Understanding Commissions from Service Academies

Can someone explain how commissioning works if you graduate from a service academy? What does it actually mean to receive a military commission upon graduation?

Sure, happy to help clarify! When you graduate from a service academy, you are commissioned as an officer in the respective branch of military service associated with that academy. This means that you are formally recognized as a member of the armed forces with a particular rank and specific duties.

Let's take West Point (United States Military Academy) as an example. A graduate from West Point is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. This is the first rank of commissioned officer, and it comes with leadership responsibilities, typically commanding a platoon.

To be "commissioned" means you've been given a charge or duty by a higher authority. In this case, you're given the duty of leadership within the military by the President of the United States, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Upon commissioning, graduates of service academies typically have a commitment of several years of active duty service (usually 5, but this may vary depending on the specific terms of your appointment). After this active duty service, there may be several years of obligation in the reserves as well. Again, this will depend on the specific terms agreed upon.

The bottom line is that a commission from a service academy is both a privilege and a duty - it's an accomplishment signifying your preparedness to lead, and it comes with responsibilities that can include everything from managing personnel to making decisions that have significant consequences for your unit and potentially larger strategic goals. It's a serious undertaking that sets the stage for a career in the military leadership.