Posted on May 4, 2019
Which combat branch, Armor and Infantry, would make me a better Intel officer after my branch detail?
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Just want to start of by thanking each person who comments. I have learned much from this community and its members and I am thankful for the input and advice.
Will be commissioning next year in Army ROTC and my branch will hopefully be MI and branch detail a combat branch as well. My goal is to enter the intel community after my stint in the military is done. My question is which combat branch between Armor and Infantry would make me a better intel officer? I understand that I will not be in MI long (because of branch detail and how it works) after my first branch unless I ADSO or re-up. Has anyone done this? How would you describe your experience and would you recommend it/what changes would you make? GPA 3.5 PT 288
Will be commissioning next year in Army ROTC and my branch will hopefully be MI and branch detail a combat branch as well. My goal is to enter the intel community after my stint in the military is done. My question is which combat branch between Armor and Infantry would make me a better intel officer? I understand that I will not be in MI long (because of branch detail and how it works) after my first branch unless I ADSO or re-up. Has anyone done this? How would you describe your experience and would you recommend it/what changes would you make? GPA 3.5 PT 288
ROTC
19A: Armor Officer
Infantry
Intelligence
Intelligence Officer
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 28
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Actually, field Artillery branch will be a good combat arms choice. FA gives you an understanding of the close fight, depth of the battlefield and integration of joint effects. Targeting skills will provide you the opportunity to employ intell at every level as you progress through KD and developmental ranks / jobs as you enable the maneuver branches to dominate their battle space / AOR.
Really, all combat arms are great teachers, and I am a bit biased as a career cannon field artillery officer, but you can’t go wrong which ever way you go.
The key is to learn. Be an information sponge and keep current as you lead Soldiers and support your commander’s intent.
Really, all combat arms are great teachers, and I am a bit biased as a career cannon field artillery officer, but you can’t go wrong which ever way you go.
The key is to learn. Be an information sponge and keep current as you lead Soldiers and support your commander’s intent.
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COL Dana Hampton
Good question. The answer is, needs of the Army dictate. If you are assigned to a division as an LT you will be rotated through various jobs in a cannon battalion and as a Company Fire Support Officer or maybe even a MLRS/HIMARS unit . Light divisions have composite cannon Battalions with 2-batteries of towed 105mm and one 155mm. Corps-level artillery units will have wheeled HIMARS rocket units. Heavy divisions will have 155mm Self-propelled cannons and rocket Units. So, the first question is where will the Army assign you for your first duty station?
Wherever you end up, the key is becoming knowledgeable of the weapon systems supporting your maneuver commander. Your Battalion Commander will evaluate your performance and rotate you into jobs where you will learn and be challenged as you develop as a company grade officer.
Knowing your craft and how to achieve the commander’s intent are your challenges regardless your branch be it Infantry, armor or artillery.
If the Army decides your first posting is to a TRADOC post, you will likewise have opportunities to learn, but maybe not as intel oriented as you’d prefer.
When you fill out your dream sheets, focus on installations that have operational divisions and corps level units as your priorities if you really want to learn Soldier-craft and build your skills. The G-1 at that installation will plug you into a unit where they need a fill. Sometimes that first unit of assignment is up to the fates.
Your task is to become the best you can at what you do. Learning really begins after you complete BOLC.
Hope this helps!
SPC (Join to see)
Wherever you end up, the key is becoming knowledgeable of the weapon systems supporting your maneuver commander. Your Battalion Commander will evaluate your performance and rotate you into jobs where you will learn and be challenged as you develop as a company grade officer.
Knowing your craft and how to achieve the commander’s intent are your challenges regardless your branch be it Infantry, armor or artillery.
If the Army decides your first posting is to a TRADOC post, you will likewise have opportunities to learn, but maybe not as intel oriented as you’d prefer.
When you fill out your dream sheets, focus on installations that have operational divisions and corps level units as your priorities if you really want to learn Soldier-craft and build your skills. The G-1 at that installation will plug you into a unit where they need a fill. Sometimes that first unit of assignment is up to the fates.
Your task is to become the best you can at what you do. Learning really begins after you complete BOLC.
Hope this helps!
SPC (Join to see)
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MAJ Matthew Arnold
I agree with Col. Hampton. I branched Infantry (Airborne) and was assigned to the 82nd Abn. Div. I served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, a Company XO, and a Bn S-3 Air. At that level you see the ground in front of you, if you catch my meaning. Infantry at the Platoon, Company, even Battalion level does not give you experience with the big picture. You slaugh on thru the enemy in front of you. After a few years in the infantry I went to flight school and branched aviation. As an Aviation Officer, like in the Artillery, you get the big picture. An Aviation Battalion supports a division or corps. As an Aviation Company Commander and later battalion S3 I was always in the Corps G3 cell and I got to see the big picture.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you sirs,
I appreciate the feedback because that was exactly what I was looking for. Finding the ways to go specifically to the units that could provide me with the best opportunities as the COL Dana Hampton said, but also finding ways to see the big picture as MAJ Matthew Arnold mentioned. I would like to think that I need to understand PLT-CO level operations before I can get to big picture ops. Not too sure how long I plan on staying in the Army since I have already been in since I was 18 and now I am 27 but I would like to eventually get the masters and attend the "strategist" school as an officer. I believe that is called a broadening assignment? Any thoughts on this?
I appreciate the feedback because that was exactly what I was looking for. Finding the ways to go specifically to the units that could provide me with the best opportunities as the COL Dana Hampton said, but also finding ways to see the big picture as MAJ Matthew Arnold mentioned. I would like to think that I need to understand PLT-CO level operations before I can get to big picture ops. Not too sure how long I plan on staying in the Army since I have already been in since I was 18 and now I am 27 but I would like to eventually get the masters and attend the "strategist" school as an officer. I believe that is called a broadening assignment? Any thoughts on this?
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COL Dana Hampton
SPC (Join to see)
Braiding assignments generally don’t happen until you are a major. Some rare cases may see a very senior captain in those slots. I wouldn’t focus to much on that right now. Rather, earn the gold bars, complete BOLC, hit the badge finder schools as necessary (ABN, AASLT, Ranger, etc.) and learn you branch craft. Your rater, senior rater and branch manager should mentor you on future assignments. Rules, regulations and needs of the Army are always adjusting. So the targets for climbing the professional officer’s ladder will likewise adjust over time. As an example, the Army now wants officers to complete the GRE prior to attending the Captian’s Career Course. If that comes to pass, it may change the trajectory for advancement for a lot of company grade officers.
One final thought, have goals, but don’t get so focused on them you miss the 50 meter target.
Braiding assignments generally don’t happen until you are a major. Some rare cases may see a very senior captain in those slots. I wouldn’t focus to much on that right now. Rather, earn the gold bars, complete BOLC, hit the badge finder schools as necessary (ABN, AASLT, Ranger, etc.) and learn you branch craft. Your rater, senior rater and branch manager should mentor you on future assignments. Rules, regulations and needs of the Army are always adjusting. So the targets for climbing the professional officer’s ladder will likewise adjust over time. As an example, the Army now wants officers to complete the GRE prior to attending the Captian’s Career Course. If that comes to pass, it may change the trajectory for advancement for a lot of company grade officers.
One final thought, have goals, but don’t get so focused on them you miss the 50 meter target.
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Your wires are a little crossed. If you have a six year ADSO, you are looking at 2 years detailed to another branch before you go to MI, unless they overhauled the program significantly.
Both branches have significant potential experiences and learning for you. As COL Dana Hampton mentions, Field Artillery. I would add the targeting process to things you would better understand if you choose that route. Also a better understand of threat fires capabilities.
If you are Infantry, and you end up light (light, Airborne, Air Assault) your sense of distance and depth becomes becomes oriented to moving by foot. If you end up Mechanized, your world is more oriented on 40km approach marches mounted. Armor would also give you this perspective. Neither is wrong but you mentally have to toggle. Understanding this will help you advise the commander, especially when it relates to speed of decision making, decision Support matrices, impact of the environment during the IPB process, and CCIR.
To relate it to logistics, mech and armor is all about Class III , V, Medical, and Maintenance. Light guys, how much are they carrying on their back, food, water, and ammo and when they stop somewhere, mail. really they can last 2-3 days without encountering serious suck. Close second is when you can truck guys or extract them by helicopter.
Both branches have significant potential experiences and learning for you. As COL Dana Hampton mentions, Field Artillery. I would add the targeting process to things you would better understand if you choose that route. Also a better understand of threat fires capabilities.
If you are Infantry, and you end up light (light, Airborne, Air Assault) your sense of distance and depth becomes becomes oriented to moving by foot. If you end up Mechanized, your world is more oriented on 40km approach marches mounted. Armor would also give you this perspective. Neither is wrong but you mentally have to toggle. Understanding this will help you advise the commander, especially when it relates to speed of decision making, decision Support matrices, impact of the environment during the IPB process, and CCIR.
To relate it to logistics, mech and armor is all about Class III , V, Medical, and Maintenance. Light guys, how much are they carrying on their back, food, water, and ammo and when they stop somewhere, mail. really they can last 2-3 days without encountering serious suck. Close second is when you can truck guys or extract them by helicopter.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you for the feedback sir. I may have gotten ADSO a bit wrong but I understand that you serve your first 4 in the branch you were loaned to, and then last two in MI. If I am correct, you must attend an Intel Officers course for some time and then you do MI so I would assume unless I re-enlist, I would not be in that position for long. ADSO would lengthen the time in MI but I will definitely double check. You did bring up something important that I did not think about which was the operational range, if that is the correct phrase. How infantry focuses on whats in front, mobile units +/- 40 km and artillery longer I would assume. I imagine artillery would provide the best understanding of big picture or overall goals?
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LTC Jason Mackay
SPC (Join to see) you’ll get different perspectives, not the “best”.
Officers don’t re-enlist. To separate you request REFRAD, release from AD. Otherwise you continue on AD until otherwise separated
Officers don’t re-enlist. To separate you request REFRAD, release from AD. Otherwise you continue on AD until otherwise separated
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It doesn’t matter. Anyone that tells you different is bias. It’s whatever you think you like best.
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MAJ Matthew Arnold
Most definitely true. You have to like what you are doing. When I was a cadet, several factors influenced me to choose airborne infantry. It was a good choice because I loved the challenges and life of the airborne, infantry -- so crazy, so macho. It did get old after 5 years and that's why I went to flight school.
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