Military

Military Options Available

Each branch of the Military has a unique mission, whether on land, at sea, in the air or in space. Check out myfuture.com if you want to familiarize yourself with what makes each branch unique.

Officer Candidate School (OCS) / Officer Training School (OTS)

Each branch maintains its own training and curriculum to become an officer (2026 Data). 

Many programs allow college students to begin their training toward earning a commission during college.

• Army: A 12-week course at Fort Moore, GA. The Army National Guard also offers a 15–18 month "Traditional" weekend program or an 8-week "Accelerated" track.
• Navy: A 13-week program at Naval Station Newport, RI.
• Marine Corps: A 10-week Officer Candidates Course at Quantico, VA. Some college students may attend two 6-week sessions via the Platoon Leaders Class.
• Air Force & Space Force: A 9-week program at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, recently revamped into a competency-based "OTS-Victory" curriculum.
• Coast Guard: A 12 to 17-week program at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. 

Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC)

• ROTC is a college program offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the US to prepare young adults to become officers in the Military.
• The Air Force/Space Force, Army, Navy and Marines all have ROTC programs at various colleges.

Enlisting

• Enlisting into a branch of the Military means that you don’t attend college, but rather join the Military directly.
• The Military offers many educational benefits that service members can take advantage of during or after service.

Military Academy

• Attending one of the nation’s Military academies is an immersive military training program, while also receiving a college degree through the academy.
• Military Academies require a nomination and acceptance into their highly competitive programs. See information below on how to obtain the nominations required.

Military Academy Nomination

The Process
Begin the process by entering your zip code to identify the members of Congress from whom you may request a nomination. This includes your U.S. House of Representatives for the 80138 zip code and the Colorado Senators for Colorado.

Members of Congress may nominate applicants who meet the eligibility requirements established by law. Note when reaching out for a nomination that a congressman does not HAVE to nominate anyone. A candidate may seek a nomination from the following:

• A member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents the congressional district in which the candidate resides
• Both U.S. Senators from his or her state
• The Vice-President of the United States

It is in your best interest to request a nomination from any source for which you are eligible. If you are currently serving in the Military, or are the son or daughter of a career Military member or service-connected disabled veteran you may also seek a “service-connected” slot through your chain of command or directly from the Academy. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) members may also seek nominations through their chain of command.

Service Academy Nomination Process

When will I know if I have been offered an appointment by an Academy?

Academies will begin to notify candidates of their admission status in February. All offers of appointment are generally sent out by May. Several Academies offer rolling appointments, and you may know as early as October or as late as May if you are receiving an appointment.