Posted on Mar 5, 2018
PFC Petroleum Supply Specialist
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I am currently in Graduate school (structural engineering) while serving as an Army reservist (PFC). I was thinking of becoming an officer in US Army Corps of Engineers. However, after researching about USACE, the jobs that engineer officer in USACE does is not real engineering but more like management (managing his/her soldiers and maybe construction management). I really like my engineering major but at the same time, I would like to serve this country as an engineering officer. My strong interest is structural/design analysis of either buildings/bridges/dams/ships. But it is quite hard for me to find right officer position in any military branch. Please help. Thank you!
Edited 6 y ago
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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Your circumstances seriously interest me, however, I've been where you want to go, though being prior enlisted, you have decided advantages over me when I went in, as I was totally clueless, no !after how motivated. That being said, elaborate for me, in copious detail, exact course titles, undergrad and grad, GPAs, hobbies, reading, interests, as well. Have you looked at any ROTC programs? Have you looked at USMC Platoon Leaders Course (PLC). Look at USPHS COSTEP, the USPHS equivalent of ROTC. You could quite easily try for Army WOCS for rotary wing as well, I need much, much more to help you, and I think I can help you, however, he more you give, the more I can suggest. I want you to try to be as technically specific as you can bez please give me solid technical details, numerical methods, scientific programming, civil engrg exposure, EIT exam PE license, outside civilian work exposure, externships, internships, recommendations, I've done a double bach and triple masters in EE, physics and math, I worked 11 yrs as an EE, before going clinical, I was dociptoral level allied health though I'm disabled now, we shut my license sevl urs ago, I wanted bioengineering, biomathematics, and/or mathematical biophysics, however, the fates conspired, and I just got too ill, I'd wanted to go USPHS in the world's worst way. Your question is as complex as it is due to your level which affords you many different flexible possibilities, so help myself and he rest of us help you, by doi g a really detailed, thorough bio sketch, I'm taking sevl pages, of at all possible, type out your entire course lists from your transcripts with grades, if you'd want tp, that'd help. Also, would you want flight? Would you want ship design? Could you go where you are to do your PhD, and get to the top of the engineering food chain? Also, look seriously at material sciences for your PhD, it's a major area right now, send much more, I'm very eager to hear more, OK?
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
6 y
Like I said, you lucked out today, lol....
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
6 y
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Capt Daniel Goodman
Capt Daniel Goodman
6 y
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Capt Daniel Goodman
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited 6 y ago
USACE has the Title 10 responsibility for all military construction, among other things.
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MAJ Contracting Officer
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6 y
But they contract out nearly all the A&E.
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
Depends on what it is. They have CoEs for different things like indoor ranges, USTs, pools, etc
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
You are right, they do contract a lot of AE work. Design bid build
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
But they manage the project...
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SGT Eric Davis
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Army duh and you already in reserves so why switch?
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PFC Petroleum Supply Specialist
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6 y
Sergeant, I am in reserve but I would like to become an active duty officer to exercise my engineering knowledge. And wondered which branch might fit best for me.
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SGT Eric Davis
SGT Eric Davis
6 y
@pfc jinmoe. Well I won’t say what branch but if you truly wanna still serve your country and be an engineer then look at civilian contractors with the military also and stay Reserve. Also you have to decide what direction you want your career to go in!
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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Edited 6 y ago
For your edification from the Army perspective. I want to caveat this by telling you I was in Aviation, Tanks, Budget, but never in engineering, and disaster recovery.

Overview
An engineer officer is responsible for providing full support to the wide range of engineering duties in the Army. They can help build structures, develop civil works programs and even provide combat support.

Job Duties
Sapper — Emplace demolitions, conduct reconnaissance and support maneuver units with mobility, countermobility and survivability
Bradley — Destroy, neutralize and suppress the enemy using the Bradley Fighting Vehicle
Construction — Construct roads, buildings, military bases, airfields, etc.
Bridge — Construct, emplace or assemble numerous bridges
Rescue — Perform search and rescue operations
Training — Train the force, write new policy and research alternative engineering technology

I might add support the recovery from man-made and natural disasters.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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What interests you?
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PFC Petroleum Supply Specialist
PFC (Join to see)
6 y
I just updated info, Sir. Thank you!
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SGT Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic
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My aunt was a DA civilian who worked as a Civil Engineer for the USACE for 25 years. She worked with many Army officers throughout her career. The construction management you speak of is the other side of the Corps, the Engineer Regiment. I personally want to pursue more positions in the Regiment because I'm interested in Combat Engineering and other combat related roles for engineer officers. But someone like you who wants to do more civil engineering should look at positions as one of the few thousand officers employed by the Corps. The USACE provides 24% of the US's hydro-power capacity; plans, designs, builds, and operates locks and dams; works on projects like flood control, beach nourishment, and dredging for waterway navigation; designs and constructs flood protection systems through various federal mandates; designs and constructs management of military facilities for the Army, Air Force, Army Reserve and Air Force Reserve and other Defense and Federal agencies; and works on environmental regulation and ecosystem restoration.

I hope I was able to give you insight. The USACE website might have info on how to pursue a position in the Corps. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know and I'll see if my aunt can provide some insight. If she can't, she certainly knows someone who does.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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Navy SeaBees is a good place for structural engeneering ... CHECK IT OUT !!!
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