Army Officer Branch Detailing: What were your experiences?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 May 2015 00:19:35 -0400

If you were branch detailed, what were your experiences both good, bad, and ugly?

I was commissioned into the Quartermaster Corps, but was branch detailed into the Field Artillery for almost four years. Over the years many have told me I am behind my fellow Logistics peers. Others, however, feel that my time in the field artillery gained me a better understanding of the combat arms.
Looking back over the years, I would not change my branch detail to the Field Artillery. As a logistician I have a deeper understanding for the needs of the combat arms, "having been there done that." I have a greater sense of urgency when a supply request is made, I can better anticipate their needs, but I can also see if a bogus request is made.

If you were branch detailed, what were your experiences both good, bad, and ugly?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 6 at 2015 12:33 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 06 May 2015 00:33:14 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, I was branched Signal Corps and that was my only basic branch for my entire career. I served as a detailed Deputy Inspector General for four years as a major. I was promoted and rolled right into another branch material duty assignment, so I like to think it was not a career deterrent. On the other hand, I never got an O-5 command and didn't make O-6, so who knows? It's too late for me to wonder about it now, but that's how a detailed assignment worked for me. BTW, as I look at your question, maybe a detailed IG doesn't really meet the requirements of your question.