Commissioning Branches

Officers are leaders, and being a leader in the Army requires certain qualities such as self-discipline, initiative, confidence and intelligence. Commissioning branches, occupational specialties assigned to future officers, are listed below.

Infantry

An Infantry Officer is responsible for leading and controlling the Infantry and combined armed forces during land combat. They are also involved in coordinating employment of Infantry Soldiers at all levels of command, from platoon to battalion and higher, in U.S. and multi-national operations.

Cyber

Cyber branch is a maneuver branch with the mission to conduct defensive and offensive cyberspace operations. Cyber is the only branch designed to directly engage threats within the cyberspace domain.

Armor

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.

Field Artillery

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.

Air Defense

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. They also become an expert in one or more of the following systems: the PATRIOT missile system and the AVENGER system.

Aviation

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. From providing quick-strike and long-range target engagement during combat operations to hauling troops and supplies, Army helicopter units play a critical role in getting the job done in many situations.

Engineer

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 associated with keeping the Army running.

Medical Service

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.

Army Nurse Corps

Army Nurse Corps Officers lead diverse nursing teams in a variety of settings and provide holistic multi-disciplinary care for Soldiers and their families. Officers are leaders. All Army leaders require self-discipline, initiative, confidence, the ability to problem solve and make timely decisions.

Ordnance

Ordnance Officers are responsible for ensuring that weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment are ready and available – and in perfect working order – at all times. Thus, Ordnance Officers and the Soldiers they lead are a critical component in the Army's success. Ordnance Officers also oversee the developing, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions.

Adjutant General

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.

Quartermaster

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.

Transportation

Transportation Officers are experts in the systems, vehicles and procedures in moving troops and supplies in the Army. Transportation Officers are responsible for commanding and controlling Transportation operations and combined armed forces during land combat.

Chemical

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 officer lead an extraordinary chemical unit that is completely dedicated to protecting our nation.

Military Intelligence

The Army's military intelligence is responsible for all collected intelligence during Army missions. They provide essential information that often save the lives of Soldiers fighting on the front lines. Military Intelligence Officers specialize in these specific areas; Imagery Intelligence: Collection an analysis of imagery using photogrammetry and terrain analysis. All-Source Intelligence: Performs collection management/surveillance/reconnaissance and provides advice. Counterintelligence: Provides coordination and participation in counterintelligence investigations, operations and production. Human Intelligence: Controlled collection operations and interviews. Signals Intelligence/electronic warfare: Collects signal intelligence and engages in electronic warfare. All-source intelligence aviator: Performs duties as an aviator/MI Officer and participates in special electronic mission aircraft missions.

Military Police

A military police officer is responsible for leading the Soldiers that protect the lives and property on Army Installations. Officers supervise the execution of the five military police Battlefield functions; Maneuver and mobility support operations (reconnaissance and surveillance), Area security operations (site security and response), Law & order operations (law enforcement and developing host-nation police forces), Internment/resettlement operations (military prisoners and enemy combatants), and Police intelligence operations.

Signal

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.