Who was the youngest modern age commissioned officer?

xchefmike

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The previous thread on why college was needed made me think, and I came up with 2 questions.
1.Who, say after WWII would be the youngest person to become a commissioned officer on record?
2.a) Does anyone know if say a Whiz kid graduated a 4 year University at say 18, would he/she be eligible for a commission if they wanted to serve their country?
b.) at 17 if the parents signed, like the enlisted?.

Just thinking and a little insomnia setting in....
 
insomnia over here too...

interesting question though. I dont know the answer myself, but I would think that there might be some restrictions preventing even a rotc graduate from becoming an officer that young...
 
Requirements for Army OCS:
"
College Graduates (Civilian Applicants):
At least 19 and no older than 29 at time of enlistment (applicants ages 30-34 may request a waiver)
United States citizen
At least a 4-year college degree prior to entering the Army
Earn a minimum 110 GT score on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
Meet the minimum height and weight standard ( male& female)
Pass a complete physical at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Able to obtain a security clearance
No more than 10 years’ active Federal Service at time of commission
Be able to meet the normal requirements of enlistment....."
 
The previous thread on why college was needed made me think, and I came up with 2 questions.
1.Who, say after WWII would be the youngest person to become a commissioned officer on record?
2.a) Does anyone know if say a Whiz kid graduated a 4 year University at say 18, would he/she be eligible for a commission if they wanted to serve their country?
b.) at 17 if the parents signed, like the enlisted?.

Just thinking and a little insomnia setting in....

David A. Christian was a 2/LT at age 19 (Vietnam)

Dave Hackworth enlisted at 15 and won a battlefield promotion to Captain at the age of 20. (Korea)

Dan Inouye also received a battlefield commission to Captain at the age of 20. (WWII)

George HW Bush was a LTJG at 19, youngest pilot in WWII.

But no one can beat Union Army PVT Joseph Burger, who won the MoH at age 15 and was immediately given a battlefield commisison to Captain (1863).
 
Interesting stuff here...I always learn something. Trust Luigi to have facts at his fingertips.

I worked for someone who gained their commission around age 17-18 through OCS, because she had completed her college degree by 16. She had a teaching degree in math, but she was too young to get a teaching position in her state's school system. The Navy was more than happy to commission her at that early age, and she went on to great success. Those of us who worked for her did the math one time from her bio.
 
The Army Early Commissioning Program produces 2nd Lts in only two years.
 
Arthur MacArthur Jr.
DOB 6/2/1845
1st Lt. 24th Wisconsin 8/4/1862/age 17
Awarded MOH for action at Missionary Ridge 11/24/1863/age 18
Major 1/25/1864/age 18
Brevet Colonel 3/13/1865/age 19

Since he could not vote in Lincoln's second election it is said that the 24th Wisconsin troops rode the electors out of the camp on a rail.
 
The Answer

Timothy C. Fretwell - born 11 April 1985 and commissioned on 25 March 2005. Age 19 years 11 months.
 
youngest officer

please add me to the list Graduated Ft. Benning OCS Class 520 December 19th 1945 at age 19 years 1 week. Sent to Philippine Scout Detachment in Manila and served as General MacArthurs guard until August 1946 Discharged as Captain in 1947
 
My father, Cyrus. M. Neuner, earned his commission at the age of 17 after he graduated from Gordon Military College in Barnesville, GA in 1939. The DOD documents I have confirm that but he was denied his commission because of age. At that time federal law required all commissioned officers to be 21, I think. Sometime after the start of WWII, the age requirement was dropped to 18. He entered the Army Air Corp in 1942 after graduating from Georgia Tech as a 2nd Lt. at the age of 20. He retired as a Lt. Col. from the AF Reserves in 1962.
 
To my knowledge I was the youngest USAF commissioned officer at age 19 (1975) and likely one of the youngest modern commissioned officers of any service except battlefield commissions. I was in a 2-yr ROTC program which I couldn't enter until I was 17 and required my parent's permission, although I had already met my college graduation requirements. I was unable to accept a commission until 19 by law, so continued taking graduate school courses. Due to the Arab Oil Embargo at the time, was on delayed active duty for almost 2-years waiting for an Undergraduate Pilot Training slot. Eventually came on active duty to serve at Edwards AFB.

While at Edwards AFB, was one of the youngest recipients of the USAF Achievement Medal and Missile badge for my work as a Senior Research Propellant chemist at the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory working on development the Missile eXperimental (MX/Peacekeeper) and SRAM missiles and energenic experimental propellants.

I am a graduate of the U.S. Military's only post-graduate academy, the Uniformed Services School of Medicine. I was in full-time education on active duty for all but 9 years of my military service. Likely also one of the earliest to retire other than medical retirements at age 38 through a voluntary early retirement program instituted after Desert Storm. Under requirements of the early retirement program I had to either serve in civilian government service or work for a non-profit for 5 years to retain full military retirement pay. Elected to serve as 5-years as Chief Scientist for Concurrent Technologies Corporation. a non-profit in PA.

I am extremely grateful to the USAF for the 5 degrees they paid-in-full. I came from a poor family with a disabled father, a beautician mom, and we lived in a trailer. My Dad was a combat-disabled Navy veteran that died two years ago from mesothelioma from heavy asbestos exposures aboard the USS Boyd destroyer bombarding Korea. My Mom recently died from complications of a stroke. In going through their personal effects found a folder, unknown to me, where my parents had collected news articles from my commissioning to medals, to newspaper articles and even many of my medical research publications. It was incredibly humbling. I always thought of myself just as a ordinary guy having some great opportunities. Retired retired these days, I'm happily married with 5 daughters and 4 grandchildren!

Dr. Robert G. Elves
 
I was curious about this myself as my son graduated the Army ROTC program and commissioned as a 2nd LT at the age of 19 years 9 months in 2011. (He began dual enrollment at the age of 15 and was a college junior at 17.) He was promoted to Captain this past May at the age of 23 years 9 months. Needless to say, I'm very proud of him!
 
I was curious about this myself as my son graduated the Army ROTC program and commissioned as a 2nd LT at the age of 19 years 9 months in 2011. (He began dual enrollment at the age of 15 and was a college junior at 17.) He was promoted to Captain this past May at the age of 23 years 9 months. Needless to say, I'm very proud of him!

With good reason! That is great! Gratulation's to you both
 
If memory serves, Audie Murphy was promoted from to 2nd lieutenant at the age of 19 or 20. Just one of his numerous military accolades.
 
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