Raise the bar of what you can do. Learn the skills to lead your peers, advance your career, and exceed your expectations.
Pursue the Path of Officer Candidate School
OCS is one of four paths to become a commissioned Officer in the Army. Applying is open to civilians, active-duty enlisted, Army Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers with at least a bachelor’s degree.
OCS offers the intense military tactical training you need to become an Officer, while also preparing you for careers in fields like engineering, finance, mechanics, communications, and more.
When you graduate OCS as a commissioned Officer, expect to be ready to lead in any situation, no matter the environment, and no matter the stakes.
Show Your Determination
Leadership courses are optional, which means Soldiers who take them set themselves apart as someone who wants to advance in their career.
Earn a Promotion
Gain new abilities and the promotions that go along with them. Leadership courses are a key way that enlisted Soldiers move up in rank.
Gain Lifelong Skills
Strengthen your natural ability to lead and gain new communication, tactical, and teamwork skills.
Your Route to Success
There are several leadership courses available to enlisted Soldiers. Advancing in difficulty, each course reflects the skills needed to reach the next level of your career.
Basic Leader Course (BLC)
BLC is the first course of leadership training. A month-long intensive course, Soldiers learn the fundamental skills needed to lead small groups of Soldiers. This course is for you if you’re a specialist or corporal who wants to advance to the rank of sergeant.
Advanced Leader Course (ALC)
ALC focuses on the skills needed to lead squad-and platoon-sized units. It consists of a 90-day online program and a branch-specific resident phase. This course is for you if you’ve been selected for promotion to staff sergeant.
Senior Leader Course (SLC)
SLC is a branch-specific course that focuses on the technical and tactical skills, knowledge, and experience needed to lead platoon-and company-sized units. This course is for you if you’ve been selected for promotion to sergeant first class.
First Sergeant Academy (FSA)
FSA focuses on unit administration, personnel management, logistics, and communication skills. It consists of a self-study phase and small-group instruction. This course is for you if you’re a sergeant first class or master sergeant and want to become first sergeant of a company, battery, or troop.
U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA)
USASMA is a 10-month long course that prepares senior non-commissioned Officers to lead at the highest levels of the Army and defense department. This course is for you if you want to become a senior non-commissioned Officer.
Command Sergeants Major Academy (CSMA)
CSMA is a five-day course that focuses on assigning and utilizing Soldiers, developing training plans, caring for Soldiers and their families, and more. This course is for you if you’re a sergeant major who wants to become a battalion command sergeant major.
Focused Training for Expanded
Opportunities
When you train at the Army’s specialized schools, jobs you’ve dreamed of become reality.
Recruiting and Retention School
Army recruiters serve the important role of helping create opportunities for recruits and maintaining the strength of the Army’s forces.
Drill Sergeant School
Drill sergeants serve the critical role of transforming recruits into Soldiers at Basic Combat Training.
Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOA) Course
Equal Opportunity Advisors are trained to identify discrimination in the workplace and promote equality throughout the Army, creating more diversity and fairness.
Sapper Leader Course
Sappers learn to conduct combat engineering tasks, including bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, and airfield repair, making them expert engineers.
Airborne School
Paratroopers take to the skies and learn to jump and parachute safely from airplanes at “jump school.”
Pathfinder School
Pathfinders are trained to navigate through foreign terrain and identify safe parachute drop zones for Army aircraft and Airborne Soldiers.
Jumpmaster School
Jumpmasters are experts who teach other Soldiers the techniques of jumping from airplanes while instructing at Airborne School.
Air Assault School
Air assault Soldiers master assault helicopter missions, learning landing equipment, rappelling, and navigation in order to wear the distinctive air assault badge.
Special Forces School
Special Forces Soldiers specialize in unconventional warfare and includes the elite team of Rangers, Green Berets, and Night Stalkers.
Ranger School
Rangers are seen as role model Soldiers and experience one of the toughest training experiences in the Army to become experts in leading high-pressure combat missions.
Common Questions about Leadership Training
What skills can I learn from leadership training?
The skills you’ll learn during leadership training depend on your rank and the course you take, but every course will strengthen your ability to communicate, coordinate logistics, and manage teams.
How will leadership courses help my career?
Leadership training is one of the best ways to get promoted as an enlisted Soldier. Beyond moving up in rank, you’ll strengthen the leadership skills you were born with and learn strategies that will help you succeed in your day-to-day missions and even future careers.
Why does the Army value leadership?
In the Army, leadership can make the difference between mission success and failure. The ability to communicate, organize and motivate peers, and think strategically can make a huge difference during stressful moments. The Army believes that by helping every Soldier reach their full potential, the result is a stronger team.
Don’t worry, there’s no obligation if you reach out.
Thanks for reaching out,
Questions you may have right now
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our ROTC recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- What will you ask me?
Our conversation will likely begin with some basic qualifying questions, like your age and education level. From there, the conversation will be about getting to know you and your goals for the future. Expect us to ask about your interests and skills so we can suggest Army jobs that might interest you.
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How can the Army help me pay for college?
Do I have to go to Basic Training?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How can the Army help me pay for college?
What is the time commitment for part-time service?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Can the Army help me pay for medical school?
Do I have to go to Basic Training?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
How do I apply for ROTC scholarships?
How do I join ROTC at the college I want to attend?
- Will I be expected to join if I talk to someone?
No. Our goal is to answer your questions and help you decide if the Army is a good option for you. We understand you may not be ready to join yet, or that we may not be the right fit, and that's fine. There's no obligation for talking to us.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore more topics that may interest you
Thanks for reaching out,
Questions you may have right now
- Who will reach out to me?
One of our recruiters will either call or email you to set up time to talk.
- What will you ask me?
Our conversation will likely begin with some basic qualifying questions, like your age and education level. From there, the conversation will be about getting to know you and your goals for the future. Expect us to ask about your interests and skills so we can suggest Army jobs that might interest you.
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Do I qualify to join the Army?
Can I join as an Officer?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Do I qualify to join the Army?
Can I join as an Officer?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
What type of health care jobs are available in the Army?
Can the Army help me pay for medical school?
- How can I prepare for the conversation?
-
While we'll ask you questions, this is your opportunity to ask some of your own. Here are a couple to get you started:
Can I join ROTC at my age
Can I join as an Officer?
- Will I be expected to join if I talk to someone?
No. Our goal is to answer your questions and help you decide if the Army is a good option for you. We understand you may not be ready to join yet, or that we may not be the right fit, and that's fine. There's no obligation for talking to us.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore more topics that may interest you
Thanks for reaching out, .
We admire you for considering such a big career decision at your age. Unfortunately, we're unable to directly reach out to you until you are at least sixteen years old and a junior in high school. However, the following ROTC info is something that may interest you now.
Questions you may have right now
- How old do I have to be to serve in the Army full-time?
To become an enlisted Soldier, you must be 17 years old. To become an Army Officer, you must be at least 18 years old and have a college degree obtained either through ROTC, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, or from another college or university program. Learn more about Army Eligibility Requirements and how to receive Officer training while in college.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you
- How do I apply for ROTC Scholarships?
Army ROTC has several scholarships available for college-bound high school students. Review your options at ROTC Scholarships, or immediately apply by creating an account at my.goarmy.com to get started.
- How old do I have to be to serve in the Army part-time?
To become an enlisted Soldier, you must be 17 years old. To become an Army Officer, you must be at least 18 years old and have a college degree obtained either through ROTC, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, or from another college or university program. Learn more about Army Eligibility Requirements and how to receive Officer training while in college.
- What are the ways to serve part-time?
You can serve part-time as a Soldier in the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard. By serving part-time, you are able to continue your college education or work a civilian job, while earning an extra paycheck and maintaining many of the benefits of military service.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you.
- How do I become a health care provider in the Army?
You can serve part-time or full-time as you train in our health care program. Upon graduation of the program, you will enter the Army health care team as a Commissioned Officer.
- What types of medical careers are available in the Army?
There are numerous health care careers available through the Army Medical Education Deparment (AMEDD), including physicians, dentists, nurses, veterinarians, and many more. View your career options.
- How can the Army help me pay for college?
There are a variety of options available to help you pursue education with flexibility, such as ROTC programs, the GI Bill, and other programs that help pay for college tuition, trade school, technical school, or trainings. View all of the Education Benefits available to you.
- What are the benefits of joining ROTC?
ROTC makes it possible to achieve your ambitions. Become a leader and serve your country in one of the nation's top leadership training programs. You can do this while maintaining your college curriculum and earning up to 100% tuition coverage. Upon graduation, you're guaranteed a career as an Army Officer.
- How do I prepare to join ROTC?
When you're at least 16 years old and at least a high school junior, you can reach out to us, or even talk to your high school counselor. Together, we'll talk options and decide if ROTC is the right path for you.
- Will I become an Officer if I complete ROTC?
Yes. After graduation, you are commissioned as a highly respected second lieutenant in the Army, entrusted with leading other Soldiers.