How likely is it that i can get a commission into a combat branch in the Army?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:54:43 -0500

I'm finshing my degree in May and planning to go thorough OCS after. I know your branch is mainly based on the needs of the Army, but how likely is it that if I request a combat branch(Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery) that I'll get it?

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Feb 27 at 2020 11:03 PM

LTC Wayne Brandon — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:03:37 -0500

Selection, as you say, will depend upon the needs of the Army.
However, your chances of being selected for the Infantry right now are better than average.
You didn't mention what your degree represents but that may sway the reviewer one way or another.
I hope this helps and wish you all the best.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 27 at 2020 11:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:56:53 -0500

I think you will have a great chance of getting combat arms. I picked armor #1 and got it. It is a great way to learn about leadership, going combat arms.

Response by SGT Trip Heaverly made Feb 28 at 2020 9:49 AM

SGT Trip Heaverly — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:49:04 -0500

If you want to go infantry, you can go infantry. The army will always need real leaders to do actual work. Remember: every mos is there to support the warfighters, and the warfighters wear infantry blue.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 10:32 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:32:17 -0500

It’s dependent on your ranking on the OML so the higher you are on there, will allow for you to get your first choice of branch assignment depending how many slots your class has for that particular branch.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Feb 28 at 2020 10:40 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:40:36 -0500

Are you planning on staying National Guard or are you going to go Active Duty? While both are needs of the Service, you would normally know when you apply in the Guard what you will be branched. Active Duty is a bit more of a gamble. I don't have a feel for the odds today. I commissioned in 1985 during the Reagan years rebuilding and I don't know anyone that requested Combat Arms that was turned down.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 28 at 2020 11:13 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 11:13:32 -0500

If you haven't committed to the Army (signed a contract), I think you should shop around. Your profile is incomplete so I don't have much to go on. However, you should talk to recruiters from all the Services, Active and Reserve Components. Decide which Service offers an officer opportunity that most closely matches your near- and mid-term life goals. For example, if you want employment that expands your academic degree in civil engineering (or whatever it's really in) then look for opportunities in the associated MOS/AFSC. If you're hard over on ground combat arms, then the Army or Marines would be best. Also look for the best deal in terms of accession date, post-training assignment location, credit for enlisted time, post-OCS training. Take the offer that most closely matches you priorities.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 1:30 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:30:36 -0500

If you’re a 13F and you want to be an FA Officer, there’s a very high chance you’ll get it as long as you have a decent OML score. FA is constantly growing.

Response by SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins made Feb 28 at 2020 2:42 PM

SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:42:33 -0500

I know some of the guys I entered with had contracts for OCS, and they already had a good idea for what they wanted to branch, but each and every one of them got branched somewhere different. In fact, one friend of mine who wanted to branch intelligence got branched Infantry, while the other one who wanted Infantry got branched Intelligence. Go figure.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 3:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:39:45 -0500

Work on a masters and do ROTC

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Feb 28 at 2020 5:51 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:51:49 -0500

Because of the great numbers needed in infantry, armor, and field artillery, usually if you request them you'll get one of them. However, during my career I did know a couple officers who were assigned to one of those obscure branches that nobody wants, like chemical corps, due to the needs of the army at the time of their commissioning.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2020 11:22 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 23:22:56 -0500

With all due respect, none of the comments here are accurate. It's based on OML and what HRC offers your class. Your class will get a certain number of slots in most branches (all combat arms branches will be available in some capacity). You select in order of OML like a draft. Every time someone picks, the slot is removed from the selection board.

Bottom line, perform your best at OCS and you'll be higher on the OML. Higher you are, the more likely you are to get the branch you want.

Source: OCS graduate

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Mar 1 at 2020 11:56 AM

CPT Brad Wilson — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 11:56:38 -0500

In my experience everyone I know got their first or second choice the vast majority getting their first choice

Response by 1LT Mike Schelp made Mar 1 at 2020 11:22 PM

1LT Mike Schelp — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 23:22:51 -0500

Getting a combat arms branch if you request it should be a slam dunk. Not 100% certain, but very likely.

Response by MAJ Stephen Bish made Mar 2 at 2020 10:51 AM

MAJ Stephen Bish — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 10:51:29 -0500

Needs of the army account for how many of each branch that have slot available, then there are the schools that have how many are wanting those slots, based on individuals choice of branch and qualifications, infantry is one of the most liberal as far as qualifications, and things like MI are much harder to get into. I was infantry enlisted, picked MI and SF for branches, and got infantry again. There's a good chance that if your already working in a skill, that you will get that same skill, but there is always the luck of the draw, they may see you have more potential, and put you into something that they think is a better fit for you, for the needs of the military. Good Luck.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2020 8:04 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 08:04:03 -0500

There are usually more infantry slots than people who want an infantry slot at OCS.

Response by LTC Drew Byrd made Mar 6 at 2020 4:48 PM

LTC Drew Byrd — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 16:48:10 -0500

OCS primarily feeds officers into combat arms. If you ask for Field Artillery, you will probably get it as it's not asked for very often. However, if you have a tech degree, they might put you into Cyber or Signal.

Response by 1LT Robert Murchie made Mar 17 at 2020 9:41 AM

1LT Robert Murchie — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:41:40 -0400

11A is the more likely appointment due to the Army's current needs.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2020 5:04 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 17:04:18 -0400

It just comes down to the needs of the Army. During the height of OIF/OEF (2003-2010), if you wanted combat arms you were going to get it. Now it's a bit difference but if you list combat arms as your first three choices, the odds are that you will get one of the three.