OCS

Officer Candidate School (OCS) offers enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn an officer's commission (at the rank of second lieutenant) in the U.S. Army. During any extended conflict the need for trained officers increases, and OCS provides for enlisted personnel to be trained in the necessary tactics and leadership skills required for them to take on the responsibilities of an officer.

In World War II OCS training ran approximately 12 to 17 weeks, although there were unsuccessful attempts to increase this to a full siz months. Most OCS officers would not become fully-versed in their duties until they arrived at their unit and received valuable on-the-job training.

The Army's Officer Candidate School began in July of 1941 at Fort Benning, Georgia and continued until November 1, 1947. OCS was reopened on February 18, 1951 for the Korean War and has remained in operation in various forms to the present day.

Notes

According to Private Reiben, Captain Miller "didn't go to school. They assembled him at OCS out of spare body parts and dead G.I.s"