Petersons - Master the Officer Candidate Tests

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Previous editions 1990, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005

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ISBN-13: 978-0-7689-3678-0

Much of the information and statistics in the chapter on women in the military were taken, with permission, from Women in the Military: Where They Stand (2005), provided by the Womens Research & Education Institute.

Taking any of the officer candidate tests involves serious preparation. Test taking shares some aspects with other endeavors, such as competing in athletics. It requires discipline and practice to succeed.

These are skills that can be improved through coaching, but, ultimately, improvement also requires practice. This book gives you both.

• Part I provides essential information on career opportunities in the military. Potential occupations, officer rank structure, pay and benefits, and general commissioning requirements are covered in detail. Youll also learn about opportunities for women in the military, including information about pay equity, being a single parent in the military, and job restrictions for servicewomen.
• Part II contains information about branch-specific commissioning requirements, including a chapter on each branch of the armed services. Each chapter details the history of the respective officer candidate or officer training school, what to expect there, career fields available, and requirements and qualifications for admittance.
• Parts IIIV contain information about the structure and content of the officer candidate tests. Tips and strategies for preparing for test day are listed, along with the basic info about each test. There are also sections about every question type you are likely to encounter and plenty of examples and sample test items.
• Part VI consists of nine practice tests, with detailed answer explanations for each question. The answer explanations are invaluable for helping you learn from your mistakes.
• Part VII contains three officer candidate tests, with detailed answer explanations for each question. These tests are similar in format and structure to the actual officer candidate tests; however, they are not meant to be comprehensive. These tests are a useful approximation of essential sections from actual exams.

Petersons Master the Officer Candidate Tests 8th Edition was designed to be as user friendly as it is complete. To this end, it includes a couple features to make your preparation more efficient.

Overview

Each chapter begins with a bulleted overview listing the topics covered in the chapter. This will allow you to quickly target the areas in which you are most interested.

Summing It Up

Most of the chapters end with a point-by-point summary that reviews the most important items. The summaries offer a convenient way to review key points.

Youve made the decision to apply to become an officer. Petersons Master the OfficerCandidate Tests will help prepare you for the steps youll need to take to achieve your goalfrom scoring high on the exam to being admitted to the Officer Candidate School or Officer Training School of your choice. Good luck!

If you are reading this book you have decided to or at least are considering applying for a commission as an officer in the U.S. military. This book will help you prepare for the officer candidate test that will be used to determine, in part, your eligibility for a commissioning program. In addition to being a study guide, Petersons Master the Officer Candidate Tests provides helpful information on choosing the best commissioning path for you.

As a commissioned officer you will join the ranks of thousands who have come before you and will become part of the rich history and heritage of the U.S. military.

Serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. military has its benefits. Among these benefits are:

• Competitive pay
• $400,000 life insurance at a very low cost (as well as life insurance for family)
• 30 vacation days each year
• Retirement after twenty years
• Educational benefits for advanced degrees
• Thrift Savings Plan (for additional retirement funds)
• Responsibility and leadership positions at an early age
• Tax-free shopping at base stores and commissary

As with most occupations, there are also some negative aspects and, as you can probably imagine, serving in the military has its share of disadvantages, including:

• Working hours that may not always be constant
• Working in hazardous conditions (and locations)
• Family separations due to assignments and/or deployments
• Family moves
• Job locations that may not be desirable to you

Military officers work in many different types of occupations that fall into nine broad categories: