Can I Direct Commission Into the Army Nursing Corps Without Going Through OCS?

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Hello everyone, 

I have heard mixed things about this so I would love some clarification. I am finishing up my BSN soon and would like to commission into the Army Nurse Corps. I am already enlisted right now in the National Guard and have gone through basic training and AIT. If I direct commission as a nurse, do I have to go through OCS or not? I have heard from some people that I will, however I have also heard that nursing is a “direct commission” branch and does not require their incoming officers to go through OCS. I know that ROTC is an option, however I am trying to figure out any other options since I want to try to stay reserves or national guard. Since I already went through basic training and AIT, I definitely don’t want to have to go through OCS. 

Any clarification would be gretaly appreciated! 

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

All new officers, including prior enlisted, have to attend some form of an officer basic training (OCS).  The 'direct commission' part only means your commissioning source bypasses the traditional routes of the service academies or ROTC.  The only people who get out of officer basic are people who were officers before in the same branch in career field (I.e. I knew a civil engineer who later became a nurse who skipped OCS).  

Actually, it's fairly common to have an enlisted background prior to commissioning.  In my cohort it was about 1/3 of the class.  OCS is far easier than enlisted basic training though.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

To clarify, the ROTC and academy people have a Summer 'field training' that takes the place of OCS.  As a mustang, you don't get out of anything.  All you get is extra pay from the 'O1E' pay grade IF you have at least 4 years and 1 day of prior enlisted experience (active duty) or >1440 points  (reserves/guard).

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Specializes in Postpartum/Newborn Care.
On 11/29/2022 at 3:34 PM, gee_mcgee said:

Hello everyone, 

I have heard mixed things about this so I would love some clarification. I am finishing up my BSN soon and would like to commission into the Army Nurse Corps. I am already enlisted right now in the National Guard and have gone through basic training and AIT. If I direct commission as a nurse, do I have to go through OCS or not? I have heard from some people that I will, however I have also heard that nursing is a “direct commission” branch and does not require their incoming officers to go through OCS. I know that ROTC is an option, however I am trying to figure out any other options since I want to try to stay reserves or national guard. Since I already went through basic training and AIT, I definitely don’t want to have to go through OCS. 

Any clarification would be gretaly appreciated! 

I am in the process now. I am also prior enlisted and just got selected for 66H (although my numbers may be off on the weeks). If you apply to a direct commission, you will not be going to an officer candidate school (OCS). However, you will attend the direct commission course in Fort Sill. This is 4 weeks long. Then you will go to Ft Sam, Houston where you will attend the basic officer leadership course (BOLC). I believe it is 7 weeks with 2 weeks being nursing specific.

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Specializes in ER.
mirrorphantom said:

I am in the process now. I am also prior enlisted and just got selected for 66H (although my numbers may be off on the weeks). If you apply to a direct commission, you will not be going to an officer candidate school (OCS). However, you will attend the direct commission course in Fort Sill. This is 4 weeks long. Then you will go to Ft Sam, Houston where you will attend the basic officer leadership course (BOLC). I believe it is 7 weeks with 2 weeks being nursing specific.

This is right except that the BOLC at Sam Houston is only 3 weeks for nurses. You do a phase I BOLC online onbyour own prior to Sam Houston. 

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

You would not attend OCS as you would not be an officer candidate. You would already be an officer.  I just retired after 22 years Army Nurse Corps active duty.  All we did was BOLC, but now they do some kind of training at Fort Sill and then BOLC from what I was told.  My entire career was during war so things are a lot different in peace time Army over war time. 

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Specializes in Army Nurse, CEN.

Since you are prior service, you should be able to get a waiver or exemption from DCC. They changed this a few years ago so that prior service, within last 5 years, do not have to attend this course. If you go AD, then you will attend the whole 9-week BOLC plus nurse track phase (2 weeks). If you stay NG or USAR, you will do the DL phase I for BOLC and then the 3 weeks at Ft. Sam for the field portion.

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michksmith14 said:

Since you are prior service, you should be able to get a waiver or exemption from DCC. They changed this a few years ago so that prior service, within last 5 years, do not have to attend this course. If you go AD, then you will attend the whole 9-week BOLC plus nurse track phase (2 weeks). If you stay NG or USAR, you will do the DL phase I for BOLC and then the 3 weeks at Ft. Sam for the field portion.

So if I'm at 12B in the USAR, and finished my BSN the 84 hours DL will be done at my home the I would only got to Ft. Sam for 3 weeks? Never report to Ft sill?

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Specializes in Army Nurse, CEN.
Wvrn2010 said:

So if I'm at 12B in the USAR, and finished my BSN the 84 hours DL will be done at my home the I would only got to Ft. Sam for 3 weeks? Never report to Ft sill?

Wvrn,

See link to this memorandum. According to an amendment of AR 350-1, prior service SMs can submit an exception to policy. See #4 of the memo for further guidance for you specifically!

Are you planning to apply for direct commission? I advise you to speak with an AMEDD Healthcare Recruiter, as they have specific knowledge of AMEDD requirements and billets.

But yes, if you plan to stay in USAR and get the ETP for DCC, you will complete the BOLC DL and only go to the field portion of BOLC on Ft. Sam.

https://tradocfcoeccafcoepfwprod.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/30-ada-bde/amedd_dcc/docs/ARNG MOI-AMEDD.pdf

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