Contracting in ROTC

[*B*medic]

I'm coming up on my Jr. year in college and I'm starting my 2000 series of ROTC courses on Wed. My major is Dental Hygiene but I know that the Army has a follow on school for dental assistants which qualifies enlisted members as dental hygienists. I'm a medic in the guard right now and I've been in for a year, I want to do something a little more exciting, something a little different after I earn my commission and I was wondering how much longer after I contract do I have to pick which branch I want to go into as an officer. I was considering Military Intelligence as my branch b/c it just seems like something that would be alot different than my civilian job as a hygienist. I know the school is about 6 months long but is that possible for me to do with a degree in dental hygiene? Does it even matter what your degree is in as long as you attend the school that fits your branch? Just curious! Any info is helpful. Thanks, B

[matthew.ritchie]

If you plan to serve in the Guard, you can get an assignment letter from your state's Officer Strength Manager as early as your MS III year, detailing not only your branch but pinpoint assignment.

Army basic branches require only an accredited bachelor's degree -- thus, you could have a degree in phys ed, physics, or psychology and get any basic branch. Of course, certain degrees set you up for greater success within a branch (e.g., computer science and Signal), but that is not a formal requirement.

Remember that commissioned officers are generalists, not specialists.

[FlashWolf75]

You pick your branching in LDAC during the summer between the junior or senior year I beleive. Well, you dont PICK it, but its really a wish list with top 3 branches, then depending on your performance at LDAC you either get your top pick or second, etc. etc.

And I dont think schooling matters..Although im not sure how it is in the case of JAG. But it isnt really degree dependent.

[matthew.ritchie]

You pick your branching in LDAC during the summer between the junior or senior year I beleive. Well, you dont PICK it, but its really a wish list with top 3 branches, then depending on your performance at LDAC you either get your top pick or second, etc. etc.

And I dont think schooling matters..Although im not sure how it is in the case of JAG. But it isnt really degree dependent.

Please note that branching for the reserve components (Guard and USAR) is significantly different from the active component. For the reserve components, the cadet must provide an assignment letter (commonly called a "By-Name Request," or BNR) that shows that a higher HQ has made a pinpoint assignment for that individual in a particular unit. Some states will grant these as early as the MS III year, but the cadet needs one early in the MSIV year in order to submit it with the accessions packet to Cadet Command. If you have a BNR, then that's your branch -- you don't go before the Cadet Command roulette wheel for branching, like the active component folks.

You tend to have more control over your life in the reserve components than the active component, but you need to be more proactive as well.

[*B*medic]

Thank you Sir for letting me know that... I'm guessing my MSIII year will be my JR. year when I'm in my 3000 series of ROTC courses? That will be the begining of my advanced ROTC and I've been told that I have to get my physical and security clearence before I contract in my JR. year? So, I went to my first ROTC course today- that was VERY intertaining b/c apparently the MSG who was going to teach it didn't even realize that he had a 10am 2202 class. On top of that, at 10:05am when I FINALLY found my class room, I was the only one (out of four students) who bothered to show up for the class. So... hmmm, I wasn't very happy about that. And they actually asked me why I didn't show up to PT, I'm like... "well, this is my first ROTC class so I didn't know where to go or what to wear or what time to be there". It was a very interesting morning to say the least- I'm sure that my lab tomorrow afternoon will be a little more exciting. :) lol We shall see. I think it's just an adjustment for me b/c my AIT was fairly long, 6 months, and I got used to being active... 6 months later I miss my strict schedule, I miss feeling like I was being productive, and doing things outdoors. I miss it all so I was a little disapointed that ROTC doesn't seem to be as structured as I thought it would be. I am worried that I am going to be completely lost in this process but my MSG did say that b/c I am a female I may have more of a chance to get the branch I want b/c of the fact that I am some what limited.
Thanks again, B