How competitive is the ACE and do you need an engineering degree to even consider it?

Cadet PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 13:21:31 -0400

I am currently a 4yr Minuteman and have already contracted. As such, I am only able to change my major once more and am not sure whether the major I'm considering changing to will allow me access to my desired Army commission. I want to change to urban studies with a focus in urban planning and enter a civil/regional planning career, but I'm not sure whether the Corps of Engineers demands many urban planners. Regardless of my GRFD status, would the Corps of Engineers be likely to accept a decently competitive (3.5 GPA, Project GO participant, 510 ACFT) cadet in a non-STEM but adjacent career field?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2022 1:40 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 13:40:24 -0400

Yes. The Army doesn’t care about what your degree is in, just that you have one. I branched Engineer, and my undergrad was in Marketing. Get the degree YOU want to get, something that you want to work in when the time comes for you to leave the Army, whether that be getting out or retirement.

Response by COL Randall C. made Oct 30 at 2022 1:44 PM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 13:44:32 -0400

To be an Army Engineer, you don't need an engineering degree, but it does help with some of the future career advancements (not at your early officer ranks, but more along the lines of obtaining civilian professional certifications).

There are many Army Engineers who have non-STEM degrees and those that don't, and want to pursue certifications or 'niche' fields, often obtain graduate degrees in those areas later in their career.
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* The Engineer Branch - https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/2022/08/03/405b57a5/1-en-da-pam-600-3-as-of-20210701.pdf

1-en-da-pam-600-3-as-of-20210701.pdf

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 31 at 2022 11:39 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 11:39:58 -0400

First thing someone needs to tell you is that if you Commission through OCS or ROTC, you get a wish list of branches, but Army and Army Reserve your branch will be needs of the Army. The better your class standing, the better chance you have of getting your first choice, but it's still really needs of the Army. Going Guard can give you more control, but the same thing applies, the Needs of the Guard takes precedent.
That said, a large part of the Army Engineering capacity is in the Guard and Reserves, so you should have a decent shot at it.
I was an Infantry Officer when I moved to Kentucky. At the time, there was almost a full Brigade of Engineers, a Divisional Combat Engineer Battalion and a Corp level Heavy Battalion. They asked me if I would be interested in Branch Transferring and I said yes. Now I have no regrets about enlisting and commissioning Infantry, but I enjoyed my Engineer time.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Oct 31 at 2022 5:48 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:48:34 -0400

Army Corps of Engineers is in reality a civilian government agency with very few Army Junior Officers.

Response by MAJ Roland McDonald made Nov 1 at 2022 7:41 PM

MAJ Roland McDonald — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 19:41:54 -0400

Make sure you are a DMG (Distinguished Military Graduate). That will move you up the (OM) Order Of Merit list. Increasing you chances of getting your first branch pick.