It’s 2012 and after nearly enlisting in the Air Force, I am working in ministry full-time and finishing college. I was 24 when I met my husband on Easter Sunday. We married two years later and were working full-time at an outdoor camp when he brought up the possibility of joining the Army. It wasn’t a complete surprise but it wasn’t in any “five-year plan” we had discussed either. He was nearly thirty and he knew if he was going to give it a go, it needed to be soon.
In the Spring we started talking to recruiters. Because he had a four-year college degree, he was interested in the officer route – OCS or Officer Candidate School. He completed his application with letters of recommendation, took his aptitude test, and a physical exam, and had a formal in-person interview. Once he was accepted things moved pretty quickly. He was on a bus to basic training that August and I was left searching for the nearest DEERS office and googling things like, “can candidates have their phones,” “are they allowed leave time?”, “when can spouses come to visit” etc.
Six years later, I’ve met many other OCS graduate spouses who also felt a little left in the dark. Here is my attempt at a simple guide to what it could look like if your spouse decides to apply!
What is OCS or Officer Candidate School?
When you meet an officer in the Army it is more than likely they are either a graduate of West Point Academy, the Citadel (the “West Point of the South”), or ROTC from an Alma Mater that they’re proud of. There is a third route, however, that’s less known about called the Officer Candidate School. Officer Candidate School is for those with a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree who did NOT go through an ROTC program. Often candidates are former enlisted soldiers who completed a degree while serving or those who choose to join the Army at some point after college.
Who is eligible:
Civilians, active duty enlisted, Army reservists, and National Guard Soldiers. The age requirement is between 19-32 and you can’t have more than six years of active service before joining OCS (although there are often exceptions for chaplains and medical officers).
How do you apply?
Civilians can reach out to a recruiter to start the application process which includes:
A minimum of 110 on the general section of the ASVAB, security clearance, meet physical requirements and pass a physical exam, complete an application which includes information on past employment, education, residence history, etc., letters of recommendation and personal references, and an in-person board interview.
Where is it?
Fort Benning, Georgia
How long is it?
12 weeks
Is basic training required?
Yes, civilians must complete the 10-week Army Basic Combat Training. Enlisted and Army reservists do not have to re-complete this course.
What is your rank following OCS graduation?
After commissioning, soldiers are assigned the rank of second lieutenant.
Basic timeline from civilian to second lieutenant at their first duty station:
(excluding medical professionals, legal, and chaplains who have slightly different timelines).
Basic Training – 10 weeks with very little contact with home.
Can take place at the following locations: Fort Benning in Georgia, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Fort Jackson in Tennessee, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Fort Knox in Kentucky.
Typically, snail mail is the only approved communication, and sometimes possible phone calls toward the end of the 10 weeks depending on leadership approval.
This training ends with a graduation ceremony. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Officer Candidate School – 12 weeks. However, a soldier’s total length of time at Fort Benning can vary. When soldiers arrive after basic training there could be a holdover period while waiting for a new class to start.
OCS takes place at Fort Benning, Georgia. There is more communication allowed during this phase via personal phone calls. Visits are only allowed when given approval or when soldiers are on leave (depending on if their class dates overlap with major holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas).
OCS graduation weekend includes a formal ball that guests are encouraged to attend. The final ceremony/graduation is where the officer is “pinned” and gives their first salute. This is a special part of all officer commissioning ceremonies. Typically, a soldier will choose someone to “Pin” their officer rank to their shoulder pads. Then the officer can choose an enlisted soldier to give them their first salute as a newly commissioned officer. Both are honors given to the individuals chosen.
Choosing their job in the Army: During OCS soldiers will get to rank their potential branches (jobs) based on availability in the Army. Assignments are considered by class rank and matched based on OCS scores and qualifications for the specific job.
Basic Officer Leadership Course – This is their job-specific training and is typically four to six months following OCS (unless they are going to flight school which is typically 32 weeks at Fort Rucker, Alabama).
The location depends on each branch. For example, all logistic branches (Ordinance, Transportation, & Quartermaster) attend BOLC at Fort Lee, VA. Infantry and Armor take place at Fort Benning, Georgia. (For a full list of BOLC Duty Stations, click here).
Upon graduation from OCS, soldiers will be given orders for either a TDY (temporary duty) or PCS (permanent change of station) depending on the length of their basic officer leadership course. Six months is the minimum time requirement for the Army to consider a move to be a PCS. If TDY orders are given, housing is often provided in the on-post hotel. Usually, completion includes a graduation ceremony. After graduation, soldiers PCS to their first duty station.
Spouse-related questions to OCS:
Q: Can they have their phone? Typically, phone privileges are given in the barracks but can also be removed for disciplinary reasons.
Q: Can you live with them? No, candidates live in the barracks and are not allowed visitors within the barracks. Candidates are not allowed to stay off post without a pass.
Q: Can you visit them? Yes, at certain points in time, when they have been given leave. For example, if class dates take place over major holidays, soldiers are often given a pass to leave the post. However, these passes are not guaranteed.
Q: Can spouses live at Fort Benning during OCS? No, soldiers are not given permanent orders and cannot request housing for family members at Fort Benning.
Q: Is there a graduation ball? Yes, typically graduation weekend includes a formal ball and graduation ceremony.
Q: How soon do they report to Basic Officer Leadership Course after OCS? Typically, right away, within 24 hours.
Q: What happens if they fail? Candidates can be recycled to the beginning of the course if they fail certain components.
Q: Do candidates get to stay outside the barracks during graduation weekend? Yes, candidates are allowed to stay with family / in a hotel over the weekend.
Helpful things to discuss with your partner before they leave for initial training:
Where is the nearest DEERS ID office? As a spouse, you can not apply for your ID until after your spouse has been processed at basic training. So, it’s helpful to gather all the necessary information before your spouse leaves.
After OCS, will you (the significant other) move to BOLC training and potentially live in the hotel or stay put until PCS orders come (typically during BOLC)? Helpful for job planning, housing decisions if you need to sell or rent, packing, etc.
Soldiers cannot use personal vehicles while at basic training but they can use them at OCS. If the soldier wants to have their vehicle, will you make arrangements to drive it to Georgia for them once OCS has begun?
Making financial plans for the soldier to travel home for Christmas leave if OCS falls over the holiday. You will not know the exact dates but it is helpful to plan financially.
Do you have any other questions? Leave a comment below!
To read more about Corrie and her husband’s transition from a nonmilitary family to OCS, visit her blog post: From Ministry to Military, An Unlikely Journey
For more resources and official information about Officer Candidate School – Click Here
For more commonly asked questions as well as preparation information, you can visit Army OCS 2022 Guide: Preparing for Army Officer Training (operationmilitarykids.org)
Corrie and her husband transitioned from full-time ministry to military life in 2017 and have lived in Missouri, Texas, Virginia, and Colorado! They have been married for 8 years and have two little boys who they love to adventure with through hiking and being outdoors! She loves woodfired pizza, coffee, hiking, getting the most out of the free military gyms, and building community! You can find more military encouragement, resources, and duty station bucket lists on her Instagram @ajoyfulmilspouse .
