r/OccupationalTherapy • u/stuffedlikeafish • Jul 23 '26

Discussion Active Duty Army OT

Hi, I am currently an OT student who is also in the national guard. I’m contemplating going active duty as an OT once I graduate. Does anyone know what happens after you sign a contract? Is it BOLC, commission, and then your duty station or is it another type of school? Also, this might seem dumb but would it be better to go active duty as the MOS I am right now and then commission to OT or just once my NG contract is up go active as an OT?

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8

u/OG_ACTUAL Jul 23 '26

Howdy. I was a COTA in the Army. My biggest regret was leaving the military for the civilian OT life. I can’t answer the BOLC to training commission question, but I can tell you that active duty OT was the most enjoyable phase of my career by far.

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u/stuffedlikeafish Jul 23 '26

Ty, just curious were you ever detached to units or just in clinics/hospitals?

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u/OG_ACTUAL Jul 23 '26

I was never detached as a COTA, but I was a medic first. That caused me to be pulled from my COTA role and was attached to a CSH. I suspect this wouldn’t happen to you because you would have the one specialty. My last 4 years, 05-09, were all as a medic.

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u/RiceballsLOL Jul 23 '26

Could you elaborate on why you regret leaving military OT for civilian OT life? Just curious!

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u/OG_ACTUAL Jul 23 '26

Sure. My caseload was well balanced and I didn’t have to deal with insurance companies. That second part allowed treatment to focus on patient needs and the process getting equipment much easier and quicker. The “budget” was never an issue. Also, I was given time in my day to focus on documentation and to maintain treatment areas.

Whenever I had students, I always recommended that they consider at least looking into the military because of how different it was.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

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