Got a wild idea? We build for service members — not the brass, not shareholders. If it's good, it ships.
Suggest a Feature →Commissioning Programs: OCS, Green to Gold, Warrant
General information, not legal advice. For legal issues, contact Trial Defense Service (TDS) or your Legal Assistance Office.
“You need a college degree and perfect PT score to even apply. Enlisted soldiers rarely get picked.”
OCS requires a bachelor's degree but Green to Gold pays for your degree while you're still getting paid. Warrant Officer programs require specific MOS experience and don't require a degree. Each has different requirements and the selection rates for qualified applicants are higher than most people think.
Officer Candidate School (OCS)
OCS is a 12-week program that commissions you as a Second Lieutenant.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree (any field)
- U.S. citizen
- Age: 18-32 (waivers possible to 34)
- APFT/ACFT score meeting the standard
- GT score of 110+
- No more than 2 dependents (for active duty)
- Secret security clearance eligible
The Reality: If you're enlisted with a bachelor's degree, you're already eligible. The selection board looks at your whole-person evaluation: PT, education, leadership experience, evaluations, and letters of recommendation.
Green to Gold
Green to Gold is the Army's program for enlisted soldiers to earn a bachelor's degree and receive a commission. There are two options:
Active Duty Option: You remain on active duty, receive full pay and benefits, and attend a 4-year university with Army ROTC. The Army pays tuition.
Scholarship Option: You receive an ROTC scholarship, attend school as a civilian, and are commissioned upon graduation.
Requirements:
- Currently serving on active duty
- Minimum 2 years of active duty service
- Age requirements (varies by option)
- GT score of 110+
- Meet academic requirements for university admission
Warrant Officer
Warrant Officers are technical experts. You don't need a degree for most warrant officer MOS, but you need specific MOS experience.
Requirements:
- MOS-specific (each warrant officer MOS has specific requirements)
- Typically 5-8 years in your MOS field
- GT score varies by MOS (usually 110+)
- Commander's recommendation
- WOCS (Warrant Officer Candidate School) completion
Common Warrant MOS paths:
- 150A (Aviation Maintenance): From 15-series
- 151A (Aviation Safety): From aviation
- 153A (Rotary Wing Aviator): Open to all MOS with flight aptitude
- 255A (Information Services): From 25-series
- 353T (IEW Technician): From 35-series
The Warrant Officer Advantage
Warrant officers are promoted based on expertise, not command time. You focus on your technical field without the same "broadening" requirements as commissioned officers. Pay is comparable to company-grade officers, and the technical career path can be deeply satisfying.
How To Start
1. Research the specific program's current requirements (they change periodically) 2. Talk to your retention NCO or career counselor 3. Get your records in order (ERB, evaluations, education records) 4. Start building your packet early — good packets take months to assemble 5. Get strong letters of recommendation from officers who know your work
Was this helpful?
Contact your installation's Trial Defense Service (TDS) for UCMJ matters, or Legal Assistance Office for general legal issues. These services are free for active duty service members.