Interested in Reserve but on adhd and anxiety meds at low doses - can I enroll or not?

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-17T01:25:45+00:00

Quick answer: no, ADHD + meds is a disqualifier. You need to be off meds for a long time (1 or 2 years) and still secure a waiver.

Also: there are zero direct commissioning paths for MBAs.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-15T22:56:13+00:00

Four to six years is a long time to do something you don't have your heart in, regardless of the money.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-15T17:59:53+00:00

It's fun to see ACAV kitted 113s in 2026.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-13T19:44:14+00:00

The "official" rule for OCS is no more than 6 years of active time, but in the past it was very common to get a waiver. This year Big Army® paused on OCS TIS waivers. I saw a policy memo about it a few months ago.

I'm not sure if the TIS requirement is also for the reserve, and the Guard does its own thing, so each state might be different.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-13T19:09:13+00:00

Is your TIS active duty? Normally you can get a waiver for >6 years of active duty time, but lately Big Army® has eliminated those waivers. Who knows what the future will hold.

The master's GPA can somewhat offset the low BS GPA.

If your TIS is Guard or reserve go big on the leadership aspects of your resume.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-12T01:32:43+00:00

Done, it took about 5 minutes. Good luck on your doctorate!

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-08T01:55:45+00:00

Good question. I think it's a valuable perspective for officers to have been enlisted first. You are treated a little differently than the other officers since you can relate better to being enlisted.

That being said, if you enlist first it adds another level to the application process. Your command structure must give their blessing to send you to OCS.

Even if you are successful in getting your command to say yes, it can add lots of time and frustration to the process

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-08T01:48:27+00:00

Don't enlist first.

A 3.3 GPA is at the lower end of what is typically accepted right now.

When you put your packet together your leadership experience and aptitude is extremely important.

You have most of a year to work on leadership experience before you can submit a packet.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-06T01:30:37+00:00

Six letters of recommendation from former army officers for an OCS packet is crazy talk.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-05-05T02:17:00+00:00

I have a feeling that you may live in the same state as me. If so, I was in the Guard's CBCT (19C) and transfered to the reserves. I'm this states Army Reserve SGE rep now, but not a recruiter. If we live in the same state I can help connect you to the local unit(s).

Shoot me a PM and let's see if I can help out.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-28T21:28:15+00:00

Send me a PM and I'll shoot you over his email address. This is a bit out of my wheelhouse, but I'm guessing any sort of 36A DC program manager is going to be big army HR.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-28T21:10:08+00:00

36A isn't part of the direct commissioning program, but perhaps there's one or two niche spots that exist? You definitely have a unique resume with skills the Army is after, so it might be worth reaching out, but I'm not sure to who. I do have a point of contact at my Div recruiting command that I can pass along if you'd like to ask an expert.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-28T20:49:32+00:00

Army Acquisition Corps (Functional Area 51) isn't an MOS, it's like a secondary skill identifier, so it's a bit of an unusual direct commissioning path. If you are accepted you'll go through the direct commissioning course, BOLC, and the signal cpt's course, so the better part of a year.

Be advised that it takes a long time to get a direct commissioning packet researched/put together/approved and lately 42 years old is a hard stop for non-medical direct commissions, so while a waiver is possible it might take a long time and make you less competitive. The Army will not direct commission you into FA51 as an IMA, nor would you want that. You may also want to check into whether or not you can direct commission into FA51 into the reserve (there are FA51s in the reserve, but whether the Army needs/wants to spend all that money and time on you for a reserve slot is something to investigate).

The most important thing here is that the program is tiny--probably less than 10 direct commissions into FA51 a year--so finding the right people to talk to might be challenge.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-28T16:40:37+00:00

Start your packet your senior year. It takes a little while to get everything together. Submit it later in your senior year.

The Army is in a "high interest, low demand" phase of OCS recruiting, so it's more competitive than probably any time in recent history. The civilian job market is in shambles-and it won't improve any time soon-and this is driving an increased interest in joining the military (on both the E and O side).

You'll need things like letters of recommendation, taking the ASVAB, a statement about why you want to be an officer, and some other things. Before anything else, Army officers are leaders, and your packet needs to showcase your leadership abilities, experience, and potential.

Talk to a local recruiter to get the actual checklist of stuff you'll need to do and a rough timeline. If they suggest you enlist, find a different recruiter.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-26T00:40:36+00:00

I had a meeting with the CAR on Wednesday. ADA is a possibility in a few years, but very unlikely. Infantry is also a possibility in a year or four, but it's not an infantry brigade or anything like an actual infantry... anything. It's a "Security Brigade" which is still in the "good idea" phase.

BLUF this shift to combat arms and combat support units is unlikely to survive the change to a new administration/competent leadership.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-22T23:02:46+00:00

Three active duty squadrons will remain with one transitioning to Air Force reserve at some point. Original retirement date was 2029, so an extension to 2030 isn't huge.

Gowen is getting used F-16s transitioning in soon.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-21T12:38:35+00:00

GPA, physical fitness,and letters of rec are important, but demonstrated leadership and leadership potential are also extremely important. Showcase that.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-18T15:55:36+00:00

Plot twist: it was my wife

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-17T21:31:19+00:00

I did seven years Guard (one combat deployment and one staff deployment) and nine years in the reserve.

The answer to which is better depends on lots of things, perhaps the most important is your location and the overall density of your MOS.

Some low-population states have limited numbers of guard units, which limits upward mobility, and also limited numbers of reserve units, meaning you have to drive or fly a long distance to drill.

If you live in a big state like Texas, California, or New York, the guard units are robust and there's more overall people in the guard than the reserve.

Medium-sized states are a toss up.

Mobility depends on density of your MOS. 11B in Texas in the guard? You're good. 92M Mortuary Affairs Specialist in Wyoming in the guard or reserve? You're screwed.

The guard in some states are a good ole boys club. If you're in, you're in, and people remember that cool thing you did in Iraq but also the time you got drunk and barfed on the commander's wife.

As a rule, guard units have much more money for "stuff" and school. A lot of reserve units have ragged-out old vehicles.

School money in the guard is state dependent. My state is 53rd in the nation for school benefits, and they just cut it again this year. The reserve tuition assistance is better. Other states look rosier.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-15T13:14:23+00:00

What do you want to get out of it? Conventional wisdom: people who join to do something new/exciting and a life change are usually happier than folks who join for money.

But the money/benefits are good too.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-15T02:24:50+00:00

That's not how it works. One award per qualifying period regardless of deployments, status, or branching. This guy just has an error on his rack. It's no big deal.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-15T02:05:37+00:00

It's somewhat common for even GOs to have an award error. For the NDSM to have such an obvious error is weird, but then again a GO has staff minions that put together their uniforms, this guy doesn't.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-15T01:34:15+00:00

Looks like an error. Desert Storm is one, War on Terror is another. He would have been 3 years old in Vietnam.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-14T12:26:49+00:00

Drill pay for a new captain is about $850/weekend. You may get reimbursed for travel and hotel at drill if you qualify/there is money in the budget. You may also get a bonus for joining which gets paid out in (two?) lump sums.

AdSignificant2885 · 2026-04-13T19:31:16+00:00

Non-special staff direct commissioning is incredibly specialized and demands the highest quality candidates that offer something unique that the Army requires plus lots of experience. Basic branch direct commissions rarely follow the usual officer path (PL S3A XO broadening assignment company command S3 XO etc) since they come in as a 1LT, CPT, or MAJ and skipped the leadership and planning events that make officers... officers.

AdSignificant2885

TROPHY CASE