Evening star., 1950-10-02
Veterans
and
Druftees
By Maj. Thomas M. Mol

Did you know you could enlist
IN the Army just to go to Officer
Candidate School and then get
discharged II you bust out?
You can. If you're over 10 and
not yet 2s. are O. United States
citizen, and have a high school
education or its equivalent, are
physically qualified and can pass
the screening tests and interviews.
This special OCS enlistment isl
open to both veterans and non
veterans. Those who are drafted
may apply for OCS, too. but of
course they don't get out of the
Army If they funk.
Fellows in service apply through
their c. O.s and civilians through
the commanding general Of their
Army area. An Army recruiting
Office can help with the forms.
You'll be called in for tests, a |
physical exam and an interview byl
o board of three officers. Then
you'll be sent home to wait for a |
letter. If you're accepted, the
Army will notify you to report to
q recruiting Office. |
Then you go to q camp for basic
training, like regular enlistees and
draftees. This takes 16 weeks and |
you'll draw $75 month in
grade Ell.
Following basic training you go |
to leadership class for eight weeks.
II you bust out here you have a |
choice Of staying in the Army
or getting out.
Veterans Of the Army or Marine
Corps don't have to take basic
training. They can go direct tol
leadership class. But Navy, Air
Force and Coast Guard vets do \
take basic. Basic training given
by these other services is not the
right kind for Army service.
II you pass the leadership class
you'll be ordered to OCS. Fifteen
days before you report, the Army |
ups you to the E-4 pay grade, in |
which you draw $117.60 month.
Then you begin the six-month
rough and tumble OCS course,
which by no means is all book |
learning. Few fellows funk out
for academic reasons, but a lot
funk for lack of "adaptability.
Here again, if you bust out, you
can revert back to your former
grade Gel for guys with no prior
service) and start working your
way up in the Army. Or you
can take discharge and return
home.
This takes nearly year. Once
It's over, you'll be a second |
lieutenant in the Reserves. Monthly
pay: $213.75, not counting al
lowances.
Here's an important piece of
information: Married men and
bachelors with dependents may
now get in on this special OCS
enlistment, but If they bust out,
they cannot remain in the Army.
They must take discharge.
Once commissioned, you'll have
to serve at least two years on
active duty. During your first
three months as an officer, you're
sent to an associate basic course.
1t may be the infantry school at
Fort Benning, Ga, the artillery
school at Fort Sill. Okla, or the
Signal Corps School at Fort Mon
mouth, N. j.
If you want to make the Army |
your career, you may apply for a |
competitive tour of duty" For
one year you'll be watched closely
by your c. O.s and probably given |
special commands and assign
ments. If you show up well among
all the other reserve officers on
competitive tour. you'll get COM
mission in the regulars. |
you may 1Drite Maj. Mai care
OF this newspaper about your
o,On serDice-connected problem,
but please inclose self-ad-
dressed, stamped enUelope.)
From Associated Press Newsfeatures)
E~L n