The following is a list of branches available to Cadets upon their commissioning and a breif description of what the branch.
The Infantry is the main land combat force and core fighting strength of the Army. It's equally important during peacetime and in combat. The role of an Infantry Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Infantry and to lead others in all areas of land combat.
The responsibilities of an Infantry Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Armor Branch is responsible for all the tank and cavalry/forward reconnaissance operations on the battlefield. The role of an Armor Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Armor Branch and to lead others in many areas of combat operations.
As an Armor Officer, you may either work with tank units that utilize the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams Tanks, or cavalry units responsible for forward reconnaissance operations.
The responsibilities of an Armor Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Field Artillery Branch is responsible for neutralizing or suppressing the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fire and to help integrate all fire support assets into combined arms operations. The role of a Field Artillery Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Field Artillery Branch and to be an expert in the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of fire support systems.
The responsibilities of a Field Artillery Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Air Defense Artillery Branch has had to evolve to manage the diverse air and missile threat seen in the early part of the 21st century. It is one of the most high-tech and modern forces within the Army and the Officers who lead it must sharpen their skills constantly as this technology evolves.
The role of an Air Defense Artillery Officer is to be a leader in operations specific to the Air Defense Artillery Branch and to be an expert in the tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of air defense systems. You will lead teams in protecting U.S. forces from aerial attack, missile attack and enemy surveillance.
You will also become an expert in one or more of the following systems; PATRIOT Missile System, Bradley Linebacker System, Man Portable Air Defense System, and AVENGER System.
The responsibilities of an Air Defense Artillery Lieutenant may include
The Army's Aviation Branch is critical in so many of the Army's operations. From providing quick-strike and long-range target engagement during combat operations to hauling troops and supplies, Army helicopter units are key in getting the job done in many situations.
An Officer within the Aviation Branch is first an expert aviator, but is also responsible for the coordination of Aviation operations from maintenance to control tower operations to tactical field missions.
All Aviation Officers lead Soldiers and Aviation units and work with the following Army helicopters; OH-58 Kiowa, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache.
The responsibilities of an Aviation Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Special Forces are some of the most specially trained Soldiers in the Army. Special Forces are experts in conducting operations that don't call for conventional military operations. A Special Forces Officer is responsible for what is typically organized as a 12-man team, known as an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA).
ODAs are deployed around the world in rapid-response situations whether it's during peacetime, crisis or war. The Special Forces Officer is the team leader of an ODA, responsible for mission organization, outfitting the team and debriefing mission objectives.
Usually, Special Forces Officers will conduct the following five types of missions:
Counter-Terrorism
Special Forces are often deployed to preclude, preempt and resolve terrorist incidents abroad. They prevent, deter and respond to terrorist activities and train other nations' military in the basics of fighting terrorism.
Direct Action
Direct Action missions are short duration strikes that are used when Special Forces want to seize, capture, recover or destroy enemy weapons and information or recover designated personnel or material.
Foreign Internal Defense
This mission is used to organize, assist and train the military and national defense forces of foreign governments to protect their citizens from aggressors.
Special Reconnaissance
These intelligence-gathering activities monitor as much about the enemy's movement and operations as possible.
Unconventional Warfare
Special Forces have long employed the use of Unconventional Warfare (UW), a.k.a. guerilla warfare, to train, equip, advise and assist forces in enemy-held or controlled territory.
An Officer in the Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for providing support in a full spectrum of engineering duties. Engineer Officers help the Army and the Nation in building structures, developing civil works programs, working with natural resources as well as providing combat support on the battlefield.
Combat Engineer Officer
Combat Engineer Officers have the engineering skills to support combat missions which can include: bridge building and destruction; minefield emplacement and reduction; and other tasks requiring specialized engineering skills and equipment.
Construction Engineer Officer
Construction Engineer Officers build and maintain roads, airfields and other facilities that support combat operations. During peacetime these Officers help in building schools and other structures.
Topographic Engineer Officer
Topographic Engineer Officers know how to operate terrain depiction equipment and give analyses that give Maneuver Commanders an edge in battle.
The responsibilities of an Engineer Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Signal Corps is responsible for all systems of communication for the entire Army. The Signal Corps strives to always provide seamless, secure, consistent and dynamic information systems at all levels of command and for any situation. On every mission, communications and data management (handled by the Signal Corps) have become increasingly critical for the Army and its continued success.
A Signal Corps Officer, then, must be an expert in planning, installing, integrating, operating and maintaining the Army's voice, data and information systems, services and resources. Signal Officers must be highly intelligent, forward-thinking and have a complete knowledge of these various technologies.
The responsibilities of a Signal Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Military Police provide an important function in the full spectrum of Army operations. The Army's Military Police can be utilized in direct combat and during peacetime. As a Military Police Officer there are five main functions you will be responsible for within this branch:
1. Maneuver and mobility support operations
2. Area security operations
3. Law and order operations
4. Internment and resettlement operations
5. Police intelligence operations
These five functions of the Army's Military Police all provide a commander with the necessary information and support for the successful completion of many Army missions.
The responsibilities of a Military Police Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Military Intelligence (MI) is responsible for all intelligence gathered or learned during Army missions. MI Officers are always out front, providing essential intelligence and in many cases saving Soldiers who are fighting on the front lines.
Military Intelligence Officers also assess risks associated with friendly and enemy courses of action and act to counter or neutralize identified intelligence threats. The MI Officer also uses intelligence systems and data to reduce uncertainty of enemy, terrain and weather conditions for a commander.
A Military Intelligence Officer specialize in these specific areas:
Imagery Intelligence Officer: Supervises the collection and analysis of optical, infrared and RADAR imagery using photogrammetry and terrain analysis.
All-Source Intelligence Officer: Performs collection management, surveillance and reconnaissance activities and provides advice on the use of resources on all levels.
Counterintelligence Officer: Provides coordination and participation in counterintelligence investigations, operations and production.
Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Officer: Coordinates and participates in controlled collection operations and interviews.
Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Officer: Coordinates and participates in the collection of signals intelligence (SIGINT) and conducts electronic warfare.
All-Source Intelligence Aviator: Performs duties as Aviator and MI Officer. Coordinates and participates in Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) missions.
The responsibilities of a Military Intelligence Lieutenant may include:
Civil Affairs Officers are experts in acting as a liaison between the Army and civilian authorities and populations. In many respects, Civil Affairs Officers have to share the same skills as a public relations executive in the civilian world. Civil Affairs Officers many times must facilitate relationships between U.S. military forces and the people of the nation(s) in which those forces are operating.
The Civil Affairs officer combines regional expertise, language competency, political-military awareness, cross-cultural communication and professional military skills to conduct Civil Affairs operations and support Civil-Military operations in support of conventional and special operations forces. Civil Affairs involve humanitarian assistance, populace and resources control, support to civil administration, foreign nation support, emergency services and military-civic action. CA officers' unique knowledge and expertise enable them to command and coordinate CA operations that are planned, executed and transitioned to mitigate or defeat on-going or future regional and/or global civil threats. CA forms the nucleus of the Army's CMO expertise for Army Special Operations (ARSOF) and conventional forces.
The responsibilities of a Civil Affairs Team Leader may include:
A new frontier of defense for our country is the threat of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The Chemical Officer advises the commander on issues regarding nuclear, biological and radiological warfare, defense and homeland protection. Chemical Officers also employ Chemical units in combat support with chemical, smoke and flame weapons, technology and management.
The responsibilities of a Chemical Lieutenant may include:
An Adjutant General Officer is responsible for helping Soldiers with the tasks that affect their overall welfare and well being, while assisting commanders by keeping Soldiers combat-ready. In many cases, the duties of an Adjutant General Officer are very similar to the function of a high-level human resources executive in the civilian world.
The responsibilities of an Adjutant General Lieutenant may include:
The Army's Finance Corps is responsible for sustaining operations through purchasing and acquiring supplies and services. Officers in the Finance Corps make sure commercial vendors are paid, contractual payments are met, balancing and projecting budgets, paying Soldiers for their service and other financial matters of keeping the Army running.
Some specific financial management areas for a Finance Officer include; Army pay, Commercial vendor support, Disbursement of public funds, Auditing, Travel and transportation allowances, Accounting, Financial management information systems, and Banking.
The responsibilities of a Finance Lieutenant may include:
The Transportation Corps is responsible for moving supplies, troops and equipment anywhere on the globe. During war, the Transportation Corps utilizes trucks, boats and airplanes to provide extremely fast support to the combat teams on the frontlines. Transportation Officers are experts in the systems, vehicles and procedures in moving troops and supplies in the Army.
The responsibilities of a Transportation Lieutenant may include:
A key component to the Army's success is the maintenance of a wide range of weapons systems, commonly called "ordnance." Ordnance Officers are responsible for ensuring that these weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment are ready and available--and in perfect working order--at all times.
An Ordnance Officer will also manage the developing, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions.
The responsibilities of an Ordnance Lieutenant may include:
The Quartermaster Corps is the logistical center point for all Army operations. Quartermaster Officers are responsible for making sure equipment, materials and systems are available and functioning for missions. More specifically, the Quartermaster Officer provides supply support for Soldiers and units in field services, aerial delivery and material and distribution management.
The responsibilities of a Quartermaster Lieutenant may include:
The Army Judge Advocate General's Corps is the Army's Law department. The JAG Corps consists of attorneys, legal assistants and judges. As an Officer in the JAG Corps and a practicing attorney or judge, your responsibilities will cover a wide-range of practices that includes military law and criminal prosecution to international law and legal assistance-both in the U.S. and abroad.
You may also specialize in one of these areas as a JAG Attorney; Criminal Law, Legal Assistance, Civil Litigation, Administrative Law, Labor Law, International Law, Operational Law, Teaching, Medical Law, and Contract Law.
The responsibilities of an Army JAG Attorney include:
As an Army chaplain you will have the responsibility of caring for the spiritual well-being of Soldiers and their Families. An Army chaplain's parish can consist of over 1,500 people. For this reason, the Army chaplain is crucial to the success of the Army's mission. Exercising leadership in things that are spiritual requires a special person with a unique calling.
The Army Chaplaincy is a religiously diverse population reflecting the diversity of the Army, yet each chaplain must minister in accordance to the guidelines of their distinct faith group. Army Chaplains oversee the spiritual care of their assigned units wherever they may train or deploy. They also assist with the congregational care of their assigned posts performing religious ceremonies, rituals, and rites in accordance to their respective faiths.
Unlike most officers in the Army, a chaplain begins serving as a staff officer immediately. As a member of the commander's special staff, the chaplain is responsible for providing advice in matters pertaining to religion, morals, and morale. The chaplain serves the Army with a chaplain assistant (56M) as part of a Unit Ministry Team (UMT). As a non-combatant, chaplains do not possess a weapon. The chaplain assistant provides security for the UMT and assist with the administrative aspects of the UMT's ministry. Fully trained in the technical arena of religious support and Soldier-specific tasks, chaplain assistants are an integral part of the UMT's ministry and mission.
Other roles and responsibilities common to the chaplaincy:
An Army Medical Corps Officer is responsible for the overall health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for providing health care to Soldiers' families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community. During combat, the Medical Corps Officer oversees the emergency medical management of casualties and makes sure Soldiers are combat ready when it comes to their overall health.
A Medical Corps Officer can specialize in the following areas; Allergist, Anesthesiologist, Cardiologist, Child Neurologist, Child Psychiatrist, Clinical Immunologist, Clinical Pharmacologist, Dermatologist, Diagnostic Radiologist, Emergency Medicine Physician, Endocrinologist, Family Practice Physician, Flight Surgeon, Gastroenterologist, General Surgeon, Hematologist, Immunologist, Infectious Disease Physician, Internal Medicine Physician, Medical Oncologist, Nephrologist, Neurologist, Neurosurgeon, Nuclear Medicine Physician, OB/GYN, Occupational Medicine Physician, Oncologist, Ophthalmologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Otolaryngologist, Pathologist, Pediatric Cardiologist, Pediatrician, Pediatric Medicine Physician, Peripheral Vascular Surgeon, Physiatrist, Plastic Surgeon, Preventive Medicine Physician, Specialties, Psychiatrist, Pulmonary Disease Physician, Radiologist, Rheumatologist, Therapeutic Radiologist, Thoracic Surgeon, Urologist, Vascular Surgeon.
The responsibilities of a Medical Corps Officer may include:
An Army Dental Corps Officer is responsible for the dental health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for providing health care to Soldiers' families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community. During combat, the Dental Corps Officer assists in the emergency medical management of casualties; identifies casualties through dental records and makes sure Soldiers are combat ready when it comes to their health.
There are several other areas to specialize in within the Army Dental Corps:
* Comprehensive Dentist
* Endodontist
* Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
* Orthodontist
* Pediatric Dentist
* Periodontist
* Prosthodontist
The responsibilities of a Dental Corps Officer may include:
As an Army Veterinarian Officer, you can practice in three primary areas: animal medicine, veterinary public health and research and development. You will be responsible for treating government-owned animals and the valued pets of service members and their families.
Army Veterinary Corps Officers are also responsible for programs ensuring the safety and security of Department of Defense food supplies, both here and abroad. Approximately one-third of Veterinary Corps Officers are involved in Research and Development in an incredible range of focus areas, from basic breast cancer research to vaccine development.
Many times, Army Veterinarians deliver public health programs around the world such as vaccination programs in Ecuador, teaching Thai veterinary technicians, or supporting Foot and Mouth Disease eradication efforts in Mongolia.
The responsibilities of a Veterinary Corps Officer may include:
The Medical Specialist Corps is a diverse and integral part of the Army Health Care Team. Medical Specialist Corps Officers are essential in treating and helping the overall health of Soldiers and their families. From medical fields such as occupational therapy and physical therapy to dietician and physician assistant, the Army Medical Specialist Corps includes four areas of specialty:
Occupational Therapist
As an Army Occupational Therapist, you'll use your time, skill and creativity working in a wide variety of roles. You'll not only have the opportunity to perform upper extremity evaluation and treatment, ergonomic evaluation, physical disability rehabilitation and mental health intervention, but you may also serve in the deployed environment on a Combat Stress Control team.
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapists in the Army serve in a number of settings, in a variety of specialized areas and in all phases of treatment. You might perform musculoskeletal screening on new patients, provide amputee care, or get involved in sports medicine.
Dietitian
Keeping Soldiers and their families healthy through nutrition is critical to the success of today's Army. Working alongside other Health Care professionals, you'll be an integral part of the Army Medical Team dealing with fitness, health promotion, diabetes, oncology and countless other issues and diagnoses.
Physician Assistant
As a Physician Assistant in the United States Army you will find yourself as the primary Medical Officer of an airborne infantry battalion, armored cavalry squadron, or one of many combat arms or combat support units. It takes a high degree of personal responsibility and confidence in the field of medicine to manage the dual mission of caring for Soldiers in a field environment as well as for the Soldier's family members in a clinical setting.
The responsibilities of a Medical Specialist Corps Officer may include:
As an Officer in the Army Nurse Corps, you will lead a nursing team in caring for Soldiers and their families. You will be responsible for and address all aspects of patient care, including initiating and coordinating multidisciplinary care.
As a Nurse Corps Officer you will practice in a network that believes in a holistic nursing philosophy. You'll identify and organize resources for patients and their families to help with inpatient, outpatient and home care. Because you're also a professional in the Army, you'll be able to understand the special concerns and needs of Soldiers, allowing you to better serve them.
As an Army Nurse Corps Officer, you can specialize beyond Medical- Surgical nursing in one of the following areas: Critical Care, Operating Room, OB/GYN, Psychiatric/Mental Health, Army Public Health or Emergency Room. There are also opportunities to attend graduate school and become an Advanced Practice Nurse such as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist , Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to name a few.
The responsibilities of a Nurse Corps Lieutenant may include:
The Medical Service Corps is a diverse and integral part of the Army Health Care Team. Medical Service Corps Officers are essential in treating and helping the overall health of Soldiers and their families. They are also responsible for much of the medical research that takes place in the Army. From medical fields such as optometry and podiatry to laboratory sciences to behavioral sciences, the Army Medical Service Corps includes many areas of specialty:
Behavioral Sciences
In Army Behavioral Sciences, you can specialize in the following career fields; Social Worker, Clinical Psychologist, and Counseling Psychologist.
Health Administration Services
Great hospitals, talented doctors and the respect of your peers - these are just a few of the things you can expect when you join the Army Medical Service Corps.
Laboratory Sciences
There are four broad biomedical career fields that are available to Army Laboratory Science Officers; Biochemist, Clinical Laboratory Officer, Microbiologist, and Research Psychology
Optometry
Providing direct patient care to Army personnel and their families will be your top priority as a member of the Army Optometry Health Care Team.
Pharmacy
Army Pharmacists are an integral part of the Army Health Care Team; they certainly do more than just handle prescriptions.
Podiatry
As an Army Podiatrist you'll provide surgical services to Soldiers and personnel, but you'll also gain experience by caring for family members and Army retirees.
Preventive Medicine Sciences
There are five Preventive Medicine Sciences career fields to choose from; Nuclear Medical Science Officer, Entomologist, Audiologist, Environmental Science Officer, and Sanitary Engineer.
The responsibilities of a Medical Service Corps Lieutenant may include: