What is the minimum age requirement for applicants to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS)?

The minimum age requirement to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) is 19. This requirement is in place to ensure that candidates have a certain level of maturity and life experience, which are important for the responsibilities they will assume as officers. Being at least 19 also often corresponds with the educational prerequisites that candidates are expected to have, such as completing a certain level of college or military training, which typically becomes feasible by that age. Additionally, this age requirement helps align the candidate's readiness for leadership roles within the military framework. Candidates younger than this would generally lack the necessary maturity and experience to effectively manage the challenges faced in officer training and subsequent military leadership positions.