Buddy is enlisting into the Indiana NG...questions...

[Indy_Guy_77]

Hi,

A very good friend of mine has all but enlisted into the Indiana National Guard. Not sure where his recruiter is, but that guys' boss works out of Stout Field here in Indy.

He's being told that after basic he'll be a Specialist / E4 even though he has a college degree...but that it'll be at least a year before he could go to OCS (or whatever it's called?) to be a 2nd Lt.

My question/s for INGO...does this sound right?

I know I'm rather ignorant of the whole thing, but I've heard for years that a college degree is a rather "automatic" ticket into OCS, like almost immediately after basic training?

Can anyone shed any light on the subject?

I don't want my buddy to get hosed.

-J-

 

[dboz]

I have been in the National Guard for 9 years and that sounds right to me. You are correct, it is OCS (Officer Candidate School) that enlisted soldiers go to, if they have a degree, to become an officer. You have to be an E-4 Specialist for at least a year before you can apply. You can skip OCS by going through ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corp) while you are in your four years of college. Once you graduate college you go through an officer's version of Basic Training and then receive training in your specfic branch. These are the two most common ways of becoming an officer. There is one other option that involves getting a direct comission and becoming an officer without going through some of the training, but it is very uncommon and typically only applies to officers in the medical branch.

On a side note, I was making reference to the M249 SAW in front of a medical officer that got her comission that way, and she wanted to know why I was humping a chain saw around Iraq. True story.

I hope this is helpful. If anyone can fill in some areas I may have left blank, or correct something that I am mistaken on, please do.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

dboz...

Thank you for your reply. I do appreciate it.

Since he (and I) have been out of school since 2001...It seems that what he's being told, then, is the truth.

Shame on me for my pessimism, though. I guess I've heard / read too many stories about people getting royally hosed by recruiters. Granted, not all recruiters are created equal...and recruitment techniques / tactics are probably different between all branches of service.

-J-

 

[emclean]

a couple bits of advice to pass on.
1 tell him to get every promise in writing, if it isn't written down then it will liklynot be honored.
2 he should make sure that he is getting as much from them, as they re gettign from him.

 

[SKSnut]

yes thats right.

 

[TRLREDY]

I took the same route several years ago. Already had my degree when I went in. Spent 10 weeks at Ft. Knox for basic. Came back, drilled twice with my unit and was then reassigned to the IMA(Indiana Military Academy). That is where OCS is conducted....for the state program anyways. I didn't have to wait a year to go to OCS. I contracted to go to OCS when I enlisted. The state program is 17mo long for the traditional program and the accelerated program was around 16 weeks maybe....can't remember. He will do OCS like a drill weekend....once a month for 17 mo. Arrive Friday nights and leave early evening on Sunday. Phase O and phase 2 are at Camp Atterbury. Phase 1 is Camp Riley Minnesota. Phase 3 is Ft. McClellen(sp?) AL. Phase 0 they basically try to weed out the week. Fast pace, high stress...getting smoked all weekend every weekend. There were around 50 or so that started my class and I believe 12 ended up graduating. After graduation he will go to OBC(officer basic course) to learn his branch. Will also have to go to BOLIC(basic officer leadership infantry course)at some point as well. All new officers must have infantry training now regardless of branch. Say an officer of quartermaster branch will still know how to lead/fight just like an infantry officer would in a combat situation.

 

[pathfinder317]

I agree with the other post get it in writing or it was never said , a good lawyer will tell you if it isn't in writing it never happened

 

[suby]

I don't know why there would be a year wait. Maybe if he enlisted with an actual MOS (like "infantry" instead of "officer candidate") and went to AIT after basic, then he might have to apply for OCS and it could take a year. But you don't have to go to AIT(advanced individual training) to be an officer. Is the year wait only for State OCS? Just curious.

Also there is no such thing as BOLIC. It was BOLC II and III. It is now BOLC B. BOLC II was "infantry" type training for all branches and BOLC III was your branch training. It is now being rolled into one course, BOLC B, which will consist of what BOLC III was plus a few weeks of extra training that is a condensed version of BOLC II (marksmanship, land nav, etc).

 

[CombatVet]

Direct Commission is pretty common in the IANG. If he does wait the year, he'll be eligible for the Green to Gold program and make a little more money. If he wants to forgo the labotomy he could go to WOC school.

It's my personal opinion that all officers should be enlisted first. You learn what it's like to be the little guy and can better understand your men. Oh and you're less prone to be affected by the lobotomy.

 

[suby]

Green to gold is for active duty enlisted soldiers who want to go to college and do ROTC. Not gonna be an option for this guy. It is a pretty sweet deal though.

 

[SKSnut]

get EVERYTHING in writing. even then it may not matter. As my DS said "we are a totalatarian dictatorship protecting a democracy"

 

[HICKMAN]

On a side note, I was making reference to the M249 SAW in front of a medical officer that got her comission that way, and she wanted to know why I was humping a chain saw around Iraq. True story.

combat arms and support.... same uniform, two completely different worlds. Trust me.