Just got done talking to the local recruiter and I need some information confirmed.  

He told me that since I have more than 60 college hours, that I
1)would get out of Basic  as an E-4.  
2)could immediately sign up for "green-to-gold" program meaning that I would get into OCS and have two years to finish my degree and get  a commission--all paid by Uncle Sam.
Can any of you all confirm this and is it really possible to do one's job as a soldier and still have time/energy to go to college?
Thanks in advance.  LLanero

edited to make for clearer reading

1) not true.  You have to have a bachelor's to get E4 right out of the gate

2)Bullshit

and No...you won't get the time off and when you do get it you'll be too tired.

That recruiter is laying it on REAL thick.

Green to Gold and OCS are two totally different programs.

OCS contracts are sometimes done at MEPS, but I have never seen one when someone doesn't already have a degree. I would recommend against it even if you could get it though - as you would have to then complete your degree on active duty (no easy task while serving as a platoon leader and spending half the year in the field or deployed to some third world shithole, the other half working till 8 or 9 pm). Under no cirucmstances should you sign up for some enlisted MOS because the recruiter suys you could switch to OCS "later."

Green to Gold is a scholarship program offered to enlisted personnel, almost identical to that offered at universities to civilians. If that really interests you, stop by the basement of Freudenberger Hall at SMSU and talk to the ROO (Recruiting Operations Officer) - ask him about two and three year scholarships.

Serving as a soldier in the Army is a great thing and I think everyone should do so - I am in no way trying to decry enlisted service. But - if you want to be an officer - that recruiter and yours goals are not the same, trust me.

Also, as QS said - you would be enlisting as an E-3. You MIGHT make E-4 out of AIT, but nothing is guaranteed. Your recruiter is full of it. If he can't put in in writing, tell him to go somewhere dark and smelly.


Adam

He should be able to show you in his regulation, AR 601-210 (if I remember correctly), if you're entitled to the rank based off of your college credits.

When initially talking with a recruiter, he should be able to show you everything in black-and-white, either in a regulation or in the service's own pamphlets.


Chris

Behold the truth.

Another truth, recruiters LIE. A lot.

You need a bachelors to get E-4. I just enlisted a month ago and I have over 60 credits, I am an E-3. You MIGHT make E-4 after AIT.

No idea on green to gold. I'm 24 btw, email if you need any questions answered about meps I just went through it. Maybe I'm an exception but my recruiter didn't bs me on anything, maybe becuase he didn't have to. I think I have a pretty realistic idea of what I'm getting into and proud to serve and gain the experience.

[url]http://www.1perscom.army.mil/PSSD/Pride/Pubs&Forms/OCS%20INFO%20PAPER.pdf[/url]

a. AR 350-51, United States Army Officer Candidate School
b. MILPER Message 01-138, Applying for Officer Candidate School (OCS)

3. ELIGIBILITY:
• Must be a US citizen
• GT score of 110 or higher
• Pass the APFT and meet the height and weight standards
• NAC or ENTAC screening must be favorable
• Completed at least 90 semester hours of accredited college
• Score 80 or higher on the English Comprehension Level Test (ECLT) if the soldier has primary language other than English
• Be of good moral character
• No prior civil or military convictions
• Not previously withdrawn from OCS
• Be at least 18 and no older that 30 years of age at the time of enrollment
• Pass type "A" medical exam within 6 months before date of application

[url]https://www.perscomonline.army.mil/OPdist/ocs_degree_completion_program.htm[/url]

The Army Personel Command reccommends that the Army reinstate the 60-hour rule for application to OCS and adopts a DCP while in enlisted status.  This may have been recently approved but I cannot find anything on it.

If you qualified for the OCS contract with 90 hours then you would graduate as an E-4. I would have the recruiter show you the Army regulation that allows a 60 hour OCS contract and degree completion. Remember, if it is not in the contract, you WILL NOT get it.

Recruiters have quotas.  They will do what they need to do to fill their quotas.  In other words if you ask them about a program that does not fill their quota the BS component goes way up and the helpful component goes way down.  In egregious cases they can be brought up on charges if they are found to have deliberately lied  about certain things, unfortunately that usually requires witnesses other than a boot in boot camp stuttering about what he/she had been told.

I caught my son's AF recruiter hinting strongly that he bend the truth on some of his medical history.  (Forget to mention a separated shoulder and also that he took ritalin very briefly during a period when he and his younger brother were at each others necks constantly).  I ripped the Recruiter a new one and told my son to be extremely truthful on the physical history.  1.  If he lied about the shoulder and he reinjured it any decent ortho MD would spot the previous injury and upon comparing the physical history in his records would find the omission.  2.  Likewise if he was caught lying about the ritalin, the ommission would be found on his clearance application, guess what would happen.  That took a waiver to get in, but it only took a month.

I had had to deal with kids that got lied to badly and they don't make good Soldiers or Sailors or Marines.  Not the least of which, even in the Reserves, it screws with your unit morale and retention rates.

Theoretically Recruiters and contracts are reviewed at the Mepps but that is a somewhat incestuous relationship.  

Don't omit or lie about anything on your applications.  If it is found out you now have a  falsified enlistment, which can get you thrown out, screw up a clearance.  So what if you have to get a medical waiver and it takes you some extra time, who do you want to get screwed? you or the Recruiter who falls short on a quota that they would have filled by you and you get screwed.

The Marine was very straightfoward, I wonder if it was because on the Guest and Parent trip to MCRD San Diego, he saw the base sticker on my truck or that he saw I had an old buddy talk with the Colonel from Recruiting Command.  We had several mutual friends and had actually sailed together to Thailand 20 years before.  I guess the recruiter figured that a No BS routine was appropriate.

But when I was at Lackland, there were several kids in my sons platoon that were very unhappy about the promised schools they weren't going to get.

You think any of the folks now deployed are getting free time to study?

Get everything in writing. If its not in the contract your not going to get it.

Bullshit! They promised me a rifle and a lot of exercise. It wasn't in the contract, but I got it!

Did you get to keep the rifle?

The Army has three jobs in which they teach you to lie.
97E Interpreter/Interrogator/Translator (My primary MOS)
96F Psychological Operations specialist (My secondary MOS)
And the worst of all, the recruiter!!!