Does being a finance Branch officer really limit how much you'll get promoted?

SPC (Join to see) Promotions are based on manner of performance, but mostly on slots available. Finance is a very small branch, so the slots are limited. But, so too are the officers in the branch. When you compete for promotion, you are essentially competing for authorize spaces that need to filled in that branch. Just do your best, and good things happen.

Depends on what you want to be promoted to. You know it's a small branch. Here's a hint. Great college degree and subsequent graduate degree, getting a CPA ticket, achieving national society status, high end auditing credentials, and the list goes on. That is pedigree stuff that if you have it and the competition doesn't, then you have the leg up. Now if it all pancakes in the end, you can walk into a GS-13 career ladder to GS-15 with a number of federal agencies. However, you have to be prepared to move around. Great bean counters that have a clue about reality and can tie dollars to mission correctly are rare. If you're one, you'll be in demand.

Of course infantry but non combat arms I would say ordnance