Officer Candidate School
From 7th Cavalry Regiment Wiki
Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a course which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the 7th Cavalry.
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History
World War II era
Officer Candidate School was first proposed in June 1938, as the Army began expanding in anticipation of hostilities. In July 1941, the OCS stood up as the Infantry, Field Artillery, and Coastal Artillery Officer Candidate Schools, each respectively located at Fort Benning, Fort Sill, and Fort Monroe, Virginia.
On 27 September 1941, the first Infantry OCS class graduated 171 second lieutenants; 204 men started the 17-week course in July. Testament to the ability of OCS to produce new second lieutenants quickly can be found in War Department decision that ROTC could not fulfill the national demand for officers; so in May 1943, the advanced course in ROTC was suspended and basic course graduates were immediately sent to OCS so they could be commissioned sooner.
After World War II, due to the post-war downsizing of the Army and the declining need for new Officers, all but Infantry OCS was closed. Finally, on 1 November 1947, it was deactivated. The final class graduated only 52 second lieutenants.
Cold War
With the outbreak of the Korean War, and the Army's rapid expansion in response, the shortage of on-hand officers, and projected commissions, caused the Department of the Army to re-open Infantry OCS on 18 February 1951. The strength of OCS rapidly increased, infantry OCS included as many as 29 companies with a class graduating every week. During the Korean War, OCS commissioned approximately 7,000 Infantry officers.
In the 7th Cavalry
Admission Requirements
- Minimum Time-In-Service of six (6) months.
- Minimum rank of sergeant.
- No Negative Counseling Statement, Article 15 in the last ninety (90) days.
- No Court-Martial convictions.
- Battalion commander Recommendation.
- One Command Staff Recommendation.
- Regiment Commanding Officer Approval.
