Army OCS Branching - What have been your experiences and what do you recommend?

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:39:36 -0400

Heading to OCS in a few days. I have assembled a packet to submit for branching Field Artillery (as I am a 13F). The more I think about it the more I have second thoughts on pursuing this branch as a commissioned officer. Obviously I have some time before the decision has to be made and I hope to get some quality firsthand experience compiled here by the time I select.

I am looking for...
1. Personal experiences in branch selection (regardless of commissioning source) and things you wish you knew beforehand.
2. Your personal opinions and experiences in your branch of choice.
3. Recommendations for branch selection.

Thank you ahead of time.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 12:45 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:45:57 -0400

I would first start off looking at your state and asking the question what branch is predominant. In my state LG is the majority. Why this important is because it will provide more opportunities for key development positions such as company command. As an officer you really have to manage your career more thoughtfully. As a product of OCs and a former cadre, your question is a common one. Most states however will give you what branches they need to fill based on the needs of the state.

Response by LTC Marc King made Jun 17 at 2015 12:48 PM

LTC Marc King — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:48:21 -0400

It seems to me if you want to be an MP rather than Artillery this should be fine. Seems we have forgotten the lessons of having massive and effective indirect fire systems having failed to invest in such systems for the past 12 years and abandoning the Artillery Branch as a valued piece of the combat maneuver team. The money and effort seems to be in Stryker units with an Infantry/Armor view. I was commissioned from Armor OCS back when dinasors roamed the earth - but the artillery was a valued partner of the combat arms team. Best of luck with your training - any decision you make will be a bonus for the nation. Allons!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 12:58 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:58:38 -0400

Sgt. Everett,

Going into the same Branch as an officer as you were Enlisted is the easy route. You know the job, the community, the culture. You have to decide what's best for you and your family. This is a rare opportunity for you to challenge yourself and take your career to new direction. By going into another branch totally different from FA, you could capitalize on your enlisted FA experience and bring that to another branch. Or you could go back to FA and utilize your experience to the best of your ability. Bottom line, the Army will always make the best decision for the Army, but you can influence this decision with your "wish list".

Without looking at your file and knowing you or speaking with you, to advise on a specific branch would be folly and a waste of time.

You've got to evaluate yourself, your goals for the future, and come to a decision that's best for you. You've been in the Army long enough to gravitate to one Branch or another. Do your homework and seek out information personally through face to face interaction with officers of the branches you are interested in.

Best of luck!

RLTW!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 17 at 2015 1:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:00:28 -0400

If you pick a combat arms branch you will probably get it. I wanted to ride in tanks so I picked armor. Everything about the tanks are true, to include breaking down a lot.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 1:16 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:16:46 -0400

SGT Everett, you get three "choices" no? Note that your actual selection by a classifier will depend on a lot of factors, such as your background/education/MOS/test scores...your "rank" in graduation/appraisals may play a role, but also (people forget) the timing of openings in each branch (usually less toward the end of a fiscal year, more at the beginning). Combat Arms is usually a good fit from what you have stated, but you might also consider a other branches including new ones (Cyber?) if you have the skills, aptitude, and desires.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jun 17 at 2015 1:53 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:53:09 -0400

It's been a very long time since I went to artillery OCS (The still had separate OCSs back them). Nevertheless, your branch choice should be based on two considerations and in my view to considerations only. First, what do you want to spend your time doing every day. Second, what are your long-term career goals. if you try to wargame this from any other prospective your likely to make the wrong decision. I graduated from Artillery OCS In 1966. Two years later I branch transfered to military intelligence. I never regretted applying for artillery OCS and I never regretted branch transferring MI. In 20 years I never had an assignment I didn't like or a job I didn't enjoy; and that includes two tours of duty in Vietnam. As I went through artillery AIT I had a good idea what artillery, back then in the dark ages, was all about. We still did things manually. I only branch transferred MI because they recruited me; and I'm glad they did. Good luck.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 17 at 2015 2:22 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:22:22 -0400

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member, First, Congratulations and Good Luck.

1. Why did you want to be an Officer? Why did you want to be an FA Officer?

2. Why are you having reservations about it now?

3. What do you want to do?

You need to pick a branch you will be happy in, and where your heart will be.

I was branched Armor out of OCS (1-85), but when we were selected we all knew when we got our orders what branch we were getting; from 80 to 84, I was an enlisted MP. I voluntarily branch transferred back to MP in 87. I could not see myself as a Armor Officer for a career. My heart was in the MP branch, and I felt like I was not in the right place. I was training for SFAS as well, as I was either going to be a MP again, or going to try for SF.

Now, as you know (since like 2010), OCS Candidates pick their branch based on OML, just like ROTC and USMA. That is a good thing. So, do your best, classes, PT, etc., so you can decide and get what you want. I (we) did not have that option. But, branching Armor (as a prior service MP) was the best experience I could have ever asked for. It made me a better MP Officer, I am certain, than if I was branched MP out of OCS.

Response by BG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 2:23 PM

BG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:23:58 -0400

As an OCS grad myself, I will tell you that the Army almost always gives you the same branch you held when you were enlisted. I even went through with a guy who had been in the Ranger Batt, got out to get his engineering degree and tried to go Engineers, but they branched him Infantry. Hard to fight if you get a branch you don't want. 97% of OCS grads in my class were assigned to combat arms, even the gals.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 2:42 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:42:55 -0400

I'd probably go infantry, armor or aviation, in that order if I had to do it all over again. Fort Benning has way more to offer than Fort Sill. Lawton as you know is terrible too.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jun 17 at 2015 3:03 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:03:11 -0400

SGT Michael Everett, Branch selects you not you it, sorry to say but its true. Your background is FA accept it and make the best of it. In 1983 I was medic but was commissioned FA, learn from me make do not fight destiny, have fun.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 7:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:58:44 -0400

Well first off, thanks for what you did as a Fister. I work with them now and I gotta say the red-headed step children are some of the best I've worked with.

I'll go in the order of questions you put:

First off, branch selection is based off of OML at West Point. The higher you are, the better chance you got for your top preference. The lower you are, the more you had to fight over what was left. We were given these sheets (I've attached the FA one below, I have the rest just send me a message for them) that were built in conjunction with the branch commandants for each specific branch. They listed out skills, talents, experience, etc that each branch would like. We also took a test which using the talent skills gave us a top 5 branches you would be suited for. We also spent a significant amount of time learning about the branches by various officers in that branch.

Some things I wish I knew before hand; understanding that you will be a officer of the branch. When you were a 13F, you were a FISTER. As an officer, you are the FSO, but never a FISTER. Some 13F take offense when you try to say you're a FISTER as an officer. Understanding that as an officer, you will be proficient in all, but expert in none. For FA, once you think you know your job and start to really get that proficiency; they move you to the next job.

Personally, I chose FA as my branch because what interested me and how I could best apply it to my profession. I'm a physics and explosion nerd, so going out and sending 100+ lbs of American freedom downrange excites me. I've had experience as a Fire Direction Officer and currently serve as a Fire Support Officer.

Understand, no matter what branch you choose, there will still be the days where you want to pull out your eyeballs. Days of long work, little reward, and as a new LT the butt of many a joke. Field Artillery makes me happy and I enjoy working with the redlegs. There is a sense of camaraderie I haven't seen anywhere else. Redlegs are at their best when its 2100 at night and you just had two simultaneous missions come down from the observers.

Choose a branch that you can be happy working with. Choose something you have a strong interest in making your craft and will be proud enough to fight over in a bar. As an officer, you are responsible for the safety, lives, and well being of this countries most valuable resource; her sons and daughters. Regardless of branch, this is a responsibility you must take freely without any hesitation. So choose something that you will personally be proud to be apart of so you can lead those who will follow.

KING OF BATTLE!!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 10:20 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 10:20:40 -0400

I was prior enlisted infantry before I went to OCS and became an infantry officer. That was my first choice and a logical fit for me since my experience was Infantry. However, the Army had another idea once I was selected for Captain and force aligned me to Quartermaster Branch. I thought this was a career ender for me but I embraced the change and carried over my previous 6 years experience as an Infantry Soldier and Officer to Quartermaster branch and was able to get some great experiences that I would not have as an Infantry officer. No regrets. Best of Luck!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 21 at 2015 1:43 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 13:43:19 -0400

You will get combat arms easier than non-combat arms. I chose armor because I was fascinated with tanks.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Jun 25 at 2015 12:30 PM

1LT A. Uribe — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:30:38 -0400

I was initially barnacles OD, then re branched to QM and finally was given TC before going to BOLC. OCS in the national guard are usually the last to pick branches and units because of our commissioning date time frame.

Response by MAJ Jessie Taylor made Jul 2 at 2015 5:57 PM

MAJ Jessie Taylor — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 17:57:15 -0400

I was a 13M and attended OCS Class 05-01. I stayed with FA because there is no other branch which offers the versatility FA KD does. Ultimately, the choice is yours, however you can't go wrong within a CBA Branch in my opinion. I serverd in all KD positions for thenField Artillery to MAJ and enjoyed every position BDE FSO/EWO being the most challenging and rewarding. Good luck 'ABN'

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 8 at 2015 4:34 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 16:34:21 -0400

Take your car.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 26 at 2015 6:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:00:27 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 26 at 2015 8:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 20:57:50 -0400

Where are you now?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 11:50 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:50:03 -0400

If your packet gets approved for branching to FA (Which rarely happens) then you are good to go. Your Fire Support experience will pay off big time when you are in that role. Just remember that you have to be open to new ways of doing things. As an FA officer, your job is not to sit on the hill and call for fire anymore. You now have to plan and coordinate fires.

If you do not get the branch, then selection goes off an OML. If you really want to be in FA, then you will be fine as long as your are not in the bottom 10% of the class. FA slots don't get selected until all the MI, Engineer, Infantry, and Armor slots are gone...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2015 7:33 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 07:33:02 -0400

I went through OCS in 2013 and my roommate was prior service intel. She filled out the DA form that states she would like to branch MI since she had the prior service experience, but she was branched Chemical. She wasn't that high on the OML so some college-ops higher on the OML were given the slots and she missed out. Just keep that in mind if you still want to stay FA. Your experience may not matter; your effort certainly does!

Response by LTC Mo Vanderslice made Aug 7 at 2015 1:18 PM

LTC Mo Vanderslice — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 13:18:28 -0400

We need combat arms leaders. Artillery is okay, if you can't be Armor/Cavalry.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 14 at 2015 12:07 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:07:37 -0400

What is going on with your branching?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 18 at 2020 12:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 12:05:03 -0400

There is one perspective that needs to be shared. Most OCS grads will go into combat arms. However, it is relatively easy to branch transfer into non combat arms branches because combat arms has a pyramid rank structured and officers need to be culled. The key is to not dick around when that window opens.