Is it possible for a cadet to ensure that he/she commissions as a Sapper if they choose engineering as their branch?

2020-05-05T22:44:40-04:00

If a cadet commissions as an engineering officer, is it possible for them to ENSURE that they become a Sapper (combat engineer) rather than receiving one or the other engineering jobs such as ‘heavy’ or ‘construction’?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2020 10:48 PM

2020-05-05T22:48:37-04:00

You’re not guaranteed Engineer unless you’re going guard or reserve and have the paragraph and line number before you graduate. Then it is up to your unit to send you if you’re in a combat engineer unit.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made May 5 at 2020 10:49 PM

2020-05-05T22:49:35-04:00

In my experience, A N Y T H I N G can happen. I was majoring in Television Production and wound up being a SIGINT Officer.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2020 10:50 PM

2020-05-05T22:50:53-04:00

All I can say after working with a few engineers over the years is it is very selective. Being prepared mentally and physically would probably be your best bet to being selected.

Response by COL David Turk made May 5 at 2020 11:00 PM

2020-05-05T23:00:45-04:00

If you’re active duty, the majority of slots, in today’s army, for engineer branch officers are combat engineering. Most of the construction units are in the ARNG. There’s a few slots for topo, diving, and other engineering specialties. You used to put in your request in EOBC. If you’re in ROTC and have already been assigned your EN commission, talk to your cadre to see if they can forward your request to EN branch assignments. Cadet command used to have contacts everywhere.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2020 11:02 PM

2020-05-05T23:02:56-04:00

Sapper is a job or additional school, not an MOS or AOC. Not all combat engineers are sappers. As a cadet you can't even guarantee you'll be an engineer. But you don't have to be an engineer to go to sapper school. And other MOS/AOCs do sapper like things without being sappers or engineers. I was a maintenence platoon leader, ordance LT with no special schools, in a heavy engineer company the first time i built and fired a Bangalore torpedo.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made May 5 at 2020 11:04 PM

2020-05-05T23:04:36-04:00

Work hard, prover yourself technically and tactically to be the best at what you do. Lead with compassion and competence and follow with candor and vigor!

Response by Maj Rob Drury made May 5 at 2020 11:11 PM

2020-05-05T23:11:17-04:00

Absolutely not. You are an asset to be used as Uncle Sam sees fit. There's nothing wrong with plans and career objectives, but at the end of the day, even as an officer, you're just a cog in the machine.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 5 at 2020 11:59 PM

2020-05-05T23:59:57-04:00

Nothing is ensured, you serve at the needs of the service. However, the absolute best advice I ever got while a student was this: Make it so it is too damn difficult for big service (Army, Navy, Marines, CG or Guard) to turn you down for what you want. That means get the very best grades and military scores you can get, so you graduate at the top of your class. Always, always, always, have a plan B, C, D and E. I wanted to be a pilot before I got in, then in training realized I desperately wanted to be a Marine, ended up driving ships. Had an absolute blast every single day. The point is, regardless of where you end up you will be doing one of th best things in the world! Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 6 at 2020 5:59 AM

2020-05-06T05:59:00-04:00

Dapper in some regards is the Ranger of Engineers. As I recall ( it being and Engineer) have to attend a lengthy and challenging course. It is possible, just a lot of competition for initial entry.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2020 9:04 AM

2020-05-06T09:04:19-04:00

Go National Guard or Reserve and get a Sapper Unit to accept you.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 6 at 2020 11:35 AM

2020-05-06T11:35:27-04:00

You can put combat engineer on your wish list (sapper is a leader's course/tab).

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 6 at 2020 2:49 PM

2020-05-06T14:49:31-04:00

OK, let an Engineer Officer talk to you. Engineer Officers do not specialize, so you can serve in anything for a Heavy Construction unit to a Divisional Combat Engineer, which is more of what I believe you are thinking of as a Sapper. The word comes from the French word for Spade and term was used interchangeably with Pioneer (who dug trenches for sieges), or later Combat Engineer. So all 12B's are Sappers.

All 12B's are trained at demolition. There is an addition Sapper school which would be the Engineer equivalent of Ranger School (yes, I know Ranger School is longer and harder, but you can't be half asleep and work with explosives), but it is an additional school like Ranger School is in the Infantry. Like Ranger School, you don't have to be Engineer to attend, but it takes a waiver for Officer that are above Company Grade unless things have changed. Also like Ranger School, you can be 12B and never attend too.

So to be clear, there is no such thing as a Combat Engineer Officer, we are all Engineer Officers and can serve in a wide variety of Engineering units. As a Company Grade Officer, 2Lt- Cpt, you should be able to pick up Sapper school, might make Ranger School a goal too, since it's one of those schools they look at during promotions. The bad news is that you don't get to pick you duty stations or positions in the Active Army. You get a wish list, but it's still needs of he Army. Army Guard is a bit difference. I branch transferred from the Infantry when I joined the Kentucky National Guard because they had a number of slots for Engineers and damn few for grunts. I was lucky, even though there were two types of Engineer units in the state, I spend my Kentucky Guard time in the 206th Engineers (Mech), a mechanized combat engineer battalion, as Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Assistant Brigade Engineer, and S1. Company Commander and Assistant Brigade Engineer were the two best jobs I had in the Army, although I don't regret volunteering Infantry enlisted or Commissioned.

The other side of Engineering has it's strong points too. A lot better reference for future jobs and they can be very challenging. If you land in one of those, don't sweat it and make the most of the experience.

One last thing, outside of the Guard, your ability to choose your branch is limited. You will get your wish list, but it's needs of the Army. Good Luck.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2020 4:21 PM

2020-05-06T16:21:22-04:00

Your chances of going to a Sapper unit are better if you have the Sapper Tab. But the down side of the Engineer Officer there are these things called broadening assignments. The objective is to create a well rounded officer so you will be in a construction type unit at some point in your career. But if you want to be in a Sapper unit make sure you tell your branch officer. Essayons!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2020 5:49 PM

2020-05-06T17:49:25-04:00

No, the cadet in question is not guaranteed to lead sappers on the line but you can increase your stock. Best things to do are be physically fit and look it, show up to the unit tabbed or go to sapper school soon after arriving, get ahead of the officer slate by requesting to lead sappers in your initial counseling with your rater and senior rater/BC

Response by MAJ Chris Ebertz made May 8 at 2020 10:47 PM

2020-05-08T22:47:17-04:00

I would say no, but the real question is why? The Engineer Corps encompasses every skill for your future. Both military and civilian. I spent time in Real Estate, Construction, Civil, and yes Sapper. If you possess the skill and intelligence there is no other branch in the entire military to choose. Once you get through OBC you will find nothing but rewards. And yes, as an Engineer Officer your opportunities and rewards are endless. We Good Luck..ESSAYONS!

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made May 9 at 2020 3:26 PM

2020-05-09T15:26:28-04:00

Wow, we have sappers and commissioned ones, too! If it like VC and NVA sappers, not a high percentage making 20. Has to be something else with same name.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2020 12:44 PM

2020-05-31T12:44:41-04:00

This is in part also related to you assignment. If the only engineer units on the post are combat engineer units then you are by default going to lead sappers (12Bs). The installation strength manager is the one who will more than likely assign you to your actual unit. Considering that most of the LT positions for engineers on active duty are in divisional units, you have a far greater chance of being assigned in that role than in a topo or construction unit. When you find out where you are being assigned, contact the installation or the unit you want to be assigned to and ask for a by name request. Otherwise you are a nameless face and number and will get assigned based on the needs of the Army.

Response by CPT Carey Mitchell made Apr 23 at 2021 8:44 PM

2021-04-23T20:44:12-04:00

NOTHING is absolutely certain; there's this little phrase, "Needs of the service" that overrides everything. A million years ago (1966 to be exact) I chose Infantry, Arty and Signal - they stuck me in QM, arrrgghhh! I protested that there were hundreds of INF LTs, who would trade places with me to avoid VN. Sorry, the Army needs you and more in this branch, now. Later, i managed to change to ENGR, but by then was soured on the Army in general. Did have a great time in ENGR in the USAR.