Push for Army ROTC?

abctotheabc said:
Thank you! How is FA? What do you do? Where do they send you?
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I'm in BOLC right now so I sit in class all day and study at night. Anything below an 80% is an F in this course, so our only job is to be a student here. For young FA LT's, the primary jobs you will rotate between are being a FDO (Fire Direction Officer), a FSO (Fire Support Officer), and a PL (Platoon Leader). The benefit for FA LT's is that all 3 of those roles are direct leadership roles whereas other branches get a year or so as a PL then off to XO or staff. An FDO is the guy/gal that is checking the computations needed to send accurate indirect fires, an FSO is attached to a maneuver unit and is the one that develops the commanders fire support plan (let's the commander know what assets are available and how they can/will be used). Because of that, the BOLC is intensive because the Gunnery portion (what you use as an FDO) requires a mixture of math, physics, and a combination of around 13 different factors (altitude, curve of the earth, etc.) to make sure the big guns hit the right targets. Fire Support is another big chunk learning to create fire support plans and making map overlays and also the role of a FO (forward observer) calling for fire. There's a lot more to it, but that's a basic overview.

Also, about half of each BOLC class will follow on to the JFO (Joint Fires Observer) course, where we learn to coordinate joint fires (air assets, naval gunfire, etc.). It's nice because that course awards an additional skill identifier. There are not many branches where you will get immediate joint experience or control as many assets as an FA officer.

As far as where they send you? FA goes everywhere the maneuver units go. There are instructors here that have been with just about every maneuver unit in the army, from BCTs to one that was the FSO for a special missions unit. The artillery school is also joint, so all Marines come here to learn too as well as a number of foreign officers.

It wasn't my first choice, but I'm not complaining one bit about it.
 
Bull, I taught physics for six years. These calculations sound like something my students would be prepared for. Thank you for the insight into your work and I have a great respect for what you are doing. God bless!
 
EDelahanty said:
Bull, if you're going to be firing artillery at the enemy over the heads of our troops, I'd prefer any grade below about 95 to be failing. Study hard!
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I don't disagree. Humans make mistakes, but mistakes in this field can be devastating. Luckily, the guns these days are so "smart" that you can provide fires without an FDO. But, manual gunnery is how we are taught (rightfully so) and is used to double check the gun computers. Also reassuringly, the instructors here can remove or recycle you from the course for something as simple as they just don't trust you with the guns or with your work, and recycles are very common (I have about 20 in my class).
 
Yup...poor choice of words. My point was that not getting your branch of choice is not the end of the world. As someone who was transferred (not detailed) from Infantry into the Signal Corps I know what it's like to think your hopes and dreams were crushed and to find out leading soldiers in any field is challenging and rewarding. I didn't see it coming, but I made the best of it and have no complaints.
 
EDelahanty said:
Bull, if you're going to be firing artillery at the enemy over the heads of our troops, I'd prefer any grade below about 95 to be failing. Study hard!
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To the Administrators,

There needs to be a button that expresses more than just "like". It would be appropriate for this post.
 
Are all of you guys officers already? I would love to know what you guys do in your branch! I know little about most of them.
 
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