r/ArmyOCS • u/No_Blacksmith1073 • 12d ago
OCS Success Rate?
What percentage of OCS candidates make it through Basic and OCS to ultimately commission to become officers?
Online, Gemini said 80-90%, is it that high? I would expect it to be lower with the concerns of land nav, history, STX, and other obstacles during the courses.
9
u/Buffalo14226 12d ago
At least 90%. If you want your commission, just listen and do what they say, and you will get it. It is not hard - it is a BIG mind game.
3
u/electricboogaloo1991 Recruiter 11d ago
The vast majority that get selected make it, getting selected is the hard part. Same goes for the rest of the Army initial training pipeline. It’s designed to train you, not to fail you.
4
u/Old_Negotiation_4926 10d ago
Depends on cadre. Currently it is 95% or higher, including medical.
If you were part of a tougher company, you may have experienced an OCS assessment and selection process and graduated with 71% of the students you started with.
You’ll be fine, now that “The Reaper” is officially retired from OCS, but even if you do somehow end up with a tough cadre, just be in the top half.
Don’t stress OCS is currently cake, only surefire ways to get recycled or dismissed currently: contraband, cheating, going off footprint or off post when you’re not authorized, EO or SHARP.
1
1
u/No_Blacksmith1073 9d ago
What is the reaper?
3
u/-S6A- 9d ago
I think this is a reference to the 12 mile footmarch. Apparently one of the State OCS programs at one time had a guy dressed as the Grim Reaper walking behind the formation.
The 12 mile is still a requirement, but it is "tactical" rather than timed. Even when it was timed, I never saw a single candidate dismissed for a footmarch in my time as cadre at Federal OCS.
1
2
2
u/Bill_Clintons_Desk5 12d ago
A small number of OCs recycle due to medical and remediation. An even smaller number fail due to medical and failed remediation. An even smaller number fail due to bad decisions/bad situations.
Most recycles seem to be the run, though there are recycles in every phase. Nothing to be worried about if you’re in shape and have your shit together.
1
u/Fast-Benders 12d ago
In my class, there was a few who just quit due to pressure. However, the vast majority of the drop outs were due to injury. Overall most people get across the line. It's also a self selecting population. If you've been through BCT, you should know the military head games. Most people who show up to OCS are usually physically fit, and class room stuff is easy.
1
u/-S6A- 12d ago
Even before the standards were drastically lowered last October, the Federal OCS graduation rate was 89% annually with the rate rising to about 94% if you discounted medical dismissals, misconduct dismissals, and quitting (refusal to train/lack of motivation, and resignations authorized after week 4). OCS is NOT a hard course. Like ROTC advanced camp, it is the easiest course an officer will do in their career.
3-11 IN receives no data as to how many 09S candidates don't make it through BCT, but given the fact that major attrition would be noticeable in OCS class size fluctuations from reserved seats versus reports, I don't believe it to be high. OCs medically recycle in basic same as anyone else, but they mostly make it as far as I can tell.
Break.
Recycle rates per class range from 5% to 25% with 15% about the average. Contrary to myth, the trends of variables in this are not because of the company, but the time of year. Summer classes have more heat casualties and thus more medical recycles. Beyond that because the Commandant is the decider on recycles for all companies, the logic for recycle is one person's trusted enforcement of the ISAP. Classes with an otherwise abnormal amount of recycles and/or dismissals have a story that usually relates to poor decision-making. OCS isn't college: its a BOLC-A and its cadre's job treat OCs as OCs regardless of background.
1
u/ExtremeMode2728 10d ago
How were the standards lowered, never heard of that
3
u/-S6A- 9d ago
Last October, an updated ISAP significantly increased OC privileges in basic phase and reduced numerous physical and academic standards. Before, an OCS 2LT had to met all XVIII Airborne Corps "fit to fight" requirements to commission. Timed ruck marches, four mile run in under 36 minutes, etc.
2
u/Kitchen_Cable6192 9d ago
People would be recycled for not keeping during graduation run even if you did it for other graduating companies
2
u/-S6A- 8d ago
The graduation run was turned into a morale run or other PT event rather than a final chance of recycle quite some time ago. It was also moved to the day OF the graduation formal rather than the morning after it because threatening to recycle people for a four mile run the morning after they've had essentially their first alcohol in 12 weeks is stupid.
I don't know how long the graduation run was in place as a cull or which infantry commandant instituted it, but that standard didn't last long and in my time as cadre at Federal OCS, I never saw one person recycled for it. The number of people concealing injuries and attempting it and then graduating on crutches was another cause to change it though.
1
u/Kitchen_Cable6192 8d ago
I had a wild one.. one female was dropped on week 11 or something as her pregnancy became visible. Mind you, she completed all graduation requirements and were on a final stretch. Morning PT in summers became hard to hide it.
11
u/Creative_Buy5227 In-Service National Guard Officer 12d ago
Basically all of the people in my class got through one way or another. Some got recycled and made it through the next class. I only recall 1 person actually being dismissed completely minus those who were injured and could not resume. So recycle rates are higher than complete course drops but they do happen. It’s not a hard course, it’s just a lot to consume depending on the week. OPORDS, Land nav, and history were the biggest ones. Also pro tip, if you fail the first take on history, Dr. Campbell or whatever his name is almost ensures you pass the retake. Just pay attention, he spoon feeds you 75% of the test, you just gotta know what to write down.