SSG Private RallyPoint Member 619560 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have been looking at options for my next career move, and I see a lot of duty assignments that require an NCO to be branch qualified. I have seen this term applied to officers, but I have no idea what it means when it comes to NCOs.<br /><br />These duty assignments are positions like instructors at NCOES schools or OC/T over in First Army.<br /><br />So what does "branch qualified" mean for an NCO? 2015-04-25T22:51:08-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 619560

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have been looking at options for my next career move, and I see a lot of duty assignments that require an NCO to be branch qualified. I have seen this term applied to officers, but I have no idea what it means when it comes to NCOs.<br /><br />These duty assignments are positions like instructors at NCOES schools or OC/T over in First Army.<br /><br />So what does "branch qualified" mean for an NCO?

2015-04-25T22:51:08-04:00 2015-04-25T22:51:08-04:00 SFC Michael Hasbun 619628

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It means nothing more than being qualified in your respective field. DA PAM 600-25 (U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide) discusses it, and uses the term for ALL Soldiers, not just Officers or NCO's.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.apd.army.mil/jw2/xmldemo/p600_25/main.asp">http://www.apd.army.mil/jw2/xmldemo/p600_25/main.asp</a>

2015-04-25T23:33:39-04:00 2015-04-25T23:33:39-04:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 619900

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Technically MAJ Carl Ballinger is correct however, there is such thing as a qualified NCO. USR does a great job of confusing us on what qualified really means and some times it is left to the discretion of the commander. Below is what HRC/Branch considers a qualified NCO in regard to assignments and promotion.<br /><br />- A &quot;branch&quot; qualified SSG in the Department of the Army&#39;s eyes is a SSG that has completed the entire ALC requirement and has served as a squad leader or MOS equivalent for 12-24 months.<br /><br />- A &quot;branch&quot; qualified SFC in the Department of the Army&#39;s eyes is a SFC that has completed the entire SLC requirement and has served as a platoon sergeant or MOS equivalent for 12-24 months.<br /><br />- MSG/1SG and SGM/CSM continue in the same manner as above.<br /><br />If you follow your career path as your branch has laid out you will automatically &quot;qualify&quot; yourself but, you should definitely pay attention to it as it is relevant for promotion and assignment like I mentioned.

2015-04-26T04:45:31-04:00 2015-04-26T04:45:31-04:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 620365

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>CSM Mike Olson, thank you for the explanation. SSG Michael Hasbun, appreciate the reference material.

2015-04-26T12:50:34-04:00 2015-04-26T12:50:34-04:00 2015-04-25T22:51:08-04:00