Any WWII history buffs here? Can someone tell what was involved in applying to OCS during that time?

[bucolic_frolic]

OCS is Officer Candidate School in the joint US Army/Air Force of the period. I have a reference that my ancestor applied twice, and was interviewed the second time, but was rejected both times. I'm wondering what the process was (there are no records, they were destroyed in the warehouse fire in the early 70s), and particularly what the interview may have been about - what questions might have been asked, if there was a standard screening, how long it would have lasted, if testing were involved, if they needed an invite to apply in the first place. This is kinda deep in the weeds, but surely someone knows a little about the process. Thanks.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. This is totally anecdotal.

My father was asked to apply, based on an IQ test the Army gave him. He said no, though made it to NCO -- staff sergeant.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Similar here

The only paper I have is his discharge papers. I don't know if it was staff sergeant ... papers say sergeant, he worked as a radio operator and mostly radio mechanic, then a few months in guard patrol. Apparently quite proficient in testing and installing radios, then never used the skills again.

On intake he had to pay for his own eyeglasses ... around $3. A lot of money at the time. Discharge he was given bus fare and like $10 or $15. And the pay was minimal ... I think he saved about $5-7 a month.

[Aristus]

2. I do know that application wasn't always a one-way street.

In addition to applying, a prospective candidate could be selected by OCS instructors and other personnel who had been told to keep a look-out for enlistees who showed intelligence, initiative, and leadership ability. They would be tested and evaluated, and then offered a slot in an OCS class. This is how a large number of enlisted soldiers obtained a commission without having had a college degree.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. College degrees being rarer at that time

The question is about my dad, he got to where he was in the US Army by virtue of previous employment reading technical manufacturing specs and one year of college pre-Army. Then they taught him Morse for a year, and he installed electrical equipment.
Thanks for the info. I've always wondered.

[Backseat Driver]

5. My dad was employed by THE

local phone company pre-war and after high school. The anecdote was that he was asked to attend training at Yale in his home state that he had left in 1933, reuniting the whole family in NE Ohio. He took Signal Corp training at Yale and was then drafted into the service at some point and sent by troop ship to the Pacific theater, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea to install and guard communication lines in support of troops. Didn't ever talk much about his time in the Army. Never heard that he was ever offered or requested OCS training nor did he ever make use of the GI Bill for college after the war. He returned to his employer, got married, had kids, and worked there his whole career in Central Office Repair and, eventually, a long-distance analyst until his retirement.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. You mention he didn't ever say much about it

Same here. I've begun to wonder if they were sworn to secrecy? Sort of same duties, in communications. I have a few letters he wrote home during code training, yeah that's all that was mentioned. It was cold and they trained 12 hours a day.

[appalachiablue]

7. I don't know much about the process except mom

said dad was in OCS. He had been in college a few years & before that graduated from KMI, KY Military Institute HS.

He went through OCS and was in the Army AAA AW, Anti Aircraft Artillery, Automatic weapons with training at Fort Davis near Wilmington, NC and Fort Bliss, Texas.

2nd Lieutenant, shipped from NY to So. England, Dec. 1944, in combat in the Rhineland Campaign with the US 7th Army. Crossed the Rhine at Worms, Germany, then went on to Munich and was at the Liberation of Dachau. He stayed on with the Army of Occupation in Germany into 1946.

Dad was awarded the Bronze star for action during an attack by 88s when they were crossing a border, near the Rhine I think. He was promoted to 1st Lieut. I wish I'd asked mom more about his service.

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973

[GP6971]

8. As I understood it from my father

the process was one enlisted and went through basic training.
Prior to basic they took a battery of tests depending on their education and technical skills. Depending on the testing scores, they were offered a commission through OCS.