Learn to lead at Officer Candidate School (OCS). Put your college degree to use, gain leadership skills, and prepare for a career as an Army Officer.
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OCS is one of four paths to become a commissioned Officer in the Army. It offers intense military tactical training and prepares you for a career in fields like engineering, finance, mechanics, communications, and more. You’ll graduate as a commissioned Officer who’s ready to lead a team in any situation.
You’ll go through 12 weeks of training in OCS to ensure you’re prepared to successfully lead others. Training consists of two phases of advanced classroom instruction and on-the-ground training that you’ll complete with a small squad.
In Phase 01, you’ll go through physical and mental challenges to test your ability to excel in basic leadership skills required of a commissioned Officer. You’ll also be expected to pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), Leadership Reaction Course, and Combat Water Survival Test.
In Phase 02, you’ll put the skills you learned in the first phase to the test. You’ll be evaluated on your ability to lead a team during an intense 18-day mission in the field. This phase also includes Senior Leader Seminars and the Transitioning to Becoming Commissioned Officers course.
OCS is an option for non-Soldiers, as well as active-duty enlisted, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard Soldiers who meet the requirements. To apply, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen
Be between 19 and 32 years old
Be eligible for a secret security clearance
Have a bachelor’s degree by the time you commission as an Officer
Have no more than six years of active service for current military members
In addition to OCS, Army National Guard Soldiers have two alternative options to pursue Officership. They can attend State Officer Candidate School which takes place on the weekends for 16-18 months, or the National Guard Bureau Accelerated Officer Candidate School, an eight-week course.
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Yes. If you’re not already a Soldier, you must complete the 10-week Army Basic Combat Training or equivalent military basic skills course before enrolling in OCS. Enlisted and Army Reserve Soldiers enrolling in OCS would have already completed the course.
At graduation, you will be given a formal commission as a U.S. Army Officer and assigned to the rank of second lieutenant, the first of the commissioned ranks.
While non-military college graduates and current military candidates do not compete with each other for available OCS slots, the more prepared you are for the physically rigorous demands of OCS, the better. About 65% of OCS applicants are accepted.
The better you score at OCS, the better your chances are to get the job you want. After you rank your top job choices based on what the Army has available, you’ll be matched with one of your preferred jobs based on an assessment of how your OCS scores and qualifications match the needs of the role.
Yes. If you’re a college senior, you can apply early and be selected for training at OCS upon completion of your degree.
Army Officer Training School is held at Fort Benning, Georgia.
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