If I go to OCS, what are the chances I'll branch combat arms? How does this branching process work for prior enlisted at OCS?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:19:23 -0500

Will I get branched my current MOS or will I get something completely different?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2021 7:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:27:11 -0500

As I understand, for AD you'll have to compete for your first choice. If you are Reserve or NG you'll be sent to OCS by your unit, so you will know what you are going to branch to.

Response by CPT Tommy Curtis made Dec 15 at 2021 7:44 PM

CPT Tommy Curtis — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:44:15 -0500

Back in the day we had three choices. Mine was made for me because of my degrees. 99% of everyone got their choice.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2021 8:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 20:21:30 -0500

You will have a wish list, then your standing on the OML will determine your branch. The top 1-3% will branch either INF, AV, MI and the others get thrown into SIG, QM, LOG

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Dec 16 at 2021 10:12 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:12:46 -0500

If the Army is anything like the Marine Corps Combat Arms is high sought after and is very competitive.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2021 12:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:23:13 -0500

Unsure about active duty, but for National Guard, it’s based on your state strength and available slots for certain branches, and may not necessarily align with your current MOS.

Response by COL Robert Gilbert made Jan 29 at 2022 12:29 AM

COL Robert Gilbert — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 00:29:34 -0500

In the active duty OCS, I was required to list all the branches of the Army in the order of my first choice to the last choice. However, we were also required to have at least one combat arms and one combat support branch in the top 5 on the lists. At that time, few got their first choice. So most of those that had been enlisted, prior to OCS, were not necessarily getting their previous branch. There was only one soldier in our OCS class, which was also a friend of mine, was able to get his branch change, do to the influence of a General officer, who had originally recommended him for OCS. He had been a MI Special Forces Sgt, prior to OCS and received an initial assignment to AG. However, the General was able to get his changed to MI.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2022 12:59 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 00:59:47 -0500

Not good in the Regular Army