To all officers, what factors went into picking your branch? In retrospect, is there anything you overlooked?

2018-04-12T00:47:14-04:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 12:53 AM

2018-04-12T00:53:42-04:00

Originally, I joined the California Army National Guard to become a military police soldier and the division headquarters and the division MP Company was only 15 minutes away from my house. That made it easy to pick an MOS. Later, after I became commissioned as a military police lieutenant, I ended up having to go to a different unit and the end up going to be military police units three and a half hours north of me. At that time in California, most of the military police companies were not in Southern California but North of San Luis Obispo and in the Bay Area. It was because of this long drive that I decided to Branch transfer to armor. The armored unit I chose was only an hour away from my house.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 1:45 AM

2018-04-12T01:45:38-04:00

Please give him your feedback.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 5:30 AM

2018-04-12T05:30:01-04:00

I was a ROTC G2G product. I thought I was going to go back into the Infantry. Aviation sounded cool so I t was my first choice. It turned out to be an ev n better choice when I got to flight school and found out we get flight pay! While it was great getting to fly and getting extra pay the novelty soon wore off at CPT when you don’t really get to fly much. I switched to Military Intelligence and that was really interesting. Cyber is cool too. So I’m cyber but still use my intel skills.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Apr 12 at 2018 6:07 AM

2018-04-12T06:07:58-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member First is was based on what my enlisted MOS was at first and then it was based on the needs of the Army. It's harder to make branch transfers these days, but it wasn't in 1983. I stared in the AG Branch because I was involved in administration and records as an SSG/E-6, btu then there was an ooportunity to take command of a Medical company, so I went to the MSC Advance Course. Thsi medical comapny was part of a Forward Support Command, so requested the Logistics/Supply Advance Course and then the rest is history. You have to decide before you go to OCS what branch you want to be in. If you're taking a direct commission with your education, then you it will most likely follow your current MOS or your degree. Not sure what direction your going in, but pick something has career progression and available positions all the way up through Colonel/O-6. Just my two cents Philip!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 6:27 AM

2018-04-12T06:27:44-04:00

SPC Reichert- in my opinion your branch picks you instead of you selecting a branch. For example, I was ROTC, Branch Detail from Quartermaster to Infantry. I think the COLs provided the best answer though. Pick a branch with a wide promotion potential. Some branches are like a triangle with few officers at the top. Aviation for example. If you want to fly rotary aircraft then go Warrant Officer. Other branches like Sustainment (QM, OD, TC, AG, MSC) have an inverted triangle structure with few junior positions but numerous 0-5, 0-6 positions. The key is to immerse yourself in whatever branch you get. Become the subject matter expert in your field. Last piece of advice is in whatever you decide- go Joint. The job possibilities and locations where you will serve are endless in the joint environment. Best of luck.

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Apr 12 at 2018 6:40 AM

2018-04-12T06:40:00-04:00

My first leap into Officerdom was as a Warrant. I was enjoying life as an Enlisted 18 Series guy until we had a sudden removal of the Det Commander, and as a team we decided to plug the hole before we got someone’s “extra” Officer. The fastest plug was for me to do the SF Warrant Officer route. Life Altering move! The big factors there were Timing, Interest, and Needs of the Organization.

Due to the scarcity of SF Officers in the ARNG, almost all of my time was spent as an ODA Commander. 2.5-3 years was a good run. So I was presented with a decision. Do I milk a few more years of team time only to spend the next 25 eligible years of military service on staff (ODB, BN, etc) or try something new? It was easy to switch to Aviation. I was already a CW2, in good shape, killed the AFAST (It is called the SIFT now), didn’t have to redo SERE... all I had to do was go fly. It was a great move. This was more of an Interest & Timing move.

Life was good as a CW3. I was hired AGR in the UH60 world. Flying hawks was a blast, but Mother Army decided to change the State Flight Detachments' commanders (Fixed-Wing) to O grades instead of Warrants. Our SFD was always commanded by a CW5. They just created an AGR Captain billet and were scratching their heads on who to fill it. My career was already as weird as could be, so they offered me a direct commission and the FW transition. Long story short, I enlisted for what I wanted, and the journey started evolving from there. My number 1 consideration on my career moves was “am I going to enjoy the job and the people I will be working with?” After I got married and the kiddos came along, they get a slice of the career move decision too. It’s been an awesome ride. Good luck to you. Do what you love and love what you do!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 7:17 AM

2018-04-12T07:17:16-04:00

I selected Engineer because I was an Combat Engineer enlisted and my Geography degree was aligned well to the Engineering cartography field.

The Army Selected MP, so I was commissioned MP.

Response by 2LT Ronald Reimer made Apr 12 at 2018 7:18 AM

2018-04-12T07:18:46-04:00

No. I love the specialist branch, (SP). Being a PA is an honor and privilege! Best job ever!

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Apr 12 at 2018 7:56 AM

2018-04-12T07:56:40-04:00

I was an Army G2G cadet and volunteered for branch detail. My detail branch of Chemical was based on personal desire to fill a niche and stand out. My control branch of ordnance was based on familiarity of working with mechanics when I was an 88M and career opportunities from service.

Transportation did not interest me based on desire to do something different as an officer than when I was enlisted along with the desire to avoid Fort Eustis based on previous time stationed there.

In retrospect, I am glad for my decision, but wish others could take advantage of opportunities in branches they did not pick. During my time, a limited number of Ranger school and 75th Ranger Regiment opportunities existed in Chemical OBC (old name for BOLC). If one did not get infantry, the new 2LT could still be part of a SOF unit in a supporting role. Another Chemical officer got a slot as an SF CHEMO and used it for special training opportunities along with politicking into SFAS.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 8:09 AM

2018-04-12T08:09:45-04:00

Initially, I wanted to be an Air Force pilot like my grandfather (Army Air Corps). My "back-up" was Army to follow in my dad's footsteps and go Airborne. My decision to "GO NAVY" was pretty much fate...I had already been rejected for Air Force Academy and AFROTC scholarships (didn't have the grades), lost out in the final "best of three" competition for West Point (only one Congressional appointment available for three finalists), but been awarded an Army ROTC contract to a local college, and was going to accept it when the Naval Academy acceptance letter and Congressional nomination came through. Since flying was my first choice, regardless of service...I assumed I'd end up in Naval Aviation, which I did...albeit for a short time.

If I had it all to do over again, I believe I'd have accepted that Army contract and gone ROTC. I just barely made it through Annapolis academically, and though I loved being at sea, I really found the two years I worked with the Army a rewarding time in my career. I proved completely unsuited to being an aviator, possible "average" as a shiphandler...but not too bad on the ground I think.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Apr 12 at 2018 9:04 AM

2018-04-12T09:04:14-04:00

For me, I chose the Army, because at that time, it was the only branch taking people my age. I chose my MOS because I figured if I was going to join the Army, I should join the beating heart if the Army, the Infantry. Besides, I knew I was every bit as good as guys half my age!
My intention was go OCS after some 11 series time and hopefully remain there, but that couldn't be guaranteed even then, so I opted not to go O.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 10:00 AM

2018-04-12T10:00:12-04:00

When I originally picked/requested Infantry, it was the only thing I wanted to do. And while I loved that job, I think I could have looked closer at what other branches actually do and how they set you up in the future. I just acquired the MP MOS and am in the Guard. One reason I chose that was because the armory is 6 miles from my house. BUT, there are only 2 slots for an MP major in the entire state. So, in order to continue past major I know I'll have to go back to the Infantry side of things or grab another MOS (maybe in logistics or HR). Just stuff to think about.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 12 at 2018 12:58 PM

2018-04-12T12:58:33-04:00

I wanted to be an Air Force Pilot since I was a kid. I selected college with AFROTC so I could follow that dream. Completed pilot training in 1970 and held operational flying jobs through 1986. Great career! Regrets: none.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 12 at 2018 1:12 PM

2018-04-12T13:12:19-04:00

I didn't have a clue of what I was doing and let someone else do it for me. Big mistake. I should have looked at every one of them and then gone Infantry (I graduated from Infantry OCS and have suffered acute survivors guilt for not deploying with my classmates)

Response by MAJ James Woods made Apr 12 at 2018 1:15 PM

2018-04-12T13:15:22-04:00

I focused my top 10 choices based on what I wanted to do for 20 years but in retrospect I would have considered how any of those choices would also benefit post-military career options. Do keep that in mind.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Apr 12 at 2018 1:20 PM

2018-04-12T13:20:41-04:00

I was enlisted Infantry, so when I went to OCS, Infantry was my first choice. When I moved to Kentucky and joined the Kentucky National Guard, there wasn't much opportunity for Infantry Officers in the state, but they had two full Battalions of Engineers and were short enough company grade officers that they pushed it pretty hard, so I switched. I had to go to EOAC to Branch quality, did I mention that Power Distribution and Bridging are Freaking HARD, but not regrets. A Division Engineer Company Commander was one of the two best jobs I had in the Army, Assistant Brigade Engineer was a pretty good job too.

Response by CPT Victor Salazar made Apr 12 at 2018 2:34 PM

2018-04-12T14:34:41-04:00

I knew I wanted MI and was branched accordingly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 3:50 PM

2018-04-12T15:50:16-04:00

You don’t choose a branch, a branch chooses you...at least in the Guard.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2018 11:06 PM

2018-04-12T23:06:44-04:00

The Army choose for me. My degree was in human serves - did not fall into a branch specific category. My enlisted MOS was 68M (nutrition) but I had also completed 92G. They decided since I had experience in a quartermaster MOS that that would be the branch they would give me.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Apr 12 at 2018 11:43 PM

2018-04-12T23:43:27-04:00

I was a Quartermaster Branched Detailed to Armor. I served for 2 years in AR and then QM. Which later became LG.

I wanted the leadership experience of combat arms. AR is where I got it before going QM and LOG. I am glad I served this way.

Form QM/LG I served in Log jobs, NATO, Human Resources, Medical, and Diplomat. No complaints! 10 years overseas in 8 countries.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2018 2:01 PM

2018-04-13T14:01:29-04:00

My initial entry was as an 11B Infantryman. Being an historian the infantry drew my attention because of their major role in achieving all battlefield victories. I had been an international level athletic competitor while an undergraduate. I was young and very physically fit, I still had to work hard as the strength required is not the same as athletics. My initial commissioned branch was MI. My undergraduate degree supported it and my thought processing style was complementary. I was a USAR IMA to a specific combat formation. My transfer to the Dental Corps was an intellectual decision besed upon my first graduate degree. It was a TERRIBLE mistake! I expected to be with Army officers that just happened to be dentists. What I got was dentists that happend by chance to be Army officers. Big difference here. When a Full Bull Colonel cannot successfully raise a GP medium tent, has his soldiers rolls the tent flaps up facing OUTWARDS (!) and his CSM didn't know any better, it is easy to see the difference. I will not post anything openly relating to this question and SF. Sorry.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jun 20 at 2018 1:02 PM

2018-06-20T13:02:11-04:00

The Navy was the one that took me...

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jun 25 at 2018 6:08 PM

2018-06-25T18:08:11-04:00

I was an enlisted infantryman and simply just wanted to be a Platoon Leader. Almost seven years later took command of a MP company and stayed 31A ever since then.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Aug 13 at 2018 6:35 PM

2018-08-13T18:35:22-04:00

I was an enlisted infantryman an it carried over after commissioning in the Oregon Army Guard. I re-branched to Military Police after being selected to command a MP Guard Company. It didn't hurt I was a correctional worker in my civilian job.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 13 at 2018 9:23 PM

2018-08-13T21:23:08-04:00

I went Armor because I wanted to wreck things. I overlooked the fact that decisions had to be made quickly due to the speed of the tanks, and safety was on our mind 100% of the time we were in the tanks because of all the possibilities of getting hurt or decapitated..