How Do You Become A Volunteer Military Officer?
The U.S. Military is a volunteer military. That doesn’t mean that members of the military are volunteering their time without pay — it simply means that they’re serving of their own accord and not because they were forced to do so by law. As a result of the volunteer military, the United States relies heavily on recruitment to supply its ranks. They offer competitive pay and a number of benefits to those who are willing to make the commitment, both of which are multiplied if members decide they want to become an officer. To do this in the U.S. Army, you must complete one of four programs. You can attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, become a member of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (also known as Army ROTC), attend Officer Candidate School or become an officer through direct appointment [source: