[415] MTSU GRADUATING SENIORS MIGHT CONSIDER ARMY OCS

Release date: April 9, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Military Science contact: Lt. Col. Mike Walsh, 615-898-2470 or mwalsh@mtsu.edu


GRADUATING MTSU SENIORS MIGHT CONSIDER
U.S. ARMY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL


(MURFREESBORO) — The chair of the MTSU’s military science department, Lt. Col. Mike Walsh, wants all graduating seniors to know that the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School might be for you.
“It’s an opportunity graduating seniors may not know about,” Walsh said, adding that candidates may be eligible to be an officer in the U.S. Army, reserves or active duty, and that the Army will repay up to $65,000 in student loans.
The salary for active-duty officers is roughly $48,000, with 30 days paid leave and paid medical coverage — and you don’t have to have any military background, Walsh said.
It all starts with a 23-week training program, which includes Initial Entry Training (basic training) and Officer Candidate School, Walsh said.
In the nine weeks of Initial Entry Training, participants will learn the basics of soldiering from some of the best soldiers anywhere. You will attend classes and participate in calisthenics, drills and weapons training, helping you to grow physically and mentally.
Upon graduation, officer candidates will attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. OCS is 14 weeks of intense classroom and field training. Participants will receive the kind of leadership development training that is unmatched by any other program, developing your potential mentally, physically and emotionally.
Candidates will be grouped into squads where you will gain experience in all leadership roles, culminating in verbal and written feedback on your improvement.
Walsh said qualifications include passing a physical; graduating from a four-year university with a minimum 2.0 grade point average; candidates must be U.S. citizens and must be able to obtain a secret security clearance. Following the 23-week program, candidates will be commissioned second lieutenants — the same rank that graduates of West Point and ROTC programs receive.
For service obligation requirements or for more information, contact Maj. Trey Brannom, assistant professor, at 615-898-5702, or SFC Alex Lopez by calling 615-898-2564, or visit www.goarmy.com/ocs.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.
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