Posted on Jan 22, 2014
Should specialized degrees be utilized inline with Officer career selection by the Army
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For example, I have served with a Captain with a degree in electrical engineering but was selected as HR. It seems a waste of knowledge/resources for the Army.
Army
Training
Military Career
Officers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Had a friend who was a RN and was branched Transportation. I too have always been amazed at the selection process.
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SFC Robert Trodahl
I agree. The S1(Personnel) OIC electrical engineering, the S6 (Communications) OIC finicial mangement. Crazy...
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SGT Gary Frank
On the surface, being in the same career field has the degree an Officer has does make sense, however there is a finite number of slots available for those specialties. If the Person truly wants to serve in the Military, than He/She must take what they get if a slot is not open or they should go on a waiting list. Remember an Officer's primary duties are Unit Management and Leadership, not honing ones academic skills.
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In a word, yes. That's one of the reasons why I went Warrant instead of taking a direct commission or going OCS. I earned nine degrees, the highest of which is a Master of Software Engineering. God knows where the Army would branch a LT Walker....never going to happen.
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I agree with this. Some of it matters what the Officer wants to be branched. I wanted Signal, as I have a BSBA for Computer Information Systems. The Army decided I was going to be Chemical. They could have looked, as I also have a BS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry and already had HAZMAT certs. Do I think they actually looked? No.
I do feel that it should be easier for people to change. I do feel that, as a whole, we do a poor job utilizing internal resources. The government wants to make cuts; they could use the people they already have to do things they are qualified for, even though that is not part of their MOS.
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SFC Robert Trodahl
No, I don't think they looked, just what position they needed filled at the time. It seems a waste your are not able to use the degree you have earned.
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SPC(P) (Join to see)
I completely agree with this as well. The Army should take into account it's peoples talents before selecting them for an area they may not enjoy, or succeed at.
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