USMA - Chemical Branch

Miracle

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Oct 29, 2020
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If there is anyone that could speak to branching into the Chemical Corps that would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to branch chemical and assigned as a CBRN officer. I've watched too much YouTube so if you have any personal experiences, please post. Thank you!
 
If there is anyone that could speak to branching into the Chemical Corps that would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to branch chemical and assigned as a CBRN officer. I've watched too much YouTube so if you have any personal experiences, please post. Thank you!
Several years ago my DS, majoring in Chemistry and loving Chemistry, considered Chem Corps for about 15 minutes. He assumed that he would be doing Chemistry. Also, he didn’t start thinking about it until he was several years into college/AROTC and met Junior Officers in several different branches to get an idea of what his life would be like, once he commissioned and his range of options began to narrow. That would be my advice to you as well.

You might want to take a look at ascensions to get an idea about how popular a branch it is. Bottom line, if you want Chem Corps, you’ll get it.
 
Several years ago my DS, majoring in Chemistry and loving Chemistry, considered Chem Corps for about 15 minutes. He assumed that he would be doing Chemistry. Also, he didn’t start thinking about it until he was several years into college/AROTC and met Junior Officers in several different branches to get an idea of what his life would be like, once he commissioned and his range of options began to narrow. That would be my advice to you as well.

You might want to take a look at ascensions to get an idea about how popular a branch it is. Bottom line, if you want Chem Corps, you’ll get it.
thanks, of course, my main goal right now is to gain an appt. first! Then we'll see how things go. But based on me fishing around on the internet, it doesn't appear that chemical is a favorable branch to get into (in fact it seems to be where the lowest ranked cadets are). I'll see about it. Where did your son branch into?
 
If there is anyone that could speak to branching into the Chemical Corps that would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to branch chemical and assigned as a CBRN officer. I've watched too much YouTube so if you have any personal experiences, please post. Thank you!

Our Army needs competent, tough officers in every branch, chemical corps is no exception.

You will have plenty of time to research chemical as well as all the other branches during your commissioning journey. Achieve the highest OML position you can to keep all your options open.
 
Our Army needs competent, tough officers in every branch, chemical corps is no exception.

You will have plenty of time to research chemical as well as all the other branches during your commissioning journey. Achieve the highest OML position you can to keep all your options open.
thank you!
 
But based on me fishing around on the internet, it doesn't appear that chemical is a favorable branch to get into (in fact it seems to be where the lowest ranked cadets are).
Our Army needs competent, tough officers in every branch, chemical corps is no exception.
Don't let popularity or public perception be your guide. If the branch is staffed by junior officers who are half interested or bitter that they didn't get Infantry or Aviation, then that is perfect environment for a competent and motivated O-1 to shine.

My DS branched Signal, which does not rank much higher on the sex appeal scale than Chem Corps. His first choice was Cyber, which was just being stood up. His year, they took fewer than 10 new 2LT's, all of whom were WP Computer Science Majors. He was neither. Signal was his second choice. He was probably thinking post Army and figuring which Branch would provide him with skills most transferable to the civilian world. He also believed that it would give him the best chance of an OCONUS first duty station, which it did.

As it turned out, his competence and motivation has been rewarded, he transferred from Signal and signed up for another minimum 3 years.

You will have plenty of time to research chemical as well as all the other branches during your commissioning journey. Achieve the highest OML position you can to keep all your options open.
^^This^^

Best of luck!
 
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If there is anyone that could speak to branching into the Chemical Corps that would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to branch chemical and assigned as a CBRN officer. I've watched too much YouTube so if you have any personal experiences, please post. Thank you!
Chemical Corps with a technical degree has some crazy assignments for 03P (CPT Promotable) and 04 (Major) and up. Research Labs, classified positions. ... they are not typical combat arms assignments.
 
Chemical Corps with a technical degree has some crazy assignments for 03P (CPT Promotable) and 04 (Major) and up. Research Labs, classified positions. ... they are not typical combat arms assignments.
Could you possibly expand on that a little? What entails an individual to be "promotable"? Is that a faster promotion than becoming CPT 8 years after graduation? Thanks.
 
Could you possibly expand on that a little? What entails an individual to be "promotable"? Is that a faster promotion than becoming CPT 8 years after graduation? Thanks.
The reference to 03P (CPT Promotable) and 04 (Major) is a reference to a point or time in your career when unique opportunities become available to Chem. Corps officers with technical degrees. After you have completed your time as a Platoon Leader, some staff time, and a company command you will have about 8/9 years in and likely eligible for Major (04) but not yet promoted... you are an 03P (CPT Promotable) at that point. A number of 'jobs' in the Army (Research Labs for example) require specific degrees like Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Bio Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Laboratory Science, .... I don't know if Chem Corps is faster to promotions than other branches but with a technical degree in Chem Corps you are eligible for 'jobs' others are not. When I was in, CPT (03) could be achieved at about the four year mark. Major at about the nine year mark.
 
The reference to 03P (CPT Promotable) and 04 (Major) is a reference to a point or time in your career when unique opportunities become available to Chem. Corps officers with technical degrees. After you have completed your time as a Platoon Leader, some staff time, and a company command you will have about 8/9 years in and likely eligible for Major (04) but not yet promoted... you are an 03P (CPT Promotable) at that point. A number of 'jobs' in the Army (Research Labs for example) require specific degrees like Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Bio Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Laboratory Science, .... I don't know if Chem Corps is faster to promotions than other branches but with a technical degree in Chem Corps you are eligible for 'jobs' others are not. When I was in, CPT (03) could be achieved at about the four year mark. Major at about the nine year mark.
thank you for the explanation!
 
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