your state's 20 Critical Skills) that closely relates to the Area of Concentration you want to select as an officer (which is obviously your ultimate goal). If you take the ASVAB (scoring 50 or above on the AFQT), enlist into one of the critical skills, complete your AIT and get MOSQ'ed, then apply to your state OCS program (instead of doing the OCS enlistment option outright), you should be able to receive all the SRIP entitlements ($20,000 bonus, GI Bill Kicker, Student Loan Repayment Program) and remain eligible while attending OCS until you get commissioned. Once you are assessed as an officer and get your commission, your enlistment bonus will be terminated without recoupment (you will not have to pay back the portion of the bonus already payed to you after completing your AIT and will not receive the remaining payment), but will still be eligible to receive your SLRP entitlements. This may be a way to skin the cat is the SLRP is an entitlement you consider critical for enlistment into the Guard.

[Joeymac]

That sounds like a great way to arrive at a commissioned offer with more benefits along the way...thank you very much! I'm sure that the SLRP is different from state to state (i'm in NY) but are you aware of whether or not Federal Direct Consolidated Loans are eligible for the program? Also, my state has a 96B - Intelligence Analyst MOS on their list of critical MOS's last time I checked...in your opinion, would that be relatively close to a final commisioned officer outcome of Military Intelligence Officer (MOS 35??)? As you mentioned, all of this is not really an "entitlement" which I believe is critical for me to join (there are much more important things in life than money), but if there is a path available to arrive at the same destination while paying a few more of the bills along the way I will consider it. The situation that you had suggested terminates any enlistement bonus without recoupment - does that happen because you are looking to move UP within the guard instead of just moving AROUND in it (as in changing to an MOS which is not critical and having to repay whatever bonus was already paid out)? One final thing - is it more competitive to get into the State OCS program after being MOS'd rather than enlisting outright? Thanks again AbnMtn.

[AbnMtn]

Let me clarify that the SLRP is an ARNG wide program and does not change from state to state, it's the same at the national level. The following are loans which are eligible for the SLRP:

Stafford Loans (subsidized), Stafford Loans (unsusidized), Federally Insured Student Loans, Perkins Loans, Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students (ALAS), Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), Consolidated Loan Program (CLP) and (SMART), and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
**State student loans are not eligible for the SLRP.

To answer your question, 96B would make an excellent "feeder MOS" for the AOC of Military Intelligence Officer. Also, being commissioned is considered a critical step to meeting the ARNG constant need to assess officers and to reduce any shortages the ARNG may have as a whole. Hence, the NGB is willing to allow for the termination without recoupment for funds already payed.

Getting into the OCS program once you're MOSQ'ed may indeed be competitive but you can contact your state's OCS program before hand, let them know what your plans are and research any stumbling block that you may encounter along the way. Who knows, your state may have such a shortage and need for officers that it may be just as easy to enroll after being MOSQ'ed as it is enlisting into the OCS option outright. As always, being informed will ensure that you make the right decision.

[AbnMtn]

By the way, there is an Officer Assession Bonus of $10,000 to newly commissioned officers who agree to serve in the ARNG for a least six years and also serve in one of the critical skills AOC defined by the current SRIP (there are a few military intelligence officer skills listed). There is, however, a catch. You can not be receiving any education loan repayment programs (SLRP or HPLRP). Just letting you know to help you make an informed decision.

[Devil Dog]

If you enlist for the State OCS Option, you're not authorized to receive any of the Selected Reserve Incentive Program (SRIP) entitlements. That means the student loan repayment program (SLRP) is out of reach. You are, however, still eligible to receive the federal tuition assistance.

If the SLRP is a critical entitlement for you, it may be more beneficial to enlist as an NPS into one of the 30 critical MOS' (the NGB Top Ten and your state's 20 Critical Skills) that closely relates to the Area of Concentration you want to select as an officer (which is obviously your ultimate goal). If you take the ASVAB (scoring 50 or above on the AFQT), enlist into one of the critical skills, complete your AIT and get MOSQ'ed, then apply to your state OCS program (instead of doing the OCS enlistment option outright), you should be able to receive all the SRIP entitlements ($20,000 bonus, GI Bill Kicker, Student Loan Repayment Program) and remain eligible while attending OCS until you get commissioned. Once you are assessed as an officer and get your commission, your enlistment bonus will be terminated without recoupment (you will not have to pay back the portion of the bonus already payed to you after completing your AIT and will not receive the remaining payment), but will still be eligible to receive your SLRP entitlements. This may be a way to skin the cat is the SLRP is an entitlement you consider critical for enlistment into the Guard.

I am in FL and I have been told by my local recruiter that the maximum bonus is capped at $20,000. I was told that you cannot get both the enlisment bonus and the student loan repayment as there is a $20,000 cap. Could someone please clarify if an enlistee can recieve both an enlistment bonus and the student loan repayment incentive? Thanks.

[AbnMtn]

I am in FL and I have been told by my local recruiter that the maximum bonus is capped at $20,000. I was told that you cannot get both the enlisment bonus and the student loan repayment as there is a $20,000 cap. Could someone please clarify if an enlistee can recieve both an enlistment bonus and the student loan repayment incentive? Thanks.

Have your recruiter check the SRIP Guidance (Policy Number 06-06) dated 26 May 2006, paragraph 7b (6). It clearly states that "applicants choosing the 3X5, 6X2, or the 8X0 enlistment options may be eligible to receive the SLRP in addition to their enlistment bonus"

[gsrtonv]

Let me clarify that the SLRP is an ARNG wide program and does not change from state to state, it's the same at the national level. The following are loans which are eligible for the SLRP:

Stafford Loans (subsidized), Stafford Loans (unsusidized), Federally Insured Student Loans, Perkins Loans, Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students (ALAS), Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS), Consolidated Loan Program (CLP) and (SMART), and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.
**State student loans are not eligible for the SLRP.

To answer your question, 96B would make an excellent "feeder MOS" for the AOC of Military Intelligence Officer. Also, being commissioned is considered a critical step to meeting the ARNG constant need to assess officers and to reduce any shortages the ARNG may have as a whole. Hence, the NGB is willing to allow for the termination without recoupment for funds already payed.

Getting into the OCS program once you're MOSQ'ed may indeed be competitive but you can contact your state's OCS program before hand, let them know what your plans are and research any stumbling block that you may encounter along the way. Who knows, your state may have such a shortage and need for officers that it may be just as easy to enroll after being MOSQ'ed as it is enlisting into the OCS option outright. As always, being informed will ensure that you make the right decision.

How is OCS selection determined? Is it based on your school degree and grades? PFT score? etc.

I really want to be an officer but I also really need SLRP. I would be afraid to enlist straight out and never be selected for OCS. I have seen situations in my life where there would be a certain job or program and in order to get it you would have to start or join in another job or program and move over. Once in, nobody ever got promoted or moved. It was a scam. Just a ploy to get people to fill the unwanted jobs. I don't want that to happen.

[matthew.ritchie]

How is OCS selection determined? Is it based on your school degree and grades? PFT score? etc.

I really want to be an officer but I also really need SLRP. I would be afraid to enlist straight out and never be selected for OCS. I have seen situations in my life where there would be a certain job or program and in order to get it you would have to start or join in another job or program and move over. Once in, nobody ever got promoted or moved. It was a scam. Just a ploy to get people to fill the unwanted jobs. I don't want that to happen.

If you meet OCS eligibility standards, and aren't a dirtbag, your commander will allow you the opportunity to attend OCS. You are the one who decides whether you succeed or not. It reflects well on the unit commander to have one of his Soldiers graduate from OCS, so he wants you to go.

[tanikir]

A few questions on this

Is there a link to the critical areas for officers?
If I enlist and then go to state OCS, does that cancel the SLRP, or is it that you can't have SLRP from the enlistment and the accension bonus?
My recruiter suggested OCS after a year, I thought it had to do with the enlistment bonus, do I really need to wait that long?

[Dunkel]

Here's an interesting twist...I'm already MOSq'd in a top 10 field from my prior service in Reserve/Guard with 92Y. So I could enlist for 3 years, get the $7500, then do the apply for OCS thing?