I am putting in a green to gold packet. Could people give insight into these officer branches and responsibilities (MI, MP, EN)?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:29:38 -0500

Response by COL John McClellan made Dec 4 at 2017 9:33 PM

COL John McClellan — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:33:57 -0500

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.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 12:47 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 00:47:30 -0500

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.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Dec 5 at 2017 1:33 AM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 01:33:44 -0500

Well, if you're not going Infantry, does it really matter? LOL, jk.

MI would be my choice out of the three you listed. While you can be a Engineer without an engineering degree, it will hurt your chances for promotion at the higher levels. There is currently more opportunity in MI than MP, and the assignments are likely to be more varied.