Anyone have any first hand information to offer as far as daily life, branch detail chances, career path, retention, etc of a 88A?

2020-02-16T20:04:04-05:00

I'm a ROTC MS3 thinking of ranking TC high on my branch preferences. Thank you in advance!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2020 9:31 PM

2020-02-16T21:31:59-05:00

My two cents = dated and doesn’t address specifics (hopefully others on RP can do that) —-> can only state that I had no regrets going TC.

The text that appears in the first minute of the video still holds true, Einstein notwithstanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrCIbKyYRqg

Troop Train (1943)

Evocative World War II-era film following a troop train: the coordination of effort; its staging and assembly of cars, cargo and passengers; its heavily guar...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 17 at 2020 7:27 PM

2020-02-17T19:27:00-05:00

Branch detail means you will go to a branch then transfer to another branch.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 17 at 2020 10:01 PM

2020-02-17T22:01:50-05:00

You are only going to be a 88A until the advanced course as a Captain or you command a multifunctional company, which ever comes first. Then you will be LG Branch, 90A88. You will be assigned 90A positions which cover all tactical logistics functions: man, arm, move, fuel, fix, sustain soldiers and their systems.

If you don't Branch detail, You'll most likely be assigned to a FSC, CSSB, BSB, ASB, or Sustainment Brigade and a TC Platoon leader billet to develop as an officer and hone your craft. after 2 years depending on PL time you'll be an XO, assigned a developmental LT job (like a Maintenance Control Officer or a QM job), or a staff officer at Battalion. Then you'll go to the advanced course. When you graduate, you are put into the queue to command a Company. You'll likely serve at BN or BDE level staff until you are selected. In a Sust BDE, the BDE Commander decides who is next inconjntion with the CSSB and BSB Commanders. By BDE ran a talent management process that also took into account all logistics captains and their first sergeants in all logistics units on post. This ensured that all ready officers were afforded command opportunities and were being utilized properly. If you weren't ready, there was a process to get you ready.

After command and a staff assignment or two, you can go to a nominative or broadening assignment. I can go on, but I think DA PAM 600-3 and the associated MILSUITE career map for your branch does a good job of describing the pathway. Your field grade existence will center on SPO, BN XO, or BDE which will be a stage setter for LTC selection and command selection. You could command a Sustainment BN, functional BN, US Army Garrison, or a branch immaterial command at the tactical, operational, institutional, or strategic level. You could opt out of BN command. You could opt in for a Professor Of Military Science selection as a LTC.

Trans has unique opportunities like Army watercraft, JLOTS, Joint billets working trans, strategic mobility, coordination of rail and sealift, Joint Operations and Execution System (JOPES). Any one of these things can spell a civilian career. It makes you very useful as a planner.