I've done a lot of research on all things military since I plan on going through the officer route, but there are a couple questions that still elude me. Here they are:
1) What happens after you graduate?
2) Do you have to go to basic training or not if you go through ROTC?
I apologize if they are obvious but I would just like some hard facts. Thank you in advance!
all the branches ROTC makes you do summer programs, but unless you go marine option in Navy ROTC, then you dont go to "basic", and even they don't go through basic, but OCS.
for army, navy, and AF, the day your graduate college you become an officer and go into the military as an O-1.
As youve probably noticed, it varies between service. In the Army, its dependent on whether the new officer is going active duty or going into the reserves.
A freshly commissioned/graduated active duty Second Lieutenant will probably not immediately go on active duty (though its possible). Somewhere between a few weeks and a few months after graduating, he/she will go through a 7 week tactical small unit leader training course. Upon completion of this, the new officer goes through another branch specific course known as the "Officer Basic Course" and is taught specifics on the assigned branch. The length of this course varies by branch but most are in the 4-6 month range. After this, the new active duty 2LT is ready for the first assignment but may have the chance to go through one or more additional schools such as Airborne School, Ranger School, or a host of branch specific courses before heading off to the first platoon.
Reserve officers will likely start drilling right away with their unit. If they dont have a unit, they search for one. They too will go through the 7 week tactical course and the branch specific course. Although reserve officers are certainly not barred from the follow on courses, they dont often get them as USAR and National Guard wont normally send soldiers through such training unless its necessary for the next assignment.
What I described is the normal path for a brand new Army Second Lieutenant from any commissioning source. Understand there are exceptions. Occasionally newly commissioned officers will start working almost immediately then go through training. Also, active duty 2LTs branched Infantry are pretty much guaranteed a host of follow on courses. But what I described above is how it works for a good 85-90% of newly minted Army officers.
If your looking for what you do after commissioning, in the AF, all the graduates will go on active duty within 180 days of commissioning. It depends on how much of that you wait. I showed up at my first base 3 weeks after I commissioned, but I know others that had to wait the whole 6 months.
After that for non-rated officers you show up at your assigned unit, and from there will TDY to all of your training.
For rated officers, pilot, nav, or ABM, you will sit casual for anywhere from 3 months to a year at a base pushing papers until your training starts, and training typically lasts about a year to 2 years. Then you get to your first operational squadron.
