What does it take to become an officer in the military?

Question

I just turned 16 years old less then a month ago and I'm a sophomore in high school. I slacked off my freshmen year with about a 3.2 GPA the first half but then a 2.0 GPA the second half and I didn't play any sports the entire year. I just started my sophomore year and I'm hoping to raise my GPA back up and retake the second half of my math class I failed and join track and field then hopefully swimming and track and field junior year. For a career I'm considering joining the army. What does it take to become an officer? How can I? Is there still a chance I can? What can I do to get ready for it? What really matters? If anyone could please answer any of these questions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

You need a Bachelor's Degree.  As a highschool student, start eyeing universities with an ROTC program as that is one route.  You could look into a Military Academy but your GPA may already prevent you from going that route.

Answer 2

To become an officer you need to go to college first and get a BA in anything then join. Then you will go to boot camp and then to Officer Candidates School the you will be come an officer in any branch you join. You can also do ROTC (Reserve officer Training Candidate) while in college and this will pay for your college and you will have to go  training almost every other week or month depends...    

Answer 3

OR! You could go in enlisted and work your way up to warrant officer. They are definitely more respected among the enlisted because you didn't take the easy way out and actually worked for your title. There is still a chance for you if that's really what you want. I work for MWR part time and all the enlisted guys constantly make fun of the OCS and ODC candidates and have little to no respect for them because they think they took the easy way out and couldn't make it though being enlisted.  

Answer 4

My father went to college first and completed 4 years of ROTC in college. After college he went into the army as an officer having earned the degree and having been in ROTC.

Answer 5

You are on the right track now.  Get it up to 4.0 and keep it there; this is if you want to go to one of the Academy's.  However, if you go to a regular college get in with the ROTC; see a recruiter first.   You might want to join the JROTC in high school.  Once you graduate from college you will go in as a 2 Lieutenant.  

If you don't go to college, join enlisted first then apply for OCS (Officer Cadet School) when you get E-4 or E-5.

Edit~  it doesn't take years if you go enlisted.  My best friend went in as an enlisted; had her college degree.  She went through basic training like all enlisted personnel do.  While she was in her AIT (Advance Individual Training) learning her job; she applied for OCS.   Within the first part of her second year she went to OCS and came out of there a 2LT.

Answer 6

Gotta get lucky.

They lie to you about what they say they're going to put you in so be careful and THINK before you sign anything.

You're better off just getting into Law Enforcement (which does not necessarily mean being a cop).

You stay home, better chances of staying alive, less chances of being lied to, and actually being some body.

Military is not a good place to want to be in unless you have nothing else going for you.

Answer 7

A couple of piece of paper saying you've done some math and a southern English accent.

Answer 8

I know the Army allows some officers to only have assiate degrees but the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Officers need to have Bachelors degrees.  Depending on the job you intend to do negates the degree you need to get.

Answer 9

I think you need an undergraduate degree from a college and then you can go to OCS, or if you go to an academy like west point.  I don't think you can become an officer from high scool.  You have to have good health and not be on any drugs at the time you apply (including anti-depressants, sleeping pills, etc.) if you are they wont let you in.  

Answer 10

The only way you get to be an officer on joining the military would be a 4 year college degree. You can get to be a non commissioned officer without the degree but it would take years in the military to do so.