Getting accepted to COTS or OCS

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2010

The Army course for medical officers is OBLC - Officer Basic Leadership Course. OCS is their non-medical officer commissioning program. COT is the Air Force's version - Commissioned Officer Training.

Right now I'd say they're equally difficult - both have experienced a huge surge of applicants, mostly due to the poor economy.

I wouldn't plan on such a short time frame from graduation to review. The selection boards meet at various times based on the needs of the military branch and the number of applications to be reviewed. I submitted my package to the Air Force in February and wasn't boarded until June due to various holdups - missing information, information my recruiter screwed up, information and paperwork the Air Force screwed up. I've heard similar stories from Army applicants. Once that paperwork leaves your hands you're at the mercy of whomever has it at personnel - and it doesn't always go the way you're hoping it to (or the way it SHOULD go).

Also keep in mind how long it takes to put a package together. It can take three months just to get permission and an available slot at MEPS to get your military physical accomplished. You'll have letters of recommendation to obtain for each package - and the forms won't be the same (the AF has forms and the Army has forms - they're not interchangeable). You'll have other service-specific forms to get and fill out.

The process is anything but cut and dry. It can turn into a logistical nightmare.

If this is something you're interested in, you need to talk to the appropriate health professions recruiter now, and not wait until you graduate.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2010

I think Pooh's advice is good... I'd also comment that as a new grad (depending on your geographic area and job availability) I'd also focus on getting a new grad residency now as well... as with all of those in line seeking to join the military perhaps having a job and not feeling rushed or relying on it as your sole option - but rather continuing to work towards it over time. Also if you gain experience in a preferred area it could translate into you having a better chance of cont' that specialty in the military. I don't know your overall goals but another option is working as a civilian nurse and then joining the reserves.. joining in either two completely different areas or focusing civ and mil in a particular specialty both can bring a lot of training and experiences to a new nurse.

v/r

Jennifer22 · Jul 3, 2010

Thank you both so much! That definitely helped clear things up for me. I'm thinking it will be best to apply to either the AF or Army, as well as nurse residencies and civilian jobs. I have started the process to apply to the AF (although I'm still trying to figure out AF or Army). Much of the paperwork is completed and in the hands of my recruiter and I just finished up with MEPS last week! My recruiter is great and is getting the ball rolling. Thanks, again, for your help.

Carolinapooh: Are you still an AF nurse or have you retired? Can you tell me what your deployments were like? I'd love to hear about your experience.

Thanks! Enjoy the weekend!

Jenn

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2010

I actually have several years' prior service as an enlisted AF member and only came back as a commissioned officer last year, but I'm flattered by your question. :)

I'm not scheduled to deploy until next December - but there are a lot of others on here who will be more than happy to tell you about Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other locations. All my deployments were when I was enlisted.