Does being a finance Branch officer really limit how much you'll get promoted?

2019-03-07T21:07:54-05:00

I met a finance officer who told me that's since the branch is so small, he's been stuck at Major. What are good branches to continually grown and advance in?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 7 at 2019 10:06 PM

2019-03-07T22:06:45-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member If I remember correctly, your going to State OCS right? I'd look at is in the state for units and see if there is a progression for those branches.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

how-do-i-choose-an-army-branch-a-framework

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2019 10:17 PM

2019-03-07T22:17:18-05:00

NC ARNG has an ABCT, MEB, AVN BDE and Sustainment BDE, so there are O5 jobs in at least:
AR, EN, AV and LG with the most in LG probably.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 7 at 2019 10:24 PM

2019-03-07T22:24:33-05:00

Shouldn’t have an issue. Most NG, you progress and are squares away, will qualify you in at least one more branch.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 7 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-03-07T22:29:47-05:00

How much prior time do you have? Most people do not make general or even what they think they should make, what you can make and do is be really good at your job. I had a retired MSGT in 1989 that was a Vietnam vet teach me that and thirty years later, he is still right. People may judge me retiring as an obese major, families won't judge me as being a crappy nurse for their loved ones.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2019 10:42 PM

2019-03-07T22:42:16-05:00

Go infantry

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 7 at 2019 11:18 PM

2019-03-07T23:18:28-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Promotions are based on manner of performance, but mostly on slots available. Finance is a very small branch, so the slots are limited. But, so too are the officers in the branch. When you compete for promotion, you are essentially competing for authorize spaces that need to filled in that branch. Just do your best, and good things happen.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Mar 8 at 2019 12:09 AM

2019-03-08T00:09:25-05:00

Reserve wise it could keep you back. My advice based on my experience get a combat arms branch first. In the Guard then especially Reserves you have opportunities to change branches. I had three(FA, OD and finally logistics). Unless you’re a walk on water evaluated officer the branch with best opportunity to get to LTC was Logistics due to the diamond demands on the needswheras most other at least Combat Arms its pyramid more LT’s half as many CPTs then only two Majors per Battalion and only one LTC per BN and only two to three at group or BDE level.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2019 10:30 AM

2019-03-08T10:30:45-05:00

Stuck at Major!?! I would love to be stuck at Major and retire.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 8 at 2019 9:44 PM

2019-03-08T21:44:43-05:00

Depends on what you want to be promoted to. You know it's a small branch. Here's a hint. Great college degree and subsequent graduate degree, getting a CPA ticket, achieving national society status, high end auditing credentials, and the list goes on. That is pedigree stuff that if you have it and the competition doesn't, then you have the leg up. Now if it all pancakes in the end, you can walk into a GS-13 career ladder to GS-15 with a number of federal agencies. However, you have to be prepared to move around. Great bean counters that have a clue about reality and can tie dollars to mission correctly are rare. If you're one, you'll be in demand.

Response by COL Michael Freeman made Mar 28 at 2019 11:16 AM

2019-03-28T11:16:05-04:00

I’m convinced that the branch doesn’t limit your potential, you are the only one that can do that. I retired after 31 years in the Army Reserve as a COL. A fellow Finance OBC ‘85 classmate retired from a 25+ Active Duty career as a BG. The branch didn’t prevent us from being promoted.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 16 at 2019 7:59 PM

2019-05-16T19:59:12-04:00

Of course infantry but non combat arms I would say ordnance

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2019 6:18 AM

2019-06-13T06:18:45-04:00

In this MOS a detachment has a commander (02-03) and Disbursing Agent (01-02) and about 24 Enlisted. Several Dets (3-4 usually) make up a Support unit ran by a CPT or Major, XO is a CPT, then like several Junior Officers in various billets: commercial vendor services, disbursing officer). Above a Support Unit theres the Support Center reaponsible for all money in theater, composed of some more Jo's in various billets (support officer, banking officer, etc.) For a Det in the Guard, the finance billets don't have any function in finance unless deployed, and in garrison just perform basic Officer tasks (run ranges, etc.) This is how the Guard does things in finance, and 60%+ of Army Finance Soldiers are in the Guard, I was only active finance while deployed. Basically, it'll be really tough to make much of a career in Army Finance given the small number of advancement billets present beyond CPT.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2022 11:00 PM

2022-01-24T23:00:34-05:00

Not sure if this is relevant any more and realize that career progression is different for all 3 components. There is a lot of progression potential in the reserves as long as your are a half decent and competent officer. I'd understanding key development assignments, developing technical expertise, and having a proactive mindset to avoid getting "stuck" in position or grade.