Posted on Sep 14, 2015
Does a branch detail help or hinder an officer's career?
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It gives an officer more options and variety of experience, but can it hinder them as well?
Thoughts & personal experiences?
Thoughts & personal experiences?
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Officer
19A: Armor Officer
Officer 19A: Armor Officer
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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My Best Man at our wedding was John E. Sena, (one year my junior in ROTC) who was destined to be an Airborne Ranger (BADASS) Infantry officer... and he was! However, when he found out that he was branch detailed to AG (known as the Shield of Shame then), he was so embarrassed that he didn't call or contact me for 6 years. When I finally ran into him years later, he was the assistant G1 in the 24th ID, and was later picked by his Division CG to lead a Task Force in Afghanistan because he was still one of the best Infantry officers in the Army and deserving of a combat command, even as an Adjutant General-branched officer. I am more proud of COL(R) Sena than most of my single-track combat arms brothers because he never stopped being a Soldier's Soldier, despite not staying in the branch of his choice! Nobody gets to choose whether they are branch detailed or not, but if you are, take your experience from the front lines and apply it to sustain the force in whatever branch you are assigned, brother!
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Depends...just like any other experience the Army hands you. If you are smart and make the most of it, good usually comes. One of the best MI CPTs I know was branch detailed Chemical. Lots of people would have been bitter, not her. She was assigned to our BfSB and I was the S2 and she sat with me and other MI Soldiers every chance she got. For her it was like having a dual major in college.
On the other hand, one of the all around worst officers I ever dealt with was branch detailed infantry, then came to MI. He made sure that everyone understood that he would "always be infantry," and viewed MI and MI Soldiers as nerds and not "real" Soldiers. He knew absolutely nothing about MI and was totally resistant to learning. He was sent to me to learn about SIGINT and after an hour he dismissed himself announcing that he was "good" and he let me know I was to "handle all that boring sh!t" without involving him. I know that he tried to stay infantry but they didn't take him. I suspect they saw his weak character even more clearly than I did.
In theater, they say, "there is no such thing as small parts, only small actors." The same is true in the Army. Do what you are told to do and knock it out of the park. Success will follow. Gripe, slow walk it, and/or blow it off, and you will just be given that same type of work until you demonstrate you are capable of more.
On the other hand, one of the all around worst officers I ever dealt with was branch detailed infantry, then came to MI. He made sure that everyone understood that he would "always be infantry," and viewed MI and MI Soldiers as nerds and not "real" Soldiers. He knew absolutely nothing about MI and was totally resistant to learning. He was sent to me to learn about SIGINT and after an hour he dismissed himself announcing that he was "good" and he let me know I was to "handle all that boring sh!t" without involving him. I know that he tried to stay infantry but they didn't take him. I suspect they saw his weak character even more clearly than I did.
In theater, they say, "there is no such thing as small parts, only small actors." The same is true in the Army. Do what you are told to do and knock it out of the park. Success will follow. Gripe, slow walk it, and/or blow it off, and you will just be given that same type of work until you demonstrate you are capable of more.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
I am actually MI detailed to Armor, mam. I hope to avoid the same scenario. I actually chose the branch detail over a pure MI slot. I still want to spend a little more time on the ground and hoped that it would help make me a more well rounded MI officer. Any advice for my specific situation?
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CPT (Join to see)
Yes! Learn everything you can about ENY maneuver tactics. It's a lost art. You will be taught MDMP and IPB as part of your officer training. As an AR officer, you provide input to that process, as an MI officer, you will be one of the key managers of it. MI officers often try to go it alone, as if they should be expert on things that they have no training at all in. I was trying to lay out ENY range fans. I went over to the Fires cell and asked for help with a specific weapon. They asked me if the ENY had fitted the weapon with smooth or rifled barrels and which types of rounds they typically carried. I brought them back the answers and they gave me the effective ranges. That’s how it *should* work. MI officers have access to tons of data. We do not necessarily know the importance/relevance of all of it and sometimes fail to ask the right people the right questions…or worse, fear asking questions thinking people will think we are incompetent. Your AR training will allow you to basically speak two languages. Spend time with your S2 staff and let them know your future plans. I am sure they will be happy to include you.
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LTC (Join to see)
The good CPT makes a couple of very good points:
1. Be a loyal Armor officer until you're not - but don't be afraid to visit the "intel weenies" and learn all you can.
2. Once you make the change, make the change. You can hang your ugly black Stetson and a armor love me plaque or two in your office but that's about all you need to say about being an armor officer - let your understanding of maneuver, clear understanding of terms, technology, graphics and TTPS and your ability to realistically visualize the battlefield do your talking.
1. Be a loyal Armor officer until you're not - but don't be afraid to visit the "intel weenies" and learn all you can.
2. Once you make the change, make the change. You can hang your ugly black Stetson and a armor love me plaque or two in your office but that's about all you need to say about being an armor officer - let your understanding of maneuver, clear understanding of terms, technology, graphics and TTPS and your ability to realistically visualize the battlefield do your talking.
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How can it not help sir? It will broaden you into a more well rounded officer. Especially if you are a non-maneuver branch and you get to serve as a maneuver LT. You will be way ahead of your counterparts.
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LTC John Wilson
That was the theory, but -- just like the Joint Assignment scheme -- branch detailing sets Officers up for failure.
Since Officers are graded on a curve, and Senior Raters must judiciously manage their SR Profile, Battalion Commanders usually like to reserve their "Top Blocks" for Lieutenants who will remain in the same branch. Detailed officers fall lower on the "pyramid," which harms them later on.
Since Officers are graded on a curve, and Senior Raters must judiciously manage their SR Profile, Battalion Commanders usually like to reserve their "Top Blocks" for Lieutenants who will remain in the same branch. Detailed officers fall lower on the "pyramid," which harms them later on.
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Depends what you do when you are branch detailed. I knew a former SF NCO who got a commission, was branched detailed as an Infantry officer, but he was actually a 91A (Ordnance Officer). He got to be a PL of a 38 man Infantry platoon. I'd say being branched detailed helped him because nobody cares what you did as an enlisted soldier really once you get a commission.
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I was branch detailed IN/MI and was one of those guys that went kicking and screaming to MI. Tried getting out of it (along with others) and had C of C support but MI was a shortage branch at the time and we all got disapproved by then PERSCOM (now HRC I believe). In retrospect it wasn't that bad at all and gave me many more post-military opportunities as I still work in the intel field. In the end, though, it's YOUR career so only you know what's best! Good luck and feel free to contact me offline about MI. Always Out Front !
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1LT (Join to see)
As a junior officer detailed to infantry were you able to do ranger school or get the EIB?
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Generally Branch Detail makes you a much more valuable officer to the donor branch - In your case, MI gets a Captain with maneuver experience rather than a battalion S-2 from a CSB who couldn't correctly identify restrictive terrain if it bit him on the butt.
Two Cautions:
1. Make sure you actively seek out leadership positions vice becoming the Assistant S-2 after one year as an armor platoon leader.
2. Some "less than bright" battalion commanders will use you to make their "favored armored sons" look better via their profile - "...since you're not a potential Armor Commander, you don't need that top block...". Make it impossible for him not to give you the evaluation you deserve by leading from the front of your platoon and your peers.
Two Cautions:
1. Make sure you actively seek out leadership positions vice becoming the Assistant S-2 after one year as an armor platoon leader.
2. Some "less than bright" battalion commanders will use you to make their "favored armored sons" look better via their profile - "...since you're not a potential Armor Commander, you don't need that top block...". Make it impossible for him not to give you the evaluation you deserve by leading from the front of your platoon and your peers.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
That was my chief concern, sir. I usually excel and I don't intend on stopping that trend. I was told to be upfront about it when I meet my first BC. Is that a good idea?
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LTC (Join to see)
Being up front generally pays off - tell him you intend to be "an Armor officer in word and deed" for 3-4 years (whatever they are telling you is your shift point) and you want to learn that profession before you move to intel. He'll know you're branch detailed. Tell him you want to lead platoons (Tank Plt then Scouts or Mortars) but you're not against moving to S-2/BIC in your last year. Then let your deeds do your talking - actively seek opportunities for schooling, unique training opportunities and leader time. I volunteered to be an OC for a National Guard Annual Training one time when the Bn/Bde was in our Red Phase (normally that's the time you take leave, go to schools do post detail etc) - it was miserable but I learned a tremendous amount and my willingness to suck it up and execute led to many other better opportunities.
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Branch detail helps, some. Much as prior enlisted service helps some. So a branch detailed guy is usually better rounded than his peers as a CPT, but the ones who stay have pulled even by the time they are MAJs. Just as a prior enlisted officer has a huge advantage as a LT, but is not inherently any better by the time they reach CPT.
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Unfortunately, I have seen Commanders favor non-branch transfer Officers over those that are, due to their longevity in the branch. Also, when you branch transfer, you may be behind your peers in your new branch due to your lack on branch experience. At the same time though, you are more broadened. Ultimately, it depends on the Commander, but more importantly, on your personal performance, regardless of if you're branch-transferred or not.
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First of all, welcome to Armor and remember recon wins wars. Any and every opportunity you can use in the military can be used in your favor. If you are branch detailed into armor or from armor to something else use the skills in planning the operations, maneuvering you vehicles, and maintenance and medical requirements to be able to take that to a commander and say that you are prepared to be able to add what ever to his fight if he needs it. Just remember everyone is an asset, just have to find the right problem.
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Helps more than hurts and if I'm not mistaken you can always put in paperwork to stay in your detailed branch.
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