Posted on Jul 26, 2023
Do you get to choose your duty station preference right after commissioning, or at any point in a officer's career?
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Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army)
OCS
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Army) OCS
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
Army Talent Alignment Algorithm
The Army Talent Alignment Process (ATAP), uses a mathematical algorithm to match soldiers to available positions. The Army calls the newly minted algorithm t...
Short answer: Yes (sort of).
Long Answer: "Duty station preference" is an outdated way that assignments were done previously.
The way the Army does officer assignments is through the Army Talent Alignment Process (ATAP)*. The way officers do it is through AIM* - you can think of AIM as ASK for officers.
On one side will be the officer with their knowledge, skills, and behaviors (KSBs) and all the projected position vacancies that meet those KSBs will be on the other side. You will have the ability to express your preferences by prioritizing them against what's available that match your KSBs. Plus the unit gets a vote as well.
An good overview video of the process is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mEBe7fzrmI
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* ATAP - https://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2019/10/16/
* AIM 2.0 - https://aim.hrc.army.mil/portal/usr_services.aspx
* Officer Talent Management overview (DA PAM 600-3) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36110-PAM_600-3-000-WEB-1.pdf
Long Answer: "Duty station preference" is an outdated way that assignments were done previously.
The way the Army does officer assignments is through the Army Talent Alignment Process (ATAP)*. The way officers do it is through AIM* - you can think of AIM as ASK for officers.
On one side will be the officer with their knowledge, skills, and behaviors (KSBs) and all the projected position vacancies that meet those KSBs will be on the other side. You will have the ability to express your preferences by prioritizing them against what's available that match your KSBs. Plus the unit gets a vote as well.
An good overview video of the process is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mEBe7fzrmI
-----------------------------------------
* ATAP - https://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2019/10/16/
* AIM 2.0 - https://aim.hrc.army.mil/portal/usr_services.aspx
* Officer Talent Management overview (DA PAM 600-3) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36110-PAM_600-3-000-WEB-1.pdf
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I believe that a lot of his question is about what happens after commissioning from OCS and if you have a choice of duty stations and branches. The branch he is assigned will be a big factor in where he lands and branch in OCS is needs of the Army. Yes, you get some choice if you are on top of the OML, so I guess the answer is kind of/maybe.
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Suspended Profile
In the beginning, and throughout my career, I never really had a list of preferred duty stations. I did however have a mental list of duty stations where I DID NOT want to be stationed. It was a short list. It was easier avoiding these TRPs versus trying to hit one that I wanted.
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The only thing I knew during OCS was my branch assignment. It came out pretty close to the end if I remember correctly. I did not know my base until my orders came out assigning me to Ft. Sill (FA). On those orders it was stated that I would be stationed at Stewart after my OBC. Hope that helps!
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