Career Branches
As a newly commissioned officer there are 17 basic branches you can assess into. After getting into the basic branch, additional highly selective jobs are available. Visit the U.S.Army Post-ROTC Careers webpage for more information on post-ROTC careers.
On this page:
- Maneuver, Fires & Effects Branches
- Force Sustainment Branches
- Operations Support Branches
- Information Dominance Branches
- Health Service Branches
- Special Branches
Maneuver, Fires & Effects Branches
- Air Defense Artillery Officer (14): The air defense artillery officer leads the air defense artillery branch, who protects U.S. forces from aerial attack, missile attack and enemy surveillance. They must be an expert in tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of air defense systems.
- Armor Officer (19): Armor officers are responsible for 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.
- Aviation Officer (15): Aviation officers coordinate/lead operations using Army helicopters: OH-58 Kiowa, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and the AH-64 Apache. These operations can haul troops and carry supplies, as well as provide quick-strike and long-range target engagement.
- Engineer Officer (12): An engineer officer is responsible for providing full support to the wide range of engineering duties in the Army. They can help build structures, develop civil works programs and even provide combat support.
- Field Artillery Officer (13): The field artillery officer leads the field artillery branch, who neutralizes the enemy by cannon, rocket and missile fire. The officer must be an expert in tactics, techniques and procedures for the employment of fire support systems.
- Infantry Officer (11): The infantry officer is responsible for leading the infantry and combined armed forces during land combat.
- Military Police Officer (31): A military police officer is responsible for leading the Soldiers that protect lives and property on Army Installations.
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Officer (74): A Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear officer commands the Army branch that specifically defends against the threat of CBRN weapons and Weapons of Mass Destruction. These officers lead an extraordinary chemical unit that is completely dedicated to protecting our nation.
Force Sustainment Branches
- Adjutant General Officer (42): The duties of an adjutant general officer are very similar to the function of a high-level human resources executive in the civilian world.
- Finance Officer (36): The financial manager is in charge of the Army’s Finance Corps, who are responsible for sustaining missions through purchases of services and supplies.
- Ordnance Officer (91): Ordnance officers are responsible for ensuring that weapons systems, vehicles and equipment are ready and available — and in perfect working order — at all times. They also manage the developing, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions.
- Transportation Officer (88): 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.
- Quartermaster Officer (92): 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.
Operations Support Branches
- Military Intelligence Officer (35): The Army’s military intelligence is responsible for all collected intelligence during Army missions. They provide essential information that often save the Soldiers fighting on front lines.
- Signal Officer (25): The signal officer leads the Signal Corps, which is responsible for the Army’s entire systems of communication. Officers plan and execute all aspects of communication on a mission and are critical to the Army’s continued success.
Information Dominance Branches
- Cyber Officer (17): Cyber Operations Officers coordinate and conduct integrated and synchronized offensive cyberspace operations by targeting enemy and hostile adversary activities and capabilities. Cyber branch is a maneuver branch with the mission to conduct defensive and offensive cyberspace operations (DCO and OCO). Cyber is the only branch designed to directly engage threats within the cyberspace domain.
Health Service Branches
- Medical Service Corps Officer (67): 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.
Nursing Majors
- Nurse Corps Officer (66): Nurse Corps officers lead a nursing team that cares for Soldiers and their families. As part of the Army Nurse Corps, they play an important role in improving the overall quality of life for Soldiers and their families.
Special Branches
- Chaplain (56): 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 flock can consist of over 1,500 people.
- Civil Affairs Officer (38): Civil affairs officers act as a liaison between the Army and civilian authorities and populations.
- Dental Corps Officer (63): 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.
- Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps Attorney (27): The Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps attorney is responsible for offering legal support that involves military operations. They primarily focus on the areas of criminal law, legal assistance, civil/administrative law, labor/employment law, international/operational law and contract/fiscal law.
- Medical Corps Officer (62): An Army Medical Corps officer is responsible for the overall health of Soldiers and providing health care to Soldiers’ families and others eligible to receive this care in the military community.
- Medical Specialist Corps Officer (65): 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 several areas of specialty. Overall, Army Officers are leaders, and being a leader requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence.
- Veterinary Corps Officer (64): As an Army veterinary 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.
- Special Forces Officer (18): The Special Forces officer is the team leader of an operational detachment alpha, a highly trained 12-man team that is deployed in rapid-response situations. The officer organizes the mission, outfits the team and debriefs them on the mission objective.
- EOD Officer (89): The explosive ordnance disposal officer leads the Army's preeminent tactical and technical explosives experts. Explosive ordnance disposal officers are the culmination of the best tactical and technical training the Army and civilian academia can provide and lead organizations comprised of similar Soldiers. They are prepared to perform missions in support of Army units worldwide and across all operational environments.
