NROTC or OCS

[Murph'sL4w]

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently on the fringe between joining NROTC or finishing College to go into OCS.

Currently, I'm about to graduate from community college with an AA degree, I'm majoring in Mechanical Engineering about to transfer to University. Having already completed well above 30 credits I'm only eligible for the 2 to 3 year track in NROTC, and I'm roughly two years away from receiving my bachelors and begin the process to OCS and become a commissioned officer. I've already tried apply to USNA twice, for three years, did everything I could: got congressional nominations, improved physically, and academically, but didn't get any acceptance.

My goal is get into the Navy as a commissioned officer and enter the Special Warfare community.
I'm still unsure what path to take to help me accomplish this goal, NROTC or OCS. In regards to OCS I was planning to focus on my studies on the next two years, and prepare for Special Warfare with a SEAL mentor and apply as soon as I graduate. But I know well enough that NROTC can give me the equal amount of preparation plus more opportunities to be better for the Navy.

If theres anyone who can advise or share their experience to shed some light on either NROTC or OCS as the proper path to become a Naval Special warfare Officer. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond to this post.

 

[Capt MJ]

NROTC. Why delay an opportunity to get professional training and more exposure to your warfare specialties of interest?

If you browse the many threads on OCS here on SAF, a recurring theme is that OCS is a pliable option that gets adjusted to meet the manpower needs of the Navy. You could have a superb package, but the Navy’s quotas are filled for the year.

I am not saying one is better than the other as a source for commissioned officers, but in your case, since you have something specific in mind, get on with it. Special Warfare is a tiny eye of the needle to get through. You will also get educated on other warfare communities, so you will know where else you might be happy going if SEAL doesn’t pan out.

I hope you have talked to an officer recruiter (not the fine enlisted recruiters at your local recruiting station at the shopping center) about just how many SEALs come out of OCS, OCS requirements, stats. The only SEALs I knew out of OCS were all prior enlisted SEALs who had obtained their college degree. No doubt there are non-military background OCs who go SEAL, but I think that would be an even tinier needle eye.

I would be remiss in not saying I admire how after 3 USNA “no” results after 3 application cycles, you are still focused and executing on your plan.

 

[kinnem]

+1 to Capt MJ's comments.

Even in NROTC it's somewhat difficult to get a SEAL slot (as an officer of course). University of South Carolina used to have a good size community of folks who wanted to go SEAL. I knew them all to some degree because my son worked out with them on Friday evenings as a group, and then they would all go out to dinner. They were gracious enough to let me watch their workouts and join them for dinner when I was visiting the kid. They worked extremely hard at their workouts while everyone else was at Friday evening Happy Hour. Only 1 guy from each class year made it to and through pre-BUDS. Only 3 were selected for BUDS and SEAL Training. Only 1 made it through both BUDS and the subsequent training. The other 2 DORed dring EOD training. As an officer you get only one chance to successfully complete BUDS and (at best I believe) they only take up to 40 new officers a year from all accession sources. I'm sure their expectation is that something like 25% (a number I made up) might successfully complete BUDS. I mention all this to emphasize Capt MJ's comments that to get to special warfare you have to thread through the tiny eye of the needle.

Do you want to lead SEALs or do you want to bust down doors? If the latter you might want to enlist. Enlisted get a few opportunities to get through BUDS successfully. The one guy I new from NROTC who didn't get selected for BUDS (mentioned above) was not on scholarship. He dropped NROTC in his final semester and enlisted, getting the chance at BUDS that he wanted. He always wanted to break down doors anyway. Unfortunately he DORed. Don't know where he's at now. Perhaps he made it through on a subsequent attempt or he's serving in some other naval community today.

I'm sure others on here know far more about this topic than I. The bottom line for me though is that you can shoot for SEALs but be prepared to serve in some other community, because you probably will. Further, if you want to be an officer, NROTC is your surest path to get there. I would only do OCS if your plans to do NROTC fails for some reason (that's perhaps not in your control).