How long after you get commissioned as an army officer do you have to go to OBC?

Answer 1

There are two categories of officers who attend the Officer Basic Course (OBC).

Active Duty Officers -- Most of the time an active duty officer attends OBC immediately after commissioning. Generally, OBC attendance is not a problem for active duty officers, because the officer's assignments are managed actively by his or her branch.

Reserve Component (RC) Officers, including National Guard-- Attendance immediately after being commisisoned is the preferred option, and OBC must be completed within two years of commissioning. For National Guard, each state has some latitude for determining time limits for its officers to complete OBC. If there is a question, the National Guard Bureau can evaluate each circumstance to make a determination.

If an officer does not complete OBC, he or she most likely will not be promoted from 2LT to 1LT. If not promoted, he or she may be retained an additional six months beyond the normal promotion eligibility date, but eventually will be discharged or revert to an enlisted rank (most likely E-5) if not promoted.