How points are calculated on Army ROTC OML

fx567

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2012
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9
Hey everyone,

As a future cadet, who is trying to do his best to maximize points on the OML, I have a few questions regarding how this process works. I've been told calculating GPA OML points is a straight shot conversion (3.5 equals 35 points for example). However I'm confused on the OML points on the Leadership component. On the OML model I see that:

(6.75) - LDAC Performance (E/S/N)
- Leadership positions
- Leadership attributes/skills/actions
(11.25) - LDAC PLT TAC Evaluation (E/S/N)
(4.50) - LDAC Land Navigation (1st score)

How many points would an S or a N give me on LDAC performance out of 6.75 points?

How many points would an S or N give me on LDAC PLT TAC Evaluation out of 11.25 points?

How is the land NAV points calculated? If you pass written/day/night do you get all 4.50 points?

Thanks in advance everyone!
 
Hey everyone,

As a future cadet, who is trying to do his best to maximize points on the OML, I have a few questions regarding how this process works. I've been told calculating GPA OML points is a straight shot conversion (3.5 equals 35 points for example). However I'm confused on the OML points on the Leadership component. On the OML model I see that:

(6.75) - LDAC Performance (E/S/N)
- Leadership positions
- Leadership attributes/skills/actions
(11.25) - LDAC PLT TAC Evaluation (E/S/N)
(4.50) - LDAC Land Navigation (1st score)

How many points would an S or a N give me on LDAC performance out of 6.75 points?

How many points would an S or N give me on LDAC PLT TAC Evaluation out of 11.25 points?

How is the land NAV points calculated? If you pass written/day/night do you get all 4.50 points?

Thanks in advance everyone!

It would take a while to explain how the OML works and some of it is still a mystery, even to those who have kids go through the program.

You will have plenty of time to find out about the OML, for now just concentrate on finishing high school, working out, and be ready for your first APFT, oh and have some fun this summer before school starts, be safe and don't get in trouble.
 
It would take a while to explain how the OML works and some of it is still a mystery, even to those who have kids go through the program.

You will have plenty of time to find out about the OML, for now just concentrate on finishing high school, working out, and be ready for your first APFT, oh and have some fun this summer before school starts, be safe and don't get in trouble.


Perfectly sums it up. It is a mystery in some apsects with so many variables that are out of your control, such as at LDAC the judgement of observers who are grading you. As Jcleppe says take control of what you can and everything else will fall into place.

Good Luck
 
I have tried for a few hours of head scratching to understand how the non-GPA components actually convert into OMS points. No luck. So far, nobody has explained, for example, how a PT score of 280 out of a possible 300 converts to OMS points. Is it 280/300 * total possible points? Never had anyone explain that and I've asked on this Board at least twice that I remember.

Then, what you ask. At LDAC, is E = 100% of possible points in category, and S =75%, and N =50%? Or is it E = 100%, S = 50% and N = 0%?

In the end, knowing exactly how it all converts doesn't really have any practical importance since I can't think of any reason not to give 100% in every aspect of the ROTC experience... Grades, PT, Foreign experience/Language, Leadership in Battalion and excellence at LDAC.
 
Thanks AscoreD.

So based on that memo, there are two areas that are clear in how performance converts to OMS points:

1) GPA * 10. Possible range: 20-40 points (since schools don't allow sub 2.0 students to continue)
2) PMS OML calculation: OML position in Battalion/# of cadets in Battalion * 6.75. Possible range: 0 - 6.75 points.

What is puzzling to me is that there are very detailed charts about how to earn points in Extra Curriculars, Foreign Language/overseas trips, Athletics, etc., but no mention of how to convert those Chart points into National OMS points. Does the PMS rank each cadet and score them the same way as the PMS OML calculation is done?

Another example: PFT score at Fall and Spring of MSIII year, and PFT at LDAC. It is like the PMS OML method where every cadet is stack ranked, and the last cadet PFT score is 0 points, and the top cadet is max points, and everyone in between is evenly spaced? Or is it PFT score/300 * max points? There is a HUGE difference in OMS points generated by those two methods.

Another possible issue... is one PMS or MSIII instructor an "easy grader" and another PMS or MSIII instructor at another Battalion a "hard grader"? Does every PMS follow Cadet Command guidlines and give a PMS OML score of 0-6.75? Do some PMS ignore (or don't know the regulations) and score from 3.5 - 6.75?

I guess the fact that nobody so far can clearly explain how the National OMS points are derived makes me wonder if each PMS uses their own method, and therefore some Battalions with an "easy grader PMS" will have 75% of its cadets in the top half of the National OML, and another Battalion with a "tough grader PMS" will have 75% of its cadets in the bottom half of the National OML. After all, the PMS controls 22 of the total possible 80 OMS points (I don't count the 20 GPA points from GPA of 0.0 to 1.99 that are not possible). One single OMS point matters. 5 OMS points on the OML can be the difference between getting top 10% and writing your own Branch ticket, and not... Or between getting DMG or not. Or having enough OMS points to get Infantry without using ADSO and having to use ADSO. When a cadet needing to use a three year ADSO commitment is the result of a difference between an "easy grader PMS" and a "tough grader PMS", you realize how critically important it is for different Battalions to produce their PMS controlled OMS points in a consistent way. Do they?
 
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Thanks AscoreD.


Another thing I wonder about... is one PMS or MSIII instructor an "easy grader" and another PMS or MSIII instructor at another Battalion a "hard grader"? Do every PMS follow guidlines and give a PMS OML score of 0-6.75? Do some PMS ignore (or don't know the regulations) and score from 3.5 - 6.75?

I guess the fact that nobody so far can clearly explain how the National OMS points are derived makes me wonder if each PMS uses their own method, and therefore some Battalions with an "easy grader PMS" will have 75% of its cadets in the top half of the National OML, and another Battalion with a "tough grader PMS" will have 75% of its cadets in the bottom half of the National OML

It's the human element. Sometimes it comes down to luck. Such as at LDAC the person grading you counts everyone of your pushups. Some one else may get someone who is harder that may count only half of their pushups. Life does involve some luck and timing.

Luckily this do not weigh as much as your GPA
 
Welcome to the Army...Look at what you control vs what you can't control. If you have a 4.0 and are scoring a 300 on the pt test you've done all that you can do.

And by the way, by the time you get ready to have your OML score calculated the formula will be totally different...so all those sleepless nights you worried about the written land nav score, guess what, they are eliminating the written score at camp this year...crazy, isn't it?
 
Clarkson (and Marist if he reads this):

Here are the PMS generated OMS points as taken from the Accessions slide deck we've seen a few times on this Board (out of 100 total):

on-Campus Athletics 1.5
PMS MSIII CERT OML 6.75
PMS Accessions OML 4.5
PMS Accessions Potentional Cmnts 4.5
Cadet Training & ECs 4.5
Language/Cultural 2.25

My question is this: In each of the above OMS categories, is the score input into the National OMS System by the PMS: 1) on a 0-max range in even increments, based on stack ranking within each category, 2) converted to E/S/N, and therefore given 100%, 50% and 0% respectively of the total possible within that category, or 3) subjective and ad hoc, where perhaps all 12 MSIIIs can get, for example, from 3 - 4.5 on the "Cadet Training and ECs" category?

Actually my same question goes for the APFT given in Fall and Spring of MSIII year, and at LDAC. is it Cadet Score/300 * points in Category, or is it E/S/N at 100%, 50% 0%, or something else?
 
Boy, Clarkson sure nailed that one.

It's something just to see the changes in how things work between my older son who graduated last spring and my younger son who is currently a MS2. By the time the younger son goes to LDAC it could be even different then it is today.

Clarkson's advice is the best there is, work on what you can control, GPA and APFT, do well on those two and the other opportunities will follow. You'll just give yourself a migrane trying to figure everything out, don't stress yourself out.

Sure, things like CULP, Summer Training can help but, if your not taking care of business with the GPA and APFT you won't get those opportunities.
 
Look, trying to figure out every little point spread is just going to drive you crazy. Focus on the here and now because throughout your ROTC career you will have OML briefs and reminders ad nauseum.

I think my MSIV year we got sent an Excel file from CC that had us put in our stats/LDAC score and from there it gave us a rough estimate of our OML points. In addition it also gave us our chances at certain branches based on past yearly results. A pretty cool tool that I have not seen on the internet.

Really you just need to focus on doing well at PT, school and focus on your MS class curriculum/labs so you can apply them for success at LDAC (where you will get another OML brief...)
 
His concerns are largely valid. While I agree with advising him against getting caught up in the numbers that doesn't mean his curiosity should be slapped down. Knowing the mechanics of how the system works might give him a less vague understanding of where he should expect to land. And while I'm by no means an expert in junior officer development I'd rather hire someone that is inquisitive over someone who isn't. Discouraging him from seeking answers just seems in poor taste.

And by the way, by the time you get ready to have your OML score calculated the formula will be totally different...so all those sleepless nights you worried about the written land nav score, guess what, they are eliminating the written score at camp this year...crazy, isn't it?

You've tickled my curiosity. Care to elaborate for a summer '13 attendee?
 
My understanding is that they plan to eliminate written land nav from camp. I also hear that there will be less evaluations. Again, this stuff changes every year, so even if I look in the reg and tell you what the guidance is for EC points on last years Accessions it will only give you the ballpark for next year. I see some big changes in the process next year. Almost all of this is subjective. If you are at a small school that has 10 cadets in their MS IV class and all of them have done multiple color guards and all of them that wanted CULP got it, and they have maxed out on all the things they could they are going to be doing a little better on the OML than the bottom guy at Norwich that was competing with a bunch of other cadets for every little OML point opportunity.

Keep in mind that I'm a ROO, so I worry about getting them in the front door more than I worry about how they go out the back door so my perspective may be a little jaded. The person that is supposed to be keeping the Cadets apprised of their OML status is the PMS.
 
His concerns are largely valid. While I agree with advising him against getting caught up in the numbers that doesn't mean his curiosity should be slapped down. Knowing the mechanics of how the system works might give him a less vague understanding of where he should expect to land. And while I'm by no means an expert in junior officer development I'd rather hire someone that is inquisitive over someone who isn't. Discouraging him from seeking answers just seems in poor taste.



You've tickled my curiosity. Care to elaborate for a summer '13 attendee?

It's not poor taste when similar questions have been asked multiple times. There is a search function within this forum for a reason. Also I never met anyone in AROTC who really focused the minute aspects of the OML as they went through the program. Even a few of the guys I know who were in the top 100-200 just tried their best and just knew the rough percentages as they progressed throughout the years.

All in all you just need to know that there are roughly 70% S scores at camp and dimensional/overall Es will determine if you are a high or low S. The same goes for Es. Individual dimensions are what really differentiates the score below the macro E,S,N. Just do your best and remember to have a good grasp of land nav before you go. My home is near Ft. Lewis and if you are from a state that doesn't have a lot of under-brush or darkness within the local forests it can be tough.

The guys who talked/asked about OML points at LDAC were usually reamed in peer evals (We all knew they were "Spotlight Rangers"). I know this is a forum and not LDAC but the premise still stands, you don't have to focus on the little things just let CC do that.

As a new cadet, OML would be the last thing on my mind. The first would be PT PT PT PT PT PT PT and then school :p. I don't fault anyone looking to obtain some foresight into their future but you have to focus on the here and now as well as what you can effect yourself.
 
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My understanding is that they plan to eliminate written land nav from camp. I also hear that there will be less evaluations. Again, this stuff changes every year, so even if I look in the reg and tell you what the guidance is for EC points on last years Accessions it will only give you the ballpark for next year. I see some big changes in the process next year. Almost all of this is subjective. If you are at a small school that has 10 cadets in their MS IV class and all of them have done multiple color guards and all of them that wanted CULP got it, and they have maxed out on all the things they could they are going to be doing a little better on the OML than the bottom guy at Norwich that was competing with a bunch of other cadets for every little OML point opportunity.

Keep in mind that I'm a ROO, so I worry about getting them in the front door more than I worry about how they go out the back door so my perspective may be a little jaded. The person that is supposed to be keeping the Cadets apprised of their OML status is the PMS.


Is the elimination of the land nav written exam for those who are attending in a few short months in summer of 13' or am I mistaken? The draft that I had received of the LDAC day by day schedule still had the written exam scheduled on day 5. Have the tides changed since receiving this draft?
 
I think I know why the formula for converting points from a checklist is not commonly known in detail -- I believe the PMS doesn't do the computation. If I inferred correctly from an Accessions briefing deck, the PMS only validates the APFT scores, the ECs, Athletics, Languages and Cultural experiences, leadership positions in the Battalion, etc. that are on a checklist called LAMS. These LAMS checked boxes data are then sent into the Cadet Command computer via the CCIMS online program. At that point, the Cadet Command computer converts all those checked boxes into OMS points by a formula that is probably not widely known.

I think the only way to understand how the checked boxes from LAMS convert to actual OMS points, by category, is to study the actual OMS calculation from a few different cadets and then try to reverse engineer it, by category. For example, if a cadet is involved in Intramural sports for 2 years but not three, do they get 2/3 * 1.5 total Athletics category points (=1 OMS point)? Only by seeing a cadet's OMS score sheet, if one exists, could you figure that out.

Does a cadet ever get a detailed breakdown of how he/she actually scored in each of the OMS Categories?
 
As a future cadet....

As a FUTURE Cadet you should focus on:

1) Getting accepted to a college with an ROTC program
2) Completing all of the ROTC enrollment requirements
3) Getting in top ROTC physical shape (may be different from top shape for a particular sport)

As a NEW Cadet next Fall you should focus on:

1) Excelling in your academic classes
2) Excelling on the Physical Fitness Test
3) Excelling in your ROTC Class
4) Figuring out whether you are a good fit for the military

Don't start worrying about maximizing your accessions score until you are a second semester freshman. If you focus on GPA and PT you will be maximizing your score.

You don't need a 4.0 GPA and a 300 on the APFT to get Active Duty Branch of Choice. All of my grads that had a 3.3 GPA, 270+ APFT, and an S or better at LDAC have gotten exactly what they wanted from the Accessions Process.
 
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