What alternatives are there to join the US Military instead of joining as enlisted?

Question

The other night, I got to talk to two veterans and they both told me that the best way to enter into the military is by making your own contract with them, to go to college first and then serve as a commissioned officer.

I want to know if it's even possible, and if it is, what issues and catches could be involved.

Answer 1

Different services have different programs, but generally you can earn a commission and go to college by getting accepted at a service academy or through ROTC.

There are several ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) programs available, including ones that offer four-year scholarships.

In Army or Air Force ROTC programs you can take the first two years without a contract--unpaid--with no commitment to serve. This is a good way to learn about the service and sample it. Navy ROTC programs include a contract program much like this and they commission officers in the Navy and Marines. The Navy also has a full four-year scholarship program that is second only to the service academies in its quality.

You can also simply go to college and then get accepted into a commissioning program by one of the service. This can be tricky because the services may not be hiring when you become available.

My advice would be to talk to the recruiters from the branches of service you are interested in. Then talk to at least one other recruiter.

A program like this normally incurs a service commitment. You can expect to be required to serve at least four years in most commissioning programs, and sometimes for five or more years, depending on how much the service has invested in your education. Again recruiters can advise you. You can also talk to the ROTC departments at colleges and universities and you can discuss these things with high school guidance counselors.

Most good counselors will have catalogs from the service academies--they should also have basic information on ROTC scholarships and how to apply for them.

If vacancies exist, and you are physically qualifed and can pass all the tests you are in.

Good luck.

Answer 2

You can also join an ROTC program at a college and when you graduate, you enter the military as an officer candidate. You then go into a Officer Craining School and become an officer in the military. As an officer, you can resign when you don't want to be in the military anymore. If you go through an academy, you are usually on the hook for anywhere from 4 - 7 years depending on the training you receive.

Answer 3

I have a friend that is in the National Guard and is in OCS (Officer Candidate School). He is in college as a full time student and goes once a month on the weekends to do his training. Before he was commissioned, he was an E-4 (Sgt) but got the pay of an E-6 (Staff Sgt). He just reciently got commissioned and now he is an O-1 (First Lt.). He loves it because he gets to still go to college (Civil Engineering Major by the way) and serve his country.

Answer 4

You have to either start out in ROTC through college, or submit an application with recommendations from a senator to go to Annapolis or West Point. It is somewhat challenging, but not impossible, I have met some really stupid commissioned officers.

Answer 5

you could get apointed to one of the military acadmenies by your congressman if he was not mark foley, or you can get a college degree then enlist as a comissioned officer. if you go this way then you gonna have to go to ocs in the military. its like boot camp for en enlisted person then you wil have at least six years of obligated service unless you get passed over for promotion then they kick you out but you can worry about that aftwer you get into the branck you wanna go into.

Answer 6

go to a military academy like the citadel or the naval academy in annapolis. they you would be an officer instead of enlisted. those schools are very hard to get into and even harder to stay in.