A direct commission officer (DCO) is a United States uniformed officer who has received an appointed commission without the typical prerequisites for achieving a commission, such as attending a four-year service academy, a four-year or two-year college ROTC program, or one of the officer candidate school or officer training school programs, the latter OCS/OTS programs typically slightly over three months in length.
Civilians who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations, supporting troops, health and scientific study may receive a direct commission upon entering service. These officers usually occupy leadership positions in the following areas: law, science, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nurse corps, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain corps, oceanography, merchant marine affairs, and others.
The U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard have more extensive active and reserve component DCO programs than the other three U.S. armed services.
The U.S. Marine Corps does not offer a DCO program presently; Navy officers provide medical and chaplain services, and chief warrant officers (CWO) and limited duty officers (LDO) serve as occupational field experts.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps exclusively use a DCO program to commission their officers.
Depending on his or her specialization and duty status, a DCO attends either Officer Indoctrination School (OIS), Officer Development School (ODS), Direct Commission Course (DCC), or Direct Commission Officer School (DCO School), which vary from two weeks in duration for certain reserve DCOs to five weeks in duration for active-duty DCOs.
The Direct Commissioning Program (DCP) of the United States Army is a program that allows individuals with specialized skills and education to join the Army as officers without having to go through the traditional Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs.
The DCP is open to individuals with specialized skills and education in fields such as medicine, law, ministry, engineering, and cyber operations. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and have completed the appropriate education and training for their chosen career field.
The DCP application process involves submitting an application package that includes a resume, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other required documents. Applicants will also undergo a security clearance and background check. Once accepted, they will attend a five-week Direct Commission Officer Basic Course (DCOBC) and then report to their assigned unit.
The DCOBC is a course designed to provide newly commissioned officers with the basic skills and knowledge necessary to perform their duties as an Army officer. The course covers topics such as military leadership, customs and courtesies, military law, and Army values.
As an officer in the U.S. Army, DCP participants receive a competitive salary and benefits package, including healthcare, retirement benefits, and educational opportunities. They also have the opportunity to serve their country and make a difference in their communities.
The United States Coast Guard uses the DCO program to bring specialized skills and backgrounds into the Coast Guard commissioned officer corps. The DCO course is conducted by the Officer Candidate School, located at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Depending on program and background, the course is three, four, or five weeks long.
There are seven Direct Commission Officer programs:
Some DCO programs may not have openings each year. While DCOs are expected to fill specific specialty areas, they are not specifically precluded from crossing into other operational or support billets in follow-on assignments.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Direct Commissioning Program allows university-educated professionals, between ages 19 to 45 (or older, in some cases), the opportunity to be appointed as an officer in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. All candidates must complete a two-week Officer Basic Course (OBC) before entering active duty.[2] Most PHSCC DCOs hold advanced degrees (DDSs, DMDs, MSs, MDs, DOs, PharmDs and Ph.Ds.) and significant civilian work experience, and the minimum in many programs is a master's degree from a duly accredited program. One of the fields requiring only a baccalaureate degree is engineering. The Direct Commissioning Program serves the expanded needs of the PHS in certain officer skill areas listed below:
The NOAA Corps Direct Commissioning Program allows university-educated professionals, between ages 19 to 35 (or older, in some cases), the opportunity to be appointed as an officer in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. All must complete a 19-week basic officer training class (BOTC),[3] at the United States Coast Guard Officer Candidate School at the United States Coast Guard Academy before entering active duty. Many NOAA Corps DCOs hold advanced degrees (MS, MAs and Ph.Ds.) and significant civilian work experience, though the minimum requirement is a baccalaureate degree. The Direct Commissioning Program serves the expanded needs of the NOAA Corps in certain officer skill areas listed below: