"Applying" to multiple branchs for OTS

[justben]

I was curious if anyone has any experience or knows about regulations regarding "applying" to multiple branches for Officer's service at the same time. From my understanding every branch has some hoops (relatively the same hoops) for you go through before you "technically" have committed to joining that branch of the military. So, I was wondering if it's possible to do this with multiple branches at the same time, whats the general point of view on doing it, particularly when you tell your recruiters about it, and are there any special considerations for it, like not necessarily taking a separate OQT for every branch?

P.S. For those who will obviously be curious as to why I'm asking such questions, it's really pretty simple. I like to be very thorough in making a choice of this magnitude, and the more concrete information I can get on exactly what career fields will be available to me in each branch, the better.

[ringjamesa]

First off, I don't know of any branch that lets people apply for OTS. You can apply to become an officer and then if you are accepted, you are sent to OTS but apply for OTS....good luck with that one. You don't hear of people applying for Basic Training do you? I have never seen someone come in and say they want to apply for Basic Training but don't want to join the miilitary.
With that said, you real question is can you apply to be an officer in more than one branch at one time. The simple answer is no. But, it is more complicated than that. Every branch has a different Commissioning exam. You could probably take all of those but I wouldn't advise it. At least for the AFOQT, you only get 2 shots lifetime so if you screw up and study for the wrong one.... That is about as far as you can go without deciding. After that, you start costing money. The next step is to go to MEPS and get you physically qualified. Once that happens, you are coded as applying for that branch. Also, one of the forms you fill out asks if you have ever applied to be an officer in any other branch. If you answer yes, you must explain why and what happened.
As for your reasoning, you should do your research BEFORE you start your application...

[justben]

You'll notice that I put applying in quotation marks, that was to delineate that it wasn't an exact choice of wording, but an attempt to explain the general idea. It's not a question of wanting to join the military or not, but what branch.

From the rest of your answer and explanation it sounds like it would be possible to take OQTs for multiple branches, it would just be a massive study headache. I figured this was about as far as you could go without committing, but it's precisely the step (hoop) I was thinking about getting out of the way for multiple branches. Because with every branch you can do all the research you want, but you can't really tell exactly what's going to be available as a career field until you take the test and get an idea of where your score places you for chances to be getting your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice.

As for commentary on reasoning...Yes, because I'm bothering to post on these forums, but not bothering to research each branch :rolleyes:...Disagree with the methods I'm considering if you like, but you can't blame a guy for trying to squeeze out every drop of information before committing to a particular branch.

Thank you for your reply.

[ringjamesa]

You'll notice that I put applying in quotation marks, that was to delineate that it wasn't an exact choice of wording, but an attempt to explain the general idea. It's not a question of wanting to join the military or not, but what branch.

From the rest of your answer and explanation it sounds like it would be possible to take OQTs for multiple branches, it would just be a massive study headache. I figured this was about as far as you could go without committing, but it's precisely the step (hoop) I was thinking about getting out of the way for multiple branches. Because with every branch you can do all the research you want, but you can't really tell exactly what's going to be available as a career field until you take the test and get an idea of where your score places you for chances to be getting your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice.

As for commentary on reasoning...Yes, because I'm bothering to post on these forums, but not bothering to research each branch :rolleyes:...Disagree with the methods I'm considering if you like, but you can't blame a guy for trying to squeeze out every drop of information before committing to a particular branch.

Thank you for your reply.

Not a problem. My point is you can get all the information prior to testing. I don't know what information you can't get prior to testing except knowing if you passed the test to get into that particular branch. If that is what you are concerned about, my reccomendation would be to pick your top choice, study for that test and if you passed go for it. IMHO that would make more sense than trying to test for all of them just to see which one sticks....up to you but...yeah it will make your brain hurt.

:eek:

[justben]

The only particular information was just how well I did on the entry test, like you said, and therefore how that could effect my field/career placement. However, upon further review it looks like while a recruiter can assure me that X results on the test will get me 1, 2, 3, and on down of my field selections, I really won't find that out until somewhere after basic training and mid-way through the OTS, OCS, etc...of that branch. Given that, your advice is, as you thought it was, spot on and best to seek out what branch might have a current need for the field you're seeking and focus on that one with everything you've got. I think I'll be going Army given the overall personnel need.

[ringjamesa]

The only particular information was just how well I did on the entry test, like you said, and therefore how that could effect my field/career placement. However, upon further review it looks like while a recruiter can assure me that X results on the test will get me 1, 2, 3, and on down of my field selections, I really won't find that out until somewhere after basic training and mid-way through the OTS, OCS, etc...of that branch. Given that, your advice is, as you thought it was, spot on and best to seek out what branch might have a current need for the field you're seeking and focus on that one with everything you've got. I think I'll be going Army given the overall personnel need.

I can tell you that statement right there is 100% false. After you test, they still don't know if you are even eligible. The physical also plays a role in determining if you are even eligible to get in. With that said, for the AF anyway, all the test will tell you is if you are eligible for one of three things;
to be a pilot
to be a navigator
to be one of the other 30 odd non degree specific jobs..

That's it. It isn't like on the Enlisted side where you need specific scores for specific jobs.