The ultimate embodiment of Army Strong, Commissioned Officers are the leaders of the Army. They lead Soldiers during every aspect of a mission. Commissioned Officers are also supporters and problem solvers. They make decisions quickly, always focusing on completing the mission successfully and showing respect for their subordinates. Commissioned Officers lead from the front and adjust to environments that are always changing. To be a Commissioned Officer is to be respected as a Soldier, an inspiring leader and a servant of the nation.

In addition to exhibiting self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence, Commissioned Officers are physically fit and can perform under physical and mental pressures. They are judged by their ability to make decisions on their own and bear ultimate moral responsibility for those decisions.

The four ways to become a Commissioned Officer in the world's most powerful Army are explained below.

ROTC gives college students the ability to train to become Army Officers. In ROTC, Cadets take a curriculum of elective leadership and military courses to lead Enlisted Soldiers once they join the Army. There are multiple ways to enroll in ROTC.

Earn college credits and really cash in: Enroll in ROTC and you may have your entire tuition paid.

To enroll in Army ROTC you must be:

• Accepted or enrolled in one of over 700 participating colleges or universities
• A U.S. citizen
• Physically Fit

Officer Candidate School (OCS) is another way you can become an Officer in the Army. After completing Basic Combat Training, you would participate in rigorous training for 14 weeks and then attend the Officer Basic Course.

To attend Officer Candidate School, you must be a U.S. Citizen and a college graduate, at least 19 years old and not have passed your 29th birthday at the time of selection (age waivers may be considered).

West Point is one of the country's top universities. It is a competitive environment that produces some of the nation's best leaders. Many graduates of West Point become leaders in the military, in government and in the civilian world.

If you're up for the challenge, listed below are some of the basic general and academic requirements for West Point. An applicant must be:

• At least 17 years old and not have reached your 23rd birthday as of July 1 of year admitted
• A U.S. citizen
• Single, not married
• Not pregnant or with any legal obligation to support a child or children
• Congressionally nominated or have a service-connected nomination
• A recipient of strong scores on either college entrance exam'ACT or SAT
• Have an above-average high school or college academic record

Each professional branch of the Army'Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, the Army Chaplain Corps and the Army Medical Corps'has its own officer training program that allows civilian degreed professionals to apply to receive a direct commission in their career field. Training time for direct commission officers varies depending on the career field and generally includes courses in military history, Army leadership and career-specific courses designed to adapt civilian skills to Army practices.