Torn between branching FA or Armor. Any insights on the two?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:16:30 -0400

I’m a CDT and I will be commissioning this June. We just received our branch preference results back, and my top two choices (FA and AR) both put me as “most-preferred.” I’m completely torn between the two, and I only have a couple days to make a decision on my #1 choice. Does anyone have any insight on the branches (positives and negatives) that might help me decide? Thank you!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 20 at 2021 9:10 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 21:10:56 -0400

LTC Jason Mackay may have great advice here

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 21 at 2021 8:57 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 08:57:46 -0400

Both are a useless waste of your education. Choose one of the logistical or technical branches. Set yourself up for the future.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 21 at 2021 10:36 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:36:21 -0400

I assume that by this point you have a basic understanding of the branches and what they do, so I won't belabor that.

The biggest obvious (but often overlooked) downside for FA is hearing loss. But Tanks are pretty dang loud, too, so it is pretty much a wash, there.

I have not been FA or AR, not have I been in an FA or AR unit (although I spent some time in a Cav Squadron). So I can't give you great insight there, either.

But what I can tell you is that from what I have seen and heard, maintenance absolutely makes or breaks an armor unit - and thus the armor officer. Yes, maintenance is important for all units, but it has a special place in an armor unit. Very few young officers plan on joining the Army to spend 1/4 of their time in the motor pool and another 1/4 of their time tracking and reporting maintenance. I may be slightly exaggerating but only slightly. That is probably the one thing I can think of that won't likely be on any flowcharts, decision matrices, or smart guy posters.

That is, of course, not to say that maintenance will not be an important part of what you do in FA - or any other branch. Just that it seems to me to be a BIGGER part of the life of an Armor officer (and enlisted).

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Oct 21 at 2021 2:31 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 14:31:55 -0400

It seems to me that at this point the choice needs to be all about your goals and your expectations for what you want to do and accomplish by serving in the Army. Are you envisioning an Army career or is the Army a brief detour on your way to other life goals? How do your see yourself interacting with peers, subordinates, and superiors? And what ideas do you have about what life as a 2LT will be (to be blunt many cadets considering IN, AR or FA, view themselves as some sort of action hero figure and are subsequently disappointed to learn that it is mostly tedious paperwork and administrivia.)

If your military service is primarily a detour between college and your real life, I would agree totally with SFC Michael Hasbun. If you are looking towards a military career, these branches offer both opportunities and challenges.

I will acknowledge that I have nearly zero knowledge about what life would be in FA. My career was as an Armor NCO. I can't comment on what a 2LT does in FA -- I don't think I ever saw one.

I did spend a few months as an tank Platoon Leader - not as a Platoon Sergeant inheriting a platoon briefly in the absence of an officer, but actually arriving in a unit to take over a platoon as Platoon Leader. I hated that job, but probably for reasons that wouldn't be relevant to you.

I shouldn't need to tell you that both AR and FA are branches that only recently opened to women and are still overwhelmingly male. I do mention it because the Army is very different from the college ROTC environment - even the summer ROTC training is carefully orchestrated. In either branch, you will be quite visible and noticed. And, yes, in both branches there will be people who doubt your ability just based on being female. We are still years away from the point where you would be Just-Another-Officer in either branch. If that kind of visibility and scrutiny bothers you, these branches may not be a good fit.

Both are also branches where physical strength is expected - and occasionally essential. Although officers don't routinely do much physical work in any branch, there are occasions when an Armor officer needs to actually perform as part of the tank crew - your life and the lives of three other tankers may well depend on it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 21 at 2021 3:21 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:21:57 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 21 at 2021 3:23 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:23:28 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 21 at 2021 3:29 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:29:00 -0400

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 21 at 2021 5:27 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 17:27:50 -0400

As an aviator, I like MAJ Ken Landgren answers. I could go for a fast moving operational job that requires concentration, intelligence, integrity--sounds a bit like flying. On the other hand, I know logistics is very important in all branches and often greatly influences the outcome of battle. SFC Casey O'Mally has an excellent point about the importance of maintenance in Armor units. If the tanks don't roll, then the unit isn't effective. Similar with aviation. In the Air Force, maintenance is separated from operations. The ops folks aren't in charge of fixing airplanes. Maintenance folks aren't in charge of air combat tactics. Apparently the Army isn't that way. The ops folks manage maintenance as well as combat operations. Keep that in mind. In all services, officership involves lots of paperwork to keep the unit going. People and supplies have to be managed. Higher headquarters questions and required reports have to be answered. And then there's always the senior officer bright idea project officer opportunities. No matter your choice, keep your head down, work hard and smart every day, learn all you can about your people, equipment, and TTP; listen to your NCOs.

Response by 1LT Rich Voss made Oct 22 at 2021 12:37 AM

1LT Rich Voss — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 00:37:44 -0400

Wow ! Those are two good ones. I've been both. Commissioned as a tanker at Fort Knox a long time ago. I absolutely loved that. My dream sheet included Germany, and that's where I served the bulk of my active duty. Sadly, my old base is now closed. When my active duty commitment was completed I joined a Reserve Mech Arty Brigade here in Chicagoland (nearest tankers were in Michigan). I was assistant S2, so my direct reports were clerical, not artillerymen. I did get my own helicopter though ! Brutal honesty, neither did my hearing any favors. Can't really wear ear protection and be a good commander. And frankly, I'm a bit jealous of my much younger counterparts that got to use the Abrams in "anger". My tank was an M60. So, I cast my vote for Armor. Nothing like being part of a highly trained crew, or being a platoon leader or higher in a tank unit. Best wishes on your choice Mia !

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Oct 22 at 2021 9:37 AM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:37:41 -0400

FA all the way.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2021 8:08 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 20:08:28 -0400

Both are great choices. In reality any career field you are passionate about is great. I know I chose infantry because I wanted to be at the tip of the spear. I have really enjoyed my time in the service. I would ask yourself if you would rather be fighting with a tank or firing a cannon. When it comes to assignments you only go where there is your MOS. If you wanted to be Airborne then you shouldn't go Armor. There is only one armor airborne unit and it's in the 82nd. It is only a company and I don't think it is a parament unit yet. So in that case you would really only be able to go armored units. You would have to look up a map to find them but you would be looking at Fort Bliss, Hood, Riley, and there is one place in Europe. If you were looking at FA then you could go to any base that has a Brigade Combat Team. You could be FA in an Armored unit or an Airborne unit. That is something that is a bit more desirable to me.

Response by SSG Michel Smith made Nov 17 at 2021 9:09 AM

SSG Michel Smith — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 09:09:18 -0500

Both will treat you well if you listen to your NCO's. Let them do what they were trained for.

Response by LTC Jerry Gordon made Nov 18 at 2021 10:28 AM

LTC Jerry Gordon — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:28:56 -0500

Go armor, I was forced to go FA, an I hated the way soldiers were treated. There was no Esprit de corps and just wasn’t nice store senior officers belittled junior officers and everything else when I went to another branch I was so happy when I made captain.

Response by SSG Ernie Pridemore made Dec 29 at 2021 6:11 AM

SSG Ernie Pridemore — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 06:11:29 -0500

Artillery wins wars..Tanks...Cav and Infantry don't.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2022 8:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 20:03:54 -0500

FA…all branches all incredible opportunities to serve. However, there is a lot of upcoming growth in Field Artillery in the coming years….and consider the #1 priority for the Chief of Staff of the Army is long range, precision fires!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2022 8:15 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 20:15:48 -0500

Can’t go wrong either way. The one thing with FA is you have a wider variety of roles - PL, FDO, and FSO and still be a primary player.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2022 8:22 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:22:36 -0500

Hi all -
I apologize that I was unable to get to thanking each of the responses in a timely manner - I had some technical issues with my account since I first made the post and didn't regain full access to my account until today. Thankfully, despite not being able to post responses, I was still able to see each response and I greatly valued each person's input. I ended up deciding on putting FA as my #1, and and was fortunate enough to ultimately receive it as my branch assignment!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 31 at 2022 11:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:02:59 -0500

Do u still want my feedback?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2022 11:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:16:45 -0500

I would spend more time determining what your third choice is. When I commissioned ROTC claimed a "success" if they got you a branch in your top 3. MP was my third choice behind Engineer and Armor.

Response by LTC Jerry Gordon made Mar 1 at 2022 6:56 PM

LTC Jerry Gordon — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 18:56:00 -0500

Armor, FA, treats it’s soldiers like canon fader.

Response by CPT Chuck Flint made May 18 at 2022 12:16 PM

CPT Chuck Flint — Wed, 18 May 2022 12:16:34 -0400

My response is too late but I would like to know which branch you selected and how it is going.