Where advice do you have on the process of doing a branch transfer to 17A in the Reserve?

2022-10-21T17:08:04-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Have any of you branch transferred to the 17A (Cyber Operations Officer) in the Army Reserve? I'm a 13A transferring from the IRR to the Reserve into a branch immaterial company XO position. I am currently working on a M.S. in Cybersecurity with completion estimated to be May 2024. I understand that it's a very competitive branch with less than 200 officers in the Reserve component. Has anyone gone through the process and can steer me in the right direction? Thanks!

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 21 at 2022 6:57 PM

2022-10-21T18:57:13-04:00

1LT Private RallyPoint Member, it's been about six years for me, but I was working closely with the reserve component as the program was being stood up and it was a "whole of Soldier" look to see if you were a good fit. Looking at the latest MILPER* message on the branch transfer, it seems like it still is.

Suggest you read over MILPER 22-226 to see the current requirements, what type of background they are looking for, and the application procedures.

Happy to answer any questions you still have.
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* MILPER 22-226: FY23 Cyber Branch Transfer Eligibility for USAR and ARNG officers
https://www.hrc.army.mil/milper/22-226

HRC Homepage

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2022 7:10 PM

2022-10-21T19:10:56-04:00

I apologize for typo.... What advice...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2022 8:50 AM

2022-10-26T08:50:04-04:00

I completed the branch transfer process back in 2019. It was relatively painful, taking a total of three packets average 50-78 pages EACH. Expect to apply for acceptance as a Cyber Officer first (17X), at which point if they determine you have sufficient enough qualifications (certifications, education, experience, etc) then they will grant you the MOS PENDING completion of additional schooling (there is almost always additional schooling, rarely does anyone just get 17A immediately). Once you go to the schools requested (be it Cyber Operations Officer Course, or Cyber Captains Career Course), then you can submit the packet to officially branch transfer and boom, mission complete.

Alternatively, if you feel that you meet the requirements anyway, you can submit an equivalency packet to the schoolhouse and present your case to them that you don't need to take an 8-week course in Windows Administration because you work in the Active Directory Department at Microsoft or something. The schoolhouse will either give you full or partial or no equivalency and you will be expected to complete what remains. Generally speaking we've seen the schoolhouse grant equivalency for SOME portions of Cyber Operations Officer Course, but rarely for Cyber Common Technical Core (CCTC), so I'd expect to go to that.

This is all to say that between compiling and submitting packets, waiting for the results of those packets, scheduling schools, and waiting for DA selection as a cyber officer you are prrrrobably looking at 1-2 years before the process is fully complete if you stay on top of it. Is it worth the headache and annoyance dealing with the process? Oh 100% absolutely. It's an awesome career field in the Army and the tangential benefits to your private sector career cannot be understated. Strongly encourage you to pursue it.

Take all of the above with some grain of salt as I'm a National Guardsman so the process may be a smidge different, but when it comes to dealing with the schoolhouse, probably not. Good time to jump in too, Compo 3 cyber is growing strong in the next few years. Best of luck!