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

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.

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

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 !

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).

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

FA all the way.

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.

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

LTC Jason Mackay may have great advice here

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