Officer Candidate
Encyclopedia
Officer Candidate is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer
. More often than not, an Officer Candidate was a civilian
who applied to join the military directly as an officer. Officer Candidates are, therefore, not considered the same status as enlisted personnel.
, Officer Candidate is an NCO rank, comparable to Sergeant. Usually officer candidates are chosen as conscripts, and along with Officer Cadets are promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant
.
, an Officer Candidate or OC is a term used to describe civilians and enlisted personnel who are baccalaureate degree holders who want to earn a commission as officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines
. Upon admission to the Officer Candidate School
, they are appointed as Probationary Second Lieutenants and Probationary Ensigns.
, Officer Candidates attend either the Federal Officer Candidate School
(OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia, or a state National Guard
sponsored military academy
that follows the same curriculum and requirements as the Army's Federal OCS only spread over 12-16 months. Soldiers who attend OCS are usually prior service enlisted personnel, though civilians with college degrees can enlist and go directly to OCS after Basic Training.
With regard to rank, an Army Officer Candidate exists in a gray area, being neither enlisted, warrant officer, or commissioned officer when in officer candidate status. Although their status does not correspond to a position of authority within the standard Army ranks, candidates can serve in leadership training roles at the Platoon or Company level. Typically, they are referred to or addressed as "Candidate" by the OCS Cadre, and addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by enlisted personnel. However, during the first few weeks of indoctrination, candidates are treated much the same as a new recruit
.
The pay grade for an Army Officer Candidate is E-5 on the enlisted pay scale, unless the Candidate previously achieved a higher enlisted rank. For example, an E-7 who becomes a candidate would continue to receive E-7 pay. Upon commissioning, a candidate becomes a Second Lieutenant
.
, Officer Candidates are trained by Staff Non-commissioned officer Marines at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia
.
, Officer Candidates are trained at the Officer Candidate School
in Newport, Rhode Island
. A parallel program known as Aviation Officer Candidate School
(AOCS) at NAS Pensacola, Florida, previously produced officers slated to become Naval Aviator
s, Naval Flight Officer
s, Air Intelligence Officers and Aircraft Maintenance Duty Officers not otherwise procured via the U.S. Naval Academy or NROTC. A major distinction between the two programs was the use of enlisted Marine Corps
drill instructors in the AOCS program, a vestige from the World War II and early 1950s period when AOCS graduates were given the option of being commissioned in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps before proceeding to flight training. AOCS was disestablished in 1994 due to BRAC
action and merged into the current OCS program in 1994.
Officer Candidate is also the rank to which participants in the active duty commissioning program "Seaman to Admiral 21
" are appointed. STA 21 Officer Candidates are appointed to the rank at the Naval Science Institute and go on to hold the rank while training with the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
at NROTC-affiliated universities. STA 21 OCs maintain their enlisted pay grade and eligibility for enlisted advancement. Approximately 200 sailors are selected each year to participate in the Seaman to Admiral 21 program.
The rank of Officer Candidate is denoted by an officer's uniform with no insignia except for a Line Officer's star device on white and dress blue uniforms. On khaki and working blue uniforms, fouled anchors are worn on the collar points until Candidate Officer status is achieved, at which time OCs wear the bar insignia similar to their senior/Midshipmen 1st Class counterparts at the U.S. Naval Academy and in NROTC.
, Officer Candidates (OC) are trained at the Officer Candidate School
(OCS) located at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London
, Connecticut
.
, Officer Trainees (OT) are trained at the Officer Training School (OTS) at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Uniquely, Officer Trainees are named 3rd Lieutenants for the short period between completion of officer training & presentation of Commission.
Similar to the Army Officer Candidates, Air Force Officer Trainees exist in a gray zone with regard to rank, and their status does not directly correspond to a position of seniority or authority within the standard Air Force ranks. Typically, they are referred to or addressed as "OT," and during the first few weeks of indoctrination, are treated much the same as a new recruit. The pay for an Officer Trainee, however, is equal to an E-5 on the enlisted pay scale, unless the Candidate previously achieved a higher enlisted rank than E-5, e.g., an E-7 who becomes a candidate would continue to receive E-7 pay, and so on. Once commissioned, the new officer advances to the pay rate of O-1, unless they have at least four years of active duty service, in which case they are paid the higher O-1E rate in recognition of the prior enlisted service. Such pay continues at promotion to the next two grades ("O-2E" and "O-3E"), but is discontinued at the grade of O-4.
OT rank insignia loosely parallels that of Air Force ROTC and United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia
, except in the case of the directly commissioned chaplains, lawyers, and medical personnel.
Officer Candidate or Potential Officer Candidate is a term used in the British Armed Forces to describe civilians or enlisted persons who apply to join the service as an officer. Being a description, it does not infer rank or salutation.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
. More often than not, an Officer Candidate was a civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
who applied to join the military directly as an officer. Officer Candidates are, therefore, not considered the same status as enlisted personnel.
Finland
In the Finnish Defence ForcesFinnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
, Officer Candidate is an NCO rank, comparable to Sergeant. Usually officer candidates are chosen as conscripts, and along with Officer Cadets are promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
.
The Philippines
In the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, an Officer Candidate or OC is a term used to describe civilians and enlisted personnel who are baccalaureate degree holders who want to earn a commission as officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
. Upon admission to the Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
, they are appointed as Probationary Second Lieutenants and Probationary Ensigns.
Army
In the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Officer Candidates attend either the Federal Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
(OCS) at Fort Benning, Georgia, or a state National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
sponsored military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
that follows the same curriculum and requirements as the Army's Federal OCS only spread over 12-16 months. Soldiers who attend OCS are usually prior service enlisted personnel, though civilians with college degrees can enlist and go directly to OCS after Basic Training.
With regard to rank, an Army Officer Candidate exists in a gray area, being neither enlisted, warrant officer, or commissioned officer when in officer candidate status. Although their status does not correspond to a position of authority within the standard Army ranks, candidates can serve in leadership training roles at the Platoon or Company level. Typically, they are referred to or addressed as "Candidate" by the OCS Cadre, and addressed as "Sir" or "Ma'am" by enlisted personnel. However, during the first few weeks of indoctrination, candidates are treated much the same as a new recruit
Army recruit
Recruit or army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest military rank in various armed services. It usually implies that the soldier so labeled has not yet completed basic training....
.
The pay grade for an Army Officer Candidate is E-5 on the enlisted pay scale, unless the Candidate previously achieved a higher enlisted rank. For example, an E-7 who becomes a candidate would continue to receive E-7 pay. Upon commissioning, a candidate becomes a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
.
Marine Corps
In the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, Officer Candidates are trained by Staff Non-commissioned officer Marines at the Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
.
Navy
In the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Officer Candidates are trained at the Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)
The United States Navy's Officer Candidate School, currently located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, provides training to become a commissioned officer. Attendance is one possible way for civilian college graduates with no military experience to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy officer...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. A parallel program known as Aviation Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)
The United States Navy's Officer Candidate School, currently located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, provides training to become a commissioned officer. Attendance is one possible way for civilian college graduates with no military experience to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy officer...
(AOCS) at NAS Pensacola, Florida, previously produced officers slated to become Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
s, Naval Flight Officer
Naval Flight Officer
A Naval Flight Officer is an aeronautically designated commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps that specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots per se, but they may perform many "co-pilot" functions, depending on the type of aircraft...
s, Air Intelligence Officers and Aircraft Maintenance Duty Officers not otherwise procured via the U.S. Naval Academy or NROTC. A major distinction between the two programs was the use of enlisted Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
drill instructors in the AOCS program, a vestige from the World War II and early 1950s period when AOCS graduates were given the option of being commissioned in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps before proceeding to flight training. AOCS was disestablished in 1994 due to BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
action and merged into the current OCS program in 1994.
Officer Candidate is also the rank to which participants in the active duty commissioning program "Seaman to Admiral 21
STA-21
STA-21 or Seaman to Admiral - 21 is the U.S. Navy's commissioning program for the 21st century and is designed to enable active-duty Sailors to get a college degree and become commissioned officers.-History:...
" are appointed. STA 21 Officer Candidates are appointed to the rank at the Naval Science Institute and go on to hold the rank while training with the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program is a college-based, commissioned officer training program of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps.-Origins:...
at NROTC-affiliated universities. STA 21 OCs maintain their enlisted pay grade and eligibility for enlisted advancement. Approximately 200 sailors are selected each year to participate in the Seaman to Admiral 21 program.
The rank of Officer Candidate is denoted by an officer's uniform with no insignia except for a Line Officer's star device on white and dress blue uniforms. On khaki and working blue uniforms, fouled anchors are worn on the collar points until Candidate Officer status is achieved, at which time OCs wear the bar insignia similar to their senior/Midshipmen 1st Class counterparts at the U.S. Naval Academy and in NROTC.
Coast Guard
In the United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, Officer Candidates (OC) are trained at the Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
(OCS) located at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Air Force
In the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, Officer Trainees (OT) are trained at the Officer Training School (OTS) at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Uniquely, Officer Trainees are named 3rd Lieutenants for the short period between completion of officer training & presentation of Commission.
Similar to the Army Officer Candidates, Air Force Officer Trainees exist in a gray zone with regard to rank, and their status does not directly correspond to a position of seniority or authority within the standard Air Force ranks. Typically, they are referred to or addressed as "OT," and during the first few weeks of indoctrination, are treated much the same as a new recruit. The pay for an Officer Trainee, however, is equal to an E-5 on the enlisted pay scale, unless the Candidate previously achieved a higher enlisted rank than E-5, e.g., an E-7 who becomes a candidate would continue to receive E-7 pay, and so on. Once commissioned, the new officer advances to the pay rate of O-1, unless they have at least four years of active duty service, in which case they are paid the higher O-1E rate in recognition of the prior enlisted service. Such pay continues at promotion to the next two grades ("O-2E" and "O-3E"), but is discontinued at the grade of O-4.
OT rank insignia loosely parallels that of Air Force ROTC and United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Insignia
-Cadet Rank Insignia:-Current Cadet Squadrons:-Defunct Cadet Squadron Insignia:-Merit lists:Cadet merit list insignia are worn by those cadets who excel militarily , academically , or athletically...
, except in the case of the directly commissioned chaplains, lawyers, and medical personnel.
United Kingdom
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Officer Candidate or Potential Officer Candidate is a term used in the British Armed Forces to describe civilians or enlisted persons who apply to join the service as an officer. Being a description, it does not infer rank or salutation.