Is there any way to guarantee you get a finance related position as an officer in any branch?

2019-07-25T14:12:25-04:00

Just exploring this an option down the road, as I ship out for army bct on August 12th and I'm not sure what I'll end up doing after my contract is up. I want to be clear on the facts in terms of this for each branch so I know what to consider when weighing it as an option down the road. I know if I do end up commissioning that I'd want to be in a finance field to complement my desired civilian career and degree. Any info is appreciated, thanks!

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 25 at 2019 2:17 PM

2019-07-25T14:17:44-04:00

I strongly suggest you worry about getting through training first before you start daydreaming.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 2:30 PM

2019-07-25T14:30:20-04:00

Unless you specifically get a finance degree and get with a recruiter that specifically gets in you in as a finance officer, there is no true guarantee that you will branch Finance

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 4:28 PM

2019-07-25T16:28:58-04:00

The answer is no. Branching at OCS or most commissioning sources is based on needs of the Army at your grad time period. Your chances of getting your desired branch do increase based on your merit during your training. If there is an appropriate “in call” for finance corps and an appropriate “out call” for your current branch, and your situation matches the requirements of the latest VTIP MILPER, then you can apply to transfer branches later. Keep in mind, finance is not one of those branches that typically has a significant “in call.”

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 7:34 PM

2019-07-25T19:34:42-04:00

Branching is based on needs of the Army and your class rank at OCS. There isn’t always a Finance slot available for every class. All you can control is your class ranking at OCS. If you are at the top of your class you get to pick your branch first. You might not need to be number one in your class, but you need to be high on the list. The people at the top normally pick Infantry, Armor, or Artillery. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but individuals who excel in all areas of OCS don’t normally want to get stuck behind a desk. Good luck!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 25 at 2019 10:51 PM

2019-07-25T22:51:33-04:00

Private RallyPoint Member officers at Company Command and above have increasing budget management responsibilities, especially as a Battalion S4, Battalion Executive Officer, Brigade S4/S8, the Division G8, etc. you also need to build spend plans. Reserve Component units tend to have more budget management responsibilities and general money chasing than Active Duty...personal observation.

The Finance Branch is really accounting. The Army gets an appropriation from Congress, so the corporate Finance role of acquiring capital and evaluating projects to build wealth doesn't apply. Not at all. Finance officers can be G8 Resource Managers, work in a Financial Management Unit where they essentially do accounts payable, vendor services, payroll related activities. Many times they are the front counter for DFAS. The system of record is GFEBS.

As far as other related areas:
- Engineer branch at CPT and above may be assigned to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) where they mange MILCON projects with OPM (other people's money). They must track project execution vs planned and solve problems associated with cost, performance, and schedule.
- Acquistion Corps (a functional area you may compete for at the Captain and Major level once you serve in a basic branch) does project management (developing a weapons system for a program of record) and contracting to acquire goods and services for the Army.
- regardless of branch, if selected to command a US Army Garrison as an O5 or O6, you will be tied to a budget with a staff to manage the ferrying of pennies from A to B. You will soon realize you have little in the way of discretionary funding. Your funds are carved into the "colors" of federal money and you just watch the amounts go down from 1OCT to 30 Sep every year. The talent is understanding what that level of funding delivers for services, what the next cut will cost you, and if you could just get $X more and what that would get you.

HowROTC branch selection works:
https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

Cliff notes: you may not get the branch you want.

How do I choose an Army Branch?: A Framework | RallyPoint

The purpose of this article is to address one of the biggest Rally Point questions among Army ROTC Cadets: I am a with a major in , which branch should I choose? One of my goals is to help you filter through what you will get back. After all, don’t we all turn to the nameless, faceless internet trolls to determine our future? The immediate challenge is that the people responding are well intentioned but generally don’t know you from Adam....

Response by CSM William Everroad made Jul 26 at 2019 11:59 AM

2019-07-26T11:59:33-04:00

LTC Mackay nailed the specifics in his reply. Others have mentioned there is no way to guarantee "finance related position" upon commission. I would have to ask, what is your desired civilian finance field and career preference? Military finance is largely accounting, but in the civilian world finance can mean so may more things.

Response by LTC Mark Overberg made Jul 27 at 2019 3:27 PM

2019-07-27T15:27:36-04:00

Repeat after me, “The needs of the service.” There are no guarantees.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2019 2:22 PM

2019-07-29T14:22:08-04:00

I was able to select Finance as my branch in the National Guard. However, as everyone has pretty much already stated, Active Duty is different. It's needs of the Army, right place/right time, and the Order of Merit List.

Even with the Guard, you can pick your branch but it's all about your individual state's openings and needs.