Quote:LRRP52:
How about finding us a link to a real DoD and Dept of the Army web site that specifies these criteria as a means of selecting Officers?
LR1955
LR1955 - as stated before, currently in the ROTC world...so I think I can answer this, but probably not to anyone’s satisfaction as there are a lot of variables and service specific screenings. As far as what are the criteria as means of selecting officers, each service is slightly different. What they have in common (and there are exceptions to this when you talk LDO programs), is 1) US citizen 2) Min of a BA/BS degree from an accredited university 3) Able to receive/pass background check for a SECRET Clearance, 4) Pass physical requirements for branch of service, and finally 5) Display desire to serve in the US armed forces. Meet the above criteria as well as screening via ROTC, Service Acadamy or OCS - you get your gold bars. It is by no means a perfect system, but we get some pretty awesome young men and women who want to serve.
DOD places numbers caps on each service for accessions each year, and I can tell you based on economy, force reductions, and other crap that I don’t understand, there are more that want in than there are spaces - and more that want to stay in than there is room for.
As far as retention, the standing joke use to be the three 'M's to military success - Marathons, Muscles or Medals. In all seriousness, as far as I can tell, to reach the G.O. levels (and I ain’t even close, so this is purely based on my observations/opinions) it is part luck, part proficiency, and part who you know.
Hope this helps a little.