Best Army officer branch?

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 17:56:50 -0400

I have asked this question before, and alot of people have told me that it depends on what I want in a career. With this post ill discuss a little more about what I want in a career in the Army so hopefully I can gain some valuable information from people who have already been there and done that. Being prior service my desire to want to serve again and as an officer is deeply routed in wanting to do something I feel like matters. I do not want to chase rank my entire career and would much rather do things I find enjoyable and cool. My current interests are MI, Engineer, Aviation, Infantry, and Artillery. Ultimately I would love to work hand in hand with enlisted soldiers and do something enjoyable and worth my wile. Any information and opinions on specific branches would be great.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2018 6:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:01:31 -0400

One way is to check and see which branches have bonuses for captains to extend. In 2009, civil affairs captains were given $10,000 to remain in civil Affairs for an additional 3 years.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 15 at 2018 6:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:23:30 -0400

I suggest writing on a piece of paper what are the crucial interests you have for a career as an officer.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 15 at 2018 6:28 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:28:03 -0400

I studied for a year to become an Infantry officer, but was commissioned in the AGC. When I figured out what had happened I resented it and made my superiors miserable by accomplishing admin tasks like I was Patton. By chance, I ended up in a Signal Corps officer's slot as Operations Officer in the USARPAC Strategic Communications Center. By the time I was done the general in charge of STRATCOM for the Pacific was encouraging me to apply for a branch transfer to Signal Corps and I was all for it. Signal is vital and immensely interesting and challenging. The experience helped me in my ultimate civilian career in computer technology.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made Aug 15 at 2018 6:43 PM

LTC Orlando Illi — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 18:43:13 -0400

I was Commissioned in the Armored Cavalry. I branch transferred to the Ordance Corps and was one of the initial Officers Selected for the Army Acquisition Corps and retired as a LTC from the Staff and Faculty of Defense Systems Management College. My Acquisition Corps experiece led to an appointment as a GS-15 Civilian Army Acquisition Corps Deputy PM position that I eventually retired from.

Response by 1LT Jacob Johnston made Aug 15 at 2018 10:28 PM

1LT Jacob Johnston — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 22:28:44 -0400

IMO Aviation would be the way to go. Unless you are older then 33. That is the limit for flight school. If you are older I would say Civil Affairs. Not for the money although that is nice to but for the fact you said you wanted to work hand in hand with enlisted. I believe they have a pretty close relationship and job with their enlisted counterparts.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Aug 16 at 2018 12:02 AM

SSG Steven Mangus — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 00:02:55 -0400

Aviation..in a cavalry unit..

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 16 at 2018 7:32 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 07:32:22 -0400

In my opinion Armor.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 16 at 2018 7:59 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 07:59:20 -0400

OK, I enlisted Infantry and Commissioned Infantry. Combined Arms, Infantry and Armor, are where the rubber meets the road and to me, they are the REAL Army. Infantry is a tough challenge, but I enjoyed most of the time that I served.
That said, the two best jobs I had in the Army were as an Engineer. Company Commander of a Divisional Combat Engineer unit and Assistant Brigade Engineer (in Divisional Engineer units now, the Battalion Commander is the Brigade Engineer, but running a Battalion takes a lot of time, so the ABE does all the day to day planning) were the jobs I liked the best.

Response by LTC Ronald Stephens made Aug 17 at 2018 11:49 AM

LTC Ronald Stephens — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 11:49:22 -0400

That's a tough question without knowing what your billet, interests, skills and education are. Off hand I would suggest something similar to what you do as a PO if your are happy with it. In doing so you will likely have a head start over many of your contemporaries.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2018 1:14 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 01:14:21 -0400

PO3 Cushing, it sounds to me like you want to make a difference in life to someone, not just you, but someone else. I would recommend you explore Engineer and MI as a platform into Civil Affairs. We, are not an accession branch like ENG, AV, MI. We mostly recruit 1LT(P) and CPTs. As a CA Team Leader, it is you and your team (4 SM) who support both conventional and Special Operations. Check out the CA mission, it might be what you are looking for.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2018 1:33 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:33:59 -0400

look into Air Force TACP/JTAC. You can continue to do the cool things, work in small numbers and gain rank up to LtCol while still being in a small, high speed organization. I switched over from Army to this 3 years ago and it is pretty outstanding. Had 7 years enlisted time and 15 as an O.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 17 at 2018 12:40 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:40:16 -0500

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member which commissioning source will you come from?

https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework?page=3&urlhash=4134317

MI: you may spend a lot more time on staff as a member of the S2/G2. There is vast opportunity for strategic assignments. At the tactical level you must manage the threat picture and figure out what is most important to you combat arms unit. Serving as an S2 for a logistics unit is challenging as you have to focus what everyone else ignores. You may lead a platoon if you go to an MI Company. You may command as an O3, O5 and O6. S2, XO, S3, Collection Chief, and G2 are some key assignments.

EN: mobility, countermobility, and vertical engineering will be what you do at company level. You'll be leading platoons like Assault & Obstacle, construction, and route clearance platoonsObstacles, survivability holes for fighting vehicles, breaching, SOSR, etc. as a field grade you are a staff officer planning these activities. If you have a hard engineering degree, you can do strategic level assignments with USACE building MILCON projects. You may command as an O3, O5 and O6. XO and S3 will be key billets as a field grade.

AV: as Company grade you'll fly and do additional duties in the unit. Lift, sling loads, internal loads Recon, Attack, theater support. As you get into Staff, planning flight Ops. Maintenance is its own world and XOs spend a lot of time tracking, predicting and worrying about it. Aviation assets must go through depot phase maintenance on a regular interval of flight hours. It greatly impacts flight Ops. You fly less the more senior you get. You Command as an O3/4, O5, and O6. You'll serve as a staff officer outside AV, both as an AV planner/SME and other missions. XO and S3 as a major.

IN: close with and destroy the enemy in close combat. You'll lead a platoon light, Stryker, air assault, airborne, or mech. Staff work as you progress like S3 Air. If your mech, maintenance and Gunnery are a whole different animal. XO, S3 will be your goal as a Major. You may command as an O3, O5 and O6.

FA: provide indirect fire support to maneuver. Targeting support. Lead a platoon in an Artillery battery (self propelled, tube, or missile) and/ or serve as a Forward Observer in a combat arms company. You may command as an O3 (battery), O5 (Battalion), and O6 (BDE or Divarty). Key assignments S3, XO, Fire Support Coordinator. Targeting, mops, and moes for lethal and non lethal targeting. Working with deep fires and joint assets like tacair, naval gunfire, etc.

How do I choose an Army Branch?: A Framework | RallyPoint

The purpose of this article is to address one of the biggest Rally Point questions among Army ROTC Cadets: I am a with a major in , which branch should I choose? One of my goals is to help you filter through what you will get back. After all, don’t we all turn to the nameless, faceless internet trolls to determine our future? The immediate challenge is that the people responding are well intentioned but generally don’t know you from Adam....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 17 at 2018 2:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:46:56 -0500

I would suggest combat arms if you are willing to get into the mud with the NCOs and soldiers.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Nov 17 at 2018 9:14 PM

LTC Stephan Porter — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 21:14:46 -0500

We need all of them; look for career paths the interest you. The enjoyment of what you do in a branch makes it the best!

Response by MAJ Richard B. made Jul 24 at 2019 9:04 PM

MAJ Richard B. — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 21:04:53 -0400

I went Aviation, and enjoyed every minute of it! Very fun and interesting work, great missions, and all of my very expensive training and equipment was paid for by the Army! And, I maxed out in flight pay before I retired, and got a huge retention bonus after one of my deployments. Well worth it.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Aug 24 at 2019 11:30 AM

CPT Brad Wilson — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 11:30:37 -0400

Of course Field Artillery is the best. But you indicated a desire to work closely with soldiers it is a good choice. As a 2Lt you will be a Fire Direction Officer leading 3 other soldiers If you are in a Direct Support Bn then you will probably be a Fire Support Officer again leading 3 soldiers You will also be attached to either and Infantry or Armor unit As an FSO you will have to know maneuver tactics so you can use fires to best support the maneuver commanders intent. In my case I also was an FSO at I Corps Artillery planning SEAD for their Aviation BDE. Again a small team but in this job I coordinated with Marine, Air Force and Navy as well as Japanese and sometimes Korean Air and indirect fire assets

Response by MAJ Jason Sierakowski made May 20 at 2020 5:33 PM

MAJ Jason Sierakowski — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:33:53 -0400

Considering your comment of "chase rank"..... You are a young middle class American, of course you want to get promoted in any career field! Promotion comes from hard work and getting results. That's the pride of taking care of a unit and making the unit successful. Military officership systems don't put a mechanism in place to not progress.... If you don't perform and progress, a selection board will pass you over. Two times none select, pack your bags and go home. I suggest you choose something that is diverse with multiple opportunities for assignment, and look at the selection rates per field.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2020 9:14 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 09:14:39 -0500

USMC