How is one selected to be an armor officer?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:43:20 -0400

I have read that you can choose to be a Armor officer after receiving commission. But how does one determine where there going. 19B is a armor officer, and 19C is a cavalry officer. Is this based off of slots opened?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2017 5:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:49:26 -0400

It's all about needs of the Army. Luckily the Army always need combat arms. But it also depends on your commissioning source. If you go to OCS with a class of 300 candidates and you have only 15 armor slots in your class the preference is going to those higher performers in the class. Unless no one wants it. But there is no guarantee on anything when you start.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2017 5:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 17:50:02 -0400

Officers don't get to choose their branch. We can list the ones we want but there is no guarantee that we will get what we want.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Aug 2 at 2017 7:31 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:31:55 -0400

You don't chose Armor, Armor chooses you! Sorry, couldn't resist...

Response by LTC Rick Winn made Aug 2 at 2017 11:15 PM

LTC Rick Winn — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 23:15:58 -0400

are you active, reserve or national guard? if there is a slot in the reserves or guard good chance you can branch Armor

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2017 10:50 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 10:50:45 -0400

Yes, if you are National Guard, you'll have a better chance of getting to pick your branch than if you are active. And we have several heavy brigades in the Guard. Come to the 30th BDE (NC, WV, SC); we are always recruiting Armor officers!
Armor officers commission as 19A, then become Bs or Cs depending on the position they're assigned to.

Response by CPT Allen Saum made Aug 3 at 2017 8:00 PM

CPT Allen Saum — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 20:00:11 -0400

When I was commissioned, Armor was the branch and was listed on my records as 1203/1204 armor/armored cavalry (Old MOS designations). Your assignment determined which arm of the branch you were detailed to.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2017 3:51 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 15:51:59 -0400

It's all about the needs of the Army and slots available, unless you join the national guard. When I was commissioning, I requested a letter of acceptance from a Cavalry Squadron, received one, was slotted as a Scout Platoon leader in Light Cavalry Troop. As an armor officer you can be assigned to Tanks, Bradley's, Strykers or Gun Trucks. It's all about the luck of the draw.

Response by 1LT Rich Voss made Aug 19 at 2017 2:22 AM

1LT Rich Voss — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 02:22:33 -0400

I was "lucky" or "fortunate". We had branch specific OCS' in '66 and I requested, and had the appropriate qualities/qualifications, to get orders for Fort Knox, and then had the same "fortune" and fortitude to actually graduate. More than a third of my class did NOT ! Believe me, there were plenty of preliminary tests, screening, panels, and psychological interviews before ever getting close to the actual selection. The various rooms got significantly 'smaller" during the process. Was it because we were in the midst of the Viet Nam and Cold War ? Probably. I got my childhood dream. I read everything I could about Patton, Rommel et al from the time I was playing with Revell and Monogram plastic models. Perhaps that helped me, as I knew tank battles well before reaching high school. Became a 2LT tank platoon leader at 19. Nineteen. Then various posts in Battalion and Brigade HQs. Good fortune to you as well !

Response by COL David Jessop made Dec 12 at 2017 9:24 PM

COL David Jessop — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 21:24:27 -0500

If going through ROTC strive for a Regular Army commission (via Distinguished Military Grad), select Armor as your first choice (out of 5 in rank order) and your chances are about 99.9%. There are those that will branch detail Armor, get some troop time in an Armor unit, then go to another MOS after their first tour as a LT.

Response by 2d Lt Jim Dorval made Jun 28 at 2022 11:01 PM

2d Lt Jim Dorval — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 23:01:04 -0400

Always remember to say "Tanks."