what is five-week commissioned officer training course

by Sonia Halvorson 10 min read

Commissioned Officer Training (COT) COT is a five week program that provides initial officership training to Air Force judge advocates, chaplains, health professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists, biomedical science corps officers, and hospital administrators), and medical scholarship recipients.

COT is a 5-week program held at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. It's an abbreviated version of Air Force officer training for professionals who are entering the Air Force: doctors, nurses, lawyers, and chaplains. The goal is basically to make sure you can: wear a uniform.Jan 13, 2017

Full Answer

What is the length of an officer training program?

As of 2019, the class is an 8-week program and students are once again referred to as Officer Trainees.

What is commissioned officer training in the Air Force?

When you join the Air Force as a healthcare or ministry professional, you’ll begin your Air Force career with Commissioned Officer Training—a 5.5-week program organized into four phases designed to help ease your transition from the private sector into military life.

What is the Officer Basic Course?

The Officer Basic Course (OBC) provides training in the values and skills necessary to represent the Surgeon General as a commissioned officer. This two-week course is an orientation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps), and life in the uniformed services.

How long does it take to become a commissioned officer?

The intense 12-week training program tests your physical, mental, and emotional competence. Candidates are sent through a variety of training exercises and constantly evaluated based on leadership performance. The benefits of attending Army OCS and becoming a commissioned officer are plentiful.

What is the 5.5-week commissioned officer training course?

When you join the Air Force as a healthcare or ministry professional, you'll begin your Air Force career with Commissioned Officer Training—a 5.5-week program organized into four phases designed to help ease your transition from the private sector into military life.

How long is commissioned officer training?

9 to 17 weeksAfter completing a four-year degree, graduates may enroll in OCS. This is also known as Officer Training School (OTS) in the Air Force. OCS/OTS varies in length between Services, but generally lasts 9 to 17 weeks.

How long is commissioned officer training in the Army?

12 weeksYou'll undergo training in OCS for 12 weeks to ensure you're prepared to successfully lead others. Training will include two phases of advanced classroom instruction and on-the-ground training that you'll complete as part of a small squad.

Do commissioned officers go to basic training?

That is right, if you are going to be an officer, you will attend Basic Combat Training (BCT) alongside enlisted recruits.

What is a commissioned officer training course?

COT is a 5-week program held at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. It's an abbreviated version of Air Force officer training for professionals who are entering the Air Force: doctors, nurses, lawyers, and chaplains. The goal is basically to make sure you can: wear a uniform.

What is the meaning of commissioned officer?

Definition of commissioned officer : an officer of the armed forces holding by a commission a rank of second lieutenant or ensign or above.

What rank is a commissioned officer?

Army officer ranks are in three tiers: company grade, field grade and general. Commissioned officers are the highest ranks in the Army. These officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate.

What is Army commissioned officer?

A commissioned officer is an officer of the armed forces who has received a rank before officially assuming their position. Commissioned officers are tasked with training and leading enlisted soldiers.

How do you know if a soldier is real?

Verification of Military Service Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. The site is available 24-hours a day.

Do you get paid during OCS?

Candidates are paid at the pay grade of E-5 (Sergeant pay grade), “or the highest pay grade achieved if” entering… “directly from current service at a pay grade above E-5.” This means you will be paid at least as an E-5, but current Marines will not get a pay cut.

What's the difference between a commissioned officer and a non commissioned officer?

NCOs are enlisted soldiers with specific skills and duties such as training, recruiting, tech or military policing. The Army refers to them as its "backbone." Commissioned officers are management. They give NCOs and lower ranks their missions, their assignments and their orders.

What happens if you fail OCS Army?

If you fail Army OCS you have one of two choices: You get discharged from the Army. You complete the remainder of your service agreement as an enlisted soldier.

What is the OBC course?

Officer Basic Course: The Officer Basic Course (OBC) provides training in the values and skills necessary to represent the Surgeon General as a commissioned officer. This two-week course is an orientation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Commissioned Corps of the U.S.

What is OAC in the military?

The Officer Advanced Course (OAC) is currently being piloted to selected officers and is designed to prepare the commissioned officer for successful assignments as an officer and leader in a dynamic public health environment.

How long is COT training?

COT is an abbreviated version of the Air Force Officer Training School (OTS) Total Force Officer Training curriculum. The standard TFOT course is an 8-week, in-residence program for people with a bachelor’s degree who want to become Air Force line officers (not doctors/nurses/lawyers/chaplains).

Where is the OTS course held?

The course is hosted by OTS, at the OTS facility on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL.

What is COT in the Air Force?

What is Air Force Commissioned Officer Training, aka COT? One of the aspects of the health professions scholarship program (HPSP) that seems to provoke the most anxiety in future military doctors is initial entry training – for the Air Force, Commissioned Officer Training, or COT.

What is the name of the Air Force Officer Training School?

Officer Training School is a part of the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accession and Citizen Development, formerly the Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools (AFOATS). Named for the late Major General Jeanne M. Holm, the Holm Center falls under Air University (AU), which, in turn, falls under the Air Education and Training Command ( AETC ), an Air Force major command (MAJCOM) .

What is the smallest commissioning source in the USAF?

During peacetime, OTS is usually the smallest commissioning source in the USAF, producing fewer officers per year than AFROTC and the United States Air Force Academy ( USAFA ). However, it possesses the capability to surge when USAF requirements dictate and exceed the combined annual officer production of both USAFA and AFROTC. Given its shorter lead time for officer production (currently 8.5 weeks versus the typically 4-year pre-commissioning process for USAFA and AFROTC cadets), OTS is the commissioning source used to balance out USAF officer manning as deemed necessary by the Air Force.

How long is OTS?

OTS is divided into three programs: Officer Training School (OTS) (formerly known as Basic Officer Training (BOT) and later, Total Force Officer Training (TFOT)) is the more traditional 8-week pre-commissioning program. Previously a 13-week program later reduced to 10 weeks, the renamed TFOT track transitioned to a 9-week program in 2014 and ...

How long is the OTS program?

With the exception of those officers previously commissioned as line officers through USAFA, AFROTC, the 8-week program of OTS, or the Air Force Nurse program of AFROTC, most chaplains, judge advocates general (i.e., lawyers), and medical personnel go through OTS-A.

How long does it take to complete OTS-A?

After 5 weeks, the already-commissioned OTS-A students that have successfully completed the course graduate and move on to either follow-on technical training or their initial assignments. The remaining OTS students complete several other graduation requirements over the final 3 weeks of the course before receiving their commissions.

What degree do you need to be an Air Force officer?

Per Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2013, personnel attending Officer Training School's 8-week program must have a baccalaureate level degree or higher in either technical or non-technical fields. Technical fields may include any ABET -accredited engineering degree or other fields in high demand by the Air Force. Non-technical degrees are more common, and therefore applying with a degree in such a field is very competitive. Applicants can apply for aeronautically rated or non-rated Line Officer of the Air Force ( LAF) positions. Rated positions are flying related -- Pilot, Combat Systems Officer (previously known as Navigator), Remotely-Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilot, or Air Battle Manager. Non-rated positions fall into two categories: non-rated operations, such as missiles, intelligence, space, cyber, or weather, and non-rated support, such as aircraft maintenance, missile maintenance, logistics, civil engineer, security forces, or communications.

When did the Air Force OCS close?

With the establishment of OTS, Air Force OCS closed its doors and conducted its last graduation in June 1963. Concurrently, the Air Force also commenced a phaseout of its long-standing Aviation Cadet (AvCad) Program at Lackland AFB. Unlike OTS, AvCad was limited to pilot and navigator candidates.

How long is the Army OCS?

The training academy is open to qualified enlisted Noncommissioned Officers along with civilians with at least a four-year college degree. Army OCS lasts 3 months with a rigorous training regime. Recruits that successfully complete Officer Candidate School receive formal commissions as U.S. Army Officers.

What is commissioned officer in the army?

Army Commissioned Officers are the leaders of the military branch and make important decisions every day of service. Image: Kentucky Guard

What is the role of OCS in the Army?

Therefore, Army OCS presents recruits with the framework to prepare and handle the important role as a unit commander.

What is the physical fitness score for Army OCS?

The Army enforces strict physical fitness scores for Officer candidates with an expected score between 240-270. Candidates receive very little privileges comparable to boot camp. However, Army OCS is different from boot camp in that instructors expect candidates to immediately act like leaders and take responsibilities.

Where is the Army OCS training academy?

The training academy is based out of Fort Benning in Georgia. Army OCS trains, assesses, and evaluates prospective commissioned officers for not only the U.S. Army, but also the Army National Guard and Reserve. Officer Candidate School adheres to the motto “Standards, No Compromise”.

How many phases does the Army have?

The U.S. Army divides OCS into two phases:

How old do you have to be to be an OCS?

The basic requirements for Army OCS candidates that are already enlisted personnel: A college graduate with at least a four-year degree. Between 19-32 years of age. Less than six years of Active Federal Service (AFS) upon arrival at Army OCS. Eligible for secret security clearance.

How long is the Direct Commission Officer course?

The Direct Commission Officer Course, taught by E Company, 3rd Battalion, (Officer Candidate School) 11th Infantry Regiment, is a six-week course that provides commissioned officers with mental and physical skills to lead Soldiers in any operational environment.

Can a master sergeant be an OCS?

Master sergeants and sergeants major are not eligible. •The exact documents a Soldier must provide in his or her OCS application packet vary depending on whether a Soldier is an NCO and on a variety of other professional factors, such as previous assignments in the Army.

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