Anyone happen to recall how selective the Engineer Branch has been the past few years? I realize that "needs of the Army" trump all and branch assignments can be complicated, but if a cadet is in, say, the top 1/2 of the class OML can he/she safely assume that an engineer branch slot is realistic?
Engineer Branch
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MidwestDad
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Always plenty of minefields and IEDs that need clearing . . .
Branch interest varies over time, but today top 1/2 should be safe bet to get Engineer without BRADSO. In the early 1980's EN usually went out in the top 1/3 and MI was easy to get. Now MI is one of the first to go out.
I had some info on the most recent class, but can't seem to find it. For the Class of 2011 here are the Engineer stats:
Rank of first cadet assigned EN without BRADSO: 4
Rank of last cadet assigned EN without BRADSO: 780
Range of rank of cadets assigned EN with BRADSO: 781 -1064 (ranks 701 - 780 did BRADSO but did not incur additional obligation because they would have made it on order of merit)
FYI, BRADSO is the process to improve branch satisfaction whereby a cadet can extend active duty service obligation by 3 years to get their branch of choice. The first 75% of a branch is filled by OML (Order of Merit List). The remaining 25% BRADSO. Some exceptions for specialty branches.
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Thanks everyone for the info--really helps. One follow-up. Are any engineering platoons doing anything other than route clearance nowadays (though I understand route clearance's importance)? Any plausible opportunities for vertical/horizontal units for 2Ls coming out of EBOLC?
MidwestDad
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I am guessing recent deployment trends help sway branching decisions; does this explain growth in MI?
Could be. In the Vietnam era Air Defense Artillery was a very popular branch.
Sledge
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Is that backwards? Or did #970 have some demographic statistic that "needed" to be added to the engineer branch?
Sledge
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All the three letter agencies have been bullish on MI experience post 9/11. I think that plays a part in the popularity of the branch, given the decent GS salaries and more stable lives you could have if you choose to 5 and dive.
This is very helpful info; thanks.
For engineer officers who "five-and-dive," is there a typical or popular civilian career destination (and I realize that while most are not actual engineers, some might be)? Do they look for civilian construction or project management opportunities, work a construction trade, or something entirely outside of the engineer branch? (I'm assuming route clearance doesn't have much of a civilian counterpart.) Thanks.
For engineer officers who "five-and-dive," is there a typical or popular civilian career destination (and I realize that while most are not actual engineers, some might be)? Do they look for civilian construction or project management opportunities, work a construction trade, or something entirely outside of the engineer branch? (I'm assuming route clearance doesn't have much of a civilian counterpart.) Thanks.
I don't think there is high correlation of specific jobs with engineer branch or most other branches after 5 years service, although a common path is graduate school - business, law etc. Employers value an army officer's leadership/management experience and work ethic. They know they are getting someone who is intelligent, hard working, and can work well with other people.
While waiting to hear from grad schools, I interviewed with a number of Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries for positions in sales, marketing, operations, etc. I don't recall any of the jobs being closely related to engineer branch - although I did not target construction and engineering firms. Some jobs valued experience in equipment maintenance, but that experience comes with infantry, armor, and several other branches as well as engineers.
sapperboston
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There are a lot more opportunities for civilian credentialing in the Engineer Branch than in years past. Assignments in the Corp of Engineers gives you great experience in the civilian sector.