I think you've heard this from me and our recruiter, but it also freezes your age. I'm getting close to aging out (I'm 37) for the enlisted side. I want to serve one way or the other, enlisted or officer. If I keep throwing myself at the DCO program, I run the high risk of not getting in as an officer, becoming too old to enlist, and ultimately unable to serve at all. Whereas if I enlist I'm in, and can apply for the officer programs even after I exceed the NPS age limit.