MISSION:

The mission of Officer Candidates School is to educate, train, evaluate, screen, and develop officer candidates through our Indiana Traditional Program and the National Guard Bureau Accelerated Program to ensure they possess the moral, intellectual, & physical qualities for commissioning, & the leadership potential to serve successfully as company grade officers in the Indiana Army National Guard.

Indiana Traditional Officer Candidate School

General Eligibility Requirements

*A minimum of 90 credit hours to meet the admission requirements to enter the OCS Program

*Be less than 42 years old at time of commissioning

*Be able to pass a Chapter II commissioning physical

*Pass an APFT (Must be the standard 3 events, NO ALTERNATE EVENTS)

*Be of good moral character

*Commander's letter of recommendation

For More Detailed Information on the Indiana Traditional Program, Click Here

The Indiana Traditional Program begins with the OCS Preparation Course (Phase 0) conducted by our staff here at Camp Atterbury. The prep course prepares you for the rigors of Phase I. You will be taught Land Navigation, Drill and Ceremony, Troop Leading Procedures, Operations Order Production, and Physical Fitness at the actual location of your Phase I training.


Phase I is conducted in Alabama or Minnesota. Phase I lasts for 2 weeks. The focus is evaluation and screening of potential leadership ability. The Officer Candidate will be stressed both physically and mentally. Expect to receive less than 4 hours of sleep a night. Mistakes are corrected with tough physical exercise with TAC officers inducing further artificial stress through stern verbal corrections. OCS will be evaluated and screened through day and night land navigation tests, a five mile ruck march, and performance in 24 hour Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Leader, First Sergeant, and Company Commander leadership positions. Upon completion of Phase I you will return to Indiana and begin Phase II the following month in August.

Phase II is radically different. Our traditional program focuses on officer candidate mentorship, development, and training. Through the direction and guidance of the 138th Regimental Commander Colonel Lee Baker, and through personal mentorship given by the GS Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Carl Farley, the 138th Regiment Officer Candidate School Staff have transformed our twelve month Indiana Traditional OCS Program.

We place great emphasis on leader development and mentorship, practical training exercises incorporating tactics, techniques and procedures in the current operational environment, and a physical fitness program centered on positive enforcement of muscle endurance and strength. We encourage the interaction between the instructor/TAC and the officer candidate. We reward success and focus to improve upon failures. We value and respect the many diverse backgrounds of our students. This program fosters initiative and rewards creativity. But it is not easy. We will challenge you physically and mentally. We expect officer candidates to live by the highest moral and ethical standards, to act as ladies and gentlemen. This gold bar is earned not given.

Phase III is a return to Alabama for two weeks field leadership evaluation. Officer candidates will be placed in leadership evaluation roles as Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Platoon Leader during field leadership lanes. You will maneuver through the dense Alabama vegetation to your objective carrying 45 pounds of equipment. You can expect to ruck over 5 miles per day in 90+ degree heat. You will be evaluated on your ability to apply the troop leading procedures to accomplish the assigned mission.

Upon completion of Phase III, officer candidates will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Indiana Army National Guard.