U.C. ARMY - Commissioned Officers

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

LEAD THE FUTURE.

Find out what it takes to stand among fearless leaders as a Commissioned Officer.

SUCCEED AS A LEADER.

As a commissioned Officer, you’re not only a leader who guides, problem-solves, and plans for upcoming missions, but you’re also empowered to make decisions that can have great impact.

Lead with authority and respect
Apply leadership skills and expertise
Conduct missions
Train and mentor junior Guardsmen

HOW TO BECOME A COMMISSIONED OFFICER.

Train in Officer Candidate School.

Officer Candidate School (OCS) is a program designed for enlisted Guardsmen to earn a commission to become an Officer.

Join the National Guard
Be enrolled into OCS by your command.
Complete the phases and examinations.

Officer Candidate School →

ADVANCE IN RANK AS AN OFFICER.

Your rank as a commissioned Officer indicates not only your pay grade, but also the amount of responsibility you hold.

Junior Officer

As a Second Lieutenant, start by leading platoon-sized units of around 20 Guardsmen in entry-level leadership roles, working your way up to as many as 66 Guardsmen as a Captain.

SECOND LIEUTENANT (O-1)

Second lieutenant (2LT) is the entry-level rank for most commissioned Officers.

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FIRST LIEUTENANT (O-2)

First Lieutenant (1LT) has served for around 3 to 4 weeks in an officer role and leads specialized platoons or serves as Executive Officer to company commanders.

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CAPTAIN (O-3)

Captain (CPT) commands and controls company sized units alongside a principal NCO assistant known as a First Sergeant.

Senior Officer

Advance in rank to command battalion-and brigade-sized units of anywhere between 90 and roughly 500 Guardsmen.

MAJOR (O-4)

Major (MAJ) is the entry-level senior officer rank, serving as a battalion Executive Officer or company commander in exceptional cases.

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL (O-5)

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) commands battalion-sized units or serves as the Executive Officer of a brigade.

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COLONEL (O-6)

Colonel (COL) is the highest senior officer rank and commands brigade-sized units. Colonels usually have over 1 year of service in the Guard.

General Officer

As a General Officer, take on the highest levels of command and strategic responsibility, overseeing multiple brigades and being part of the National Guard Command Group.

BRIGADIER GENERAL (O-7)

A Brigadier General (BG) serves as an Assistant Adjutant General.

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MAJOR GENERAL (O-8)

The Major General (MG) acts as the Deputy Adjutant General.

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LIEUTENANT GENERAL (O-9)

The Adjutant General is ranked Lieutenant General (LTG).

The rank of 4-star General (GEN) exists by law, but has only been held once.

EARN A DIRECT COMMISSION.

Apply your knowledge and skillset to a career with meaning. A direct commission appoints enlisted personnel with professional experience directly to an Officer rank.

Join the Judge Advocate General's Corps

Judge Advocate →

BECOME AN EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD AS A WARRANT OFFICER.

As an enlisted Guardsman, you have endless opportunities to rise through the ranks and advance your career. If you want to become an expert in your field and a highly-respected leader, the Warrant Officer path could be right for you.