St.Katherine
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2021
- Messages
- 443
Many years ago, Infantry Branch was highly sought after. Back then, we considered Finance and Adjutant General (AG) as 3rd and 4th options. Today, I am not sure if that’s the case. But if most of your classmates are requesting Combat Arms, then you have 99% chance of getting Finance.
Roadking
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2012
- Messages
- 407
There are very few Finance spots each year, like maybe 10? So it's not a given just based off of the numbers. Maybe google and search SAF for the branching results from the past few years, I remember seeing charts listing the results. A quick search produced this result (very tough for Finance only 1 slot for 2019):
Branch Results for the Class of 2019
Infantry – 214
Field Artillery – 150
Engineers – 121
Aviation – 100
Armor – 96
Military Intelligence – 60
Air Defense Artillery – 55
Signal Corps – 48
Ordnance – 30
Quartermaster – 26
Cyber – 25
Transportation – 24
Military Police – 18
Medical Services – 7
Adjutant General – 2
Chemical – 2
Finance – 1
Branch Results for the Class of 2019
Infantry – 214
Field Artillery – 150
Engineers – 121
Aviation – 100
Armor – 96
Military Intelligence – 60
Air Defense Artillery – 55
Signal Corps – 48
Ordnance – 30
Quartermaster – 26
Cyber – 25
Transportation – 24
Military Police – 18
Medical Services – 7
Adjutant General – 2
Chemical – 2
Finance – 1
Last edited:
FrauTeufelshund
Member
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- Nov 12, 2020
- Messages
- 288
There were a few threads recently on branching to Finance. Like this one was short but to summed it up well. (The original poster was looking at the long term goal of a career in private equity and hedge funds). https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/how-competitve.79326/#post-791213
Because of the limited number of allocations, it would probably be necessary to BRADSO (commit to 3 extra years of service) in order to get the branch. It is also quite possible that Branch Detail would be required - serve first tour in combat arms (Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery)
If Finance Branch is your goal, USMA is probably not the best route.
If Finance Branch is your goal, USMA is probably not the best route.
parentalunit2
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2010
- Messages
- 677
I'm just going to tag on to what was mentioned in the thread that @FrauTeufelshund referenced. Is your goal to work in finance after your military time? Have you done your due diligence and researched what finance means in the military? It is mostly mundane, like payroll, paying the army's bills, etc. and has no bearing on a future Wall Street type career. If a finance career is what you are after eventually, know that the recruiting path between West Point and Wall Street is well worn. No shortage of grads happy to hire former JOs who just got out of the army. And your major/branch really doesn't matter to them. They just want the smartest people making money for them.
When you look at academic programs related to Finance, there are normally two tracks: Corporate Finance and Investments (A wide variety of functions, but typically what one would view as "Wall Street")
Finance would be a good branch to prepare for a transition to corporate finance. All civilian companies (and government agencies) manage payroll, prepare budgets, manage accounts payable, etc., just as the Army does. A civilian company would further involve capital structure (debt vs equity) and cash management (what to do with cash until it is needed), activities generally not related to Army financial management.
Investments is not directly related to the Army's Finance Branch, but does require some of the same basic skills such as preparing and analyzing financial spreadsheets. However, most former Junior Military Officers who follow this path do so through graduate school, starting as Associates (or some equivalent title), bypassing the entry level position of Analyst and minimizing the benefit of service as an Finance Officer.
Finance would be a good branch to prepare for a transition to corporate finance. All civilian companies (and government agencies) manage payroll, prepare budgets, manage accounts payable, etc., just as the Army does. A civilian company would further involve capital structure (debt vs equity) and cash management (what to do with cash until it is needed), activities generally not related to Army financial management.
Investments is not directly related to the Army's Finance Branch, but does require some of the same basic skills such as preparing and analyzing financial spreadsheets. However, most former Junior Military Officers who follow this path do so through graduate school, starting as Associates (or some equivalent title), bypassing the entry level position of Analyst and minimizing the benefit of service as an Finance Officer.
Are you currently at WP? Appointee? Applicant? HS junior?
Where are you in the process?
Applicant waiting to hear back.
Best of Luck!