Any rumors on Cadet BRANCHING timeframe?

[Jcleppe]

Son's battalion posted their results on their facebook page this morning. The battalion is not a large class this year, only 8 cadets.

Aviation (2)
Infantry (2)
Engineers
MI w/Infantry Detail
Military Police

Two DMG's
One cadet requested National Guard, all others went AD
Everyone received either #1 or #2 choice

This was a good branching year for the Chrisman Battalion.

Congratulations to all the cadets and Battalions.

 

[nofodad]

Branching

DS reports that nearly all MS4's in his battalion got their first or second choice when it came to branching. Of 25 or so cadets 4 were "forced to reserves." Everyone else who wanted AD got it.

 

[paradoxer]

Nice

Son's battalion posted their results on their facebook page this morning. The battalion is not a large class this year, only 8 cadets.

Aviation (2)
Infantry (2)
Engineers
MI w/Infantry Detail
Military Police

Two DMG's
One cadet requested National Guard, all others went AD
Everyone received either #1 or #2 choice

This was a good branching year for the Chrisman Battalion.

Congratulations to all the cadets and Battalions.

Thinking that almost without exception those in Aviation were also DMG.

 

[Jcleppe]

Thinking that almost without exception those in Aviation were also DMG.

Believe it or not, that was not the case. The two DMG's branched Engineers and Military Police. None of the cadets that branched either Aviation or Infantry were DMG.

Other then those knowing they received DMG, the cadets will never know where they were on the OML, CC said they will not be releasing that information.

 

[paradoxer]

Really

Believe it or not, that was not the case. The two DMG's branched Engineers and Military Police. None of the cadets that branched either Aviation or Infantry were DMG.

Other then those knowing they received DMG, the cadets will never know where they were on the OML, CC said they will not be releasing that information.

Oh to be the mouse in the room; so many things in life that we will never have full knowledge about. There were so few aviation spots.....

 

[payitforward]

Believe it or not, that was not the case. The two DMG's branched Engineers and Military Police. None of the cadets that branched either Aviation or Infantry were DMG.

Other then those knowing they received DMG, the cadets will never know where they were on the OML, CC said they will not be releasing that information.

Does DMG mean you were top 20% on the National OML, and do cadets at SMCs figure into that OML as well?

Also -- I'm trying to tally the number from our SMC who branched combat arms, but I'm not sure which branches are considered combat arms. Can you guys help, please? (Wiki confused me too -- is Engineering considered combat arms?) What about Ordnance and Chem?

 

[Jcleppe]

There were so few aviation spots.....

Son was told by his PMS (After he had sent in his Accessions Packet) that they found out Aviation had been reduced to 115 slots for AD. Prior to branch day he was convinced he would at best get his #2 selection. I think it took a few hours for the shocked look to leave his face.

 

[k2rider]

Getting detailed info out of my DS is quite the chore but if his educated guesses are correct....his unit had "about" 15 seniors. Of those 15, 10 *wanted* NG or Reserves. Out of the 5 that wanted AD, 3 of them received their 1st choice (one of them being Aviation) and the other 2 were forced into Reserves.

 

[sheriff3]

DS said his unit had a bunch of MS4 go AD. Any body have any idea why so many got AD this year or is this number the norm?

 

[Jcleppe]

DS said his unit had a bunch of MS4 go AD. Any body have any idea why so many got AD this year or is this number the norm?

Bull had mentioned earlier that there were 300 more cadets that requested reserves/NG then last year. That alone helped in regard to how many received AD that wanted AD.

Remember there are something like 260 plus battalions and I think they figured around 800 were forced Reserves/NG, that means only a few from each battalion will quickly make up that number. While some battalions may have a few that were forced Reserves, some will have none. My son's battalion had 8 cadets branch this year, none were forced Reserve. It looks like a few battalions mentioned on tis thread had some forced Reserve. The larger battalions will have a higher number of cadets forced Reserve just due to their size.

 

[Jcleppe]

Does DMG mean you were top 20% on the National OML, and do cadets at SMCs figure into that OML as well?

Also -- I'm trying to tally the number from our SMC who branched combat arms, but I'm not sure which branches are considered combat arms. Can you guys help, please? (Wiki confused me too -- is Engineering considered combat arms?) What about Ordnance and Chem?

Yes, if a cadet finishes in the top 20% of the National OML they receive DMG, SMC's figure into that equation along with all other cadets.

Ordnance and Chem are considered Combat Support.

Aviation
Infantry
Armor
Field Artillery
Engineers
Air Defense Artillery

 

[-Bull-]

Does DMG mean you were top 20% on the National OML, and do cadets at SMCs figure into that OML as well?

Also -- I'm trying to tally the number from our SMC who branched combat arms, but I'm not sure which branches are considered combat arms. Can you guys help, please? (Wiki confused me too -- is Engineering considered combat arms?) What about Ordnance and Chem?

Yes, SMC's are included into this OML. The only school that is not is USMA.

Combat Arms:
Infantry
Armor
Field Artillery
Air Defense Artillery
Aviation
Engineers

Now, granted, some pilots fly aircraft such as the Chinook which is used for service support, and some engineers are horizontal or vertical, so those positions are more accurately categorized as a support or service support positions, but the branches as a whole fall under combat arms.

EDIT: Posted as JCleppe was posting. Whoops.

 

[Jcleppe]

Now, granted, some pilots fly aircraft such as the Chinook which is used for service support, and some engineers are horizontal or vertical, so those positions are more accurately categorized as a support or service support positions, but the branches as a whole fall under combat arms.

EDIT: Posted as JCleppe was posting. Whoops.

Great minds, haha

Now Bull, don't tell that to the Chinook Pilots and crew that drops a Platoon of Rangers in a hot LZ or a FOB, they might argue with you over that one.

 

[ulysses]

Perplexed by the accessions process

DS branched Signal Corps with detail to Infantry. This was his 4th choice. He's actually quite happy with it, especially the chance to spend 4 years in Infantry without the ADSO commitment. What puzzles me is that he is a DMG (top 20%) and yet he didn't get any of his top 3 choices (MI branch detail IN (ADSO), IN (ADSO), AR). As I understand the accessions process, this would suggest that all slots were full when he was up to bat; as a result he was placed in the DABM pool (which explains why he received his 4th choice). I guess I'm surprised by the odds of this happening (though it seems possible mathematically). What's even more puzzling though is that at least 2 of his fellow cadets, who had lower OML scores, did branch MI as their 1st choice (one with branch detail IN as well). Again, DS is really very pleased (and relieved) with how things turned out and has no intention of challenging the result. But I am left to wonder about the inner workings of this process.

 

[ca2midwestmom]

DS branched Signal Corps with detail to Infantry. This was his 4th choice. He's actually quite happy with it, especially the chance to spend 4 years in Infantry without the ADSO commitment. What puzzles me is that he is a DMG (top 20%) and yet he didn't get any of his top 3 choices (MI branch detail IN (ADSO), IN (ADSO), AR). As I understand the accessions process, this would suggest that all slots were full when he was up to bat; as a result he was placed in the DABM pool (which explains why he received his 4th choice). I guess I'm surprised by the odds of this happening (though it seems possible mathematically). What's even more puzzling though is that at least 2 of his fellow cadets, who had lower OML scores, did branch MI as their 1st choice (one with branch detail IN as well). Again, DS is really very pleased (and relieved) with how things turned out and has no intention of challenging the result. But I am left to wonder about the inner workings of this process.

I just saw this partial explanation on a West Point Facebook page and am wondering if this also applies to AROTC.

Re. "those cadets who choose to BRADSO (Branch, Active Duty Service Option). For signing on to serve three additional years of active duty (eight total instead of five), cadets can greatly increase their chance of getting their first choice of branch, ahead of those higher on the OML (Order of Merit)."

 

[scoutpilot]

Yes, SMC's are included into this OML. The only school that is not is USMA.

Combat Arms:
Infantry
Armor
Field Artillery
Air Defense Artillery
Aviation
Engineers

Now, granted, some pilots fly aircraft such as the Chinook which is used for service support, and some engineers are horizontal or vertical, so those positions are more accurately categorized as a support or service support positions, but the branches as a whole fall under combat arms.

EDIT: Posted as JCleppe was posting. Whoops.

You're both incorrect. None of these branches are combat arms, because combat arms has not existed for 5 years now.

The Army's branches are broken into four major categories. They are as follows.

Operations
Maneuver
-Infantry
-Armor
-Aviation

Maneuver Support
-Engineers
-MP
-Chemical

Fires
-Field Artillery
-ADA

SOF
-SF
-CA
-PSYOP


Operations Support
-Signal
-MI
-Cyber


Force Sustainment
Logistics
-Transpo
-Ordnance
-QM
-Logistician

Soldier Support
-Adjutant General
-Finance


Health Services Division
-Med Service Corps
-Med/Dental/Vet/Nurse Corps


Combat arms is not a thing anymore. Additionally, the Chinook is not used exclusively in "service support" applications. That is simply one of the roles it performs.

 

[Jcleppe]

DS branched Signal Corps with detail to Infantry. This was his 4th choice. He's actually quite happy with it, especially the chance to spend 4 years in Infantry without the ADSO commitment. What puzzles me is that he is a DMG (top 20%) and yet he didn't get any of his top 3 choices (MI branch detail IN (ADSO), IN (ADSO), AR). As I understand the accessions process, this would suggest that all slots were full when he was up to bat; as a result he was placed in the DABM pool (which explains why he received his 4th choice). I guess I'm surprised by the odds of this happening (though it seems possible mathematically). What's even more puzzling though is that at least 2 of his fellow cadets, who had lower OML scores, did branch MI as their 1st choice (one with branch detail IN as well). Again, DS is really very pleased (and relieved) with how things turned out and has no intention of challenging the result. But I am left to wonder about the inner workings of this process.

I posted a thread about this year branching, your son would be one of the exceptions to what was overall a good branching year. It's hard to ever know why some decisions are made when it comes to branching. As a DMG it would seem your son was in a good position to get one of his top 3 choices. Neither one of the cadets that branched Infantry at my son's battalion were DMG's

Just curious, what was your son's major in school?

Your not alone, many wonder what the inner workings of the branching process are, nobody outside of those that make the decisions will ever know.

One of the things they are getting rid of next year is the PMS Branch recommendations, not sure what they actually call them. I have no idea if this had any effect on how your son branched.

I'm glad that it still worked out that your son will have time in the branch he wanted, he seems to have a great attitude toward the way things turned out.

Nobody really knows what CC looks at when they make a determination on branches. The accessions packet contain a lot of information, what makes them decide one way or another is sometimes a mystery.

Best of luck to your son.

 

[Jcleppe]

You're both incorrect. None of these branches are combat arms, because combat arms has not existed for 5 years now.

The Army's branches are broken into four major categories. They are as follows.

Operations
Maneuver
-Infantry
-Armor
-Aviation

Maneuver Support
-Engineers
-MP
-Chemical

Fires
-Field Artillery
-ADA

SOF
-SF
-CA
-PSYOP


Operations Support
-Signal
-MI
-Cyber


Force Sustainment
Logistics
-Transpo
-Ordnance
-QM
-Logistician

Soldier Support
-Adjutant General
-Finance


Health Services Division
-Med Service Corps
-Med/Dental/Vet/Nurse Corps


Combat arms is not a thing anymore. Additionally, the Chinook is not used exclusively in "service support" applications. That is simply one of the roles it performs.

I knew this had changed, it is just hard to keep up with the ever changing categories. It was hard to find the new listings so just went with what the battalions had listed which was of course out of date.

A quick question, I knew Combat Arms was not a term used anymore, then it was called MFE, how long did MFE last before they changed it to what it is today. Calling it Combat Arms just seemed easier for many to understand who do not have any military background.

Thank you for posting this, it clears a lot of things up and is great and much more up to date information.

 

[Jcleppe]

I just saw this partial explanation on a West Point Facebook page and am wondering if this also applies to AROTC.

Re. "those cadets who choose to BRADSO (Branch, Active Duty Service Option). For signing on to serve three additional years of active duty (eight total instead of five), cadets can greatly increase their chance of getting their first choice of branch, ahead of those higher on the OML (Order of Merit)."

Yes this applies to ROTC as well. One thing to consider is that while a BRADSO increases their chances, most cadets that want these branches will sign a BRADSO. So, if a large number sign BRADSOs the cadets really don't move up that much.

 

[ulysses]

Jcleppe ... Thanks for your response. I agree that this process is a riddle wrapped in a mystery ... and few of us will ever understand how it truly works. I didn't realize the PMS branch recommendations somehow figured into this process. DS is majoring in government, which doesn't exactly prepare him for Signal Corps. Anyway, son is happy; life is good.