Army ROTC Clarification?

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Connor403

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Feb 27, 2019
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I am currently in high school, and have started looking into colleges. I was hoping to possibly do Army ROTC in college, as I have always been interested in serving. I understand what ROTC is and am clear with most of it. However, I was wondering how the commissioning into different branches works after successful completion of the ROTC. What branches are available to be commissioned into? I will be majoring in cybersecurity in college and would possibly like to have a position dealing with that or computer systems in general. Any help in clarifying this would be amazing!
 
Connor403 said:
I am currently in high school, and have started looking into colleges. I was hoping to possibly do Army ROTC in college, as I have always been interested in serving. I understand what ROTC is and am clear with most of it. However, I was wondering how the commissioning into different branches works after successful completion of the ROTC. What branches are available to be commissioned into? I will be majoring in cybersecurity in college and would possibly like to have a position dealing with that or computer systems in general. Any help in clarifying this would be amazing!
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You can technically commission into all branches from Army ROTC, but near-100% of the time it will be into either Army or ARNG.

For cyber, Army offers direct commissions now (bypassing AROTC). USAF also has cyber positions available (and gives you fiber pilot wings to wear). If the Space Force is up and running by the time you are finishing your degree, then they will presumably have cyber as well (possibly gaining it from the USAF). I'd bet dollars to donuts that a mass call will go out to all ROTC cadets offering a commission into the USSF for a few years until they have their own commissioning programs established.

If you want to complete AROTC and then switch to a different branch later, that is very possible, but depends on your Army MOS and the equivalent job being available in your gaining branch. It is better to switch as a young Captain than later.

Good luck. Thanks for considering service.
 
I think the OP may have been asking about the branching process to determine one's MOS while in AROTC, and not how to change services. I make no claim to expertise on that process at all but will leave it to others to explain (assuming I'm correct anyway).

I would add, for the OP, that the job you get in the military is often unrelated to what your major was in college.
 
Connor403 said:
I am currently in high school, and have started looking into colleges. I was hoping to possibly do Army ROTC in college, as I have always been interested in serving. I understand what ROTC is and am clear with most of it. However, I was wondering how the commissioning into different branches works after successful completion of the ROTC. What branches are available to be commissioned into? I will be majoring in cybersecurity in college and would possibly like to have a position dealing with that or computer systems in general. Any help in clarifying this would be amazing!
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You are ranked nationally, the higher rank you are the more likely to get your MOS. My son was top ten of all AROTC in US and was guaranteed wherever he wanted. I think top 10% are guaranteed as well. In other words get ranked as high as you can and then you will be more likely to get your spot. My son picked Military Intelligence (nothing to do with his major) and is currently with 82 airborne.
 
+1 Vista123.
Getting your branch of choice is a combination of academics, leadership, physical conditioning (APFT and eventually ACFT), and the needs of the Army.
Everyone who is an eligible MS-IV, ranks all the branch choices from top to bottom. Their OML and the needs of the Army then determine what you will receive.

Here is a link to a thread that an Army ROO, @MohawkArmyROTC posted for 2019. This shows the OML model calculation formula.
https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/fy19-army-rotc-oml-model.57665/

Focusing on the things you can control will optimize the chances of receiving your first choice of branch. My DS scored in the upper middle of the pack, and still received his first choice of branch. There have also been cases where someone scored very high and received their last choice. I cannot explain it.

Just do your best and remember that you should thrive wherever you are planted.
 
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I went with DS to meet with AROTC unit at one of the "public ivys", the commanding officer confirmed what you said. Top 10% are considered distinguished graduates (may not have exact wording), they get their pick and are more or less guaranteed their choice. All cadets are ranked nationally, grades and score from summer ROTC camps are significant to your rating. Also, as you said, your major does not have as big of as impact as you would think. For example, infantry is a highly sought after job and it could be any major.
 
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