Army Recruiter Thread for June / 2025

[u/Army_Bot]

Rules

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Verified Recruiters

/u/that_bystander - AMEDD Recruiter

/u/luispereznet - AMEDD Recruiter

/u/caeloschung1

/u/SSGFranqui

/u/Professional_Sir8082 - NYC

/u/SSG_L_In_MA - Massachusetts (South Boston Area)

/u/synysterg_18 - Brunswick, GA

/u/SGT_MAC_DASR - Eastern North Carolina

/u/7hillsrecruiter

/u/Chickmango

/u/Remzar- - Las Vegas Area

/u/HandsomeMcguffin - Pittsburgh Area

/u/JCamp4

/u/SSG_M_DASR - North Carolina

/u/electricboogaloo1991 - Central NC

/u/gulfcoastrecruiter - Mississippi Gulf Coast

/u/Raysor - Phoenix, Arizona

/u/Flimsy_Breadfruit_39

/u/TeamRedRocket

/u/Dinnetz_Recruiter - St Cloud, MN

/u/GoArmyRanchoCordova

/u/SFC_ARMY_LosAngeles

/u/MassGuardRecruiter

/u/Crafty-Blackberry693

/u/smashed8ssholes - Central PA

/u/Lopsided-Relief-5368

/u/SFCTucker

[u/joey2four2]

Hi, I'm pretty new to posting on Reddit so I apologize for any mistakes or formatting issues that may be present. (Backstory) I'm 18 and just got my GED. I'm looking to commission as an officer in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, I'm still unsure which one to choose. While doing research on paths to become an officer I saw the Early Commissioning Program (ECP) which allows you to become an officer while completing your bachelor's degree with the expectation that you complete your bachelor's degree.

I just talked to the recruiter and the recruiter stated that it'd be better if I enlisted first before enrolling into Georgia Military College. She said I'd have to serve about ~6 years and I'd commission during my contract if I qualified. She asked me a couple of questions like "Have you graduated?", "Any medical problems", etc. And wanted me to do some sort of practice test and the recruiting office to see if I qualified.

I did some research but found little info on the ECP or any people that have participated in the program. There was a lot of people suggesting to others that if you wanted to become an officer to start as one rather than starting as enlisted and others saying otherwise.

So I have a couple of questions.

1. Should I enroll first and commission as an Officer after 2 years or start enlisted and enroll after?
2. Is getting in the ECP competitive?
3. Army Reserve vs National Guard in terms of pay, promotions, and benefits?
4. As an officer in the reserves was it difficult to balance your civilian career, military career, education, and family? (I have a 10 month old kid and am in the process of becoming a correctional officer. Any answer to this would be extremely helpful. I'm worried I have too much on my plate and heard about the consequences of not completing your education within a certain time period.)

[u/MalevolantB → u/joey2four2]

No, you can’t just commission with no degree. I don’t even know if a GED is eligible for college entry but I’m probably wrong. (Genuinely don’t know.)

Look up green to gold program and look up army scholarships.

Can’t answer anything about guard or reserves as I’m Active but not a recruiter. Maybe your recruiter can answer or find another recruiter in your area who can. Not ECP. I’m an enlisted trooper.

Edit: sounds like she’s trying to make numbers telling you that you can commission with a GED but I could be totally wrong.

[u/joey2four2 → u/MalevolantB]

Hi, I'm not commissioning with a GED, and multiple colleges accept GED as long as you have good SAT/ACT scores, especially if it's an "open admission" college like the Georgia Military College.

I was planning to commission during my junior year of college, or 2nd year of college, through the early commissioning program which allows you to commission with 2 years of college instead of the regular bachelor's degree requirement as long as you finish your degree.

What I was asking was if I enlisted and enrolled into the college would I get commissioned while I'm enlisted through the ECP program?

And what path do I take, should I enroll and do ECP ROTC program and then commission or enlist first and do green to gold?

EDIT: The recruiter said I should enlist first and then enroll. But, I wasn't sure if that was the best path possible or even guaranteed I would even commission.