BRANCH OFFICER INFORMATION
OCS Commission | ROTC | Direct Commission"Leaders aren't born, they are made."
Vince Lombardi
Officer Candidate School (OCS) is an excellent way to become a Commissioned Officer. It is an efficient and effective
school designed to bring out the
very best leadership qualities in you. Do you have what it takes to reach your objective?
The Army Guard can help take you there. We want to give you the
opportunity to realize your potential as an Officer in
the Army National Guard. You have the flexibility to choose from three different paths to Officer Candidate School.
Three Paths to an OCS Commission
1) Federal OCSThe Federal OCS program is held throughout the year at Fort Benning, Georgia. As with all OCS options, this
14-week program of instruction is designed to train and commission 2nd Lieutenants. You will be challenged physically,
mentally, and emotionally. Here you will learn the fundamentals of leadership and basic military skills, Army Values, and
build a foundation of becoming a successful Officer.
- 90 semester credits are required to attend this course
The National Guard Bureau-sponsored Accelerated OCS program is compressed into eight intense weeks. The three
phases of this program can be held in three different locations and travel between the different locations is marked by advancement to the next phase of OCS training.
- 90 semester credits are required to attend this course
Traditional OCS Candidates attend Pre-OCS (Phase 0), followed by Phase 1 as their Annual Training (AT) the first summer. They then drill in an IDT status for Phase II until the following summer. Next they attend Phase III as their AT the second summer. Phase III completes their training and then the candidates qualify for an appointment as Federally Recognized
Second Lieutenants. Traditional Candidates receive the advantage of being able to train in an IDT status. This gives them
the opportunity to plan and conduct leadership training in a manner similar to what will be expected of them once they
they are commissioned and assigned to a unit. The traditional program is broken into four phases.
- 60 semester credits are required to begin the traditional program
- 90 semester credits to graduate the program
Begins at the 208th Regional Training Institute www.montanaguard.com/rti and is usually three drill weekends prior to
the beginning of Phase I. During this initial phase, candidates meet the RTI and the TAC staff, finish required paperwork
and prepare for Phase I.
Phase I:
Begins at Fort Meade, SD. Junior Phase focuses on the foundations of leadership. It is physically demanding and
teaches the importance of teamwork and leadership.
The primary event at Phase I is the FTX for land navigation.
Phase II:
Focuses on the major coursework of OCS. Subjects include: Leadership, Field Artillery, Military Intelligence, Combat
Service Support, Communications, and Tactics. Physical
Fitness requirements are continuous and there are several road marches culminating in a 12-mile road march. Upon completion of Phase II, the candidate will advance to Senior
Phase
located at Fort Lewis, WA.
Senior Phase:
Candidates in the Senior Phase at Fort Lewis, WA will focus on leadership in a tactical environment. Candidates will
spend the majority of their time in the field conducting
squad and platoon missions. The primary goal is the assessment
of the candidate's ability to lead a platoon in a combat environment.
CPT Dana Barnicoat
Officer Strength Manager
406.324.3648
ROTC
An ROTC scholarship is an excellent pathway for those seeking to serve as an Officer in the Army National Guard. The
Montana Army National Guard and ROTC currently offer many
scholarship programs aimed at bringing new and highly
qualified officers into the Guard.
Get With The Program
The Army National Guard ROTC program is a four-year curriculum. The program consists of a two-year Basic Course and
a two-year Advanced Course. Participating ROTC Cadets must
be under the age of 27 at the time of commissioning. During
these four years, individuals without prior military experience are taught leadership skills during weekend drills and
summer annual training. In addition, they must attend Military Science classes on campus.
ROTC Basic Course
The Basic Course takes place during your first two years in college. Taken as elective courses, this usually consists of one
class and one lab each semester. In this course,
you will learn basic military skills, the fundamentals of leadership and initial preparations toward becoming a leader in the Army National Guard. You can take ROTC Basic
courses without a military commitment.
ROTC Advanced Course
The Advanced Course takes place during your last two years in college. Also taken as an elective course, this usually
includes one class and one lab each semester, plus a summer leadership
camp. In the ROTC Advanced Course, you
will learn advanced military tactics and gain experience in team organization, planning, and decision-making. Entering
the Advanced Course requires
a commitment to serve as an Officer in the Army National Guard after you graduate.
Over 600 Schools
The Army National Guard offers ROTC scholarships across the country. These scholarships pay tuition and required fees,
and can be worth more the $70,000. They are awarded on merit and
take into consideration academic achievements, extracurricular activities and personal interviews. Currently within Montana you can attend ROTC courses at the following schools:
-
University of Montana-Missoula
-
Montana State University-Bozeman
-
Carroll College
-
Montana State University-Billings
-
Montana Tech-Butte
-
Montana State University-Great Falls
At the end of your ROTC program awaits the single gold bar of a Second Lieutenant. You will command respect and be
called upon to lead with judgment, knowledge, and experience. You can go through this progam by way of an ROTC
scholarship that pays for college, or as a cadet who pays for his or her own way. Regardless, when you look back on your
ROTC experience you'll remember a strong sense of purpose, camaraderie, and belonging.
Officer Basic Course
The Officer Basic Course will fine tune your leadership skills. In this mentally and physically challenging course you will
learn what a company level Officer needs to know in order to fight and
win on the battlefield. You will be taught by well
qualified Officers with an abundance of experience and knowledge. OBC training for newly commissioned Second
Lieutenants is conducted for all branches
of the Army National Guard. In some cases this includes specialized training for Soldiers in Basic Airborne, Pathfinder, and Jumpmaster courses.
ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program
The Simultaneous Membership Program allows enlisted members of the Montana Army National Guard to enroll in ROTC
while continuing to serve in the Montana Army National Guard. Once enrolled in the
ROTC program of your choice you will
be eligible for the ROTC Stipend as well as all of the benefits associated with the Montana Army National Guard such as:
Tuition Assistance, the Montgomery GI Bill,
drill pay, and the Student Loan Repayment Program. In addition, while you
attend drill you will be paid as a Sergeant (E-5).
As a Simultaneous Membership Program Cadet you will be exposed to leadership positions and mentorship while at drill
and leadership and tactical training while in ROTC. The added experience you will
gain at Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training will be invaluable as a commissioned Officer. Also, if you enroll in ROTC as an SMP Cadet you will start
to accrue time in service for base pay
calculations. This means that by the time you receive your commission as a Second Lieutenant your drill pay for a standard drill will be for two-years of service rather than someone with less than two years of
service.
Current Benefits of the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
| ROTC Stipend (Soph) | $350/mo |
| ROTC Stipend (Junior) | $450/mo |
| ROTC Stipend (Senior) | $500/mo |
| Drill Pay | $266/mo |
| Unit Annual Training | $1,994 |
| National Guard Scholarship | $1,000/yr |
| Federal Tuition Assistance | $4,500/yr |
| Room and Board | $6,290/yr |
| Book Money | $1,200/yr |
| Sophomore Year Total | $21,676 |
| Junior Year Total | $22,676 |
| Senior Year Total | $23,525 |
| Average State University Tuition** | $5,236 |
| Benefit Total for 3 Years* | $67,877 |
*Total 3 Year Benefit After State Tuition is Paid is an estimated $52,169
**Average State University Tuition is based on current Montana 4 Year College Tuition Costs
***Unit Annual Training figures are based on less than 2 years military experience for Sophomore and Junior Years, and
2 years of military experience for Senior Year
****Student Loan Repayment Program also pays up to 15% per year on existing student loans
Eligibility Requirements for the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Academic: At least 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 GPA Scale.
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen to commission.
- Medical: Meet standards of Chapter II commissioning physical.
- Age: Applicants must be under 27 years of age on the day of commissioning. Up to 3 years may be added on a one-for-one basis for previous active duty service.
- Currently the SMP option is only available to applicants who are in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of college.
If you are a freshman or have not yet entered college please speak to the ROTC representative at the school of your
choice for more information.
If you are currently in the Montana Army National Guard and are interested in the Simultaneous Membership Program
please contact your local CAREER COUNSELOR.
The career counselor will introduce you to the Officers in the ROTC
program and help you to take the necessary steps needed to become an SMP cadet. Remember, the SMP is the most financially lucrative
way to attend ROTC and receive your commission. The Montana Army National Guard wants to help
you achieve your goals without having to mortgage your future to pay for your degree.
ROTC Contacts
Click on any of the following contacts to receive more information on that program:
University of Montana
406.243.4400
www.umt.edu/rotc
Carroll College
406.447.5484
www.carroll.edu/academics/rotc
Montana Tech-University of Montana
406.447.5484
Montana State University
406.994.7894
SFC Joel Pitsch
www.montana.edu/wwwarmy
Montana State University-Billings
CPTJanel Weise
406.671.4767
www.msubillings.edu/ROTC
Montana State University-Great Falls
CPT Janel Weise
406.671.4767
DIRECT COMMISSION
The third possibility of becoming an Officer in the Army National Guard is through a Direct Commission. The following is
a list of criteria that applicants must meet in order to be a Direct Commission candidate:
- Must be an exceptionally qualified individual.
- Must have completed BNCOC or higher.
- Must have at least a 70 in each of the three APFT events.
- Must be less than two percent of the maximum allowable body fat percentage as per AR 600-9.
- Can not currently be enrolled in OCS program.
- Can not be a prior enrollee in OCS at any point in the program. This includes disenrolled, dropped, or resigned
from OCS. - Can not drop OCS with intention of applying for a direct commission.
- Must have served a minimum of 24 months active status in any federally recognized unit, combining with at least
12 months in an Active ARNG unit immediately preceding the application for consideration. - Minimum age is 22 and Maximum age for a Direct Commission is 30, but waivable up to age 35.
- Individual must be a US citizen.
- Must be able to obtain a secret clearance.
You may also be eligible to receive a Direct Commission if you are currently a MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, ATTORNEY,
or ORDAINED PASTOR.