Was it possible to serve in the U.S Army as an officer during the Vietnam War without a College Degree?

Question

I am doing some research and i would just like to know if it was possible to serve as an U.S Army Officer in Vietnam without receiving a College Degree first. how was that possible if indeed that was the case?

Im talking about Commissioned Officers
(O-1 and above!)
NO BATTLEFIELD PROMOTIONS please I got that Info already

Answer 1

YES, because you can get what they call a field promotion. If the actual officer is KIA and you show the ability and willingness to take the responsibility than they can promote you

Answer 2

There seems to be some confusion in these answers.
1. yes it was possible...besides battlefield promotions they also selected exceptionally qualified NCO's for promotion to 2nd LT. Not sure about the army but in the Marine Corps they were called "mustangs". That generally was as high as they were going rankwise.
2. In addition to the above if you were high enough in the mental group with a H.S. diploma you could be accepted to OCS. Where upon completion you would be commissioned a 2nd LT. and additional promotion through the ranks was possible...but generally wouldn't go that high without a college degree.
3. NCO's or non commissioned officers are not officers. They are enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps of E4 and above, in other branches E5 and above. They were not created to fill a void of officers, they have always been part of the military and are basically the backbone of the service.

J Somethingo non commissioned officers were not called 90 day wonders..that term refers to OCS grads selected from the enlisted ranks.

Answer 3

Reserves and National Guard especially allowed people without degrees to get a commission, but was not common. Once they were promoted in National Guard they could volunteer for active duty to Vietnam etc. The Army also had program for training some active duty personnel into a commission, but that person had to really extend their enlistment. It was not common but it was official and not uncommon either. Upon being drafted into the army for your 2 years active service you could test and apply for Officers Candidate School after basic training. However you had to extend for 6 to 8 years then and there and if you didn't complete Officers Candidate School you were still on Active Duty for the 6 to 8 years.

Answer 4

There were non commissioned officers with out degrees, but commissioned officers needed degrees. Due to the lack of officers they set up the non commissioned officers. A quick training usually of soldiers who have been in military for 8 yrs or more. There were some exceptions to this rule.

Today's Army requires that you finish your degree before you finish Officers School.

Answer 5

I know of an Officer that had a platoon in 101 Division, 501 Battalion and started as an enlisted troop with no BA and was sent of Officer Training School and served in Vietnam as a Sec and First Lt. and was offered a Captaincy if he re-upped.1968-9.
So the answer to your question is yes, and it wasn't that uncommon I think, at least during the Vietnam War. Thanks for asking.

Answer 6

"runnin on mt" has the best answer. When I was in the Marines my MOS didn't rate any commissioned officers, we had all warrant officers. What they would do is take a senior or highly qualified warrant officer (chief warrant officer really) and give a promotion to captain. These guys are called LDO's or limited duty officers. The vast majority of them will not rise above the initial commissioned rank they were given.

Answer 7

Yes... many of the commisions given in Vietnam were bootstrap (being enlisted, going through a military officer school, and then being comissioned) or, far worse, battlefield commissions (that when everyone else above you was gone and you were the next in line).

Answer 8

Yes. A person can be an officer without a college degree.

Answer 9

Yes, it was posible to serve as an officer without a degree, in cases that a enlisted man was selected to be an officer. Not sure if you could go in as one though

Answer 10

Son the whole idea of an Officer with a Commission is one who has professional training or expertise. That is what distinguishes them from non-Com's who make their mark in the Field.