ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Direct commissioning was once reserved only for staff judge advocates, chaplains and medical personnel, but emerging technologies and global politics have changed the defense landscape. Now, more than ever, having access to cutting edge talent and private sector skills is a necessity for the Air Force Reserve to remain lethal and transform for the future.
In Fall 2023, direct-line officer commissions opened for the first time to 10 career fields allowing enlisted members and civilians with the right qualifying degrees and desired experience to join the officer ranks of the Air Force Reserve.
In June 2024, the Force Modernization community commissioned its first non-prior service candidate. Elliot Ji, a Ph.D. candidate studying international politics in the Department of Politics at Princeton University, commissioned as an acquisition manager but will initially serve as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee for the newly formed IR Strategy Office Reserve China Global Strategy Bullpen under the direction of the IR Strategy Office.
We sat down with 1st Lt. Ji to talk about his background, goals and advice to others seeking a direct commission.
Q. Tell us about your background.
A. I attended Emory University in Atlanta on a full-ride scholarship and completed a year of Ph.D.-level courses along with my B.A. in political science before my 21st birthday in 2019. I began studying for my Ph.D. in politics at Princeton University in 2020. My research expertise includes China’s military technological innovation, defense industrial base, foreign policy and authoritarian politics. I am a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and read both modern and classical Chinese in traditional and simplified characters at the native level.
Q. What made you interested in military service?
A. Joining the U.S. Armed Forces is a very American thing to do for a first-generation immigrant, and I knew that my native Chinese language skills and Princeton-trained analytical skills could help the Air Force and the country with the China challenge. I was actively searching for commissioning opportunities.
Q. What influenced your decision to join the Air Force Reserve?
A. I met Maj. Oriana Mastro at a wargame where we played Red Teams(China) for the game. She is a graduate of the Ph.D. program I’m currently attending at Princeton and an illustrious political scientist at Stanford University. I knew that Maj. Mastro joined the Air Force Reserve while a graduate student at Princeton, so I asked her if I could do the same thing she did.
Q. How did you find out about the ISO Reserve China Global Strategy Bullpen?
A. Maj. Mastro graciously sent my resume up the echelon and connected me with the leaders in the IR Strategy Office. They helped me secure a billet for commission, and then after Officer Training School, will pull me into the bullpen. I am forever grateful for their indispensable support and their faith in my skills and abilities.
Q. What was the direct commissioning process like?
A. My path to commissioning began in the summer of 2022 before the approval of the direct commissioning program. Initially, I was preparing for the traditional OTS commissioning route. I took my Air Force Officer Qualifying Test in September 2022 and went through Military Entrance Processing Station in October. In July 2023, I was selected for a 63A acquisition manager billet, which qualified me for the direct commissioning program that became available in the fall of 2023.
Q. You were able to get your commission as a first lieutenant. How did that happen?
A. I went through the constructive service credit calculation in December 2023. Based on my advanced academic degrees, I was awarded three years of service credit. I was scrolled at the rank of first lieutenant and took the oath of office in June 2024 as an officer of the Air Force Reserve.
Q. What would you tell other professionals about the direct commission opportunity?
A. I would say three things: be proactive but patient with the process, learn as much as you can about the Air Force while in the process and stay physically fit. I was lucky to be the first officer commissioned in Force Modernization through this direct commission opportunity because I completed many steps in the process beforehand, but I also made sure that I completed all the required forms promptly and communicated clearly and timely with my recruiter.
Q. Where do you see your future in the Air Force Reserve?
A. My goal for my AFR career is to become a leader who can advise the Air Force leadership on understanding China’s political and military strategies and innovating the Air Force to address the challenges and competition posed by the People’s Republic of China. I see myself serving in China-focused billets after being fully qualified in my core AFSC and potentially exploring opportunities in the intelligence and foreign area officer career fields. Since my motivation to join the Air Force Reserve stems from my commitment to national service and faith in making a difference with my unique skills, I intend to serve in the AFR for as long as they need me.
For more information about the Air Force Reserve Direct Commission Program, talk to a Force Support Squadron Career Development Section or an Air Force Reserve Recruiter. More information can also be found by reviewing the Air Force Reserve Direct Commission Guide posted on the IR Strategy Office’s website https://www.afrc.af.mil/ir-strategy-office/.
(Mann is an IMA assigned to the Air Combat Command Public Affairs Office.)