For more than 200 years, West Point graduates have served our country as Army Officers, engineers, explorers, and leaders at all levels of business and government. The United States Military Academy at West Point is one of our nation's top universities, offering a fully funded and elite education while preparing you to become an Army Officer. You must be under 23 years old to enroll at West Point. Upon graduation, West Point Cadets are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree and commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army.
Military Junior Colleges (MJCs) provide a more structured and disciplined college experience, and the opportunity to become an Army Officer in two years. MJCs offer Army ROTC classes, leadership labs and field training along with your required degree courses. ROTC also offers full-tuition scholarships, allowances for books and fees, and annual stipends worth up to $5,000. At a MJC, you will complete the Leader's Training Course (LTC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, the summer before your freshman year. You will then take the ROTC Advanced Course studies while at the MJC. Upon graduation, you'll receive an associate degree and a commission as an Officer in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
Senior Military Colleges (SMCs) provide a more structured and disciplined college experience while also offering the Army ROTC curriculum. ROTC provides leadership training through a series of classes, leadership labs and field training taken along with your required college courses. ROTC also offers full-tuition scholarships, money for books and fees, and annual stipends worth up to $5,000. At graduation, you'll be commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
If you have two years remaining on your bachelor's or advanced degree, you are eligible to enroll in Army ROTC after completing the Leader's Training Course (LTC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. ROTC provides leadership training at more than 1,100 schools in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico, and is taken along with your required college courses. ROTC offers full-tuition scholarships, money for books and fees, and annual stipends worth up to $5,000. Upon completion of ROTC requirements and graduation from college, you'll be commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard.
Some of the most highly specialized experts in the U.S. Army are Warrant Officers. Warrant Officers are experts in aviation, piloting some of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world. You can become an Army aviator directly from high school. After selection for the aviation program, you'll attend Basic Combat Training (BCT) for 9 weeks and then go on to Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS) and flight training. As an Aviation Warrant Officer, you'll be paid for your expertise, receiving flight pay in addition to regular pay, allowances and benefits.
Officer Candidate School (OCS) provides college graduates the opportunity to enlist in the Army and become an Officer. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training (BCT), you'll attend OCS, enabling you to be commissioned as an Army Officer. OCS is also available to enlisted Soldiers with a college degree who want to join the ranks of the Officer corps.
Becoming an Officer is just one of the many careers and job opportunities available to you in the U.S. Army. To learn more about all of the career options the Army offers click below.
Officers serve in many different capacities in the U.S. Army. Based upon your education and level of expertise, you may be eligible to apply for a direct commission. Opportunities are available in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps for lawyers, Army Medical Corps (AMEDD) for doctors and nurses, and the Chaplain Corps for clergy. Direct Commission is also available into branches such as Adjutant General, Quartermaster or Military Intelligence for Army Reserve or Army National Guard Soldiers who meet the requirements.
