Army specific question...

sheriff3

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Once one graduates and commissions what is the average wait time to get into BOLC? Thanks.
 
Once one graduates and commissions what is the average wait time to get into BOLC? Thanks.

Boy, that's a loaded question.

The stock answer is it depends on the branch.

Three cadets branched Aviation including my son in 2012, graduation was May 12th. My son had to report June 1st, almost two weeks after graduation. The second cadet reported in December the same year, the third cadet reported end of March 2013. As you can see they were spread out. The fact that the other two were NG may have had something to do with it.

Other cadets reported anywhere from 1 month to nearly a year.

I think it is very hard to determine any type of schedule. One thing to also remember is that the report date can change, my son was originally set to report July 10th, it was changed later to June 1st.

I know, it makes it hard to plan ahead.
 
The two biggest factors are your component and your branch. The Guard/Reserve slot their own people. Cadet Command slots Regular Army. I used to have a slide deck with a break down of wait times (for Regular Army LTs) by branch for one of the past fiscal years. If I find it again I'll post it here some time over the next week.
 
This is a difficult question. Great responses above. My son branched Infantry in 2012. He left for IBOLC three days after graduation in May. His classmates ranged from June until the following May for various branches.
 
The answer is 5

I guess a bad question deserves a bad answer. I'll research and let you all know if I can come up with a more useful answer.
 
average BOLC wait times...

This from Metro State College in Denver 2013...


BOLC B wait times: As we prepare for prime commissioning season, we continue to work our follow on BOLC B assignments for our Cadets. Our goal is to have an average wait time of no more than 90 days from commissioning to report for BOLC B. This year's average wait time is 105 days. The last two years we've averaged 117-120 days. Right now we project 971 Cadets with wait times in excess of 110 days with some waiting for over 300 days (Armor,
Aviation, IN, and QM). We've worked hard via the BOLC B scheduling conference the last two years to acquire more / earlier BOLC-B training seats. This is an extremely complex issue impacted by our annual accessions cap which limits the number of 2LTs we can bring onto Active Duty in any given FY and the availability of training seats at each of the BOLC B sites. We understand the COEs are limited in their ability to increase class size due to personnel manning guidance and other resource constraints, but we'll continue to work this issue and keep you apprised as the situation develops. In the mean time, we are developing a self-development / sustainment program for newly commissioned LTs to follow while they are waiting to prevent
atrophy of skills and physical fitness.
 
Here is the officer Accessions Flow Model from WP 2011:
Very interesting:

http://www.usma.edu/orcen/siteasset...ech report officer flow model (16 aug 11).pdf

Phew!!! Ok so I read some of this. Didn't understand most of it but I did find something interesting...

One suggestion was to move more commissioning to Dec. to help with the flow. (don't know if I'm stating this correctly). so that the influx is not so heavy in May, June, July.

Question for those who have had some experience with this... Is it better to commission in Dec than in May?
 
Once one graduates and commissions what is the average wait time to get into BOLC? Thanks.

You raised an important issue though, as abundantly noted above, average waiting time as a statistical measure is not particularly meaningful to the individual.

Some future lts. are assigned to their particular BOLC with little gap time between commissioning/graduation. Based on my limited perspective, the earlier BOLC assignments for Infantry (i.e., IBOLC) went to those with a higher standing in what was formerly and may again be known as the OML (Order of Merit List) but last year was an inscrutable black box.

The early BOLC assignees may grumble about the lack of down time before starting their careers but they have certainty about employment and income. Those with later BOLC starting times can chill if they choose or make the Grand Tour, but they have to do it on their own dime and with their own (or parents') medical insurance. Those who get active duty but need to generate income often find it difficult to get a well paying job for a period of as long as a year. Your barrista may be a second lieutenant.

The real problem is for Reserve/National Guard commissionees. They know they will need to find a career-oriented job or at least a more permanent one yet until they know their BOLC schedule they can't inform prospective employers about the exact timing of their availability. Some employers may not be keen on having a new employee start and then disappear for an undetermined period.
 
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What does one do after commissioning while waiting for BOLC? Does the wait also apply to USMA? What if I commission in June, but am in reserves and will begin grad school in the fall? What then?
 
What does one do after commissioning while waiting for BOLC? Does the wait also apply to USMA? What if I commission in June, but am in reserves and will begin grad school in the fall? What then?

Depending on how long the wait time, get a part time job, travel, go fishing, take a class or two.

One thing, don't sign up for grad school before you know your BOLC date. When that date comes you'll be leaving, even if your in the middle of school.
 
Off topic a bit.

I don't know about the Army, but in the AFROTC world, it is stressed to get health insurance coverage under your folks plan or taking out TriCare that they supply. Before you report you do not have health coverage like you do when you are AD.

Don't assume because you were commissioned you have all the bennies, especially health care.

USMA grad are different, they are automatically AD. They will be able to do 30 days of paid vacation, but after that, even if their report date to a school is later, they will send them casual status to a post while they wait for their school.
~ IOWS, they are being paid the entire time unlike a ROTC grad that doesn't collect a penny until they report.

OBTW 1000% agreement with Jcleppe.regarding grad degree, even online. Orders can change and they may say there is a slot open and you need to be there in 10 days. It may occur after the last day to drop and get a refund. A move can take 3 weeks out of your life....5 days to get your paperwork done, running around, packing, etc. 5 days to travel to get there, 2-3 days in processing(registering the car, submitting travel pay, reporting into the unit), 5-7 days settling in; learning materials, meeting people, and setting up your apt (food, linens, internet service, etc). It is stressful enough to start your career, but now to have to finish up an online grad degree amps it up for what?
 
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