Branch training?

[manyarrows]

I am getting ready to join the guard, my recruiter said it should be another 2-3 weeks now. I also am trying to get into the OCS program. I have filled out all my paperwork with my officer liason. I was wondering what good branch selections were. When I say goods I mean, good for applying in the civilian sector. I'm completing my degree in civil engineering so I choose the following:
1) Corps of engineers
2) Signal corps
3) Quartermaster corps
4) Ordnance corps
5) Transportation corps

[dnall]

I am getting ready to join the guard, my recruiter said it should be another 2-3 weeks now. I also am trying to get into the OCS program. I have filled out all my paperwork with my officer liason. I was wondering what good branch selections were. When I say goods I mean, good for applying in the civilian sector. I'm completing my degree in civil engineering so I choose the following:
1) Corps of engineers
2) Signal corps
3) Quartermaster corps
4) Ordnance corps
5) Transportation corps
Branchorientation.com

[willw]

I am getting ready to join the guard, my recruiter said it should be another 2-3 weeks now. I also am trying to get into the OCS program. I have filled out all my paperwork with my officer liason. I was wondering what good branch selections were. When I say goods I mean, good for applying in the civilian sector. I'm completing my degree in civil engineering so I choose the following:
1) Corps of engineers
2) Signal corps
3) Quartermaster corps
4) Ordnance corps
5) Transportation corps

I think the answer is it depends. I was an 11A and was literally at Ft Benning one day and at Wharton the next day starting my MBA. I remember the first day when everyone went around introducing themselves and it was so and so who had been at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co, and Bain and when it was my turn I was an Infantry Officer. I thought I was hosed. Turns out that I was more prepared then most of my peers who had "real" work experience and wound up getting more job offers then my peers with more applicable prior job experience. So I think being a successful Army officer can open a lot of doors regardless of your branch.

I have a lot of friends who are now at the end of their military careers and intentionally chose secondary specialties that set them up for a potentially easier transition to a new civilian career. They made the decision to do things like PR, acquisition, project management, and operation research sorts of things.

The good old days when you could do your twenty and then slide on over to a middle management job at a company are long gone. That being said if you do acquire a more technical oriented background in the Army the better your chances will be on the outside.

[California Major]

I am getting ready to join the guard, my recruiter said it should be another 2-3 weeks now. I also am trying to get into the OCS program. I have filled out all my paperwork with my officer liason. I was wondering what good branch selections were. When I say goods I mean, good for applying in the civilian sector. I'm completing my degree in civil engineering so I choose the following:
1) Corps of engineers
2) Signal corps
3) Quartermaster corps
4) Ordnance corps
5) Transportation corps

Engineers, of course!

Which end of the State are you in?

..And its "The People's Republic of Kaleeforneya"

[Polo08816]

I think the answer is it depends. I was an 11A and was literally at Ft Benning one day and at Wharton the next day starting my MBA. I remember the first day when everyone went around introducing themselves and it was so and so who had been at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Co, and Bain and when it was my turn I was an Infantry Officer. I thought I was hosed. Turns out that I was more prepared then most of my peers who had "real" work experience and wound up getting more job offers then my peers with more applicable prior job experience. So I think being a successful Army officer can open a lot of doors regardless of your branch.

I have a lot of friends who are now at the end of their military careers and intentionally chose secondary specialties that set them up for a potentially easier transition to a new civilian career. They made the decision to do things like PR, acquisition, project management, and operation research sorts of things.

The good old days when you could do your twenty and then slide on over to a middle management job at a company are long gone. That being said if you do acquire a more technical oriented background in the Army the better your chances will be on the outside.

I have also noticed that if you acquire a more technical and in-demand background outside of the Army such as a medical speciality (MD, PharmD, etc.), your chances of moving up the ranks faster in the Army are also greatly increased. Is this generalization true?

[California Major]

My military career has certainly opened doors for me in my civilian job. As a platoon leader, I supervised a larger group of people than most managers I have ever worked under.

[plano2001]

My brother-in-law is posted at Ft. Stewart, though he's current in Iraq until the fall. He switched from Navy to Army in order to get a chance at a commission. He loves being a quartermaster, though he's somewhat susceptible to that "officer's gut" :D

[willw]

My brother-in-law is posted at Ft. Stewart, though he's current in Iraq until the fall. He switched from Navy to Army in order to get a chance at a commission. He loves being a quartermaster, though he's somewhat susceptible to that "officer's gut" :D

Hey now easy. I think I am about to turn in my crossed rifles and become a fighting quartermaster!

[California Major]

New branch replacing Quartermaster is LG or Logistics.

[manyarrows]

Well I was a casualty of the guards current fiscal cuts. I just got my med waiver passed, only to have my recruiter call me and tell me no more waivers. So now I am talking to the Air NG. They think they can get me in. Sadly I have to finish my degree first before trying for a commision. Oh, well. I'll be happy if I can get in. Though I have to admit going from marine infantry to air force power generation? will be interesting.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for the input.