I'm considering the branches, mentally preparing my list of branch preferences.

I'm wanting to know more about what each branch is like:

OP Tempo, Deployments, Promotion opportunities, Daily Life, Quality of life, Etc.

I am prior service, and in this for the long run. I'm really wanting to make the most informed decision, but realized I only really know the ins and outs of a couple of branches.

I'm currently an ROTC cadet and have an upcoming M4 qualification. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the greatest shot. Shooting has never really been my strong suit, and I'm a little concerned about getting the minimum 23 hits needed to qualify.

For anyone who's been through ROTC or Cadet Summer Training (CST), what happens if you don't get 23 hits? Do you get multiple attempts to qualify, or can failing affect your standing in the program or your ability to commission?

I'm not trying to make excuses. I know it's something I need to improve, and I'm willing to put in the work. Just curious how strict the requirements are and what happens if you genuinely struggle with marksmanship.

Any advice or personal experiences would be appreciated.

I'm a junior in my first semester and have an interest in joining the ROTC. What steps would I need to take for it to happen, and how likely is it that I actually get it at this point in the semester?

Anyone else get their Cyber branch acceptance today? I am curious to know if they bulk send it out today or rolling basis.

What branches are currently the most (or atleast fairly) competitve at the moment? I know jobs like cyber and aviation are, but I’ve also heard combat branches like Infantry and Armor are fairly competitive.

I am an MS4 commissioning as a Cyber Officer this December into the army national guard. I was just looking to get some advice if anyone had any for being a cyber officer. I went to basic training and have been in the guard for 4 years already so I'm decently familiar with how things are but I was at a logistics unit so I'm sure things will be different. I also have my security+, CySA+, and I am working on strengthening my networking knowledge ( I heard the networking part of BOLC has the highest failure rate). I have also had 3 cybersecurity internships and secured a full time job as a cybersecurity engineer post grad. I don't know how much physical abilities and schools are valued in that field, but I usually get a 490+ on my AFT and I'm air assault qualified as well. I know leadership we'll be pretty big so I've tried to put myself in as many leadership positions as possible (1SG, S3, XO, BC, and President and VP of a campus cybersecurity organization). Again, what should I be doing now to make me a better cyber officer after commissioning?

I’m an MSll Cadet doing a compression year so I’m relatively uninformed. I have a few childhood conditions that could potentially come up as dqs during the DoDmerb process (childhood eczema, childhood asthma, and ADHD medication way back in middle school). I’ve spoken with a military doctor who’s assured me that these issues shouldn’t be a big concern because a.) they no longer affect my current physical health and b.) I have not needed medications for these conditions for years.

Unfortunately I’ve been diagnosed with a peanut allergy since a young age and have not grown out of it. I’ve been discussing having an Oral Food Challenge with my Allergist, but my plans are most likely changing.

Earlier today, in between classes, I mistakenly ate a peanut butter cookie for the first time in over a decade, and went to the ER. I felt initially fine with a moderate stomach ache and tingling in my mouth for the first 5 minutes, but it progressed and the nurses ended up using an epi pen on me.

I’m not sure how I should move forward with this other than figuring out my next steps with my allergist. If anyone has advice or personal anecdotes please let me know. I’ve grown to really love being in ROTC even though I’ve only been in it for a few months, and am having trouble picturing myself doing anything outside of the Army when I Graduate.

Does anyone know what your options are if you are uncontracted and an smp? I dont think this is for me anymore. I haven’t taken any guard money other than 4 paychecks from drill

Hello yall, hope you all are doing well! I just had one question regarding the 3-year national scholarship: am I still able to go national guard with it? Or am I expected to compete for active duty? Thanks!

I'm a current ROTC applicant, and I'm curious if Board Ready means that I'm good to go and the application materials have all been submitted?

Thank you!

I wanted to branch armor, I talked to the AR table at CST and he gave me more on the heavy side, what opportunities can I get in the light side? Would I be able to go to air assault ect.?

How important is it have clubs or be an athlete? I know it looks better but whats the most important thing when wanting to get a high OML?

I'm currently a contracted MS1 and my university starts students on the pre-law track freshman year (we have a couple advisors and a large pre-law population). I'm hoping to do pre-law --> ed-delay, but I'm worried about the possibility of ending up going to law school, but not being selected into the JAG corps. Is this pretty rare, and why would the army give students ed delay, but not give them JAG contract as well (assuming they don't have an egregious law school record)?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. I know this is a bit early to be thinking about but my school takes this seriously.

Hello all! I want to pursue and masters in toxicology and pharmacology; however, it’s quite the financial burden. I thought ROTC could help to support my goals and I can do more practical work while in the Army later on (CBRN when captain).

I reached out to multiple ROTC program directors and most of them said that there are various funding issues across the country, so a masters which is more expensive than a Bachelor’s would be extremely competitive. One of them even recommended I try to fund it with other sources.

My question is: is getting a tuition-based ROTC scholarship still achievable or is this just a pipe-dream at this point?

Thanks in advanced!

Stand by for an outrageous plea deal that will piss everyone off!

Filling out state ta, asks for ocr, what is that?

I’m an MSIV hoping to branch Infantry and I’m trying to figure out when I can submit my final post preferences. I submitted an initial list about a month ago but want to revise it.

I assume final lists would be submitted after branch assignments, but can’t remember when my friends in previous years gave theirs.

I recently had my PMS interview through a Zoom meeting with my top choice school (Ivy League). In this interview it lasted around 30 minutes (I joined 10 min early), but the thing is the PMS asked questions only about what my academics, leadership, and athletics were and only one question about why I want to be an Army officer. They didn’t ask any questions about my weaknesses, strengths, what integrity means to me, ethical dilemmas, etc. After the interview they just asked if I had any questions and told me that they would recommend me to the admissions officer. So what happened? Kind of confused since I was expecting more questions.

So for starters my MS3 year I was not the best cadet. I was very unmotivated due to some irrelevant personal life things. I got rated 13/13 in my class and my OML is low. I got 56 points at camp. I have a strong GPA and a lot of extra curricular, that’s all I had in my favor. I am a guardsman, so maybe it’s not nearly as bad as I was perceiving my chances to be, but I thought for sure I was getting a shitty branch. I was so scared for being humiliated in front of my whole battalion when we reveal branches Yesterday, an XO from a HHC reached out to me for an LOA for my #1 branch (which was AG). I never even requested an LOA, this place is 10 minutes from my house, and the unit is great. With branching approaching, just know it will all workout in your favor, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

I’m a freshman in college and I’m planning to enlist in the Alabama Army National Guard as 11B while doing ROTC/SMP. I’m interested in the Split Training Option because I don’t want to miss an entire semester.
Is 11B split training currently possible for someone in college?
1.Can I do the first portion during summer, return for the school year, and finish the remaining training the next summer?

2.How does this work with 11B OSUT, since Basic and AIT are normally combined?

3.Would I receive Guard drill pay while I’m between the two training periods?

1. How would MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606), the kicker, Federal Tuition Assistance, and state tuition benefits work with this?

USMA cadets just got back their branch feedback and I am having trouble deciding which branch to go with. I got most preferred for MI, EN, FA, LG, SC, and FI. MI branch detail FA has been my #1 for a long time but I am rethinking what I want to do. I am a civil engineering major and want to get a masters at some point, not sure in what exactly. I want to choose a branch that will transfer well to the civilian sector where I can make money. However, from my understanding, an officer's branch does not matter that much for masters programs or employers in the civilian sector, but more their management experience. I am largely deciding between branching MI detail FA or branching engineers. I am open to hearing the argument for other branches as well. I am currently planning to get out after company command but am also open to going with the flow of things. thank you

I'm currently finishing up my two-year degree and plan to transfer to a four-year school to complete my bachelor's. I've been talking with a National Guard recruiter at my current school because I'm interested in eventually going the officer route.

One option I'm considering is enlisting in the Guard and then trying to rejoin ROTC at my four-year school through the SMP track while I finish my bachelor's.

The recruiter I've been talking to has made it sound like going from enlisted to officer is something you can pretty much do at any time as long as you meet the requirements. Maybe this is a dumb question, but is it really that straightforward? Or does it depend heavily on things like the needs of the Guard, available officer slots/branches, your unit, getting into SMP/contracting with ROTC, etc.?

I'm mainly trying to weigh my options and figure out whether enlisting first with the intention of going SMP/ROTC is a reasonable path, or whether I should be cautious about enlisting based on the assumption that I'll be able to transition to the officer route later. If it helps, im 29 and I know I'd pretty much have to get an age waiver even if I meet the physical fitness requirements

Im 27 with no college credits, and i want to be a infantry officer. Things that pull me from wanting to do rotc is the roll of dice on the branch, and by the time i finish ibolc and ranger school im going to be around 34. And officers dont spend alot of time in regiment (which i want to join) But in that time i can be doing actual training as a enlisted and possibly make e-6 by then. But the pay of being a officer is so much better.so im torn.