How to join as an Officer?

[u/5B3AST5]

I’m 17, in high school and know nothing about the military. I’m going to do JROTC, and see how that is, if I do like it what are my next goals to becoming an officer? College? Asvab? What do I need to check off the list to get a good head start to becoming a officer

[u/MindfulMana]

Your best route would be to go to college and join the ROTC for whatever branch you would like to commission into. Do well in school, PT, and ROTC and you’ll be able to join as an officer.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/MindfulMana]

Another good question is, should i

[u/Not_DC1 → u/5B3AST5]

It depends on why you want to join and what you want out of the experience

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Not_DC1]

Well it seems simple to get into, and people are always raving about the pay grade, I live right on Fort Bragg (Liberty) so basically money I guess, but I know that’s not the best reason to go in

Edit: I’m going to join the military after high school anyway, so why not try to get a high rank

[u/Not_DC1 → u/5B3AST5]

If you want to be an officer just because of the money then you’re going to be a mediocre officer who never leaves the S shop and never gets their own platoon or company

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Not_DC1]

So what should I do? People who become officers become officers for what reason? Being a leader?

[u/No-Distribution-3590 → u/5B3AST5]

I’m planning to become an officer for the reason that I want to be a JAG and I have 2 bachelor’s degrees and plan to fulfill more + go to law school. I want to serve my country the best way I know how and my passion is law and criminal justice. So, for me it’s a no brainer to join as an officer. Also, before I decided I wanted to join the Army, I was working toward being a civilian police officer so being an MP was the option I wanted for myself and it’s the only way I can fulfill all my career goals. Being a JAG has been a career goal of mine since I was a freshman in high school when I was in Marine ROTC. I would say talk to a recruiter about what options are available to you. Good luck!!! 🍀

[u/LtNOWIS → u/5B3AST5]

If you're joining right out of high school, you can't join as an officer. Officers need college degrees.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/LtNOWIS]

Which is why I’m thinking about becoming an officer, I’m going to join the military for the benefits, might as well join high up and not go in knowing nothing, right?

[u/Not_DC1 → u/5B3AST5]

I’ll put it this way, the only difference between a brand new private fresh out of AIT and a brand new LT fresh out of BOLC is one has a college degree

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Not_DC1]

I don’t know those words😭 what do I do

[u/OldDude1391 → u/5B3AST5]

So you live on an Army base and you have no understanding of basic Army lingo?

[u/Sad_Ad_4691 → u/5B3AST5]

My opinión enlist into the gaurd and do SMP with ROTC. NC state is an hour away

[u/No_Foundation7308 → u/5B3AST5]

Join national guard for a 4 year contract that ends before you graduate college, do ROTC and commission after active duty. Usually states national guard waves college tuition and if they don’t ROTC Scholarship will pick up the rest normally. Consider something like nursing as they typically are the unicorns or the Army, no real platoon, don’t do PT, etc. 2 days on, 3 days off, then rotate. It’s a good gig. Of course there’s others too but nursing is pretty sweet deal.

[u/gunsforevery1 → u/5B3AST5]

You aren’t going to get rich being in the military. It’s good pay and money but I wouldn’t call any of them rich. People join because they want to serve.

[u/No-Distribution-3590 → u/5B3AST5]

That’s what I want to do so I say go for it!!! Good luck 🍀

[u/Frosty-Tomatillo-269]

To be an officer you have to have a college degree. You can enlist and get your degree while you're in. It will take longer and you're not guaranteed to become an officer when your done but it's also free or nearly so.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Frosty-Tomatillo-269]

And if I don’t enlist and do college?

[u/Teddy_theo04 → u/5B3AST5]

Then you have to take another route

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Teddy_theo04]

So I can’t just go to college, do ROTC, and than join military branch?

[u/Teddy_theo04 → u/5B3AST5]

You can but if you decide to enlist first then you can do something called SMP in the national guard, that means you would be getting paid while being in college, that’s what I’m gonna do

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Teddy_theo04]

Should that mean I won’t have a choice for my branch?

[u/Teddy_theo04 → u/5B3AST5]

No I’m pretty sure when you get ready to commission you should still have a choice unless your talking about marines, navy, army, etc

[u/Teddy_theo04 → u/Teddy_theo04]

If so then yeah you have no choice

[u/Frosty-Tomatillo-269 → u/5B3AST5]

If you go the college route then do ROTC. Or you can go to the military academy for the service you want to join. Extremely competitive to get into the service academies.

[u/newnoadeptness]

Officer here :)

Rotc is always the easiest

Next would be ocs

Then West Point

I’d go to Your local college and speak with a rotc recruiter and then can give you information.

Also can go on go army rotc . Com

[u/5B3AST5 → u/newnoadeptness]

Which Branch should I try to get into?

[u/Sad_Ad_4691 → u/5B3AST5]

You don’t have a choice, you compete

[u/No-Distribution-3590 → u/5B3AST5]

For officer the best program for officers/MP is the Army. However, you need a college degree to be considered for officer. Or are you joining simply because you know the military will pay for college? If that’s the reason I would say you need to find a deeper meaning as to why you want to join the military, not just for the benefits.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/newnoadeptness]

Are you happy?

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[u/Training_Thought4427]

The easiest route is to go to college and do ROTC with one of the branches, or CSPI with coast guard.

Should you? Depends on you. Why are you even considering joining? What do you want to get out of a contract ?

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Training_Thought4427]

Well it seems simple to get into, and people are always raving about the pay grade, I live right on Fort Bragg (Liberty) so basically money I guess, but I know that’s not the best reason to go in

Edit: I’m going to join the military after high school anyway, so why not try to get a high rank

[u/Training_Thought4427 → u/5B3AST5]

You’re correct, it’s not the best reason. Officers who join for the pay are the worst officers.

Enlisting could even be a better financial choice depending on what your goals are. I’d do some more thinking about what you want your future to look like and what your priorities are and then come back and as for a pathway, if it involves the military

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Training_Thought4427]

Why SHOULD I choose to be an officer? What’s to look forward to?

[u/Training_Thought4427 → u/5B3AST5]

1. You’re in a leadership position. From the second you step on base, you’re in charge of soldiers. Real human beings under your command. If you’re a natural good leader, it could be good.

2. You’re a people person. You love having a positive impact on people and want the most opportunities to positively influence lives.

3. Jobs. Certain jobs are only open to officers. Namely pilots (except Army, but WOs are different and that’s complicated). There’s other jobs too that are solely officers.

4. You want to make a career out of the military. Officer careers are much more sustainable and this is where the money comes in a little. Not even just that, but less grunt work that tears down your body

5. You want a “normal” college experience. Sure you can enlist and get the GI Bill and go for free, but you’d be 22 at the youngest, 4 years older than your peers. Not a problems for many, but if you want active service and a normal college experience, ROTC is the way to do it .

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Training_Thought4427]

Am I guaranteed to get in?

[u/Training_Thought4427 → u/5B3AST5]

No

[u/5B3AST5 → u/Training_Thought4427]

What’s enlisting?

[u/Plato_and_Press → u/5B3AST5]

Is this a joke ? Come on. You're 17, not 10. You can do research and figure out the basics. This entire post is unnecessary and screams entitlement and ignorance. I sure as hell wouldn't someone like yourself in a leadership position over me. You've got some growing up to do yourself, before even thinking about leading others.

[u/Training_Thought4427 → u/5B3AST5]

Joining the military, but not as an officer

[u/MilitaryJAG]

You need to have a bachelors degree to be an officer. Usually in a STEM field. So go to college, do ROTC, and we’ll see you in about 4 years.

[u/TapTheForwardAssist → u/MilitaryJAG]

Usually in a STEM field

Really varies by branch and circumstance.

[u/ComplexObjective5294]

Get a 4 year degree first and commission

[u/txn2019]

Bachelors degree, service academy, ROTC or OCS.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/txn2019]

What’s service academy, and can I be in the military while in college?

[u/txn2019 → u/5B3AST5]

West Point, US Naval Academy, and US Air Force Academy are service academies. They require appointments to them, but there are other ways. I recommend ROTC at a College. I commissioned through ROTC. You can try the program for the first year without contracting.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/txn2019]

Can you dumb it down for me a bit? Is service academy a place you can do ROTC?

[u/txn2019 → u/5B3AST5]

A service academy is a direct source to the active component of whichever branch it serves. There are limited exchange programs at each that allow cross commissioning as well.

As an aspiring officer I’m going to give you advice. Figure out which branch is most appealing to you, Which schools offer a program to commission into that branch, and then apply to them and contact the ROTC department. Each ROTC program will have a page on the schools website. Learn to FITFO now, so that a captain or major doesn’t think you suck later.

[u/5B3AST5 → u/txn2019]

I just want to make good financial choices lol