The 3 Primary Ways To Become An Officer
There is more than one way to make achieve your dream of commissioning as a military officer. Here are the top three…
Academy vs ROTC vs OCS
| Selective | Scholarship | College Environment | Service Commitment | |
| Academy | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | 100% Military | 5 years |
| ROTC | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Hybrid | 4 years |
| OCS | ⭐ | N/A | 100% Civilian | 3-4 years |
Academy vs ROTC vs Senior Military College
| Academy | ROTC | Sr Military College | |
| Environment | Military 24/7 | Hybrid military/civilian. ROTC class is 1-3x/week & summers, immersed in civilian institution | Military 24/7 |
| $ Cost | Free | Tuition-free scholarship Living/book stipend | Private. $30-$50k |
| Service commitment | 5 years | 4 years | If on ROTC contract = 4 years If not on ROTC contract = None |
Other Options
Marine Platoon Leaders Course. Only applies for those that are already full-time college students.
Enlisted to Officer programs.
