OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL
Training future leaders
Officers are the Army’s leaders. They plan training and lead Soldiers all over the world. Officer Candidate School provides an opportunity for graduates who desire a challenging management position in one of sixteen career fields. These motivated individuals earn their commission through the Officer Candidate School for service in the active component or Army Reserve service.
Army officers are trained in career fields ranging from communication and personnel management to finance and logistics. Their training encourages the development of leadership and problem-solving skills that make them sought after by civilian employers. They also earn a salary and benefits that rival civilian corporations.
Requirements
To attend Officer Candidate School, you must be U.S. citizen and a college graduate, be at least 18 years of age at the time of regular Army enlistment and entered active duty or ship to training on or before your 30th birthday. Army Reserve, be at least 18 years of age at the time of enlistment and entered active duty or ship to training before your 33rd birthday. (Age waivers will be granted for meritorious cases only.) High school seniors may also apply.
ELIGIBILITY
Here are two options for joining the OCS:
COLLEGE OPTION
Applicants must enter active duty or ship to training prior to their 30th birthday. Army Reserve officer candidates must enter active duty or ship to training before their 33rd birthday.
ACTIVE ARMY OPTION
Talk to a recruiter for information on this option and application process. When you are ready to apply to OCS, simply contact your local recruiter to start the application process.
TRAINING
The specific training you receive in Officer Candidate School will teach you invaluable lessons in leadership development, military skills and adventure training. You’ll be trained both in the classroom and in the field.
Officer candidates start by attending basic training—a nine-week training course where candidates go through the process of becoming full-fledged Soldiers. Upon graduation, officer candidates will attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. The greatest benefit of leadership development training is that you will use and benefit from it throughout your life.
Depending on whether you are new to the Army or currently in the Army, you will undergo most (or all) of the following courses:
OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE
Army OCS candidates are those who aspire to achieve something even greater than a college degree. They aspire to be leaders. You can join them by attending the Army Officer Candidate Course. OCS is 12 weeks of intense classroom and field training.
You’ll receive a leadership development training that develops your potential in the most important of ways — mentally, physically and emotionally. Your training starts by being grouped into squads where you’ll gain experience in all leadership roles — culminating in verbal and written feedback on your improvement. The 12 weeks of OCS can lead you to the ultimate goal: becoming an Army officer.
The Officer Candidate program is divided into two phases:
PHASE 1: You will learn the basic leadership skills required of a commissioned officer. Candidates face both physical and mental challenges, designed to develop and evaluate your determination and desire to excel.
PHASE 2: All of the skills you have learned in your training will be put to the test in the field. As a senior phase candidate, you’re tested on both leadership abilities and your ability to work as part of a team. It’s an intense 18-day training mission that hones the skills learned during your previous training.
