Chemical Corps?

Full Metal Bulldog

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
472
What do these guys do? I know they're the center of most pro-combat arms jokes and sly remarks, and there isn't much demand (comparatively) among AROTC cadets to be commissioned into the chemical corps....but from what I've read it sounds like something I'd be interested in...any comments from the crowd about this branch?
 
What do these guys do? I know they're the center of most pro-combat arms jokes and sly remarks, and there isn't much demand (comparatively) among AROTC cadets to be commissioned into the chemical corps....but from what I've read it sounds like something I'd be interested in...any comments from the crowd about this branch?

When I was a Freshman back in 2008/09 we had a MSIV prior service cadet choose to go chemical after being in the top 10% of the OML. I never asked him why, but I am sure he saw something while in the service that made him jump that way. I have been told by many of my other officer friends that chem officers are often underutilized in many units and subsequently tasked out to do random jobs. However, if you actually get a chance to do your job, I feel like there is a lot of room for promotion within the branch and Army respectively. In addition the skills learned in the branch seem to be at least somewhat useful for disaster management government/private jobs afterwords (Or maybe even a gig at a big name company like Dupont).

Yeah the combat arms guys might beat their chest and ho-hum at support, but guess what branches acquire skills that are actually used on the outside? You guessed it, the support branches. My uncle and father each act on a hiring commitee with two of the largest companies in the US and they both appreciate the leadership/management skills of officers in general but without the experience (perhaps signal or chemical) or education (engineering, finance, comp sci, accounting etc) they are specific looking for then they have no problem looking the application over. Kicking in doors and directing 150mm shells aren't top skills needed in the upper echelons of the corporate world. Their words not mine.

Good luck with whatever you choose
 
Thank you for your response, as I will one day have to list my prefferred commissioning choices, I'm strongly looking into support roles as well as the "Triangle of HOOAH" Infantry/Armor/Artillery branches. So far Chemical and Psycological Operations cater the most to my tastes....
 
Thank you for your response, as I will one day have to list my prefferred commissioning choices, I'm strongly looking into support roles as well as the "Triangle of HOOAH" Infantry/Armor/Artillery branches. So far Chemical and Psycological Operations cater the most to my tastes....

Keep in mind psychological operations and other branches like civil affairs are not usually entry level for new 2LTs.
 
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