Why wasn't Forrest Gump an Officer?

In the U.S. military, you can only be an officer if you have a bachelors degree or higher. If I recall correctly, Forrest graduates Alabama State University, then enlists instead of joining as a comissioned officer in the Army. I don't get it.

It's a movie and it's 15 years old. Even more than that in the movie.

I believe only graduates from the military schools (west point, anapolis..) are officers.

In the U.S. military, you can only be an officer if you have a bachelors degree or higher. I

dlm999

All of you are wrong. All you need is a bachelor's degree, and in some instances, less.

They have specific programs that don't go through any military academy to get a commission. OCS and OTS are the main ones. They're not run through any military academy.

All of you are wrong. All you need is a bachelor's degree, and in some instances, less.

They have specific programs that don't go through any military academy to get a commission. OCS and OTS are the main ones. They're not run through any military academy.

airshocker

I guess I wasn't the only one watching this on AMC. :P

Cuz stupid is as stupid duh-uhs...JustPlainLucas

Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun FOREST RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

I guess you did not read my post....GTA_dude

You were wrong as well. You don't need to be in the military for a very long time. In fact, so long as you have a bachelor's degree you could take the officer's qualifying test immediately after you enlist and become operational.

The best officer's come from being prior-enlisted, after all.

If he was, I sure wouldn't want to be in his platoon.

Let me set the record straight here, all you need to be a officer in the US military is a bachelors degree from any accredited university, whether you are accepted to go to OCS or not is up to the officer recruiting command. You dont need to go to an academy, you can go to liberal arts school and get a bachelors in film and be commissioned a lieutenant. In the National Guard I saw a guy who had a bachelors in business management from a state school and he was the CO of the whole unit.

Now there are ways for enlisted men to become officers, but I dont feel like listing all of them, just know it is possible and it happens often.

His legs didn't work too well.

In the U.S. military, you can only be an officer if you have a bachelors degree or higher. If I recall correctly, Forrest graduates Alabama State University, then enlists instead of joining as a comissioned officer in the Army. I don't get it.

dlm999

I doubt he realized he could be an officer. And just because he can doesn't mean he has to.

Cuz stupid is as stupid duh-uhs...JustPlainLucas

Let me set the record straight here, all you need to be a officer in the US military is a bachelors degree from any accredited university, whether you are accepted to go to OCS or not is up to the officer recruiting command. You dont need to go to an academy, you can go to liberal arts school and get a bachelors in film and be commissioned a lieutenant. In the National Guard I saw a guy who had a bachelors in business management from a state school and he was the CO of the whole unit.

Now there are ways for enlisted men to become officers, but I dont feel like listing all of them, just know it is possible and it happens often.

Buyugold

This. I have a Masters in Accounting and I can enter the military at the rank of Captain without ever attending a military college. Attendance at amilitary college or a university ROTC programgives you an officer's commission upon graduation. Others attend OCS and receive their commissions upon completion of OCS.

The people who are saying all you need a Bachelors Degree or higher or correct. That's what my Master Sergeant told me a while back, and he's United States Air Force. Can't disagree with official personnel. And I guess they never told Forrest about how to become an Officer, because they knew he would never find out or, was mentally unfit to handle a platoon or a company all by himself. Or maybe because they just wanted Lieutenant Dan to be the superior officer and not Forrest. I mean would Forrest Gump be such a great character without Lieutenant Dan?

Doesn't his drill sergeant say, "If it weren't such a waste of enlisted men I'd recommend you for officer cadidate school, gump"LastCaveMan

Doesn't his drill sergeant say, "If it weren't such a waste of enlisted men I'd recommend you for officer cadidate school, gump"LastCaveMan

well he was mentally disabled, but there are some stupid people in the military. I know, I was in the Navy for 4 years. 85-90% were dedede's

I believe only graduates from the military schools (west point, anapolis..) are officers.

Ring_of_fire

Sicne no one has repleid to this yet i'll let you know that you can graduate from any accredited 4 year college. You must enlist as an officer where they send you to a special basic training for officers.

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]

I believe only graduates from the military schools (west point, anapolis..) are officers.

bigblunt537

Sicne no one has repleid to this yet i'll let you know that you can graduate from any accredited 4 year college. You must enlist as an officer where they send you to a special basic training for officers.

[QUOTE="bigblunt537"]

[QUOTE="Ring_of_fire"]

I believe only graduates from the military schools (west point, anapolis..) are officers.

LJS9502_basic

Sicne no one has repleid to this yet i'll let you know that you can graduate from any accredited 4 year college. You must enlist as an officer where they send you to a special basic training for officers.

wow you're right. I guess since no one directly quoted him I didn't see the connection. Well i just broke night so please excuse my idiocy lol

[QUOTE="GTA_dude"]I guess you did not read my post....airshocker

You were wrong as well. You don't need to be in the military for a very long time. In fact, so long as you have a bachelor's degree you could take the officer's qualifying test immediately after you enlist and become operational.

The best officer's come from being prior-enlisted, after all.

Not always. Some of those guys think they're hot **** because they were prior-service. Just because you were prior doesn't mean you were squared away then or now, though.

But I agree in that having that prior experience can be invaluable. It's definitely an edge up on those who weren't.

All of you are wrong. All you need is a bachelor's degree, and in some instances, less.

They have specific programs that don't go through any military academy to get a commission. OCS and OTS are the main ones. They're not run through any military academy.

airshocker

This is the only post that is correct OCS OTS and STAY 21. Yes the best officers ae the ones who use to be enlisted they understand the grunt work better then most straight up officers.

Cuz stupid is as stupid duh-uhs...JustPlainLucas

QFT

and I rofl'd. He really was toostupid to lead people into battle

its called fictonweezyfb

Forrest Gump wasn't the brightest character....he probably didn't know he could be an officer.

either way its just a movie

To become a CO (Commissioned Officer) you have to either go to OCS (Officer Candidate School) or participate in a ROTC program at a university. To become a NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) you pretty much just start as an enlisted man then work your way up through the ranks. It doesn't matter if you have a bachelors degree when you enlist in the military. They aren't just going to expect you to be a leader just because you went to school...it takes much more than that.

Let me set the record straight here, all you need to be a officer in the US military is a bachelors degree from any accredited university, whether you are accepted to go to OCS or not is up to the officer recruiting command. You dont need to go to an academy, you can go to liberal arts school and get a bachelors in film and be commissioned a lieutenant. In the National Guard I saw a guy who had a bachelors in business management from a state school and he was the CO of the whole unit.

Now there are ways for enlisted men to become officers, but I dont feel like listing all of them, just know it is possible and it happens often.

Buyugold

You can't just enlist as an officer, you have to either A) Go to OCS/OTS or B) Join the ROTC program at a university that has it while getting a bachelors degree at that university.

Wasn't even a good movie.LJS9502_basic

What was ment to be a simple ask and answer question has turned into two different topics as how to become a comissioned officer and that "Forrest is too stupid to be one."