Commission

[Luddite]

Are you required to be commissioned into the Army after graduation, or can you take the commission to other branches?

[wannabe2013]

It's possible to be commissioned to other branches but I think it works as a "trade" where a cadet/mid from the branch you want to be in wants to be in your branch, but this is uncommon. I don't know if you need similar grades and physical stats, but I'd bet you need to be the same gender (ability to perform certain jobs.)
According to the usna website out of 1047 members of the class of 2008
[QUOTE]Interservice commissioning in the U.S. Air Force: 4 women.
Interservice commissioning in the U.S. Army: 2 women.
Interservice commissioning in the U.S. Coast Guard: 2 men.[/QUOTEhttp://www.usna.edu/Admissions/choices.htm
I couldn't find the usma info but I hope this helps.

[Luddite]

Hey thanks, I forgot about that. I didn't make USNA so I'm hoping for USMA. Asked because I really want to be in the Navy rather then Army but as an officer only.

[WAMom68]

Luddite,
Don't count on getting to commission in the Navy after spending 4 years at West Point. If you really want Navy have you considered doing NROTC at a civilian college? If you want the academy you can reapply next year.

[Just_A_Mom]

WaMom is right - If you don't want to be in the Army then do not go to USMA. Do not attend USMA with the intent to cross commission.
Those who cross commission are few and far between. The needs of the Army always come first and those needs are very great right now.

If you want to be a Naval Officer then attend a college with NROTC and commission through ROTC.
Good Luck!

[Poyner]

WaMom is right - If you don't want to be in the Army then do not go to USMA. Do not attend USMA with the intent to cross commission.
Those who cross commission are few and far between. The needs of the Army always come first and those needs are very great right now.

If you want to be a Naval Officer then attend a college with NROTC and commission through ROTC.
Good Luck!

Just to add to that I believe the past few years have had zero cross commisioning out of West Point. This is because of the war and the retention rate for Army officers being so low. A cross commission has to be approved and the Army's not doing that right now. Like they said, the needs of the service come first.

[ScreamingEagle]

For my year group (2006), the secretary of the Army denied all cross comissions, but in the end I think 4 ended up geting into the AF, but yeah, it's damn near impossible and I wouldnt count on it. I do, however, know a fair ammount of USAFA grads who wound up as Infantry Officers in the Army. If you're trying to go from Army to another branch though, good luck...

[LineInTheSand]

ScreamingEagle, you wouldn't happen to know a 1LT Baird with the 101st at Ft. Campbell, would you?

[ScreamingEagle]

The name rings a bell but not from Campbell I dont think. I was only there for like 2 months when you factor in JRTC and block leave, before I deployed.

[Soylent]

What reasons/justifications do you have to give in the application process for cross commissioning? I just accepted my USNA appointment and have no intent to cross-commission, but I'm just curious.