Branch Choices Coming out of College

[cgorton02]

Is there somewhere that I could find a list of all the branch choices for the Army ROTC that you get to pick from?
Also, if my major was Criminal Justice and my top choice was Military Police, would I have a higher chance of receiving that position over someone with the same grades and athletic participation?

 

[kinnem]

Your major has nothing to do with the job you will get in the military. It's strictly OML and what slots are open. If your OML is higher enough, you request Military Police, and there are slots open, then you can get it.

As far as the branches, your kidding right? A quick 30 second search of google revealed this brief description of each: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/milsci/milsci_branches.html

 

[cgorton02]

Your major has nothing to do with the job you will get in the military. It's strictly OML and what slots are open. If your OML is higher enough, you request Military Police, and there are slots open, then you can get it.

As far as the branches, your kidding right? A quick 30 second search of google revealed this brief description of each: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/milsci/milsci_branches.html

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific when referring to the branches. I already had found a list, but I wasn't sure if all of them were available for ROTC personnel out of college.

Also thank you for responding so quickly!

 

[kinnem]

ROTC can do anything an academy grad can, as long as they place high enough on the OML. A commission is a commission regardless of source.

 

[AROTC-dad]

There are some Army specific constraints.

For example, if you seek MI, you cannot branch directly into MI. What happens instead is you branch detail to another branch such as Armor or infantry for a period of time.

Your ROO can explain this.

Also perhaps @Mohawk or @clarksonarmy can clarify here.

 

[AROTC Parent]

Your major has nothing to do with the job you will get in the military. It's strictly OML and what slots are open. If your OML is higher enough, you request Military Police, and there are slots open, then you can get it.

As far as the branches, your kidding right? A quick 30 second search of google revealed this brief description of each: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/milsci/milsci_branches.html

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific when referring to the branches. I already had found a list, but I wasn't sure if all of them were available for ROTC personnel out of college.

Also thank you for responding so quickly!

cgorton02 - The list provided by kinnem is old but mostly accurate (Transportation is now at Ft Lee not Eustis, Ordnance is spelled incorrectly).

The explanation for additional commissioning requirements is explained in the link - for example if you want to be Medical Corps - get a medical degree first...
Nursing requires an appropriate degree and license...
MI does not require branch detail. Many are commissioned MI directly out of ROTC though your position on the OML (mid to lower) could prevent MI without branch detail.
Very few qualify for the branches that require advanced degrees right out of ROTC. So use the list from that perspective or have a conversation with Cadre or an MS3/4.

Looks like the only one missing is Cyber which became a branching option in the last few years.

A Criminal Justice degree won't get you a higher chance at MP than a Political Science degree - you could end up in ADA, Chemical, Infantry, or Transportation... get a good GPA and high OML to improve your chances.

 

[clarksonarmy]

Not true, you can branch directly into MI. And Hofstra needs to update their list to add Cyber Branch. The newest Army Branch. Cgorton...see any branch not on that list you might be interested in. You will list them all on your preference sheet when you are a senior and all of them are open to ROTC grads.

 

[cgorton02]

Not true, you can branch directly into MI. And Hofstra needs to update their list to add Cyber Branch. The newest Army Branch. Cgorton...see any branch not on that list you might be interested in. You will list them all on your preference sheet when you are a senior and all of them are open to ROTC grads.

Sounds good, thank you so much!

 

[GoCubbies]

Is there somewhere that I could find a list of all the branch choices for the Army ROTC that you get to pick from?
Also, if my major was Criminal Justice and my top choice was Military Police, would I have a higher chance of receiving that position over someone with the same grades and athletic participation?

In addition to branches, there are functional areas that you can go into a few years after serving in your initial branch out of ROTC.

If the military-political realm and a particular language interest you, then Foreign Area Officer (FA 48) is available.

I know a lot of Signal officers who went into FA 53 which is Systems Automation.

If standing and talking in front of people intrigues you and you like to write, then FA 46 (Public Affairs) is an option.

If you think space is the next big thing (it probably is), then the Army has FA 40 (Space Operations).

A functional area that is very translatable in the real world whenever you decide to leave active duty is FA 51 (Acquisition Corps).

If you like to play with people’s minds to change their behavior, then FA 39 (Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs) could be for you.

Finally, a actual branch that is out there but you have to serve a couple years in your initial branch is Special Forces. I think the Army lets you apply once you’re a promotable 1LT. Most of those who go SF were infantry officers first.