Air Force Reserve Direct Commissioning Program

The Air Force has a program for enlisted members who want to earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing and become a commissioned officer. The program is called the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program, or NECP. Those selected for the program attend college full-time at an accredited college while remaining on active duty.

2 days ago The Department of the Air Force will implement several voluntary officer and enlisted force management programs for fiscal year 2021, including an expanded PALACE CHASE program. The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program provides active duty enlisted members an opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Graduates of NECP are commissioned as second lieutenants upon successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination and earning a nursing license. Air Force graphic by Kat Bailey). With few exceptions, a 4-year college degree is a prerequisite for commissioning. To this end, two of the primary commissioning programs, the Service academies and the Reserve Officers Training. The SOAR program allows enlisted personnel to separate from active duty and receive a scholarship worth up to $18,000 per academic year while pursuing their undergraduate degree and a commission through Air Force ROTC. Those selected will enroll in Air Force ROTC program as a cadet and be full-time college students. They will also receive an annual textbook allowance and a monthly stipend. Upon graduation and completion of the program, selectees will commission as a second lieutenant in the.

Overview:

The Coast Guard aviation community consists of approximately 800 pilots and an enlisted workforce of approximately 2,500. Together, these pilots and aircrews fly 5 types of aircraft in the Coast Guard’s inventory, representing 200 airframes dispersed among 24 Air Stations. The DCA program is designed to meet aviation needs by seeking trained and qualified commissioned military pilots from other services to access into the Coast Guard. In Fiscal Year 2017, applicants with fixed wing experience will be especially desired. Direct commissioned aviators, although they receive training on Coast Guard specific aircraft, typically require less training than Coast Guard pilots who originate internally and apply to CG flight school. Pilots who meet eligibility criteria and successfully compete for selection can fully expect a career as a Coast Guard aviator.

Initial Assignments and Training:

DCAs work with a Coast Guard assignment officer following selection. The assignment officer will review the individual’s education, experience, qualifications, and their expressed assignment interests, to issue orders to a position at a Coast Guard field unit position that best aligns the selectee’s talents and potential with the needs of the Coast Guard. After commissioning (which occurs approximately 30 days prior to attending the Direct Commission Officer (DCO) course in New London, Connecticut) new officers will execute permanent change of station (PCS) orders and report directly to their first unit for a brief period. DCAs will then go TDY to the DCO course. The DCO course will be 4 weeks in length. At DCO training, DCAs receive initial indoctrination to the traditions and programs of the Service, and training on Service-specific administration essentials needed to their successfully serve as a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard. Following completion of DCO training, DCAs will return to their unit.

DCAs will transition to flying CG aircraft and later attend training at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center (ATC), in Mobile, Alabama.

Career Path:

DCAs can fully expect subsequent operational assignments within the aviation career track, in addition to assignments supporting aviation training and program management. DCAs will also have opportunities for special assignments and assignments within sub-specialties (training, human resources, etc.).

DCA Eligibility Requirements:

Age: Have reached your 21^st but not your 35^th birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the selection Panel convenes.
Character Standards:
- All applicants must be of outstanding moral character
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen
Clearance: Must be eligible for a Secret Clearance
Dependency:
- If single, may not have sole or primary legal or physical custody of dependents.
- May not have more than 3 dependents (your spouse is considered your dependent, regardless of military status).
Education:
- Have a baccalaureate or higher degree or
- Receive the ACE recommended score on the five general CLEP exams (i.e. English Composition, Humanities, Natural Science, College Mathematics, Social Science/History) or
- Have one year of college (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) and have completed at least one college-level mathematics course, or receive the ACE recommended score on the College Mathematics CLEP exam.
Financial:Must meet all financial obligations, and not have a debt to income ratio in excess of 80% (ratio of debt to projected income at applicant’s highest accession level, i.e. O-1 or O-2, as applicable).
- May not have filed for bankruptcy in the last 10 years
- Student Loans: applicants shall also disclose to their recruiter any student loan payments that are in deferment, and the anticipated date and amount of repayment of those loans.
Interview: DCA applicants must receive the recommendation of a Coast Guard interview board, administered by 3 Coast Guard officers
Military Service: (all of the below must apply)
- Max Active Duty Service: Have less than 10 years of non-Coast Guard active-duty military service as of the date of accession, which is equivalent to the date that the applicant, if selected, will take their oath of office.
- Min Active Duty Service: Must have served a minimum of two years on active duty (not active duty for training) as either a warrant officer in the U.S. Army or a commissioned officer in one of the U.S. Armed Forces as of the panel convening date.
- Conditional Release: Members currently in another military service (or IRR) must furnish an approved DD368 form (conditional release) in their application package.
  - Release approval (validity) period: The release shall be valid, at a minimum, through the date of the panel for which the applicant is applying. Ideally, the release should be valid through the projected accession date for that panel.
  - IRR: Recruiters shall submit the DD368 (with only Section I complete) to CGRC Accessions branch at CGR-SMB-DD368@uscg.mil.
  - Members of Other Military Services (except IRR): The applicant shall submit the DD368 (with Section I complete) through their chain of command to their services’ authorizing official* (which is different for each service). Once approved, the DD368 and any other approval documents (i.e. Service Memorandum) shall be submitted in the application package.
- Commissioned Officers: who have been separated or removed from active duty from any Service as a result of non-selection for promotion, extension, or integration may not apply for any Coast Guard commissioning program.
Physical (Medical):
- Must pass a Class 1A flight physical examination.
- Meet Height/Weight standards.
  - Due to ejection seat limitations associated with the T-6 Texan Training Aircraft, pilots must be between 62” and 77”
- Shall complete a structured physical fitness program while at DCO School
Test Score: Commissioned officers from other military services do not have to produce a test score.
Program-Specific Experience/ Information:
- Be a graduate of a U.S. Military flight training program.
- Have served on active-duty as a pilot in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Air National Guard, for a minimum of two years, but not to exceed 10 years.
- Have a minimum of 500 hours of military flight time in a manned aircraft as of the application deadline date. Flight hours in training, simulators, or UAs will not count toward this total.
- Have had primary employment as a pilot (military or civilian) within two years of the selection panel convening date
Tattoos: Applicants may not have tattoos or body markings that are inconsistent with the CG tattoo, body marking, body piercing, and mutilation policy, COMDTINST 1100.1 (series).
DCO Pre-Reporting Guide: Applicants must read and understand the DCO Pre-Reporting Guide.

DCA Appointment Grades and Term of Service:

Selected applicants will receive a 5 year active duty obligation.
The selection panel determines the appointment grade of each selectee.
Selectees will receive a commission as an Ensign (O-1) or Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve.

Application Process:

If you are ready to apply, you must visit the “Plan Your Next Move to become an Active Duty Coast Guard Officer” page and follow the application process.

When you join the Air Force as a healthcare, legal or ministry professional, you’ll begin your Air Force career with Commissioned Officer Training—a five-week program organized into four phases designed to help ease your transition from the private sector into military life.

Commissioned Officer Training

Phase 01:
Orientation Phase 02:
Development Phase 03:
Application Phase 04:
Transition

When you join the Air Force as a healthcare or ministry professional, you’ll begin your Air Force career with Commissioned Officer Training—a 5.5-week program organized into four phases designed to help ease your transition from the private sector into military life. Through physical conditioning and classroom studies, you’ll develop the skills necessary to serve your country and your profession as an Officer and a leader.

In the first phase of Commissioned Officer Training, you’ll focus on teamwork, discipline and standardization. You’ll begin to learn the fundamentals of leadership and military management while also experiencing the common activities in military training that teach “attention to detail” and the need to operate as a team.

In phase two of your training, you’ll further develop your understanding of the Air Force culture and the fundamentals of leadership. You will work as a team with your fellow trainees to accomplish certain tasks that promote efficient teamwork, encourage conflict resolution and establish working relationships in order for your group to grow as a team.

Phase three of training allows you to transition from practicing leadership to being a full-time leader as you apply the skills and knowledge that you’ve learned in previous phases to lead your team on assigned missions. By experiencing the pressures of leadership and command, you’ll gain a better understanding of what will be required of you in order to become a more effective team member.

During the final phase of training, your newfound leadership skills will be tested as you perform as the sole leader of your team. You’ll receive staff and peer feedback in order to gain an understanding of your individual leadership strengths and areas for improvement. Upon completion, you’ll be prepared to make the transition from a training environment to your career in the Air Force.

Training and academics

Here are some of the training and academic courses you may complete during the Orientation phase of your training:

Training and academics

Here are some of the training and academic courses you may complete during the Development phase of your training:

Training and academics

Here are some of the training and academic courses you may complete during the Application phase of your training:

Training and academics

Here are some of the training and academic courses you may complete during the Transition phase of your training:

TRAINING:
Blue-Line Ceremony
In-processing
Uniform Purchase
Drill Block
ACADEMICS:
Air Force Core Values
Military Customs and Courtesies
Academic Orientation
War and the U.S. Military
Profession of Arms
Air Force Leadership
Airman’s Creed

TRAINING:
Project X
Tattoo Ceremony
Wingman Leadership Problems (WLPs)
ACADEMICS:
Basics of Briefing
Situational Leadership
Joint Operations
Followership
Terrorism

TRAINING:
Casualty Movement
Medical Readiness Indoctrination Course (MRIC)
Ropes Course
Leadership Reaction Course (LRC)
ACADEMICS:
Joint Ethics
Standards and Accountability
Leadership and Management Case Studies

TRAINING:
Final Feedback
Spouse/Family Orientation
Awards Ceremony
Graduation Parade
ACADEMICS:
Your First Officer Assignment
Oath of Office and Commissioning Seminar

Your transformation starts here.
military training
Prepare for your journey ahead.
enlisted process
We take care of the needs of those who serve.
pay and benefits

Air Force Reserve Commissioning Requirements

Your future is waiting.

Air Force Commissioning Program

Apply Now