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Armed Forces Enlistment Policy

B. Commissions

a. Aviation Cadets: Single men, 20 to 26 1/2, with two years of college qualify. Training for 13 months in the Southwest and active duty for three years after.

b. Navigation Cadets: Same as Aviation Cadets in every detail except less stringent physical requirements.

c. Active Duty Commissions: Administrative Officer Candidate School is open to married or single men, 20 to 26 1/2, with two years of college. They may pass an equivalence examination for the 2 years of college. Men from civilian life will be released from the service if they fail to pass the O.C.S. course (but then become draft-eligible in most cases). Men eligible for the draft may qualify for this program. O.C.S. is a six-month program at Lackland, Texas, and those who enlist must agree to remain on active duty for three years after receiving commissions.

d. Reserve Commissions: Open to single or married men, 20 to 26 1/2, who have served (1) in one of the top three enlisted grades; (2) as a warrant officer or Army officer; (3) as an aviation or navigator cadet until eliminated for physical reasons; or (4) as an enlisted man and possess a college degree. Men in categories (1), (2), and (3) must have two years college or be able to pass an equivalence examination.

2. ARMY

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a. Active Duty Commissions: Single or married men, 20 to 27, with or without prior service, may qualify for admission to OCS. They must have high school diplomas or be able to pass an equivalence test. Men from civilian life will be released from service if they fall to pass the OCS course (but then become draft-eligible in most cases). They must have completed both basic training and leadership school, which combined take five and a half months, before entering O.C.S. The course itself takes six months and is held at Fort Riley, Kansas. If asked by the Army, they must agree to serve on active duty after receiving their commissions. At the present time, men receiving commissions are asked to serve for two years on active duty.

b. Reserve Commissions: To quality for a reserve commission a man must either (1) he in one of the top three enlisted grades, (2) take correspondence work as a member of the enlisted reserve, (3) attend O.C.S. and return immediately to civilian life or (4) have served as an enlisted man during the War and possess a college degree.

3. COAST GUARD

a. Active duty commissions: No active duty commissions are available at the present time.

b. Reserve commissions: Open to single or married college graduates, 21 to 30, with Coast Guard experience since December, 1941. Men with two years of college and two years of active duty are also eligible.

4. MARINE CORPS

a. Aviation Cadets: The Marine Corps draws its pilots from the Navy's Aviation Cadet program.

b. Active Duty Commissions: Single or married men, 20 to 25, with a college degree or able to pass an equivalence examination, are eligible to apply. They must have served for at least two months on active duty with the Marine Corps during World War II and agree to serve for 15 to 24 months on active duty after receiving their commissions and then stay in the Reserve for three more years.

c. Reserve Commissions: Open to single or married men, 20 to 26, with education and Marine Corps service as in (b) above. If currently in the Reserve or honorably discharged, they must hold or have held the rank of corporal or higher. Former Army, Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard officers are eligible for reserve commissions.

d. Platoon Leader's Class: This is open to college freshmen and sophomores who are single and will not be over 25 when they graduate from college. They must attend two six-week summer camps at Quantico, Virginia. Veterans may qualify for reserve commissions by attending one six-week summer camp. Men in the platoon leader's class may be drafted any time until the receive their commissions upon graduating from college.

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