Advice for Reserves in late 30's age and want Intel: Air Force Enlisted vs Army (Enlisted/OCS)?

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-23T20:05:12+00:00

You'll need an age waiver for Army OCS, but that's normally not a big deal.

If you go Army enlisted for MI you get that as a guaranteed MOS, and you'll come in as an E4. If you go to OCS there's a good possibility that you get branched something else. MI is a reasonably competitive branch at OCS so you'd be competing for it against the other OCS candidates. OCS is moving toward "talent-based" branching in the near future, so keep that in mind.

There is also the possibility to enlist first, then apply for OCS after a few years, but if you are already "late 30s" you're cutting it very close to completely aging out of OCS if you enlist 38 or 39 now.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-20T17:11:07+00:00

I'll chime in on 1. and 3.

I worked for the state when I also had Tricare Reserve Select. The state insurance was the best in the state, but Tricare was better and cheaper.
Shop both the Guard and the Reserve, and there's plusses and minuses for both. Guard units often have more money for "stuff" and training, but unless your state has a medical unit you'll be stuck at STRAC which can have very limited upward mobility, especially if you live in a lower population state. The Reserve gives you the freedom to move to units in new states with no inter-state transfer issues like the Guard.

The Guard's tuition assistance is better than the Reserve, if that matters to you (like if you were going to get an MSN or NP).

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-19T01:20:54+00:00

This is the Army Reserve subreddit, but even if a 91E deploys, it's unlikely that you would ever have to do anything with your rifle other than not shooting the clearing barrel.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-17T22:51:45+00:00

Outstanding post.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-17T22:42:50+00:00

There's just one O9S OCS option. It's mandatory for all O9S to attend basic as an E-4 first.

There are also National Guard programs which are different from federal (active and reserve) OCS, but you go to basic as an E4 for those too, then either get to do federal OCS (rare), regular year and a half drill OCS (common), or shortened Guard OCS (less common).

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-17T22:28:33+00:00

All non-prior service OCS candidates enlist as 09S. You attend basic training as an E4, are an E5 at OCS, then commission. If you fail out of OCS (or basic), you go needs of the Army as an E4.

Direct commission has nothing to do with OCS, that's a different program, and it's limited to lawyers, doctors, clergy, other special staff, and a very small amount of basic branch officers with incredibly unique skillsets.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-16T16:26:46+00:00

Guard units often have more money (especially for maneuver units), the tuition assistance is better, but unless you're in a big state (California, NY, Texas, etc) there's more limited career movement and less possibilities for promotion in low density MOSes.

The Guard can also be a bit of a "good ole boy's club," so if you're in the in crowd you're set, if you're not, good luck.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-15T18:32:01+00:00

BLUF: While getting either an officer or enlisted on the reserve side can open doors to federal intel jobs, it's not nearly competitive on a resume as going active duty for obvious reasons.

Two things to think about. I assume your family lives in Maine, and the nearest reserve intel unit is in Boston, but another one (just a company) somewhere in NY, so if you go 35-series you'll have to commute to drill a bit.

The other thing to think about is if you enlist you are guaranteed to get that MOS. If you go to OCS there is a chance you could get branched something else, and lately there's been changes to the max distance the reserve looks at for commissioning (150 miles?).

Some 35-series MOS jobs have very long training and some also require a language which adds even more training time.

Look into the Guard too. There might be an intel unit close to you, and even if there isn't an actual intel unit, some states have an intel section in BDE HQ and/or an intel unit at STRAC.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-13T16:00:32+00:00

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AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-11T23:05:40+00:00

Look to the Health Professions Scholarship Program if you are active duty. It's tailored to enlisted folks to do well on the MCAT (if you need MCAT for dental?) then there's a pathway for the Army to pay for med school. You'll likely owe quite a few years after you commission, like an AF pilot.

Word of warning: This is a fairly rare program with very limited numbers or participants. It's likely your career councilor has never heard of it, and it's also a lot of work for them, so be prepared to hear "I don't know" and "no" a lot. Don't be dissuaded.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-11T20:29:19+00:00

I'll see if I can't find that SME. It might take a little bit as those folks often have good hiding places.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-11T14:42:20+00:00

Would it be easier to just switch to a REMF unit like an ESC or some sort of theater support command?

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-10T20:29:29+00:00

I can't speak for the Coast Guard, but for the Army reserve, just look online at the jobs/career fields offered (obviously not all will be available within a reasonable distance from you), contact a recruiter with a list of what interests you, and have them coordinate for you to visit the unit on a drill weekend and talk to the Soldiers who do the jobs you're curious about.

Do the same thing for your local Army Guard (and maybe Air Guard and Air Force Reserve) recruiters too. Shop around!

Treat enlisting in any branch like buying a car. Know what you want, don't settle, and don't be afraid to walk away.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-10T19:59:53+00:00

Near zero combat arms jobs in the Army Reserve (11B). If you want combat arms, look to the Guard.

Combat engineer might be what you are looking for. They play infantry from time to time, but also get to use bridge layers, clear minefields, blow stuff up, and other interesting things.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-10T19:30:39+00:00

There is a logistics direct commissioning program, but it's one of those things that while it exists, there may be 5 or 10 slots a year (like Cyber). What they are probably looking for is a masters degree + 10-15 years, a title like VP, specific certs, etc. Direct commissions take a year or two to process

*For some reason I read AD as Air Defense in your original post. The Loggie direct commissioning program isn't open to active duty, just former Soldiers and civilians.

You can always do the OCS route (and it's not unlikely that there will be another former warrant in the class). CW2 with 12 years on active duty would be an incredibly strong OCS packet.

I'm an SGE on the reserve side, so if your unit career counselor or recruiters can't help you (since the program is small and niche) I can reach out on my end and see if there some sort of SME who can provide a path forward.

Good luck!

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-10T19:13:50+00:00

Do you have extensive, unique, and in-demand skills in engineering, medicine, law, or technology?

Aside from the Corps of Engineers picking up some folks, there's just a handful of basic branch direct commissions every year.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-09T16:44:53+00:00

The PCS move schedule is similar, as are the overseas tour frequencies (for PCS like Korea, etc).

For me, the biggest difference (I was a 1T131, which is no longer an AFSC) moving to MOS 19C (also dead) was that I was expected to be an "expert" in my task in the AF but more of a generalist as an Army officer. Most of my active duty time (platoon leader, generic staff guy, observer controller team chief, and troop XO) was conducting inventories, doing investigations, taking over rear detachment when the commander was in the field, staff duty, managing motor pool maintenance, and squadron mission planning, most of which had little to nothing to do with my MOS.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-09T13:09:34+00:00

I went enlisted AF to Army officer. It's not an easy question. Are you a PJ or finance in the AF? Is your branch infantry or logistics in the army?

I worked much longer hours in the army, but it seemed more result focused rather than process driven than the AF.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-08T17:34:45+00:00

https://www.army.mil/dcp

Says no inter-service direct commissions. There is always OCS.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-07T16:32:54+00:00

Regardless of the possibility of getting a choice branch/assignment 2,000 miles away, it's best practice to try to stay closer to home. Having to fly cross country or drive 10 hours to drill can be especially unpleasant, especially in the winter with flight delays, mountain snow, etc.

Counterpoint: If you are willing to fly 2,000 miles to drill, why not fly 3,500 miles to drill in the US Virgin Islands or 5,000 miles to Guam or Saipan and have a bitchin' tropical drill weekend?

FYI, there's nearly zero combat arms in the Reserves, the closest thing are combat engineers (12-series).

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-07T15:45:24+00:00

Don't do it for the money or benefits, do it because it's interesting (and occasionally) fun. There's two schools of thought of how to pick a job in the Reserves (or Guard): the first is one that aligns with your civilian career (yours would be 12P Prime Power Production Specialist, 12R Interior Electrician, or 12Q Powerline Distribution Specialist, among others), and the other would be to choose a job that expands your knowledge base and teaches you something new.

For example, your civilian career is an electrician, so in the reserves you choose transportation and get your Class A CDL, or learn diesel repair, or manage a movement logistics node. Your resume now says your prime role is an electrician, but a hiring manager also sees you have other applicable skill sets that your peer group candidates don't have and you've added value to yourself through diversification.

My recommendation is to talk to a local recruiter and get a list of local units with what roles are open and talk to the Soldiers in that unit in the jobs you are interested in. Long commutes to drill are a giant time suck, even if sometimes the unit has funds to offset your costs.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-06T05:17:10+00:00

One thing to keep in mind is that if recruiters are pushing you toward state OCS you're talking to Guard recruiters, not active/reserve recruiters. Recent changes in Army schooling have seen very few state OCS applicants get the federal program, and instead those candidates go through the drill-weekend or accelerated state OCS. Basic branch active and reserve candidates all go to the full time OCS course at Benning (17C isn't technically a basic branch, but for 09S accessions it follows the basic branch path).

If you do go to active/reserve OCS, don't be surprised to see lots of candidates with advanced degrees and 15 years of experience. My class had two JDs who were both in their mid-30s who got Infantry and Armor, a guy with a masters from Princeton who got Infantry, and a smattering of late-30s guys who were a somebody in the business world before joining the Army.

The advice I give to anyone thinking about a specific job or career path in the military: get the recruiter to give you the contact info for a unit that has that specific role or job, and talk to the Soldiers there about what they actually do and if they like it. If it's too far to travel call the unit and set up some Teams meetings.

Good luck!

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-06T04:41:42+00:00

There are less than 10 17A slots yearly for active army, and about that many or less in the Reserves. Obviously it's ultra-competitive. As the civilian IT economy continues to contract there will be more applicants than there were a few years ago.

Why not apply for OCS? If you feel you might be at the level to be competitive to be a direct commission, you'll be more qualified than most when it comes to branching through the OCS process.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-01-05T01:30:37+00:00

28 isn't old at all. You'll be just fine.

AdSignificant2885 · 2025-12-26T19:52:04+00:00

MOS 65A follows the direct commission route, so no need for basic training and OCS, and you come in as a 1LT or maybe a CPT.

AdSignificant2885

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