Officer Candidate School (OCS) teaches the skills which would be required of an officer in the United States Army. OCS is designed to train, evaluate and develop leadership potential, and is designed to be challenging. OCS is charged with creating the finest possible leaders to lead our soldiers in the accomplishment of future missions. This 14-week course, conducted at Fort Benning, GA, is designed to train enlisted personnel, warrant officers and civilians with college degrees to be Army officers. Those who are selected must successfully complete Basic Combat Training before attending OCS.
Civilian applicants to Officer Candidate School (OCS) must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Enlisted soldiers and warrant officers with a minimum of 90 semester credit-hours of college courses can also apply for OCS.
All OCS graduates must serve a minimum of three years on active duty following graduation from OCS. After successfully completing OCS, officers attend the Officer Basic Course (OBC) for their designated career field, where they’ll receive classroom and hands-on training in career-specific skills. New OBC graduates generally begin their Army management careers as platoon leaders in the rank of Second or First Lieutenant and are stationed at installations around the world.
OCS Requirements:
If you’re thinking about entering the Army with an option to attend Officer Candidate School, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- At least 18 and not older than 29 at time of USAREC Selection Board. (age waivers will be considered on a case by case basis for applicants ages 29-34)
- Must be a United States citizen
- At least a 4-year college degree prior to entering the Army
- Earn a minimum 110 GT score on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
- Meet the minimum height and weight standard
- Pass a complete physical at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
- Able to obtain a security clearance
- No more than 10 years’ active Federal Service at time of commission
