I'm in my last quarter of college right now and I want to serve. I want to be an officer in the Army via 09s, however I've talked to several recruiters who have told me that the active component is not really taking any new candidates for OCS because AD has far too many LTs. They also told me AD OCS is very competitive and my 2.7 gpa in finance wouldn't get me in. So my second choice is to enlist 09s in the National Guard because they are taking candidates. I wanted to go combat arms, I am leaning towards Cavalry Scout Officer but I'd be ok with any of the combat arms jobs and I'm wondering what exactly do they do in the guard? Is it just pt and death by powerpoint or is there actual training? Also, is there any chance of being deployed? I want to go overseas and serve.

My second concern about going ARNG is how often I need to attend to my ARNG duties? If I go ARNG I will be going to law school after I finish my BOLC B and I'm wondering if ARNG duties will significantly interfere my schooling? Has anyone done guard and grad school at the same time?

Lastly how likely is it to get Basic, then OCS, then BOLC done all in one year? Is it possible? Or will I be doing a lot of waiting in between phases? Thanks for taking the time to post!

cant tell you about the officer part since im enlisted i can tell you thers no such thing as a "cav scout officer" the officers in scout units are armor officers. as far as the drill goes its one weekend a month and one two week drill each year plenty of people in the guard do graduate school it is possible to balance the two. as far as what you do at drill depends on your unit but if you go combat arms expect to be training more often than not.

http://www.army-portal.com/jobs/armor/index.html 19c says cav scout officer unless this list is out of date or something.

That's good to hear. Not that I would refuse to do it but Id rather not spend most drills cleanings weapons Ill never use, cleaning barracks I will sleep in only twice a month, and doing endless pt with no real goals.

Don't talk to a regular recruiter if you want to go officer. Especially one that says finance won't get you in (one of my PL's has a degree in architecture for crying sakes). Go to an officer recruiter.

Guard and grad school get done at the same time all the time. One of my soldiers is going to law school while attending drill once a month.

Schools are all based on funding and slots available. Our experience has been 4-10  months wait time for new LT's to get a BOLC slot after commissioning. OCS would follow after basic, but you might have a long wait for a basic slot that lines up good with OCS (have you a nice backup MOS in case you fail out of OCS?)

You don't pick your branch until OCS and then it's a crap shoot depending on needs of the Army and your own ranking on the OML. You may branch Armor, you may branch AG.

Drill can be just PT and powerpoint, but as an officer, you won't be doing PT.

If you want to deploy and serve, I wouldn't get too excited for Armor. Try something like CA, MS(is that the medical support one?), MI, QM, EN.

I talked to a regular recruiter because you need to enlist to get 09s. ARNG Recruiter told me that only AD and AR do OML. He said that ARNG at least the calguard anyways you will know your job because you are going for a specific slot. That's the reason why I want to go into ARNG instead of AR. I don't want a backup MOS haha. Seems like bad luck but I want to be combat arms anyways and I doubt its going to be competitive at the enlisted level.

I really hope officer drill isn't just PowerPoint...

I was thinking EN(engineer right?) But I suck at math. NO offense to anyone in those branches but I don't want to do any of the "cushier" jobs. I want to join the military to do military stuff not stuff I could still do as a civilian when I'm 60.

If you want to do Army shit and you want to join the ARNG, why not just enlist? You'll actually get to spend time doing that job. I'm an AF occifer and I would say that I spend about 2% of time doing the "fun" part of my job, the rest is signing paperwork, reviewing documents, going to meetings, and updating PowerPoint slides to make sure the font and spacing is the same all the way through

Because I have a degree, the Army isn't giving enlistment bonuses, I don't have any student loans, and the job I want is available to officers. I can understand going enlisted if you have massive student debt or the job you want is only for enlisted(like naval corpsman) but that's not the case for me.

You missed my point man. If doing "Army stuff" is what you're after, you're going to be able to do that kind of thing a lot longer if you're enlisted. As an officer you'll get to do it for the first few years (if you're lucky) and then it's off to a desk. There are exceptions, but generally that is the case.

First few years is all I want. I don't plan on making the military a side career or a main career. I only want to be in 4-6 years max. I just have an unsatiable desire to serve the country and I know its something I need to do before I kick the bucket 70 years from now.

I'm an 09s ARNG EN PL. Was prior service enlisted ARMY so I didn't do basic/AIT again.

My State OCS was about 14 months long, 1 weekend a month; long tortuous process really.  You may get really lucky and get a federal OCS slot or you may get an accelerated guard OCS slot. Depends on needs of the State.

BOLC will be somewhere between 3-6 months and you will go when your unit can get you in so no guarantee on timing. You really need BOLC before you can make 1LT.

Your job in a line unit will be training schedules, training assessments, and working with your PSG to complete the mission. You will likely get tasked with other jobs like unit PT officer or something similar.

I'm hand receipted for about $12 mil in inventory. Fun.

I spend about 20 hours a month outside of drill working on Guard stuff. Some guys don't. Just depends on what you want to accomplish.

Last month I put around 40 hours in outside of drill. I had to run a joint operations mission for a statewide emergency response excercise.  Good training.

You could just end up in a staff position; no idea what that's like.

Basic,OCS, and BOLC will mess up law school for a minimum of 1 year. Realistically about 2 years, and worst case 3-4 years.

Don't count on a deployment right now but who knows in 3 years...

If you are doing it for student loan repayment incentives, don't.

If you have any questions let me know. Not many good resources out there for how this really works.

I wanted fed OCS and accelerated guard.  You will just get what you get on the needs of the State.  The recruiter will have to get you hooked up with fed OCS.  South Carolina is Region C HQ for traditional OCS.  We are proud of our OCS program and we try to keep candidates in the South Carolina traditional program.  It helps with funding if we can keep our class numbers elevated.  We also have more control in the quality of officers our program produces.  Each state is unique but I'm just giving you an illustration on why it is state dependent.  FWIW, I'm happy now that I went the 14 month route.  It prepares you better to be a Guard officer.  It also is a good networking program.  I have peers who commissioned through fed and accelerated.  They are not as polished and no one knows who they are.

I may have watched one power point in the past year at my unit.  It was sexual harassment haha.  You won't escape that brother.  We counted up our slides at EBOLC and it was around 6,000  We really train at my unit and it's a good thing.  I go in Friday night for leaders meeting, first formation at 0600 on Saturday.  Work till about 2300.  0600 on Sunday.  Final formation around 1800.  Some guard units hold up walls all weekend.  Id rather do work.  If you go any non combat arms branch your life will probably be cushier but you will be stuck in the armory most drills.

Your drill paycheck vs. the amount of time you should put in is sad.  I'm an O1-E with 10 years and my last drill check for a 3 day (MUTA 6) was around $600 bring home.  40 hours during month planning + 30 hours at IDT =70 hours for $600...ouch I shouldn't have done that math haha.  You will have to do stuff outside of drill like OER support forms that will affect your career if you neglect.  They take time.  You will not make good pay per hour but you will have cheap health insurance, cheap life insurance, tuition assistance, and if you change your mind and go for 20 years, a surprisingly decent retirement.

I have not deployed.  I want to deploy too.  All junior officers want a deployment.  Unless your unit specifically is deploying and you have completed all of your prerequisite schools you will most likely not be deploying.  There are still some admin deployments going on but nothing big.  If something big pops off again you'll get your chance.

If you want AD go AD.  Don't give up.  You will not likely ever get a chance to transition from NG to AD.  Find the right recruiter.  I would propose that AD is easier as a leader because its your full time job.  You don't have to juggle it with another full time career.  You have more direct influence on your Soldiers, your property, and your career.

If you want NG go NG.  Find your state's officer strength manager.  They can hook you up with the right recruiter and have a better idea on how to get you where you want to be.  It can be rewarding and it can make you frustrated as hell.  You will be required to do all the things AD is doing, but, you know, you have 1 weekend a month.  You will do BRM, APFT, height/weight, SHARP, Resiliency training, MSAF, OER, NCOER, SSD, IMRX, piss tests, PMCS, BII, CIE...Everything that they do.  If I get my Soldiers 8 drill weekends of MOS training + AT in one year I am accomplishing great things.  So many admin weekends.  But that's why you put in the work during the month.  Make sure your training schedules are tight and your CONOPS give the CO a hard on and you can hit it hard everytime you get a chance.

Again, questions welcome.  

Why not get a masters degree and do ROTC?  If you meet the age requirements, it's pretty easy to get a Reserve or Guard scholarship to pay for the degree. When you get done, you commission as a Guard or Reserve officer depending on which scholarship you get.  I work ROTC if you have any questions.

I wasn't aware rotc in grad school was an option. I was under the impression that with the military downsizing, scholarships have dried up? Is that true? Tbh i want active but I dont want to do jag and I dont want to waste my law degree if i did go active.

Yup, certainly is an option if you aren't too old and meet the other requirements.  Scholarships are still available but it may be more competitive depending on what you're looking for.  2-year scholarships (which is what Masters programs are) are easier to get because they don't cost as much.  If you are looking for Guard or Reserve, those are paid out of different pots of money and they are easier to get than what we call Line scholarships.  Scholarships have not dried up but they are getting more competitive.  Guard/Reserve scholarships aren't as competitive.  

We've had several Masters program cadets over the years.  I believe we have two of them right now so it's fairly common.  Let me know if you have any specific questions and I'll be happy to answer them.  I'm on leave right now so I may not get see your questions right away but I will reply.

Sigh.....

OP if you are serious about doing Army shit don't go Officer. Unless you get a boner from powerpoint and meetings.

there right about if you wanna do army stuff dont go officer they tend to do more of the "admin" stuff. also if you want to be a grunt id figure out know if you wanna spend more time in vehicles or on foot as a 19d i can tell you were mounted more often than not. so if you wanna be a ground pounder look at infantry.

I did the 09S thing and was a Cav Scout PL for a minute (long story).  


You'll go to Basic.  When you get back from that, you'll go to OCS.  If your state is like mine, they probably aren't sending you to Federal OCS.  They reserve that for people with prior enlisted experience.  You could get lucky and go, but I wouldn't count on it.  State OCS will be one 2 week period, followed by a year of monthly drill weekends, capped off by another 2 week period after which you'll get you commission.




At some point during OCS, you'll work with a guy that will find you a slot to go into.  You'll pick from whatever is available.  If there are no CAV slots for you to go into, you'll have to pick something else.  After OCS, you'll go drill with that unit.  They will schedule your BOLC.  Mine was 4.5 months (Field Artillery).  I think Armor school is the same length.




As an LT, you won't have to deal with PP much, except for sitting through them.  At some point you'll get put in a Staff position, and PP will invade your life.




Unless things have changed, you'll have to do at least 6 years of active drilling, then 2 years IRR.  Or you can just do the whole 8 actively drilling.  There is no 4 year commitment that I am aware of.  I have not been able to get a definitive answer on when that commitment starts.  It's either when you first enlist as an 09S, or the day you get your commission.  I hope you get a better answer when you ask.




My first piece of advice is this: Don't get your heart set on any one job.  The Army does not really give a shit what you want.  You will end up where they need you.  I was in an Aviation slot (lost that, too old, which they didn't tell me until the last minute), then I picked FA from a list of 3 positions available at the time.  Once you're in a position and your career progresses, you may have to travel long distances to drill based on where you're needed.  I was driving 2 hours to drill at one point.  Some people I know are traveling 4 hours to get to drill.




If you aren't willing to put the needs of the Army and the needs of your Soldiers before your own needs, you probably shouldn't proceed.  Not trying to discourage you, just want you to know what you're getting yourself into.  If you have any other questions pm me.


 

After reading up on your postings OP we are full. Like literally we are full. If it's something you really want to do go for it but I have a very strong feeling you would not be a good fit.

My mind is made up. I'm going for it. I personally feel I'm a good fit. I'm willing to adapt to the lifestyle, I want to get out and do stuff and Im a people person. I've yet to meet anyone in my 22 years of life where icould not have at least a working relationship with.

1) Everyone likes to talk mad game until it's time to fo

2) You will run into plenty of people in the military who do not want to work things out with you

3) The military is a predatory organization and I've seen people like you get eaten alive and their lives ruined it's sad and unfortunate but it happens even for the simplest reason that someone may just not like you

4) I know from a fact having been on the other side looking in the one thing I never considered how much my life would change by joining both the good and the bad. Think long and hard about it because once you do there's no going back. Simple shit like being able to keep your firearms in your place of residence or even being able to speak your mind. These are things I'm willing to bet you are not thinking about.

5) You're obviously less mature and that can be attributed to lack of life experience outside the sanctuary of your family. Live a little before you decide to see if it's even something you really want to do because opinions and perspectives change in time

6) We are full. I meant that. Maybe you haven't seen the articles how we keep cutting people. If it's something you want to do it's going to be ultra competitive and being honest with you, you are not the kind of person they are going to pick based off your character from what I've seen you post on this site. That's just a fact.

7) Even once you are in you are always under threat. It's easy especially now for leadership to give people the boot. I've seen plenty get the boot in my time. Think about how a general or a dishonorable would affect your job prospects in the future.

8) You are in a good position right now if what you say is true. You have no debt which is a blessing and you already have a degree. Use that to your advantage and get a job.

9) If none of what I said matters to you and you still want to don't say I didn't warn you but IMHO now is not the time for you or a lot of other people to join. Consider this, I'm even cutting sling here in the next year.

Hopefully he will appreciate your honesty.  19E  

Thanks for the honesty. Ive read the about the horror stories and the hazings and that is something that I can deal with but its still concerning.
So as a person inside, do you reget joining? Because that's what it sounds like.
I'm pretty sure I referenced to the military downsizing and that's why I decided to go guard because AD is full.
I know I'm in a good position in life but I just feel this immense need to join up. I've had the last four years to think this over and I suppose I could always wait because I still have another ten years before I'll start to hit the age limit.
But again thanks for the honest input. I really appreciate it.

There are two things people who know me will tell you I say.

The Army will get the soldier it deserves not the soldier it needs.

I am glad I joined but I'm glad I'm leaving.

A lot of my success can be attributed to my time in the military but I took what I needed from it and I'm ready to move on. Either way I wish you luck but I'll get this out of the way. I told you so.

As an Guard officer you'll be drilling where the state wants you, which could be hours from home.
Many of my PLs, XOs and COs lived 3-4 hours away from the armory.
That may not matter much for monthly drills and AT, but for admin nights and such, it makes for a long day
Enjoy your PL and XO time.
Staff time will suck by the time you get there.
You'll find that in many Guard units they are in dire need of officers.
There were many years in my unit where we had a CO XO and a bunch of cadets acting as PLs because they were THAT short on warm bodies.
Absent a cadet it meant the PSG was pulling double duty for that platoon....actually, even with a cadet the PSG was pulling double duty in reality