What branch should I choose upon getting commissioned?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 00:47:29 -0400

The plan is to go through Accelerated OCS in 2019. #1 pick is Avaiation and I understand about the prerequisites for that. But in case I don't get it I need a backup plan. I'm having a hard time deciding and I want something that I'll really enjoy. I'm in the MOARNG but plan to go active after college. I also plan on doing 20 years so hope to get past captain. I appreciate any feedback, thanks!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 1:01 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 01:01:03 -0400

I would definitely talk to an officer you trust will tell you the truth. If you really want aviation, talk to an aviation officer to see what the career path, growth, and promotion potential is like. I recommend you do the same with any other branch you're interested in. In the ARNG, there may be limitations on positions you can move into to promote. This can also be further strained by the amount of officers in your branch and in your peer group.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 1:24 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 01:24:17 -0400

Military police pretty well needed in both the active Army and both the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. I don't know the trends but you should check in the Army times and see. Your retention NCO should tell you where they are needed. One suggestion I make is that once you make it to Captain and you've completed your Captain's career course I would suggest going into some secondary functional area like civil Affairs because those people are always needed and your skill-set from whatever Branch you choose plus maybe even your civilian job will help there. I had no problem making Major having civil affairs under my belt. I have never been active duty but with my deployments I have three mobilizations and a total of three Battle Stars. You also have the opportunity to be in the active Guard Reserve which is you would be part of a battalion or Brigade Cadre that keeps the unit going in between unit training assemblies and they get the same exact benefits as active duty as well as to active duty schools. There are boards held annually for positions available Nationwide. If you are active Guard Reserve in a reserve unit you also get full basic allowance for housing and moving expenses just like the active duty.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 2:34 AM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 02:34:24 -0400

If you go to OCS as active duty you likely won't have the luxury of just chosing what to branch into. That's a reserve and nasty girl thing

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 6:23 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 06:23:09 -0400

Infantry

Response by LTC Jeff Shearer made Jul 9 at 2017 8:09 AM

LTC Jeff Shearer — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 08:09:15 -0400

Joshua, I don't have all the answers maybe a few suggestions form a semi broken warrior who has be were you are. It does not matter if you are doing 20 years or 4 years if you are not where you should be it will not be a good time. I went to Infantry IOBC/IOAC but I went to SFAS as LT and they did not have a SF OBC/OAC. I will say I knew when I made the jump I was right where I was supposed to be. I have a good friend who went Aviation and he flew several different birds he was right where he was supposed to be as well. Search your soul or being, research the branches, don't worry about making CPT if you do your job to the best of your ability it will happen.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jul 9 at 2017 8:23 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 08:23:48 -0400

Thing might have changed but if I recall whent it was time for commissioning - regardless of the source - you had a prioritized which list and the army took care of the rest based on its need. Nevertheless the odds of getting one of your top 3s was high! Know wit regards to which branch... Is all about what you wan to accomplish and availability; as a NG you might be limited.

Response by 1LT Tom Wilson made Jul 9 at 2017 8:34 AM

1LT Tom Wilson — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 08:34:31 -0400

Well, never forget that the Infantry adds color to what would otherwise be a bland affair.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 11:02 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:02:55 -0400

I agree with CPT Campos above. You really need to find a mentor that is a commissioned officer aviator. Many of the ones I have known actually struggled a great deal because you just don't fly as often as you need to. The Army requires all officers to do those KD jobs like platoon leader, S3 planner, company commander, etc and your missions in those jobs do not include flying so I have had friends who struggled to get their flight hours. I know three people who actually went warrant later to just fly. In regard to alternate branches, look at what you're good at. If you are a god physically who longs for constant adventure and numerous deployments, go infantry. If you have a heavy STEM background, go combat engineer, etc. And yes, find people who have served in those areas to help you. Also, as a fellow OCS grad, I can tell you that on branching day you will not have as much power as you think to pick your branch. They will put the branches on a board with the numbers next to them as to how many slots are available for your class. They then call you up in class standing order to pick your branch. So it behooves you to do the best you can in OCS. In my class, infantry, armor, and MI went first and by the end about the last 50 in the class had their pick of transportation, ordnance, and chemical. Just to give you an idea of what gets picked first and left to last.

Response by MAJ Alan Reiter M.A. made Jul 9 at 2017 11:42 AM

MAJ Alan Reiter M.A. — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:42:35 -0400

I actually find myself in agreement with Captain (P) Campos and Major Stephen Conway. Having more than one area of specialization is extremely important. I was commissioned as an infantry officer upon completion of OCS. I completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course. I served in an infantry battalion but was assigned to the HHC Support Platoon Leader and XO. I developed an expertise on the S-4 side of maneuver units. When I transferred into the USAR, I decided to acquire a secondary functional area so I completed the Transportation Officer Advanced Course and the US Army command and General Staff College. I commanded a transportation detachment for almost 3 years and then was assigned as the XO to the Headquarters Commandant of a Brigade Headquarters. When mobilized for Operation Desert Shield, I was placed on the staff of 22nd Support Command DCGTRANS as the Theater Tasking Office and served in that capacity throughout Desert Storm as well as the ceasefire campaign until I was demobilized and reverted back to reserve status.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jul 9 at 2017 11:57 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:57:38 -0400

I suppose I'm not going to talk you into an inter-Service transfer to the AF, so here's my opinion about the Army based on my 6 years as a DAC.

1. Follow your passion: if you have a strong personal preference for a Branch, you've already indicated Aviation, go that way. Passion for your work can conquer a lot of individual shortcomings and helps you be a better leader.
2. Follow your education: Seek an MOS closely related to your degree. If you have a degree in accounting, go with Finance. Business degree relates well to any logistic field, Supply and Transportation come to mind, but fit with Combat Arms also. Specialty degrees like Hospital Management have obvious tracks. Degrees in the social sciences including history, political science, language, sociology, psychology, or humanities may relate well to intelligence, but equally well to Combat Arms. STEM degrees will serve you well in almost any MOS, but you should consider Engineer, Combat Engineer, IT/Cyber, maintenance, transportation, supply, munitions.
3. Look for Best Pay and other Advantages: If 1 and 2 are of equal importance or just don't fit your way of thinking, look for the opportunity with the best pay, advancement opportunity, or desirable assignment locations. This option means putting your personal desires ahead of the needs of the Service sometimes, so it's difficult to completely fulfill. Officers in some MOS get extra pay. I'm sure you're familiar with flight pay and hazardous duty pay. Promotion rates for Officers in some MOS are significantly better than others, especially from Major on up. Combat Arms usually has the edge in this area. Good assignment locations depend on your definition of "good." Match MOS to installation locations and determine the Branch and MOS that has the highest probability of getting you where you want to go. For example, if you want to be assigned to Tidewater, VA, for some reason, then Transportation is a good choice.

Of course, you might choose to take all three of my recommendations and use them in whatever priority order you choose. I would recommend you use them in the order I presented them.

I wish you the best of everything in your Army Officer career. Make the best of every assignment, work hard, listen well, and lead by example of excellence and you'll succeed.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jul 9 at 2017 4:17 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 16:17:33 -0400

Infantry or bust.

Response by LTC Bill Koski made Jul 9 at 2017 9:13 PM

LTC Bill Koski — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 21:13:55 -0400

SPC, Go Aviation for as much as you can. I was too old by the time I went to OCS for that so I went Infantry. A lot of fun, but not much practical value post military. ....and that day eventually arrives. Logistics, Intelligence, SF, lead to rewarding careers after your 20. I went Civil Affairs and that helped too. Tip of the spear is exciting, but as I am finding out now, support services have more career opportunities in retirement. I am getting by on my leadership skills, but a specific skillset would have made my job search easier.
Any way.....I envy your position to be entering OCS and starting an officer career.... I would do it all over again if given the option. Good for you, good luck! If you go combat arms, go to Ranger school. Tabs go a long way. One regret I have was not taking that road when I could have. In the 90s, there wasn't any emphasis on it in my state national guard.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2017 10:15 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:15:50 -0400

You don't get to choose your branch. The only exception I know if is aviation in which once you pass the tests and are selected, you're in. For the rest of us it all comes down to what the Army needs. Combat Arms branches are popular and pretty competitive but if that's where you want to be, go for it. You can also branch detail where you serve in a combat arms branch for 3 years and then move to a different branch after that. Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2017 8:39 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:39:21 -0400

Plenty of sound advice given. Three things I've always been told are:
1. You are your best career manager
2. You know you best
3. Look into the writing (FM, DA, TM, SOP, FUN FUN)

I will say that these three tenets have allowed me to shape my career effectively. A resource I used every step of the way was DA PAM 600-3, it gives it all of it to you in writing and their developmental model shows your career timeline just in case you forget. The language is constantly changing so look for the most up to date version. As the LTC pointed out, do some soul searching, if you know that you are not about the suck, you probably shouldn't choose infantry, it's fun at times.............but it sucks. You have to do some cost analysis within yourself to determine if that branch fits you.

Even if the branch does not fit you, you still have a job and as a young LT your guys and gals understand that you won't be their for long so take the time to get qualified/certified in your branch, become familiar with what they do by getting into the TM/FM's and for you especially..................understanding NCOER's/OER's and the ERS (Evaluation Reporting System-check out DA PAM 623-3). It's fun. Understanding this we'll allow you to understand how to write your OER Support Form and the NCOER which help to make/break those NCO's careers. Again, constantly changing.

Finally, if it comes down to it, I would choose a combat branch over logistics because it allows you to have a better understanding of the big picture in the AO/AI. So if you choose do choose to V-TIP at CPT you will be a well rounded officer being on both sides of the spectrum.

Best of luck!

Response by LTC Mike Mclaughlin made Jul 17 at 2017 2:54 PM

LTC Mike Mclaughlin — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 14:54:46 -0400

Army warrent officer

Response by MAJ Meliton Arriola made Jul 20 at 2017 12:37 AM

MAJ Meliton Arriola — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 00:37:09 -0400

45 years ago as a senior in college as a distinguished military student in ROTC I had my choice of branch. I chose Infantry. My father who was an Infantryman fighting the Japanese in the Pacific thought I was out of my mind. I served for 20 years, but not all in the Infantry because of some serious injuries. To this day almost 24 years since I retired I still think it was the best decision I ever made. It is a commitment not taken lightly to command soldiers whose lives depend on your decisions. Even after I branch transferred I tried to use what I learned as an Infantry officer l leading my non combat arms soldiers. One female sergeant asked me why we were doing road marches? We are only clerks. My reply was what uniform are you wearing? Do you think the enemy is going to ask you if you are a clerk and then give you a pass? Right into the next life. I tried to get them to think like the soldiers we were supporting. My goal was to train them to react to adverse situations like the one Jessica Lynch was in. Her leadership failed her and the other soldiers by training them as truck drivers but not as soldiers. As a result most of them died in a god forsaken country. Knowing what I do now with 45 years of hindsight I would still chose Infantry.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 5:45 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:45:58 -0400

I would have gone AV for sure, but didn't qualify during the physical. Now I'm MI branch detailed to IN (which I volunteered for). I think its the best way to get small unit leadership experience as an LT, then go on to more broad picture things later on as a CPT and up.

Response by CPT Tony Baucom made Aug 19 at 2017 3:58 PM

CPT Tony Baucom — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 15:58:48 -0400

Aviation was my first choice too. I was assigned to IN/MI and every good thing that happened or I experienced was in IN. My buddies who went AV said that flying time gets few and far between after CPT. The heart of the Army is IN and the only thing I would ever recommend enlisted or commissioned.