Currently, how competitive is it to branch Infantry out of OCS?

2019-05-04T00:58:00-04:00

Good evening. I have signed my 09S contract and ship to BCT in less than 3 months. I have been hearing mixed things recently with how competitive it is to branch Infantry. My second and third choices are Engineering and Armor respectively.

Quite bluntly, I really don't see myself in a non-combat branch (to be clear, I mean no disrespect if you serve in one of these branches, it's jut something I don't see myself doing). I chose the Army over the Marines mainly due to the fact that one of my long term goals is to be a professor at a military academy and Annapolis seldom selects Marines as faculty. Recently, I am wondering whether this is the right choice.

I apologize if I sound indecisive (I normally am not). Your help is much appreciated.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2019 1:17 AM

2019-05-04T01:17:23-04:00

The competitiveness depends purely on you. Get through BCT, it gets you exactly zero points; just finish and become a Soldier. Once you are in OCS, everything is merit based. Work your ass off and succeed and you can control your own destiny when it comes to your branch choice. If you can PT, do an obstacle course, LANDNAV, and take tests, you should be ok. You also have to be able to lead a squad during STX lanes and not get peered out by your classmates; it isn’t hard. If you get peered out, you’re either incompetent or a prick. Just do your best and you will be OK. Welcome to Sand Hill.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2019 1:45 AM

2019-05-04T01:45:21-04:00

If you’re top half of the class you’ll probably be able to get it. Wasn’t competitive in my class. Varies by number of slots and types of people per class.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 1:55 AM

2019-05-04T01:55:47-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

Purely out of curiosity, what's you major for your bachekors? Did you also do an assocs? Any grad level yet? Trust me, from.virtually day one, I assure you, regardless.of.svc, all company graders in all svcs are expected to do ALL their ONE coursework ASAP, plus do part time masters minimum, pronto, believe me, been there, done that (BTDT), I assure you, honest, I was Army ROTC, then went USAF OTS as I was unable to finish the first program...look at the forum pages on this site I and others on here have sent it in many times, you'll find it quite useful, honest...also, go into hobbies, interests, reading tastes, sports, incl martial arts...if you were to get faculty, what department or topic would you wanna teaxh? An O-3 I was under who'd been AFROTC for picked to be physics faculty at USAFA when is known him, he's wanted else engrg (EE), he was told her have to do their physics dept first for a cop of yrs....my brother was USMMA Kings Point, I commissioned him, look also at teaching at the junior military colleges and high schools, esp those with serious JROTC programs, I'd even seen a USMC NJROTC high school in RD I'd Sent into a thread a few days ago, my best friend from USAF had been AFROTC at VMI, look at them, the Citadel, and also the state maritime colleges, in addn to USMMA, also the various OCS and HIS programs, and USAF OTS, see if you can do a tour with them as visiting facjulty, maybe Army PCS later on, possibly also the foreign or allied military schools as visiting faculty, esp I'M or France, though not necessarily solely, likely, you'll absolutely need masters, probably possibly PhD, apply to UASF AFIT and Naval Postgrad School (NPS) as soon as you can, I had an O-6 recommend for NPS, I couldn't get it, you'd likely need to do a cpl.of yours to have a chance to go...also, think about Army WOCS as possible faculty, I don't know how they do things, just another thought...when is been at USAF OTS at Lackland nefore.it was moved to.Maxwell, I observed their faculty and how they got assigned to.it quite closely, I'd have loved to have gone back there to teach, I was never able, I'm afraid, just some thoughts, your.ambition got me thinking, honest....

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 1:57 AM

2019-05-04T01:57:23-04:00

http://www.mors.org

If you've got a taste at all for.STEM topics or.fields, look.at ops research very thoroughly, little considered , very good, serious field, highly relevant to warming and foreign policy studies, the MORE journal I get is quite good, very serious reading, honest....

Military Operations Research Society

23-25 July Innovations in Measuring and Predicting Readiness Special Meeting23-27 September Certificate in U.S. National Security Risk Analysis

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 1:59 AM

2019-05-04T01:59:15-04:00

http://www.usni.org

Subscribe to USNI Proceedings, it should be reqd reading for all knew of all svc s honest, it's that good, lemme know if you.want more, i.can suggest a good deal, for real, OK? No rush, I'd you'd care to take at all, I'd most definitely be interested whenever you'd have time, honest....

United States Naval Institute

The U.S. Naval Institute provides an independent forum for those who seek to advance and strengthen the naval profession.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 4 at 2019 1:59 AM

2019-05-04T01:59:50-04:00

Excellently phrased question by the way...most unusually thought provoking.....

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2019 2:14 AM

2019-05-04T02:14:08-04:00

It all depends where you graduate in your class ranking and needs of the Army. Honor Graduate usually gets Branch of choice. The higher you are in class ranking the likelier you are to get your branch of choice. Physical fitness is also very big in the combat arms so you should be focusing the 3 months you have before shipping out in getting in the best shape you can. Don’t count on getting in shape at basic. If you are in good shape, start putting weight on your back and going for timed hikes shooting for 15 minute or under miles. Build up to 12 miles at that pace with a 55lbs ruck. Always shoot for a 300 on your APFT. I was Infantry enlisted and was branched Armor as an officer. Both were fun in their own way. Great thing is, even if you get branched in something you don’t like, you can always put in for a branch detail or transfer before going to your Captain Career’s Course (happens about your 3rd year in). Good luck. One last thing, if you are going Infantry, make sure you go to Ranger School and Airborne School ASAP before your basic course.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2019 6:37 AM

2019-05-04T06:37:02-04:00

It wont be competitive if you are a top 10% in your class. Be better then everyone else and you will never have anything to worry about.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made May 4 at 2019 8:29 AM

2019-05-04T08:29:03-04:00

OCS is a crucible. Period. You will be tested, evaluated, pushed to your physical and mental limits and then pushed beyond what you believe you can endure. No one is given anything at OCS. You earn it every hour of every day. Best of luck and to borrow a phrase from SEAL training "...the only easy day was yesterday..." LTC Orie Illi OCS 1-78 OCS Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Response by COL Gary Gresh made May 9 at 2019 8:44 PM

2019-05-09T20:44:42-04:00

Just go for it! You can do it...Keep asking to go INFANTRY!! HOOAH!! Infantry wants people who want them!

Response by 1LT(P) Ryan Plummer made May 14 at 2019 8:40 PM

2019-05-14T20:40:00-04:00

All branches will take you for infantry as long as you can at least maintain a first class pft. Make sure you never give up when they drop you, and always come in top 5 in the pft run and you'll have no trouble.

Response by 1LT(P) Ryan Plummer made May 14 at 2019 8:40 PM

2019-05-14T20:40:22-04:00

P.s. GO MARINE CORPS!

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2019 2:23 AM

2019-06-06T02:23:02-04:00

I just graduated. The number of slots will vary with each class, but in general are not competitive at all. Many people were force-branched Infantry, but we had several slots. It will depend on that. Feel free to pm me any questions you have about it.