Military Careers, military training, promotions - Army Times

Don’t get out — go officer

Charles Bayorek has been tracking budgets as a hospital corpsman second class. Now’s he’s tracking an officer career path.

He’s been selected to the Navy’s Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program. This fall, he’ll enter the University of Memphis to become an officer and a nurse.

Bayorek enlisted when he was 19 and spent 10 years at Naval hospitals, medical centers and now, Navy Personnel Command. When his leading petty officer got selected to the program, Bayorek took notice.

“That’s what planted the seed,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to work with great officers and especially nurses. I want to be a part of their community.”

Bayorek’s decision to take the medical commissioning path means he’ll keep his enlisted pay and allowances and stay eligible for promotions while he earns his nursing degree.

He has 56 college credits – more than the 30 required to enter the program. Students must complete their degrees in 36 months. The program doesn’t pay for tuition and fees, and students can’t use military tuition assistance. But they can use their GI Bill benefit. Those selected have to complete their degrees by their 42nd birthdays. Upon graduation, students receive a commission as an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps with an obligation of eight years.

Think you’re officer material?

The military is loaded with programs to help enlisted folks move up the ranks. All you have to do is find one that fits.

Navy

• Seaman to Admiral-21 program

Sailors stay on active duty, receive full pay and benefits and get an education voucher of up to $10,000 a year for tuition, fees and books. Students must be recommended by a commanding officer. Those selected have 36 months to earn a degree. Students must earn their degree and commission by their 31st birthday.

• Officer Candidate School

Those E-4s or below with a college degree who apply and get accepted become E-5s when they report to OCS. You must demonstrate leadership potential, pass the Officer Aptitude Rating exam, be serving on active duty and have at least six months of obligated service remaining on your current enlistment. Graduates receive commissions as ensigns in the Navy Reserve with a four-year obligation.

• Medical Service Corps In-service Procurement Program

The Navy pays for tuition for E-5s to E-9s interested in becoming officers in health care fields with no break in service. Students receive full pay and allowances and must earn a degree and commission before their 42nd birthday. Graduates become ensigns in the Medical Service Corps.

• Navy CWO Appointment Process

This program is open to active-duty and Reserve chief petty officers E-7 and above, E-6s eligible for E-7 and chief warrant officers applying for lieutenant junior-grade — who have completed 12 years of service.

• Limited Duty Officer Appointment Process

For the technically inclined, a commission as an ensign is based on experience in specific fields, no college degree required. The process is available to warrant officers with two years of service and first class and chief petty officers with 12 years. Commissioned officers incur a four-year obligation.

Marine Corps

• Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program

It doesn’t matter whether you have any college credits. Any Marine who has served a year can apply. If selected, you attend a nine-week prep course offered once a year, enroll in any college affiliated with a Naval ROTC and participate in the NROTC program. You have to earn your degree in four years. Upon completion, graduates become second lieutenants.

• Meritorious Commissioning Program and Meritorious Commissioning Program Reserve

These are up to your commanders. Applicants are nominated based on leadership skills and the prerequisite 75 college credits. CLEP and military service credits don’t count. You have 18 months to earn your degree at a Naval ROTC-affiliated college. Then you’re assigned to Officer Candidate School, and upon completion, earn a commission as a second lieutenant.

• Enlisted Commissioning Program and Reserve Enlisted Commissioning Program

The program allows participants to go to school full time and remain on active duty status with pay and benefits. Open to Marines with at least a year of active duty experience and one year remaining on their enlisted contract. After completion of a degree, they’re commissioned as second lieutenants.

• Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training

This program provides education enhancement opportunities in math, science and literacy for Marines who need to fill some educational pre-requisites in order to apply for enlisted-to-officer commissioning programs.

• Naval ROTC

This program is open to active-duty and reserve Marines in all ranks and requires no minimum service. Qualifying students can receive up to $180,000 in scholarships for college degrees for up to five years at NROTC-affiliated colleges.

• Platoon Leaders Course

Open to active-duty and reserve Marines in all ranks, this program has no minimum service requirements. Students can enroll in the course when they’re freshmen, sophomores or juniors in college and attend a six- to 10-week program. The service pays for travel, room, board, books and uniforms, and students receive a stipend. Participants are commissioned as second lieutenants once they earn their degrees.

• Officer Candidates School

Eligible college graduates who apply and are selected attend a 10-week training program and are paid for their time, room and board, and training materials.

Army

• Green to Gold

Soldiers can apply for a scholarship — or not. There are three Green to Gold options. All allow soldiers to use their GI Bill benefit to pay for college and, upon completion, attain a commission as a second lieutenant.

Here’s how it works:

The scholarship program is for soldiers with two years of active duty and at least a year of college already under their belts. Scholarships cover the cost of tuition or room and board for the remaining years needed, plus a book allowance of up to $900 a year and a $300 to $500 monthly stipend for up to 10 months during the school year. Participants have to separate from the service while in school and attend an ROTC-affiliated college.

The nonscholarship program is for those with two years of college who can complete a bachelor’s degree in two years. In exchange for the monthly stipend, participants become a member of a drilling National Guard or reserve unit or ROTC and receive Reserve pay and allowances.

The Green to Gold active-duty option is similar. Soldiers stay on active duty with full pay and allowances and complete their bachelor’s degree within two years.

• Officer Candidate School

Enlisted personnel who’ve earned a college degree can apply for the 14-week program. New eligibility requirements include having a secret security clearance and at least 90 college credits with the ability to complete a bachelor’s degree in one year or less (except for Medal of Honor or Distinguished Service Cross recipients). Active-duty enlisted personnel lacking enough service time to complete OCS training must extend their enlistment before enrollment to at least one day beyond OCS graduation. Upon selection and completion, graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants.

• Warrant Officer Appointment Process

This is for E-5s or higher with four to six years of experience in a skill association with a warrant officer MOS. Selection requires personal interviews with commanders, and if selected, participants attend six and a half weeks of Warrant Officer Candidate School. Upon completion, soldiers are appointed a WO1.

Air Force

• Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program

You have to separate from active duty, join an Air Force ROTC detachment and earn your degree as a cadet. Participants get tuition and fees up to $15,000 a year, a monthly stipend of $250 to $400, plus a $750 book allowance. Scholarships can be for two, three or four years. Graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants with an active-duty obligation of four years.

• Airman Education and Commissioning Program

Airmen can stay on active duty, get full pay and benefits and earn a degree. They get the same $15,000 for tuition and the book allowance. The difference in this program is that it’s designed to fill critical needs for people with degrees in nursing, meteorology, physics, math, engineering and languages. After graduation, participants are second lieutenants with a four-year active-duty obligation.

• Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development

This one’s up to unit and wing commanders. They nominate those they think would make good officers. If selected, airmen enter the Air Force Academy or the Academy Preparatory School.

• Scholarship for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC

The Air Force gives 50 each year. Airmen separate from the Air Force in exchange for $15,000 a year in tuition and fees and a $250 to $400 monthly stipend. It’s open to all college majors. After graduation, participants become second lieutenants with four-year obligations.

• Professional Officer Course Early Release Program

For those who have two years toward a bachelor’s degree, the program offers early release from active duty to enter the Air Force ROTC and go to school full time. Graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants and return to active duty for four years.