Can you become an officer without going to college

Each service branch has its own criteria for eligibility, and the amount awarded varies. The amount of the benefit is related to the length of time served in the military. Military officer job responsibilities range from low-level management to senior leadership.

Officer occupations usually fall into the following categories:. Advancing your career in the military will require hard work, determination, and a college degree.

While the requirements for promotion differ by branch, servicemembers are encouraged to progress through the ranks into leadership positions. How to become an officer Generally, there are four basic paths to becoming a military officer. The program is offered at 1, colleges and universities across the country. Students are provided with leadership training and money for tuition in addition to a guaranteed job upon graduation.

Additionally, enlisted servicemembers with 90 hours of college credit can enroll in the program to advance to the position of commissioned officer. Service academies are the most competitive pathways to becoming a commissioned officer. Merchant Marines all offer a high-quality, no-cost, four-year education equivalent to that of civilian Ivy League schools.

The four military service academies are: U. Direct appointments are reserved for professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and clergy. They receive abbreviated officer training and are then commissioned at a rank based on professional experience.

For those joining with a college degree or enlisted Airmen who have worked toward becoming an officer, you must:.

For healthcare, legal and ministry professionals only, you must:. Air Force Officers are evaluated on their leadership potential, moral standards and academic strengths. Each candidate must go through a selective process to ensure they meet our requirements and have what it takes to become an officer. Anyone striving to be an Air Force Officer must pass the Air Force Qualifying Test—a multiple choice test with topics ranging from verbal and math skills to questions covering specific fields of interest.

Your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a Military Entrance Processing Station MEPS to have your physical and moral standards assessed to ensure they are in line with the specifications set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law. Each committee evaluates both objective and subjective factors to determine if a candidate is a proper fit. No one factor can cause selection or rejection.

More information is available at each of the links below. Direct commissioning is available for individuals who have already completed their higher education and are interested in joining the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Navy as officers.

Direct commissions are available for those hoping to serve on active duty and those who are interested in serving in the Reserves or National Guard.

Not all fields of study are eligible for direct commissions. Accepted fields differ among the branches of the military. Air Force Direct Commissioning. Direct commissions are available to individuals with medical, legal, or chaplaincy backgrounds. Applicants must complete a five-week training program to prepare for becoming an officer in the Air Force.

Army Direct Commissioning. Direct commissions are available to individuals with medical, legal, chaplaincy, or cyber backgrounds. Coast Guard Direct Commissioning. Coast Guard direct commissions are available for prospective officers coming from a wide variety of backgrounds:. Navy Direct Commissioning. Direct commissions are available for prospective officers with a wide variety of degrees and backgrounds.

Applicants will incur three- to five-year active duty service commitments depending on their field. Each newly commissioned officer will have to attend a five-week Officer Indoctrination Course.

Contact a recruiter for more information.