Posted on Dec 4, 2017
SPC Medical Laboratory Specialist
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COL Strategic Plans Chief
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MP, Engineer or MI. Based on what you do and what you want to study (Criminal Justice), I'd tell you to veer away from Engineer. Can you be an Engineer without an engineering degree? Sure you can, but you've pretty much eliminated a large number of jobs that you will be allowed to do throughout your career. Even if you can get those jobs, you will be working with real engineers. Even guys with engineering degrees (Bachelor of Science) aren't considered "real engineers" until they have passed the test (PPE). If you want to focus on Criminal Justice, stay away from Engineer Branch. My two cents. You've already seen what MP's do. As a LT, you're going to a tactical unit. You'll be doing MP duties. Patrolling, guard, security, etc. Don't think you'll be doing investigations and working with CSI. Those sorts of specialization come later and the really cool jobs are usually heavy in Warrant Officers, who actually do the job while the few officers manage the office and the shifts. Out of the three branches you've listed, MI probably has the best choices for career paths. The tactical realm for them can go into a staff focus or a tactical platoon and company level focus, but both have their merits. The focus for MI Branch is getting you into staff S2/G2 jobs because that's what they do. Leadership roles seem to take a back seat, but the opportunities are there. The aperture for broadening assignments opens up at senior Captain and Major with some pretty cool opportunities.
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SPC Medical Laboratory Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
7 y
This helps a great deal. I kind of assumed not having an engineering degree would hinder me. MI is actually what I originally wanted to enlist for hut was not available. Part of me wants to do infantry or aviation but the family side of me says no. Is there a way to sort of do a mix between branches?
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COL Strategic Plans Chief
COL (Join to see)
7 y
SPC (Join to see), not to sure about the difference between any of the branches when it comes to family time as an officer. Bottom line there is, you have two families and your spouse had best understand what the two of you are getting into. The idea that your family comes first is a convenient lie that everyone tells you once they are already successful and have sacrificed a portion of their life to get there...and now they are looking back at it and justifying what they did with platitudes like, "My wife is a saint," or, "My family understands." Sure they do. That doesn't make it suck less for them. So...MI, IN, FA, CA, AR, AV...doesn't matter. Time is time and coming to work at 0530 and leaving at 1900 is the way it's done. Sleep when you're dead and make the time with your family quality. You ain't getting quantity in any branch as an officer. Gets worse as you get promoted or are in command/leadership positions. ANYHOW...you can do a branch affiliation as a young officer. Your primary branch could be MI but you could be affiliated to the Infantry. What that means is that you will be an infantry officer for 4 years and will then be forcibly transferred to the MI. What usually happens is that by the time your 4 years are up, you realize that you made a horrible life decision and really want to stay in the combat arms branch that you are in...but HRC rarely lets people out of those situations and you end up doing another 2 years in a branch that you now aren't really fond of. Up to you. I'd chose a profession and then put your oars in the water and row like hell. MP, MI, IN, AR, EN. Do what you WANT to do. Do what appeals to you. This profession is too demanding to be doing something that you don't truly enjoy doing. Keep yourself on the path and do not allow yourself to be kept there by others.
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SPC Medical Laboratory Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
7 y
I agree! I will research more and try to find something I can be passionate about
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COL John McClellan
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Edited 7 y ago
That covers a lot of ground! What is your MOS now?

Basic Branches --
AD - Air Defense Artillery; AG - Adjutant General's Corps - administration; AN - Army Nurse; AR - Armor Includes Cavalry); AV - Aviation; ); CM - Chemical Corps; EN - Engineer; FA - Field Artillery: FI - Finance: IN - Infantry; MI - Military Intelligence; MP - Military Police; MS - Medical Service Corps (they admin / lead medical units); OD - Ordnance (includes Maintenance, and EOD); QM - Quartermaster Corps; SC - Signal Corps (communications); ; TC - Transportation Corps; and now Cyber Warfare (CY)

Branches you transfer to later --
AC - Acquisition Corps; CA - Civil Affairs; SF - Special Forces

Special branches -- that require graduate level study:
MC - Doctors; DC - Dentists, Veterinary - VC; JAG - Lawyers; and CH - Chaplains.
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COL John McClellan
COL John McClellan
7 y
Essayons! Sappers clear the Way! Includes combat engineers (obstacles, mines & demolitions), construction engineers, topographic engineers (mapping), Army dive teams, and Prime Power (electric power generation on a large scale).
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SPC Medical Laboratory Specialist
SPC (Join to see)
7 y
Sapper definitely interests me. As well as rescue. I just want something fulfilling and not mind numbing or monotonous
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LTC Self Employed
LTC (Join to see)
7 y
whichever the three you finally choose, complete your captains career course as a first lieutenant or as a captain and then I recommend taking an exciting functional area such as civil affairs or psychological operations. you will definitely expand your horizons more that way and be easily promotable to Major .Originally, I was Military Police branch and now I have Civil Affairs as my functional area. I knew of a registered nurse medical service Corps who was also a psychological operations specialist. I also met a veterinarian who was also civil affairs. Those women are probably both now Lieutenant Colonels because of the experience they gained. Medical service Corps does lend you out to functional areas like civil affairs and psychological operations. That will also keep you from worrying about doing routine and/ or boring things.
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LTC Self Employed
LTC (Join to see)
7 y
some good to think about when you make 1Lt or captain (after you complete your branch Captains Career Course) you can pick a functional area such a civil Affairs or psychological operations. it is a separate branch in the active duty .you could still be an engineer and add civil affairs just like you could be an RN or a veterinarian and joint civil if there's a psychological operations. that is one reason I think I made major very easily is because I picked civil Affairs as a secondary even though military police is my primary. Whichever of the three you choose, they will all be the right answer. Just keep those two suggested functional areas for later. You will be a well-rounded officer. Those other branches have no problem sharing you by the way.
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