Posted on Oct 5, 2018
PV2 Commissioned Officer Candidate
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I am an ROTC cadet looking to commission in 2020. I want to branch Med Services but stay in the Guard. I am currently getting a degree in Health and Exercise Science but looking to switch to Health Information Management. What do I need to do in the next two years to make sure I get Med Services as my branch?
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Responses: 9
LTC Program Manager
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This is easy.
Find a guard unit that wants you and has a slot for you.

The Battalion Comander signs a memo and BAM. Your branch is locked in.

Carry on
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LTC Program Manager
LTC (Join to see)
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What state are you in?

Talk to your command. You may want to talk to officer branch or officer recruiting at your state headquarters to help find you a slot if your commander doesn't know of one.
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MAJ(P) Health Services Human Resources
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What he said!
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PV2 Commissioned Officer Candidate
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LTC (Join to see)

I’m currently in MO but willing to move out of state.
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LTC Program Manager
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Talk to the officers in your unit. If they don't know of slots contact the state officer recruiter or officer branch. If you are willing to move to a slot and you qualify it's basically a lock that you'll get what you want.
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2LT Construction Section Leader
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It is never guaranteed that you will get a certain branch. Get in contact with your state Officer Strength Manager or the Specialty Branch Recruiter. MSC is kind of a different branching process like aviation. It also comes down to how many medical units they have in your state. You most likely won’t stay in the same unit you are enlisted in once you commission. My advice, get in contact with your ARNG recruiting section (your recruiter should be able to help you out getting these contacts) because the earlier you get your name known, the more likely the brigade will be to scoop you up when it comes to the branching board during your senior year.
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LTC James McElreath
LTC James McElreath
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Very good advice! If not mistaken the guard is geared more towards the combat arms arena and medical is more Com Service Support arena. That is why I stated earlier one has to look for upward mobility (rank).
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COL Jon Thompson
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Each state will be different based on the MSC slots available for when you will graduate/commission. If I were you, I would actually look at the Army Reserve as they have a lot more medical units and thus, more MSC slots. MSC is very competitive across all components. Grades and APFT score will be big parts of that but also your performance at Advanced Camp and other things you do as a cadet. Also, if you are in the Guard already, you need to perform at a high standard as a Soldier and SMP cadet. Good luck
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