How Will I Know What I Want To Branch

[BobSanderz]

I'm headed to The Citadel with an rotc scholarship this summer. I know it's early, but I wanted to be as prepared as possible to score as high on the oml as I can.

Furthermore, I would proabbly want to branch infantry or Intelligence. I find it's weird since I would think that they are other sides of the spectrum, which leads me to my question.

How will I learn what each of the branches of officers ship are truly about. For example, Right now I think I know I want to branch infantry as an 18 year old high school student. Our there oppertinies in rotc to truly develop an opinion?

 

[Thompson]

How will I learn what each of the branches of officers ship are truly about. For example, Right now I think I know I want to branch infantry as an 18 year old high school student. Our there oppertinies in rotc to truly develop an opinion?

The book answer is: (unless things have changed) when you go to summer training in the summer between Jr and Sr year, there's a "branch day"; akin to a job fair. You get to walk around and get to talk to officers in that respective branch.

My answer: find and talk to officers in that branch; Citadel alumni would be a great way to go. It won't be quite so awkard since both of you would have something in common: graduating and commissioning source. And since you're already there, you've just started networking. You'll quickly learn (if you haven't already), that it's not necessarily about what you know, as opposed to who you know (granted that can be a double edged sword; topic of discussion for another time).

Honestly when I was going through MS III year I got quite frustrated trying to actually understand what each branch does -- and more specifically, what a day in the life of an LT (in branch XYZ) is like. What I found was that the typical branch day presentation was your typical poster board speech. As an LT in Ordnance you'll do X, Y, Z. That's great and all - but I literally could have found that from the Go Ordnance website. What I wanted to know was - what is it that I'd do on a day to day basis? Is it managing work orders in my maintenance shop; is it coordinating parts retrieval from the SSA via Supply SGT; is it going to weekly maintenance meetings with the BN XO (Battalion Executive Officer)?

Another example: Adjutant General (AG) - these guys are your sustainment folks who work on paperwork within the BN; they're the human resources personnel. Commissioning into the Army I could have told you that AG officers typically work in S1 dealing with paperwork (UCMJ, awards, etc). What I could not have told you however, until having some time and experience (and talking to a bunch of 42A/Bs), is that being S1 literally never ends for an officer. You're pretty much always working; on your off time and weekends.

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Honestly, doing it right - it's a lot of work trying to truly figure out what you passionately want to do in the Army. And good on you for having a vested interest in yourself at this age. That's definitely a step in the right direction and a big step over your peers - whom most of which wont ever put this much thought into branch selection. And frankly - sometimes the knowledge you seek about branches sometimes wont come about until you've been an LT for a year and actually have a decent understanding about what the Army is and how it truly works. I always found it annoying that the Army is forcing you to pick a career field for your immediate future (I hold the same viewpoint on essentially forcing 18 year olds with trying to pick a degree without much practical, real world experience to form conclusions), with no true grasp on A.) that career field and B.) how it ties into the Army. But it is what it is; in the Military, you make do with what you have. //end rant//

 

[Casey]

If you have the chance to compete for a Cadet Troop Leading Time (CTLT) slot, it would be another way to gain some exposure prior to branching. It’s essentially three weeks of shadowing a LT somewhere in big Army (locations and branches vary) so you can see what day to day life actually looks like.

Otherwise, try to absorb as much as you can from your MS instructors and ask lots of questions. LDAC will give you some more exposure to different branches, but most of the research will be up to you to figure out what your interests are.

And while the “toys” differ between branch, most junior officers are doing the same job, just a different flavor in traditional branches. As a PL, you’ll be responsible for training, planning, resourcing, and taking care of soldiers. Staff roles all hold the same premise, just different problem sets of whether you’re resourcing tanks, helicopters, etc. And eventually, regardless what you do, you’ll eventually get pulled away to a desk of some sort although I’m actively doing everything in my power to fight that. #PLforLife

 

[BobSanderz]

The book answer is: (unless things have changed) when you go to summer training in the summer between Jr and Sr year, there's a "branch day"; akin to a job fair. You get to walk around and get to talk to officers in that respective branch.

My answer: find and talk to officers in that branch; Citadel alumni would be a great way to go. It won't be quite so awkard since both of you would have something in common: graduating and commissioning source. And since you're already there, you've just started networking. You'll quickly learn (if you haven't already), that it's not necessarily about what you know, as opposed to who you know (granted that can be a double edged sword; topic of discussion for another time).

Honestly when I was going through MS III year I got quite frustrated trying to actually understand what each branch does -- and more specifically, what a day in the life of an LT (in branch XYZ) is like. What I found was that the typical branch day presentation was your typical poster board speech. As an LT in Ordnance you'll do X, Y, Z. That's great and all - but I literally could have found that from the Go Ordnance website. What I wanted to know was - what is it that I'd do on a day to day basis? Is it managing work orders in my maintenance shop; is it coordinating parts retrieval from the SSA via Supply SGT; is it going to weekly maintenance meetings with the BN XO (Battalion Executive Officer)?

Another example: Adjutant General (AG) - these guys are your sustainment folks who work on paperwork within the BN; they're the human resources personnel. Commissioning into the Army I could have told you that AG officers typically work in S1 dealing with paperwork (UCMJ, awards, etc). What I could not have told you however, until having some time and experience (and talking to a bunch of 42A/Bs), is that being S1 literally never ends for an officer. You're pretty much always working; on your off time and weekends.

------

Honestly, doing it right - it's a lot of work trying to truly figure out what you passionately want to do in the Army. And good on you for having a vested interest in yourself at this age. That's definitely a step in the right direction and a big step over your peers - whom most of which wont ever put this much thought into branch selection. And frankly - sometimes the knowledge you seek about branches sometimes wont come about until you've been an LT for a year and actually have a decent understanding about what the Army is and how it truly works. I always found it annoying that the Army is forcing you to pick a career field for your immediate future (I hold the same viewpoint on essentially forcing 18 year olds with trying to pick a degree without much practical, real world experience to form conclusions), with no true grasp on A.) that career field and B.) how it ties into the Army. But it is what it is; in the Military, you make do with what you have. //end rant//

I wish I could tell you in person how thankful I am for such a detailed response my my question. I will be keeping your points in my mind as I progress through my Cadet life at the Citadel.

 

[BobSanderz]

If you have the chance to compete for a Cadet Troop Leading Time (CTLT) slot, it would be another way to gain some exposure prior to branching. It’s essentially three weeks of shadowing a LT somewhere in big Army (locations and branches vary) so you can see what day to day life actually looks like.

Otherwise, try to absorb as much as you can from your MS instructors and ask lots of questions. LDAC will give you some more exposure to different branches, but most of the research will be up to you to figure out what your interests are.

And while the “toys” differ between branch, most junior officers are doing the same job, just a different flavor in traditional branches. As a PL, you’ll be responsible for training, planning, resourcing, and taking care of soldiers. Staff roles all hold the same premise, just different problem sets of whether you’re resourcing tanks, helicopters, etc. And eventually, regardless what you do, you’ll eventually get pulled away to a desk of some sort although I’m actively doing everything in my power to fight that. #PLforLife

Cadet troop leading time, how can I get acsess to that? Is it dependent on the oml? Is it selection based like schools over summer for example air borne air assault?

 

[Casey]

Cadet troop leading time, how can I get acsess to that? Is it dependent on the oml? Is it selection based like schools over summer for example air borne air assault?

I’ll defer to the ROTC grads here to talk more about selection for the program but I would assume yes. At West Point, yes, selection was based on OML for summer preferences for type of CTLT experience (branch and location were preferenced) you would get like military schools. The difference for us though was CTLT is a graduation requirement for West Point cadets that you had to do it either rising junior or rising senior summer. I’m not sure ROTC is guaranteed participation in the same way but ROTC cadets do participate in the program. None of the cadets I sponsored as a LT were west pointers.

Another just note on this, while you only get assigned to one LT and therefore one branch during CTLT, any halfway decent LT will hook you up with friends around post to get you exposed to other branches during the the three weeks you’re there. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you’re interested in, even if it’s not their branch. They know you’re there to learn and should make an effort to get the most out of the experience for you as possible.

 

[cb7893]

I'm headed to The Citadel with an rotc scholarship this summer. I know it's early, but I wanted to be as prepared as possible to score as high on the oml as I can...

How will I learn what each of the branches of officers ship are truly about. For example, Right now I think I know I want to branch infantry as an 18 year old high school student. Our there oppertinies in rotc to truly develop an opinion?

Follow the advice and information @Thompson and @Casey are giving you. They impress me more with each of their posts. Their advice and info lines up perfectly with my DS’s experience. He commissioned through AROTC and is a couple of years ahead of them. The path forward for that 18 year old to his current situation could not have been scripted.

There are a couple of points I would emphasize and a couple to add:

OML is everything and GPA is the most important element. That’s a simple fact.

Max out the APFT or whatever they call it now. Always be in the top 25% in any group physical activity.

Develop an attention to detail for everything from your uniform to your spelling and grammar.

Stop worrying about your commissioning source.

The Citadel has an extensive and proud alumni network. You can draw on that LATER as you settle on a branch preference. Emphasize LATER.

An element of your branch decision should be your desire for a duty station. My DS chose Signal primarily because that gave him the best chance for a first duty station overseas and in the ME.

Your branch will not determine your future. Your performance in that branch will determine it. Much like your performance as a cadet will determine you OML.

Best of luck!

 

[BobSanderz]

Follow the advice and information @Thompson and @Casey are giving you. They impress me more with each of their posts. Their advice and info lines up perfectly with my DS’s experience. He commissioned through AROTC and is a couple of years ahead of them. The path forward for that 18 year old to his current situation could not have been scripted.

There are a couple of points I would emphasize and a couple to add:

OML is everything and GPA is the most important element. That’s a simple fact.

Max out the APFT or whatever they call it now. Always be in the top 25% in any group physical activity.

Develop an attention to detail for everything from your uniform to your spelling and grammar.

Stop worrying about your commissioning source.

The Citadel has an extensive and proud alumni network. You can draw on that LATER as you settle on a branch preference. Emphasize LATER.

An element of your branch decision should be your desire for a duty station. My DS chose Signal primarily because that gave him the best chance for a first duty station overseas and in the ME.

Your branch will not determine your future. Your performance in that branch will determine it. Much like your performance as a cadet will determine you OML.

Best of luck!

Thank you for your added insight.

 

[Thompson]

Cadet troop leading time, how can I get acsess to that? Is it dependent on the oml? Is it selection based like schools over summer for example air borne air assault?

When I was in, it only happens in between Jr and Sr year -- post going to LDAC/CLC/Advanced Camp/whatever else they call it now.

However more recently, I'm seeing Cadets go between their sophomore and Jr years now.

From what I observed at Penn State, there wasn't an OML needed. If you wanted to go, you got a slot.

Originally I got a slot for for CTLT, then got bumped from it and got an Army internship instead. Turns out I got a way better deal, as I got to see a different side of the Army that most don't know about: Acquisition.

 

[Chockstock]

As an officer, the only things that really change are the toys you get to play with and the mission. 80% of what you do is the same across all branches, minus a few more specialized ones. I would imagine many of your instructors are AD officers - talk to them. CTLT was mentioned already, its a great opportunity and probably the only time you will ever spend in the operational Army as a cadet. So it is highly valuable.

If you find yourself in a unit that you did not wish to be in during CTLT, ask your sponsor if its possible to visit and talk to NCOs and officers in an adjacent unit that you are interested in. I am sure your sponsoring unit will try and help you out. CTLT will probably guide your decision greatly.

Finally, think about what interests you and what gets you "excited". For as long as you enjoy and have a passion about your chosen path, the long nights will be easier to bear. Also keep in mind that going MI may not necessarily mean the far end of the spectrum. You certainly wont be expected to perform what they do but if you are assigned to an infantry or combined arms unit, you will learn a lot about maneuver operations. And you will be just as busy, often accompanying them on their field problems and deployments.

 

[raimius]

"As an officer, the only things that really change are the toys you get to play with and the mission."
That is a bit of an oversimplification, in my opinion. Talking to a personnelist, a pilot, and an infantry officer will likely reveal some pretty different perspectives and daily responsibilities.

 

[UHBlackhawk]

"As an officer, the only things that really change are the toys you get to play with and the mission."
That is a bit of an oversimplification, in my opinion. Talking to a personnelist, a pilot, and an infantry officer will likely reveal some pretty different perspectives and daily responsibilities.

Yes and no. While I was Aviation, I think most of those officers who did well in Aviation would have done well as Infantry or Armor officers. On the other hand, being a platoon leader in an Aviation company with 10 warrant officers, 10 enlisted crew chiefs and 5 UH-60s is different from being an airborne infantry platoon leader with 40 odd enlisted Joes.

 

[Chockstock]

"As an officer, the only things that really change are the toys you get to play with and the mission."
That is a bit of an oversimplification, in my opinion. Talking to a personnelist, a pilot, and an infantry officer will likely reveal some pretty different perspectives and daily responsibilities.

Agreed. Hence "minus a few more specialized ones". I guess I wasnt clear enough. But I still think, especially as you move away from troop leading and into staff (where the vast majority of your career will be spent), the guiding principles and tasks remain largely the same. OP just needs to understand that its a little premature to be worried about whether he/she will have the necessary info to make an informed decision, esp when OML and branch availability are unknown. At this point, I would encourage OP to maybe watch some Youtube videos and find some reading material on branches and their history.

An element of your branch decision should be your desire for a duty station. My DS chose Signal primarily because that gave him the best chance for a first duty station overseas and in the ME.

Ehhhh to each his own but I think that sort of advice applies to only a few cadets who have highly specific goals or reasons for wanting to be at a certain duty station. Assignments are only a few years at most, especially as an officer, and if a cadet is aspiring to make the Army a career within the basic branch, he/she should consider the branch far more than duty station. Assignments can also get swapped at BOLC (if that is still allowed)...

 

[BobSanderz]

Agreed. Hence "minus a few more specialized ones". I guess I wasnt clear enough. But I still think, especially as you move away from troop leading and into staff (where the vast majority of your career will be spent), the guiding principles and tasks remain largely the same. OP just needs to understand that its a little premature to be worried about whether he/she will have the necessary info to make an informed decision, esp when OML and branch availability are unknown. At this point, I would encourage OP to maybe watch some Youtube videos and find some reading material on branches and their history.



Ehhhh to each his own but I think that sort of advice applies to only a few cadets who have highly specific goals or reasons for wanting to be at a certain duty station. Assignments are only a few years at most, especially as an officer, and if a cadet is aspiring to make the Army a career within the basic branch, he/she should consider the branch far more than duty station. Assignments can also get swapped at BOLC (if that is still allowed)...

Thank you for your valuable information

 

[BobSanderz]

Yes and no. While I was Aviation, I think most of those officers who did well in Aviation would have done well as Infantry or Armor officers. On the other hand, being a platoon leader in an Aviation company with 10 warrant officers, 10 enlisted crew chiefs and 5 UH-60s is different from being an airborne infantry platoon leader with 40 odd enlisted Joes.

Thank you for your insight