Branching Infantry

[Hopeful2025]

I am on the fence of applying to WP as USNA is my first choice and I'd be much more happy with the possible choices I can go into after commissioning there than at West point. However, I really do want to go into something combat related, which is infantry. How hard is it to branch into infantry from USMA? I'm asking because my top choice for USNA is special warfare, but if that doesn't work out I'd be just as happy with going aviation which is likely as about 1/4 of all go into aviation. However, with USMA, the only thing im really interested in going into is infantry. How hard is it and how likely would it be to be service selected into it as that's the main deciding factor in whether or not I apply to West point.

 

[cptenca]

It’s different now with the new market system but the 2020 Goat got Infantry

 

[jl123]

If you want Infantry, you get Infantry. That has been true since 1802.

Infantry is both the most popular and least popular branch - there are always more spaces than cadets that want Infantry.

With the new system it is theoretically possible not to be able to get Infantry if someone has the lowest branch rating (3) and is at the bottom of the OML list. In practice Infantry is always one of the the last branches to close out.

 

[Hopeful2025]

If you want Infantry, you get Infantry. That has been true since 1802.

Infantry is both the most popular and least popular branch - there are always more spaces than cadets that want Infantry.

With the new system it is theoretically possible not to be able to get Infantry if someone has the lowest branch rating (3) and is at the bottom of the OML list. In practice Infantry is always one of the the last branches to close out.

Is there a list of how many people go into certain branches like how USNA releases it?

 

[jl123]

Is there a list of how many people go into certain branches like how USNA releases it?

The numbers can be reported in two ways:

1. Allocations for each branch on Branch Night - these numbers do not include an addition/subtraction for Branch Detail
2. Numbers of initial assignments by branch - these are numbers going into each branch initially, but those detailed will later return to the primary branch they received on Branch Night

Class of 2020
Branch Night Assignment/Initial Assignment:
AD 61/61
AG 2/0
AR 112/125
AV 109/109
CM 2/8
CY 40/40
EN 139/126
FA 174/185
FI 1/0
IN 238/260
MI 58/30
MP 18/17
MS 7/?? no posts listed for this branch, not sure if they get detailed
OD 36/17
QM 26/25
SC 43/25
TC 25/23

Total 1,091/1,051 Note: numbers are not equal due to graduate school and other changes in status between Branch Night and Post Nigh

 

[Hopeful2025]

The numbers can be reported in two ways:

1. Allocations for each branch on Branch Night - these numbers do not include an addition/subtraction for Branch Detail
2. Numbers of initial assignments by branch - these are numbers going into each branch initially, but those detailed will later return to the primary branch they received on Branch Night

Class of 2020
Branch Night Assignment/Initial Assignment:
AD 61/61
AG 2/0
AR 112/125
AV 109/109
CM 2/8
CY 40/40
EN 139/126
FA 174/185
FI 1/0
IN 238/260
MI 58/30
MP 18/17
MS 7/?? no posts listed for this branch, not sure if they get detailed
OD 36/17
QM 26/25
SC 43/25
TC 25/23

Total 1,091/1,051 Note: numbers are not equal due to graduate school and other changes in status between Branch Night and Post Nigh

What's the difference between initial assignment and branch assignment? I've always been into USNA and not so much USMA so all of this is new info to me.

 

[Casey]

There are certain branches that will branch detail out a portion of their population each year to another branch. These LT's will serve 24-36 months in these initial branch details (typically combat arms branches such as IN, FA, AR) before they will return to their control branch (the branch they originally branched into). The branches that do this are branches such as MI which have a low demand for LT's but a need to still have a certain number of CPT's. Farming out their LT's initially allows these LT's to fill needed manning in combat arms where they'll build operational experience that makes them more successful theoretically in their support roles when they move into their base branch's positions as a CPT because they have a better understanding of their ground customer.

 

[jl123]

What's the difference between initial assignment and branch assignment? I've always been into USNA and not so much USMA so all of this is new info to me.

Casey explained branch detail well; there are not enough LT positions in some branches so a number of those will serve in larger combat arms branches that can absorb more LT's.

This was not a problem in the 1980's when the Army was much larger and it was not uncommon for there to be more LT positions than LT's. My platoon had been without a platoon leader for over a year when I arrived as a 2LT.

 

[jl123]

To clarify:

• Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, and Chemical are recipient branches. Cadets get detailed into these branches from donor branches
• Donor Branches: AG, EN (1st time this year), FI, MI, MP, OD, QM, SC, TC. Some cadets get detailed from these branches into recipient branches.
• Air Defense, Aviation, and Cyber are neither donor nor recipient branches (at least as it stands currently). If you get those branches, you serve your first assignment in them and do not have to worry about a higher ranking cadet from a donor branch taking the post assignment you want.

 

[Casey]

To clarify:

• Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery, and Chemical are recipient branches. Cadets get detailed into these branches from donor branches
• Donor Branches: AG, EN (1st time this year), FI, MI, MP, OD, QM, SC, TC. Some cadets get detailed from these branches into recipient branches.
• Air Defense, Aviation, and Cyber are neither donor nor recipient branches (at least as it stands currently). If you get those branches, you serve your first assignment in them and do not have to worry about a higher ranking cadet from a donor branch taking the post assignment you want.

Thanks for expanding on the branches involved. I knew the other donor branches existed (surprised that EN would start to be a part of this program as their LT time provides some pretty integral development in their company grade officers prior to command), but the only one that stood out in my head before I went running was MI. I think its a useful tool to the Army that helps build up warfighting proficiency of combat support branches in the long run besides helping meet the manning goals between all the different branches.