Army Branching From the Citadel

BobSanderz

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2019
Messages
213
Hey everyone,

So I know that that WP cadets get first choice when branching into the army.

If you are a top performing Citadel Cadet, are u at a disadvantage compared to west pointers in getting your preferred army branch through your ROTC Score.

From the citadel, are there opportunities to go airborne, air assault, ect?
 
Hey everyone,

So I know that that WP cadets get first choice when branching into the army.

If you are a top performing Citadel Cadet, are u at a disadvantage compared to west pointers in getting your preferred army branch through your ROTC Score.

From the citadel, are there opportunities to go airborne, air assault, ect?
How difficult would it be to successfully branch MI from The Citadel?
 
AJC is right do your best and everything else will work out. Our Army values include Selfless Service, you have such a limited perspective as an entering Cadet that worries about branches or skill badges are very premature. Be in shape, show up ready to learn about the Army and how to develop yourself as a leader.


Currently senior Army leaders are prepping a plan which if implemented will standardize training at ROTC and USMA like not seen before. One of the likely options include a combined branching model. Again all that means is people with a 4.0 GPA, 600 ACFT and demonstrated leadership on campus and at summer training will be ahead of the 2.0, 360 types.
 
AJC is right do your best and everything else will work out. Our Army values include Selfless Service, you have such a limited perspective as an entering Cadet that worries about branches or skill badges are very premature. Be in shape, show up ready to learn about the Army and how to develop yourself as a leader.


Currently senior Army leaders are prepping a plan which if implemented will standardize training at ROTC and USMA like not seen before. One of the likely options include a combined branching model. Again all that means is people with a 4.0 GPA, 600 ACFT and demonstrated leadership on campus and at summer training will be ahead of the 2.0, 360 types.
Alright, thats solid information. Thank you
 
seems like almost any ROTC cadet can do airborne school and possibly air assault school as part of their summer camp. Not aware its especially difficult to get a combat arms slot since they have been chronically undermanned recently, MI is a hot field right now especially if you speak Chinese or Arabic.
 
Keep in mind you might get MI and then be detailed to another branch for the fist few years.
Possibly a branch you would not have chosen given the choice.
 
Keep in mind you might get MI and then be detailed to another branch for the fist few years.
Possibly a branch you would not have chosen given the choice.
Branch detail is a good thing...crossed rifles then later MI
 
So I know that that WP cadets get first choice when branching into the army.
Not exactly. It depends on how you look at it. Currently West Point Cadets only compete with other West Point Cadets for branches. The Department of the Army issues branch requirements to West Point, very heavily weighted towards combat arms. If you are at West Point and want to branch Infantry, Armor, or Field Artillery, it is very easy. Trying to get MI, AG, or FI from West Point is quite difficult. It may be easier to get some branches from ROTC.

Whether USMA or ROTC, standing on the OML is an important component. An even more important component is how the branch rates you - at least for USMA. I don't know if ROTC has incorporated branch ratings yet. Dead last on the OML with a higher branch rating beats #1 on the OML with a lower branch rating,
 
seems like almost any ROTC cadet can do airborne school and possibly air assault school as part of their summer camp. Not aware its especially difficult to get a combat arms slot since they have been chronically undermanned recently, MI is a hot field right now especially if you speak Chinese or Arabic.
Branch detail is a good thing...crossed rifles then later MI
What exactly does branch detailing entail, what is the advantage of doing MI branched infantry or vise versa
 
Branch Detail
The reason for Branch Detail is that some branches require a higher ratio of LT's to CPT's than other branches. i.e.. Infantry needs a lot of Platoon Leaders, while MI has relatively few LT positions. Later on MI needs those detailee's back to fill CPT positions. Those detailed attend the Donor Branch BOLC course.

Therefore, Certain branches (Donor Branches) are required to assign a specific number of their new officers to certain combat arms branches (Recipient Branches) for the individual's first tour. This is done voluntarily, in cases where someone decides they want experience in one of the Recipient Branches or because they know they have a high chance of getting detailed and want to pick which branch. Once volunteers have been assigned, the branch selects the remainder involuntarily.

For USMA 2020 the Recipient Branches were: IN, AR, FA, CM. There were several Donor Branches. Don't recall all off the top of my head, but they included: MI, SC, EN, FI, AG, and others. The numbers detailed vary: out of 58 MI slots, 28 were detailed; out of 139 EN slots,13 were detailed.

Some contend that it is beneficial for new officers to serve in a combat arms before going to their assigned branch. Others argue that missing your assigned branch BOLC and first tour experience put you behind others who didn't detail. A couple of rhetorical questions to think about:

1. If you were an Engineer Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

2. If you were an Infantry Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

3. What if other branches were in the mix: MI, FA, SC, AG, etc?
 
Branch Detail
The reason for Branch Detail is that some branches require a higher ratio of LT's to CPT's than other branches. i.e.. Infantry needs a lot of Platoon Leaders, while MI has relatively few LT positions. Later on MI needs those detailee's back to fill CPT positions. Those detailed attend the Donor Branch BOLC course.

Therefore, Certain branches (Donor Branches) are required to assign a specific number of their new officers to certain combat arms branches (Recipient Branches) for the individual's first tour. This is done voluntarily, in cases where someone decides they want experience in one of the Recipient Branches or because they know they have a high chance of getting detailed and want to pick which branch. Once volunteers have been assigned, the branch selects the remainder involuntarily.

For USMA 2020 the Recipient Branches were: IN, AR, FA, CM. There were several Donor Branches. Don't recall all off the top of my head, but they included: MI, SC, EN, FI, AG, and others. The numbers detailed vary: out of 58 MI slots, 28 were detailed; out of 139 EN slots,13 were detailed.

Some contend that it is beneficial for new officers to serve in a combat arms before going to their assigned branch. Others argue that missing your assigned branch BOLC and first tour experience put you behind others who didn't detail. A couple of rhetorical questions to think about:

1. If you were an Engineer Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

2. If you were an Infantry Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

3. What if other branches were in the mix: MI, FA, SC, AG, etc?
Great points, thank you for your failed post.
 
Branch Detail
The reason for Branch Detail is that some branches require a higher ratio of LT's to CPT's than other branches. i.e.. Infantry needs a lot of Platoon Leaders, while MI has relatively few LT positions. Later on MI needs those detailee's back to fill CPT positions. Those detailed attend the Donor Branch BOLC course.

Therefore, Certain branches (Donor Branches) are required to assign a specific number of their new officers to certain combat arms branches (Recipient Branches) for the individual's first tour. This is done voluntarily, in cases where someone decides they want experience in one of the Recipient Branches or because they know they have a high chance of getting detailed and want to pick which branch. Once volunteers have been assigned, the branch selects the remainder involuntarily.

For USMA 2020 the Recipient Branches were: IN, AR, FA, CM. There were several Donor Branches. Don't recall all off the top of my head, but they included: MI, SC, EN, FI, AG, and others. The numbers detailed vary: out of 58 MI slots, 28 were detailed; out of 139 EN slots,13 were detailed.

Some contend that it is beneficial for new officers to serve in a combat arms before going to their assigned branch. Others argue that missing your assigned branch BOLC and first tour experience put you behind others who didn't detail. A couple of rhetorical questions to think about:

1. If you were an Engineer Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

2. If you were an Infantry Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

3. What if other branches were in the mix: MI, FA, SC, AG, etc?

4. If you were an Infantry BDE CDR which S2 would you prefer:
A) MAJ who attended MI BOLC and CCC and held staff jobs
B) MAJ who attended IN BOLC, Ranger and MI CCC and was IN platoon leader
 
4. If you were an Infantry BDE CDR which S2 would you prefer:
A) MAJ who attended MI BOLC and CCC and held staff jobs
B) MAJ who attended IN BOLC, Ranger and MI CCC and was IN platoon leader
Branch Detail
The reason for Branch Detail is that some branches require a higher ratio of LT's to CPT's than other branches. i.e.. Infantry needs a lot of Platoon Leaders, while MI has relatively few LT positions. Later on MI needs those detailee's back to fill CPT positions. Those detailed attend the Donor Branch BOLC course.

Therefore, Certain branches (Donor Branches) are required to assign a specific number of their new officers to certain combat arms branches (Recipient Branches) for the individual's first tour. This is done voluntarily, in cases where someone decides they want experience in one of the Recipient Branches or because they know they have a high chance of getting detailed and want to pick which branch. Once volunteers have been assigned, the branch selects the remainder involuntarily.

For USMA 2020 the Recipient Branches were: IN, AR, FA, CM. There were several Donor Branches. Don't recall all off the top of my head, but they included: MI, SC, EN, FI, AG, and others. The numbers detailed vary: out of 58 MI slots, 28 were detailed; out of 139 EN slots,13 were detailed.

Some contend that it is beneficial for new officers to serve in a combat arms before going to their assigned branch. Others argue that missing your assigned branch BOLC and first tour experience put you behind others who didn't detail. A couple of rhetorical questions to think about:

1. If you were an Engineer Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

2. If you were an Infantry Battalion Commander, which Company Commander would you prefer:
A) CPT who attended Engineer BOLC and was an Engineer Platoon Leader
B) CPT who attended Infantry BOLC and was an Infantry Platoon Leader

3. What if other branches were in the mix: MI, FA, SC, AG, etc?
So considering an Army Career, would it be fair to say branch detailing is not the best move?
 
4. If you were an Infantry BDE CDR which S2 would you prefer:
A) MAJ who attended MI BOLC and CCC and held staff jobs
B) MAJ who attended IN BOLC, Ranger and MI CCC and was IN platoon leader
A good point. Personally, I would say that it should make little difference at that level. A Major with 10+ years in service has sufficient experience that any distinction created in the first three years would have evaporated. Whether there is an advantage to detailing in the first tour or benefits to remaining in the primary branch, those respective benefits diminish over time.

Granted, there is a perception that the one who detailed Infantry is "one of us", but the tangible skills to serve as a Brigade S-2 will be approximately the same.

I think the differences are more distinct for the new Captain going into a first primary branch assignment after a detail tour and CCC. It is probably branch dependent. A junior MI Captain may be well served by detailing IN, but not so much if the detail branch was CM. For an an EN Company Commander, I don't see the loss of technical and functional expertise being overcome by Infantry detail experience.
 
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