OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL
So you're just out of school, and you're ready to take your shot in the big world. You're ready for responsibility and recognition. Only every employer you talk to is giving you the old "you'll have to start at the bottom" speech.
We're different. We give college graduates who can pass the tests of our Officer Candidate School (OCS) the chance to be in charge of missions in just 17 weeks.
OCS is a rigorous course of instruction which prepares candidates to serve effectively as officers in the United States Coast Guard. In addition to indoctrinating students into a military lifestyle, OCS also provides a wide range of highly technical information necessary for performing the duties of a Coast Guard officer.
Graduates of the program receive a commission in the Coast Guard at the rank of Ensign and are required to serve a minimum of three years of active duty. Graduates may be assigned to a ship, flight training, to a staff job, or to an operations ashore billet. However, first assignments are based on the needs of the U.S. Coast Guard. Personal desires and performance at OCS are considered. All graduates must be available for worldwide assignment.
Eligibility Requirements:
Age:
- Temporary commission: between the ages of 21 and 34 (applicants must have reached their 21st birthday, but not their 35th birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes)
- Reserve commission: between the ages of 21 and 30 (applicants must have reached their 21st birthday, but not their 31st birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes)
Military Status:
If you are currently serving in another branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or are enrolled in a ROTC program, you must provide a release from your service obligations prior to entering the Coast Guard. Applicants with six or more years of non-Coast Guard active duty service are not eligible.
Citizenship:
All applicants must be United States citizens.
Qualifying Tests:
All applicants must provide a qualifying score on the SAT, ACT, or ASVAB. No waivers will be considered. Minimum qualifying scores are as follows:
- SAT 1: combined 1100 on verbal and math
- ACT: 23
- ASVAB: 109 on ASVAB General Technical (GT) Aptitude Area after 1 July 2004; 110 prior to 1 July 2004. The GT score is obtained by combining the VE (Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension) and AR (Arithmetic Reasoning) test scores.
Physical:
A full medical screening will be conducted in accordance with your application.
Educational Qualifications:
Reserve Commission Applicants must be in their senior year or hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Temporary Commission Applicants (active duty Coast Guard personnel E-5 and above with at least four years of active duty in any Armed Forces) must have a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university, or 25th percentile scores on general CLEP exams, or have completed at least one year of college (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) at an accredited college or university. Temporary Commission Applicants must also have completed one college-level math class or pass the general math CLEP exam. Contact your unit Educational Service Officer for additional information.
If you are ready to apply for a Coast Guard officer program, you must download the forms and complete all of those appropriate to the program of interest.
For more information download the OCS Pre Reporting Guide Jul 2007 that will help prepare you for your initial transition to your OCS class.
